Stream Strategy

[old bw]

A novice poses a Fly Fishing 101 question:

Let's say you're fishing a stream small enough so that moving around is likely to disturb fish. Your techique is good (as opposed to mine), and you still aren't catching fish. What's the strategy? Do you assume there just aren't any takers in that stretch and move on, or do you first change fly sizes? change fly types? Do you ever come back later in the day and fish water that you covered earlier?

Thanks...

[NGTO]

Personally IF I feel I have NOT spooked any
potential fish I will change flies. I have been know to go through 15 patterns or so before moving on. Of course it definitely depends on the stream. If the stream is full of stockers I will spend more time in each hole as they obviously are not as jittery, or if the stream is crowded I may simply wait it out (step back from the hole for 15-30 minutes and try again).
Will I cover the same water twice in the same day? Most of the time no, although I will usually tell myself I am going to go back to a certain hole, but never do.

Aaron

[superchub]

Same as Aaron.... if I feel I haven't spooked the fish I'll usually switch flys, especially if I haven't been catching anything....I usually fish with a nymph dropper so I usually keep the same nymph but change the top fly. Like Aaron I'lI try different flys BUT I willl only try four or five flys before I move (way to impatient http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif. If I have already caught a fish (esp.more than one) with my initial set up then I don't change anything...if I don't get anything after four or five tries then I move on but will try to come back to the pool later if I can (usually don't make it back though). Have fun experimenting.....I don't believe there is ever one sure way....always be bold and push the envelope!!!> http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif
SC

[Mr T1]

I tend to fish along the solunar tables and that could mean a couple of spikes during the fishing day. If so, I'll fish the same area again.

If I'm fishing a run, I'll continue fishing it and rotate fly selections before I move on because I've found that with fast moving water the fish tend to be less spooky than in quiet pools, possibly because the froth on the water somewhat obstructs their vision.
Also, I believe that they're more focused on their feeding window and maintaining station and less attentive to what's lurking along the streamsides.

The fish also have to react more quickly in fast water or the bug will be past him and gone so presentation can be little rougher than in a slow run or a quiet pool.

If I know there are fish in a run, I'll generally keep changing flies till I get a strike, like Aaron, backing away while I'm changing flies to give the run a rest.

On quiet pools, I pick my route carefully before entering, fish it once thoroughly then move on. I may fish it again on my return but that likely will be some time later and will allow them to settle down if I have spooked them.

I almost always fish either upstream and back down or downstream and back up so I generally fish most areas twice. And, I almost always move much faster on the return, usually because I've finally found the right fly and know that if the fish there it'll likely hit and also because, by then, I know the stream better and can be more selective of the areas I work.

Mr. T

[KB]

Like Aaron and Mr. T, if I feel like I hav'nt spooked 'em, I'll try every fly in my box. If that did'nt work, I'll hit that spot again later that day on my way back down stream. I caught my biggest wild Georgia Brown I ever caught this last fall that way.

If that still does'nt work, well, it won't be the last time.

[spinner]

KB..You have gotten my curiosity going....What kind of wild trout and how long/heavy do you estimate it at??? What type of fly did you catch it on and what were the weather conditions...I am not going to ask where because no one tells their best places...Spinner....I am on this board to learn about fly fishing...You guys are my teachers!

[KB]

It was a male Brown, in the 18" range easy. I caught him on a Sedge pattern I like to use. The day was overcast, late Summer, and it had rained a few days before. The conditions were pretty much perfect.
I wont tell you wher I caught him but I'll tell you where I did'nt. It wasn't the Chattahoochee, Chattooga, or Smithgall; and it was on public property. I gotta bad habit of fishing small creeks and streams.

[old bw]

Thanks much for the advice, guys. I really appreciate it. I'm printing it out to add to my collection of wisdom gathered from this board.

Good luck to all this year...

[BT]

One more thing to try! I have found that a change in tippet size (e. 4X to 6X) can bring results esp. in very clear water.

[Ken Smith]

I am not an expert by any means, but the one thing I have learned in the few short months I've been fly fishing, is "Patience". There is this one stretch of water that just looked to fishy not to have any fish. I had fished this stretch a dozen times in the past month or two. I would always make eight or ten cast and move on, but one time I decided I was going to fish this spot until I caught something. And sure enough, after about 30 minutes of continuous casting I caught a 16"-18" rainbow. Absolutely beautiful. I have slowed down my fishing, in hopes of the same result.

tight lines
ken

[SHAWN]

Ever try high sticking. It's sort of like turning your fly rod into a cane pole. I love fishing small streams more than any. This has proven to be probably the best technique of any that I have ever tried. That is if you are fishing a stream small enough where all you have is pocket water. I can't get enough of it. I usually use nothing but #16 royal wolffs in the summer. Something about them just ticks trout off and I can usually pull a fish out of every pocket on the stream. The secret to go undetected is to stay low. If you have ever looked a a display on how trout see, you'll know that you can rather easily get below a trouts line of site. where something dark or camo to further conseal your body. everything helps. When I fish Dukes, I go dressed dark and hug the banks. I catch most of my fish while sitting on the side of the bank. Becarefull how you wade. Try not toput up much of a ruckess because it will only spook those you are trying to catch. and don't be afraid to loose flies. The fish hold to the structure and so should your fly. this takes practise out in the back yard to get that casting technique down. Hope some of these tips help. try them all and see if you don't catch a few more fish.
Shawn