Hatch Magazine - Fly Fishing, etc. Earlier this year, we published a blog post titled Classic Flies are Classic for a Reason.
The gist of that post was that the patterns that have stood the test of time have done so for a reason and given such should likely have a place in your fly box. Soft hackle flies are one of those classics. I have met many fly fishermen for which they are an absolute staple, employed on the stream as often as a pheasant tail nymph or parachute adams. But, I've met many more that don't fish them at all or only rarely do so, considering them sort of an oddity. The Sparkle Soft Hackle Fly. The truth is, however, that soft hackles are one of the most effective styles of flies ever created, and one that should have a home in virtually every angler's arsenal. In their simplest form, soft hackle flies are little more than thread or herl wrapped around the hook shank with a sparsely palmered hackle at the front. Their lack of complexity in no way translates to lack of versatility. Taking the Plunge: Fly Fishing Waterfalls and Spillovers. The areas below waterfalls, both big and small, can be great places to seek out big trout.
This should come as no surprise. Typically referred to as plunge pools, the water that sweeps over falls and into these pools continuously delivers all manner of food to fish waiting below. In areas where the plunging water is pinched or otherwise funneled by the structure of the stream, falls not only deliver food that has swept down from above but also produces a concentrated, high density stream of that food.
The turbulent nature of water on the surface of a plunge pool serves to obscure and conceal everything below, providing excellent cover from predators. 15 Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone Could Do. Except from Royal Wullf Murders. Top Fishing Secrets. Using a Sweep Set. Have a question you want answered?
Email it to us at ask@midcurrent.com. Question: I was on the river the other day, and this guy downstream from me was catching a lot of fish (way more than me). I noticed that whenever he set the hook, he pulled his rod to the side, rather than going straight up with his rod tip, the way I was taught to. What was he doing? Matt I., Bethel, CT Answer: My guess is that he was using a sweep set. The sweep set uses the water tension on the line to apply pressure. To make a sweep set, you sweep your rod horizontally toward the bank behind you, keeping the rod parallel to the water’s surface. Because most of us have been taught to raise our rod tip to set the hook, employing the sweep set requires concentration and discipline.
Phil Monahan is a former Alaskan guide and was the long-time editor of American Angler magazine. Tactics for Wary Trout. Have a question you want answered?
Email it to us at ask@midcurrent.com. Question: I’ll be fishing some western spring creeks for the first time. I live in Maine, and I’ve never fished for really wary trout before. Do you have any tips? M. M. Answer: Those of us who live on the East Coast are not accustomed to fishing in very clear water for really spooky trout, especially ones we can see. Your question calls to mind an excellent 5-step strategy devised by Bill Tapply, who sadly passed away last week. Fly Fishing Strategy Tips. Here are 42 tips on fly selection, approach, presentation, and landing fish that can make the difference between a good day and a great one.
A collection of MidCurrent's obvious and not-so-obvious advice. Choosing Flies Scott Cramer photo Size Matters When choosing trout flies, the relative importance of fly characteristics in your selection, in order, should be: size, shape, color, and action (for stripped flies). In saltwater, action is often more important than exact size and shape. Dropper Flies or Tandem Rigs Dropper flies are a trout angler’s secret weapon. Wet vs. Fly Color: Think Seasonal Don’t know where to start with your fly selection? Imitation vs. Think Subsurface for Trout At least two-thirds of the diet of trout is made up of subsurface food sources.
Stalking Fish Approach Outside the Cone of Visibility When stalking trout, approach from behind or stay low if approaching from the side or front, since the height of objects is exaggerated in the fish’s perspective. The 25 Greatest Flies of All Time. Titan Rod Vault. Effect of Barometric Pressure. This is part 1 of a series of articles on the theories of the different factors which produce good and bad fishing conditions.
The theories aren't necessarily mine, although I've attempted to provide a thoughtful summary of information I have researched, with some modification based on personal experience. I'm not entirely convinced that you should solely base your decision on whether to go fishing, on the measurement of the positive or negative factors based on theory. Although a number of the positive factors may indicate that the fishing will be good at your regular spot, I think to a large degree that the negative factors mean that you have to find and catch the fish in a different fashion than you would normally. Pão em fatias, por Seth Godin.