After trying various fly fishing tactics, I'm totally hooked on dry fly fishing. I've had 2 reasonable days this week fishing dry's, mainly klinkhamer's. My main downfall though is that I witnessed many trout come up to my fly, only to turn away at the last minute. My gut instinct was that it may have had something to do with the leader being visible to the fish. I've been using Wychwood Truefly Finesse 4lb / 0.148mm. The leader was floating on the surface at the time, should I be trying to sink it or leave it as it is. Help & advice would be much appreciated along with recommendations on quality leader material for fishing dry's. Thanks!!!

PS I've only been fly fishing for 2 months, have LOTS to learn

Try some heavier breaking strain flourocarbon, it sink more readily, and generally nylon under 6lbs B.S. is murder to sink.

__________________
It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

thanks mate, so would you suggest it was because my leader was floating on the surface? Got any recommendations on a good brand of leader? thanks

Problem with flourocarbon is that it is stiffer than coploymer and can lead to your fly acting unnaturally ( from a fish's perspective!) in the water ?

__________________
Irish by birth, Munster by the grace of God.

There are many reasons for this kind of refusal. If the water was flat calm it is most likely because the leader being visible. If you are using a fairly bouyant fly flourocarbon may work as it will take a while to drag the fly down. With a small fly this would not work - it would be under in seconds. Another reason is that the fly is just not what the fish are taking at the time. Keep on changing fly until success - smaller is sometimes better with nervous fish. If there is a good ripple then co-polymer is the best as it floats and is not really visible to the fish in the ripple. Try something like a small size 18 black beetle- it can represent many small black flies - it often works for me when fish are picky. Good luck. Oh and a nice long leader also helps as the fly will move naturally until the leader becomes taught and the fly will just stop moving.

Hi, I have just taken up fly fishing like yourself in the last month, I was wondering what rod or rods you have ? I ask this question as I have got some
cheap ones which a bought quickly to get going now thinking bad move.

Seeing has you have had a bit more time than me have got any information you could share.

Thanks Saltman.

think its unlikley to be your leader if your targeting rising fish it has made its mind up usually within 5secs of your dry fly hitting the water wether he is having it or not.

dry fly fishing is the biggest thrill of all in fly fishing imo.
but it will also drive you mad.

terry.

I go with those who believe that a floating leader can spook the fish.

However, I was wondering, if you can clearly see lots of fish coming up and turning away from your fly - can they see you? Perhaps keeping a bit lower or further away from the water might help.

__________________
"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

I've noticed a real difference when the leader is degreased with something like Orvis Mud or Permasink (or even some mud from the river or lake banks). Take a pinch of mud and run it alond the full length of the leader. It does two things, takes the shine of the leader and make it sink more readily.

Just taking some of the shine off the leader has, for me, been the difference between catching and not catching a couple of times already this season.

Hope this helps

FC

I agree, I think taking the shine off the tippet is the most important thing. Try size 18 and 20 flies if there turning away (go smaller). Also you can have the right sized fly, degreased tippet but if its to thick your not going to catch.

At the moment I have been using Reflo preston powerline in 4.75lbs @ 0.130dia and there 3lb 6oz 0.110dia line. I have also found targeting fishing swimming towards you results in more takes. I believe this because the tippet material is between you and the fly so the first thing the fish spots is the fly and no tippet on its run up to the fly.