Stillwater Fly Fishing Lines (Options in Presentation)

Two Styles of Intermediate Clear lines. The Cortland Camo is my recommendation. ‘Clear’ lines have come a long ways in the last 15 years.

Rather than reinventing the wheel, I am pointing the way to a piece by Denny Rickards. It is actually his site promoting the sale of various fly lines. In the promotion of the varied lines is a lot of good information that will benefit the stillwater fly fisher that has not quite sorted out the presentation part yet and still only carries a floating line. You would be well served to primarily use a ‘clear’ Intermediate as your primary line and from there consider the floater and perhaps a faster sinking line (less used). I do not promote any sales on this blog. I just believe Rickards does present excellent information about presentation, which is often as important or more important than fly selection. Rickards also had several informative books out on the market that worth a read if you are learning the basics of stillwater fly fishing.

Stillwater Presentations: ‘Keep your tip down’

If I had a buck for every time I’ve cautioned….  Well maybe not that many times, but it is important to your stillwater presentation to keep the tip of your rod down toward the surface. Less slack is imparted to the fly line (above, there is a fair amount of slack to take up in a strip set or by swing the rod to the side to set the hook) if the tip is down to, or even in the surface (Intermediate /Sinking lines). 

If you cannot pick out your fly in the distance, then focus on where the line enters the water and watch for the line’s bow or sag to tighten or jerk away. On smoother waters you can see ripples or pulses jolt out from the sides of the fly line indicating a take. All this is easier to maintain if you just ‘keep your tip down!’ Geeze that lake looks inviting about now.

Fishing and the Lunar Phases

New Moon & Full Moon...Is it important to your fishing?

I have enjoyed some magical fishing by moonlight. Actually, by the last light of the day and as darkness fell my son and I worked our way back to our put in point. The fishing was phenomenal while the moon light bathed the lake’s calm surface. Well not totally calm because the Kamloops trout (oops) were working hard. Was that memorable moment because of the moon? I have always linked the two but really only guessed. 

For many of us that is enough to plan our next outings around a full moon. We even spread the word and perhaps others think…’hey why not….maybe…’. So I offer up a piece that is perhaps right up the alley of the frequent angler looking for an edge. It may be too complicated for some or add veracity to already held beliefs.   LUNAR PHASES & ANGLING  

Being more of a once in a Blue Moon Angler of late, I will tuck this info away by narrowing it down to the key points and see if my outings verify it in the years to come. I don't fish enough to keep a log. But, lunar and barometer considerations are worth charting or at least noting. SwittersB

Fly Fishing: Organizing The Flies….Hmmm?

MIDCURRENT’S TAKE ON HOW TO ORGANIZE AND TOP 10 FLIES 

Truth be told, I have become a bit of a hoarder with regards to fly boxes and flies. I love to tie so much, that I probably have way more flies than I could possibly use for the rest of my days on the water. 

As a beginning fly fisher/tier, you most probably have less than three or four fly boxes filled with store bought flies and your own creations. How to organize those  flies?

If you check out the Mid Current link, above, you will see that renowned fly fishers have varying methods of sorting, storing, carrying their flies. My random thoughts regarding this subject are as follows: lake fishing or river/stream fishing; time of year and probable hatches; trout…bass…steelhead/salmon…pike fishing?; what are the probable hatches on that/those body of water? 

I most often carry most of my flies in a central repository in my rig (there is a risk here of losing everything with a vehicle break in). From there, I usually in advance, load 1-2 fly boxes with the probable food sources for the fish, in that particular location, at that time of year. I have tried to refine this over the years, so as to not carry a ridiculous amount of flies.

This method usually works and the simplified selection process eases the mind (mine anyway) and lets me relax and focus on presentation, observation and relaxation. I get the ‘what flies to carry/use’ out of the way, in advance, if I can. I don’t like to be sorting through fly boxes at the location, unless I note something on the water and have the luxury of heading back to the rig to grab some flies I now see I need, given my observations.

You are at a slight disadvantage when you stop at a location and have no clue about the typical insects in that stream or lake. Eventually, you will have a general sense of the probable insects at different times of the year and carry basic dries, nymphs, emergers, streamers that will work in a pinch: Parachute Adams, Hare’s Ear Nymph, Wet/Soft Hackle flies, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Elk Hair Caddis, Woolly Buggers, San Juan Worms, Ant pattern……….. OK, we are filling up one small fly box already. 

This whole process, begs for you to study and identify what food sources are probably available at a given time on a lake or river. There are plenty of online resources about hatches, patterns, timing, locations to help you fine tune your plan. This is all part of the fun, I think….sorting, studying your patterns, wondering if this or that would work, envisioning your presentations and the take…’the moment’. 

Fly Fishing: Albright Knot Use

THE ALBRIGHT KNOT ANIMATED  

The Albright Knot is versatile knot, that fly fishers can use to attach the reel’s backing to the fly line. It can be used to join two sections of mono that vary more  than usual in diameter. I have seen it used to join the tip of the fly line to the butt section of a leader instead of the usual nail knot (this was for salmon/steelhead W/F lines…keep it small and tag ends trimmed nicely). A slightly different Albright Knot version…

Fly Fishing: Avoiding Cuff Creep…Stirrups

Well, the change in the weather sends a reminder of readying our cold weather gear for colder water temps. Long ago, I made the move to pile pants beneath my waders, after I smartly converted from neoprene to Gore-Tex. More recently, I was fortunate to acquire Stirrup’d pile pants (SPP). I suddenly felt a Déjà vu moment in fashion history…..

