Went out to Helwith Bridge yesterday on a trip and found it really hard going. Lost 2 fish and took 1 home but with the weather the way it was, it was really difficult casting.

There were no `nips` all day to give a clue to as to what the fish were up to.

We were trying various lures at various depths with various retrives and nothing

Was it just one of those days or would you have done something different?

Any hints welcome :-)

Cheers

It may just have been one of those days - you did well just to get out, never mind catch.
In view of the wind, I'd be inclined to try an Apps bloodworm on an intermediate.
If you can find some shelter, a bung and an egg fly or mini lure often do the trick if all else fails. (Sorry if this thread now turns into a "bung argument")

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

I had wondered about a bung but with wind direction constantly changing i worried it would be more hastle than it was worth.

With an apps on int, would I use the same principle for my retrieve as I would with a lure?

Obv. a much slower retrieve but try waiting for different times before retrieving or just a constant v slow retrieve brining it back as it sinks?

Thanks

Just one of those days probably. East wind/change in weather etc can all 'kill' the sport and affect fish in ways we don't notice. you did well to get a brace.

I don't use the bloodworm often but it is my go to fly when all else fails & it can be so deadly (as wednesday proved). I find it works best under a bung on windy days, the ripple works the fly for you and on calmer days you need to keep twitching it now and again. As for an inter i would just experiment (different days/conditions/venues can require a tactic change), some days a very slow figure of eight works, others it's one short pull leave a few seconds then another short pull (the majority of my takes are when it is sinking)

You could have tried a Di5 or Di7 line with a Cat's booby.Cast it out and let it sink to the bottom then bring it back slowly with a twitch now and then.

Ledgered (oops I mean static ) booby.

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At the vice, if at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried

Is that when you use a long leader and just let it sink to the bottom?

No boobys allowed on Hellwith.

Fastest sinking line that you have with a short leader. You could start with a booby on a dropper at 3ft and another booby on point (6ft). Make sure the line has sunk to the floor ( this can take longer than you think) and then twitch it back in. As you pull, the booby dives down, when you stop the booby drifts back up. Play around with speed, length of pull etc until you start getting a response.

Assuming boobies aren't banned.

(Fish will take a booby fished static on the bottom but you add to the risk of deep hooking them - at least that is the received wisdom - which is why it's disliked)

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