Hi - sorry if this one's been answered before but my Hywel Morgan day instruction threw up a bewildering issue for me.

Fishing floating line, weighted lure, rod tip slightly to one side and 3ft above the water. Was told to put rod tip onto water surface, touching the water, and point the tip directly at the taut fly line to feel the take. Having been told firmly in the past NOT to do this as I'd lose the fish, am now seriously confused (no comment).

I've obviously missed something here - including a fish presumably! - so can anyone advise please?

Trish

I understand your confusion. Pointing the rod tip straight along the line to me is wrong. It offers the chance that you are retrieving at the same time a fish strikes. IMO, this will result in a lost fish. Keep the rod slightly to the side so as to provide a 'spring' when the fish takes. If it occurs when you are not retrieving at least you will see the take.

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Hmmm. Thank you for confirming the usual advice I have received.

Just trying to think of a reason for his repeating this instruction - if I was practising casting with him and therefore not retrieving as expecting to lift off and cast again, the line would have been baggy and therefore needing to be tightened, but all the same - despite my querying the point-tip-directly-at-line order - there was no give and take in his response.

Ah well, I'll go for a slightly off-direct approach then. Perhaps I was overdoing the angle to the side...

Trish

Interesting. I always point the rod at the water when retrieving lures or indeed anything sub surface. i feel you get a better indication of the take. I have never been smashed in the take, despite some being pretty strong!

---------- Post added at 09:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:17 AM ----------

Not sure I agree. If a fish strikes as you retrieve, you'll feel the pull instantly and be able to set the hook. if your retrieve pulls the fly away from the fish at the critical moment, he'll 99 times out of 100, put in a burst of speed and engulf the 'escaping' lure. fishing 'off centre' only gives indication of the take from the line/rod tip. IMO leading to more lost fish.

I quote you Browniebasher 'I always point the rod at the water' - do you mean directly at the line though, when it is straight out ahead of you?

I've heard this theory before and there was a logic behind it but I can't remember what it was for sure - I think it was something to do with a more positive strike or feeling a take more easily. (I'm sure someone will confirm one way or the other.)

The other way to do it (and how I was taught) ties in with an issue raised in article I read yesterday: a 2lb leader will break quite easily if you tug on it in a straight line. Pulling against the srping of the rod and you can tug a lot harder.

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You can only fish for so long before you have to throw a stick of dynamite in the river.

Got to agree with Brownie, I don't think I have ever missed a fish, unless I have been a bit slow, or not consentrating.

Usually pretty much at the line. remember though if your rod's pointing at the line, and you're on a floater, it will have some angle between rod and line. The rod points down far more sharply than the line which should be more or less horizontal (on the surface). only when using a heavy sinker is it straight through to the fly.

---------- Post added at 10:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 AM ----------

Yes, but you NEED to tug a lot harder to set the hook, particularly when there's some slack in either the rod or the line. I suppose my primary reason for fishing a rod tip to the water (and i am adamant this is the only way to do it for good indication when lure fishing) is so that you get an instant feel of the take, and the retrieve usually serves as the strike in any event, and you just need to lift the rod tip when you feel the fish..

Oh that sounds sensible so will return to the method I was originally taught - and which was reinforced by HM - of pointing the tip at the line and hoping to goodness the thing doesn't break off.

Thanks all!

Trish

I really don't think you'll regret it. When i'm teaching i am forever pushing learner's rods down as they retrieve!!

BTW your 'name' - Blue Elver. Lovely fly that. caught A LOT of salmon on it once when every other fly was failing..! I've framed the scraggy remains of the fly now>!

---------- Post added at 10:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 AM ----------


To be fair though Idris, how often do you fish a 2lb tippet when lure stripping/retrieving? Most lures would crack that off on the cast!

Cheers
Alex