Perhaps it was the 1960's or was it the 80's? It does take some self confidence to wear this style, especially with Crocs

So, in the Winter when everything is bunched up and binding on cold days, it is nice to feel smooth and non-binding around the legs and ankles when walking/wading. If your wife or gal pal is over 50 (er…40?) y/o, she may have an old pair of polyester stirrup pants stashed away. Actually, I’d check the local fly shop for a more suitable pair with higher insulation.

No creeping cuffs. A fashion statement resurrected. Functional. Forget the big perm.

Fussy Trout (Dave, Skip, Rick)

INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS FOR TAKING TROUT 

Check out these NW U.S. icons (Dave Hughes, Skip Morris, Rick Hafele) regarding fussy trout and other fly fishing/tying gems at Hooked Now 

Fly Fishing the Philippines: Serenity at Sunset

Chest Deep and Nice Casting at Sunset in the Philippines  

Fly Fishing in the Philippines: I couldn’t find an explanation re what the fly fisher was angling for…but the sunset and lapping waves looked pleasant enough. His casting stroke is nice and he is shuffling his feet as the surfaces shifts. I have a friend, who just returned from the Islands. He says there is some excellent fly fishing to be had in the Philippines. Of course, he didn’t elaborate.

Well, in light of the typhoons that just caused death and destruction in the islands, this prior post may seem in poor taste. I wasn’t aware of the storms. However, I will leave the post for a more serene time.

Fly Fishing: ‘Bow To the fish’

Well, I was going to write something about bowing to fish, should you be fortunate enough to hook a larger, airborne missile. So I queried ‘bow to fish’ and to my surprise there was a different take on bow to fish.

Some how 'bow to fish' produced this imagery. She does seem to know what she is doing.

So, I kept looking for the visual to best clarify my written words about fighting the bigger fish that goes airborne and how to lower the rod (‘bow’) toward the water. This provides slack in the fly line because the theory goes the fish will crash down on the water and below upon a slack leader thereby reducing the chances the line tension would break the leader or dislodge the hook. After the fish hits the water you regain tension to the fish. If a fish, as some species do, has a tendency to jump a lot, it is important to learn this technique whether fishing for tarpon or chasing airborne Kamloops trout while sitting in a pontoon boat. Slack does not mean too much slack…a learned, intuitive response to provide just enough slack then regain it to keep pressure on the fish. Side pressures versus upward pressures are beneficial in steering the fish. Of course, if you are hanging on for dear life then make sure you enjoy ‘the moment’. 

So you can see this whole bow to the fish is only as close to fly fishing as the fletchings on the butt of that arrow.

Fly Fishing Lakes & the Slip Strike

SwittersB

Beginning Fly Fishing & A Slip Strike: When you are using a sinking line, the rod tip is best kept at the surface or even a few inches under. You are attempting to remove slack, which will maintain a straighter connection to the fly. When the fish hits or taps at the fly you are more likely to feel it.

When you fish a floating line and dry/emerger fly pattern, you are accustomed to raising the rod until you feel the fish is on. This is even more pronounced if you developed that hard hook set as a gear guy. Your well honed reactions to raise the rod to set the hook are not as productive when fishing a sunken line. Yes, you will sometimes hook the fish, but often you will pull the fly away by a considerable distance. 

It is better to use a modified slip strike technique used by saltwater fly fishers and guys that throw big streamers at fish with big teeth. This short video explains the technique for an angler that is standing. When you are seated in a tube or pontoon boat the concept is similar but more confined. 

Keep the rod tip down at the water or slightly submerged. The rod hand always has the line secured between the cork handle and the stripping/retrieving fingers (except when casting and shooting line). The retrieving hand should attempt to be always in control of the line (there is that vulnerable moment where one retrieves and lets go of the line to then reach forward for the next retrieve).  Side Ways Slip Strike

When the angler feels the hit, resist the temptation to elevate the rod. Instead point the rod to the fish and pull back toward your belly. Often you will set the hook. If you miss the set, the fly has maybe only moved 1-2 feet versus the greater distance of a raise the rod/pop the hook set. Once you feel the pulse of the fish raise the rod up to play the fish against the rod. This releases some of the tension of a straight pull/fight against the leader/tippet’s strength. 

If it is a big fish, it will often take line up through the guides. That line on your apron needs to shoot up through the guides. Use just enough tension with your rod hand to control the rapid movement of the line upward…not too loose, not too tight. Enjoy the fish at this point. Is the drag set too tight, too lose? This is ideally done in advance, but truthfully you won’t know how that drag is until you hook enough bigger fish to feel the surge and know how your reel’s drag performs. But do know how it is adjusted and think…how would I tighten or loosen the drag if I needed to (will you have to momentarily switch hands?).

If it is a smaller fish, you can strip line down the guides, onto the apron and in essence strip the fish toward you. If the fish is a bit stronger than you figured the line, pinched against the cork handle and your rod hand, can be gently allowed to slide upward through the guides for an unexpected run.  

THE WIND

Wind from the east, fish bite least.

Wind from the north, don’t go forth. 

Wind from the south, fish will take it in the mouth. 

Wind from the west, fishing is the best.