One thats been puzzling me for some time is this?

On resevoirs I see anglers stripping like crazy, fast hands. To me it looks rediculous and bodes the question?

Can a fish really identify and subsequently catch a fly stripped at breakneck speed?

Whats the fastest you should strip? and when should you adopt the style?

Do you need to be using a specific line to wind in so quick?

What is the snmallest hook size to use? Can they see a size 16 for example at that speed?

Loads of questions? I would love appreciate loads os advice if poss?

Hi D.T.;

Not an expert on reservoirs and I tend to fish dry or sight nymphing but when I've fished wets and streamers I've discovered that stripping speed is one of those things where you have to play around until you find out what is working on that particular day. If you're fishing lures then a lot of times you are provoking an attack and the stripping speed is to get the fish p.o.'ed enough to attack. The problem is that there is no hard and fast rule. Sometimes the fish will hit on a slow figure 8, sometimes a fast figure 8, sometimes they will only hit on the jerkiness of a strip. You have to try them all until you figure out which is the right one that day. I've had fish follow a fly when I've stripped slowly but only attack when I've suddenly put on a burst of speed and also vice versa. As to size it all depends on what you're fishing with. I've seen trout attacking fry which are about the size of a number 16 hook and believe me the fry were moving fast but most lures would be bigger.

Take care

Terry

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Normally when you see people doing that they are mainly pulling blobs or lures.

From experience the fish do not really identify what the fly is, its basically a natural instinct for them to attack.

Normally the lines used are sinkers or intermediates as these help the flies stay under the water when pulling at a speed like this.

I defo dont think they would be using size 16s but more like 8-10 blob hooks or 8-10 kamasan b175's maybe.

Andy

Question 1 Yes they can my grandson strippes back at fast speed and has won many competitions this way.

Question 2 Only as fast as you can without causing joint damage. (RSI).
Fast stripping works well when fish are well up in the water as the lure is in the first two feet generally on a floater.

Question 3. No specific line needed. The line is not wound in it is retrieved by hand.

Question 4.Generally, only lures on a size ten hook are retrieved at speed. Small flies are retrieved slowly.

BK

Sorry BK but how can a fish identify a fly stripped back ie rolly polly,surely it just sees the shape/colour/flash and goes for it?.Also this method is affective on sinkers and not just floaters so the fish don't necessarily need to be high up in the water column

Neil

Buzzers Stripped at speed catch! FACT!

"Curiosity killed the trout!"

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PawPrinT
"I'd rather be fishing"

The key is to try different rates of retrieve to find out which one the trout want on the day. Every day, every time, is different.

It's a basic instinct for every predatory animal to chase. I've fished when trout are lethargic and only half-heartedly pluck at lures but a fast over-hand retrieve has induced them to take.

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i read from pawprint that buzzers stripped at speed catch im fairly knew and have been told that the best way to fish them is static or very slowly.

Scott

Like others have stated it all depends on how the fish want the flies retrieved on that particular day.Ive caught fish stripping back buzzers,but as a general rule your right they are normally fished static ie under a bung or just left drifting around on the wind/breeze with you just taking up the slack slowly ie figure of 8 retrieve

Neil

Thanks for all the advice so far. I have been told on numerous occassions to experiment with the speed and will continue to do so. As for the lines and fly sizes I suppose that is all part of the art known as fishing.
Tight Lines!