In-stream willows create equally appealing habitat for browns. They provide a pillow on the front end and usually an undercut below their roots. They also supply shade, temperature regulation for the stream, and lots of overhanging branches for terrestrials to drop from. I’ll approach a willow clump in much the same fashion as a root ball, with one main exception. I find that willows often don’t create the same fast diversion around themselves as root balls, which gives the angler a bit more leeway with cast placement. Without this fast current to contend with, give the fish’s personal space a wider berth and make your first cast 3-4 feet out from the edge of the willow, particularly when fishing larger flies such as hoppers or stoneflies. With the exception of mayflies, browns like to move to their food, not have it dropped right in their faces. If you don’t get interest from 3 feet out, cast tighter to the structure. Start with casts perpendicular to the willow clump, and then eventually fish the pillow with the same upstream mend as with root balls.