Things I don’t know, there’s a lot so we’ll call this Part One.

Line Retrieval –

A, Stillwaters – What determines the rate of retrieval of your flea? I’ve seen guys dragging it in at a great rate of knots; and others gently, a couple of inches at a time. I tend to be of the latter school but what should determine the speed? And short, quick . . or long, slow . . . etc
[I’ve had takes with both, but didn’t quite understand actually “why?”]

B, Rivers – Cast up-stream, allow fly to swing around, when it get to the end of its travel is there any point in a slow retrieve against the drag? Note, I’m talking about a flowing section of a River, not a pool.

I’d like to hear others thoughts.
Thanks
Brian

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“Let’s TACKLE Cancer” supporter

Not quite with you on part B Brian, if you cast upstream, and let it swing round, you would be causing drag, and if you retrieved it you would be going with the flow not against it.
Am I wrong, or did you mean cast downstream. ?
S

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Sorry Steven, I meant retrieving it after it's travelled downstream ie retrieving against the flow

B

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We can't actually answer the first of these two questions for you, as there are multiple answers to your question. Was the water stocked, was it wild...were the fish feeding on anything in particular. Were the guys dragging in their lines using lures,using sinkers, using floaters...what time of year was it.....so and and so fourth. I think you should ask next time you get confused, ask the anglers catching fish....then try and see a bigger picture of whats happening, rather than looking for black or white.

Assuming we are talking a wet/nymph Brian, then yes I often retrieve it for a few yards before recasting, surprising how many takes I get when doing that.
As for your stillwater question, I also try various retreival rates, jerky moves fast, figure of eight etc, but it depends what mood the fish are in I think.
I don't do a lot on stillwaters, but there is a lot more skill involved than some people think, of that I am sure.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Part B - sometimes a few figure of eight jerky retrieves just as it comes into the bank will catch a fish if your using nymphs and have some bankside cover.

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http://www.edenangling.co.uk/

the fish determen ...trial and error some day they want it fast sometimes they want it slow .....simples

come on steven, or we will need to bring terry out of retirement for this one

i reckon the fish determine the speed of retrieval, they tell you when its right by sacrificing themselves sort of thing,

and..no, unless you like catching bandies that chase things.

DRY FLY...cast upstream generally to rising trout let fly drift with the flow
Keep in contact with the fly by gently gathering the fly line between
your fingers as in 'figure of eight'...or...directly into a line tray.
Thus preventing the line dragging and the fly skating across the
surface.
NYMPHS... fished upstream in rivers -single,on droppers or combined with dry
fly fished 'on top' nymphs directly below.
Retrieved-figure of eight or gathering the line with sharp 'jerks'.
WET FLY...fished across and downstream at 45 degrees to the bank.Let the
current work the fly...stripping line if the flow is almost static.
Bear in mind that as the fly line straightens out directly
downstream of you the last few feet of fly line and leader are still
fishing and for a few moments as the line and leader straighten
out the pace of the fly and line speeds up slightly as the line
begins to drag...Often at this point fish that have followed the fly
take hard..That little burst of speed and the thought of a lost meal
induces a take !

Hope this helps....

Kindest regards
JOHN

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LURES.. Cold water/early-late season fish deep and slow
WHY: Appeal to the trout's predatory instincts
TYPE: Most lures tied to represent fry / bait fish ..big irons.
DEMEANOUR: Fish tend to be lethargic rarely willing to give chase.

LURES.. Warm water mid-season fish upper levels..Fast / fastest retrieves
WHY: Fish will follow / chase a fast moving lure when temperatures rise.
Small irons.
TYPE: Fry patterns..Baby Dolls-polystickle-Jersey Herd
DEMEANOUR: Actively seeking and hunting food items.

FLOATING LURES: Roach fry [floating] left to bob around on the surface ripple
or wave with the occasional 'tweak'
WHY:Appeal to the trout's predatory instincts.Mimmicks a dead or dying fry.
TYPE:Floating roach / perch fry
DEMEANOUR: Actively seeking warm water food items.

NYMPHS AND BUZZERS: Buzzers often left *to hang in the surface film* of the
water or sub~surface.
WHY: Midge pupae hatch here ie:buzzer imitations
Sub Surface ~ nymphs rising from the bottom layers prior to hatching
in the surface film are found here at all levels.
TYPE:Buzzers-suspended buzzers and nymphs.

DRY FLIES: Fished directly to rising trout can be fished 'blind' by simply
allowing the fly to bob around on the surface~least successful.

*** What I'm illustrating here is the different methods and retrieves necessary to impart a lifelike motion into artificial flies / lures.***

When fished as per design in the correct manner your catch rate will increase.
As with the use of any artificial bait the angler has to 'bring it to life' in order to be convincing !

This is why you will notice so many varying retrieves and methods used by others..
Hope this has made some sense !
Further info contact and just ask..

Kindest regards
JOHN

OF HILL AND LOCH

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