Hey there guys,

If I'm fishing say a sinking line (di5) and 3 buggas.. I was wondering what retrieves, or what I can change in my retrieve or the way I fish to get the fish to bite more.

my buggas are generally unweighted b175 8#s. Generally 18foot leader, flies 6 feet apart. I get some fish on the drop and at the very start of the retrieve (just a 1 foot pull and pause) and then I get the odd fish at the end on the hang.

any help would be appreciated.

The quick answer, variation in the retrieve, some slow, some fast, smooth, jerky, countdown the lures to different depths, lots to go at there and you could spend an hour in one swim going through the above till you find the depth the fish are at and the retrieve they want

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Is there anything consistent that you can do to get a bite.. Like I notice if i stop the retrieve for a couple a secs, then the next pull I sometimes get a bite.. is there anything else like that you can do to enduce a take which is consistent.

In short, nothing, fish are not like that, it isn't like a game console where a set move will get you a set result, there are to many variables, water temp, water clarity, wind, sun, temperature, hatches etc

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APGAI Single Handed Casting Instructor
GAIC Double Handed Casting Instructor
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ADB Level 1 Coach



http://www.gamefishinginstruction.co.uk

http://www.oakroyalgolf-countryclub.co.uk/

http://chrisaldred.blogspot.com/

There's nothing that will consistently get you a take, or you'd be catching all the time, and there'd be no fun in that!

As said above vary your retrieve eventually you'll find what the fish want on that particular day. That said, there are some rules that seem to work better than others.

when using large lures, strip them in a jerky fairly quick retrieve of about 6 ins at a time count down to where the fish are and then retrieve..

NEVER stop the retrieve for more than a second or two. if a fish is chasing, he'll almost certainly turn away. yes, another may take up the chase in the second part of the retrieve, but imo once started, don't stop, particularly if you see a fish following.

never whip your flies out of the water at teh end of the retrieve, always draw them up in the water with the rod first. a fish will often take at the last second before the flies come out of the water, and this can often be the bigger fish that have been following but not committing,

Cheers
ALex

Problem is fish will always be at different levels in the water column,as previously said its finding where and then using the retrieve to entice them but they will not always want your tasty lures especially when all they see is dancers etc whizzing past all day,sometimes going the other way is productive put on very small flies and try the same thats what makes it all fun .Fish will take lures at speeds you cannot possibly pull them at and on other days they will hammer a lure fished static!Temperature ,atmospheric pressure,wind speed and direction etc all have their part to play on their behaviour are they new stockies or over wintered the list goes on and on .My advice would be experiment take two rods with different set ups and try them for blocks of 30 mins trying the countdown method until you get nips/takes,look about you watch for rises and don't just go to the spot that worked the last time.Watch for birds attacking the surface most likely fry are about,try to learn where drop off zones are on your usual fishery,don,t be afraid to use a dry fly and even the old traditional wets can save a blank.Also be brave and fish into the wind when all others are casting with it behind because its easier,very often there are lots of fish gorging on nice snacks blown towards them,I took a fish from about 6inches from the bank yesterday in fairly shallow water just on the edge of the wind channel free food drifting along what trout could resist Lol.It was a size 14 goldhead nymph.
Hope that helps lots more clever people on here will help too.


Pete

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The only way to get a take each cast is in a stock pond but then you may aswell give up fly fishing.
Angling is about trying different things to entice fish to take and to find fish.As Alex said shorter faster pulls are always a good taker1 foot pulls is normally how most start off and its very hit and miss shorter jerky retreives are good as they add alot more movement to the fly and in lures the tail will pulse more and attract fish.Search depths to find fish using the countdown method ie cast count to 5 and retrieve and cast in a fan shape from side to side and then if nothing cast again and then count to 10 and so on till you find them.
I never advise what Im going to say now as this is just what i do and find it works for me.But I like my flies closer together than having them 6 feet apart ,my point fly to dropper is about 2 1/2ft then another 3 ft to the next dropper if i ever use 3 flies.it works for me so Im happy with it.I dont believe there is a right or wrong way to set up your leader really its like a rod if your happy with it and it works for you use it.

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Kevin

Do you think the fish in the lakes here in NZ are the same and will be a certain level at different times. Like one of the lakes I fish have weed beds and the deepest part is around 21foot channels, but alot of holes drop offs.. I sorta get the feeling that the trout is this lake are at different levels all the time.. Some taking bloodworms/midges near the bottom, some mid column taking snails, dragonfly larva and some tacke damsels nearer the surface near the top of the weedbeds.

Lucky you seems like the trout have a wonderful larder to explore lots of opportunity for various methods there.

Pete

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Thanks to all who donated to 999 comp 2011
New rainbow PB 22 lbs Bangour 23/10/2011

Try fly fishing and forget the pulling lures! You are on the right track with the bloodworms, snails, midges and dragonflies. .

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