My wife, 11yr old son and I have just recently taken up fly fishing and are having great fun and plenty of fresh air. We've bought the gear and are slowly learning about the wonderful art that's fly fishing. We've so far been to Whinney Loch, Whitton Lakes and Chatton as well as Caistron.

So far it's mainly been dry fly with 'daddy's' and with varying success. On the lakes we've been visiting, when the fish are rising, you can see a swirl of dorsal fin but the feeding is obviously just under the surface. How do you know what they're feeding on or, is it a seasonal (or even time of day thing)?

With so many fly types, how do you know what imitates what and how to fish it? Is there some sort of structure to follow to hit feeding fish?

We're using floating lines with leaders the same length as the rod and would love some advice for next time we go. I've bought a variety of flies already and am trying to match the fly with the conditions etc.

One question is how to fish a buzzer? Long leader and a indicator? or just leave it 'hanging'? Do you give it a twitch or a good 'pull' to make the buzzer rise a little.

So many questions...any help very much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Paul

ps was at Chatton on Saturday and the first person we saw said they been doing well and offered me the same fly! What can you say, what wonderful people there are out there.

Captain is gonna choke and splutter on his Chianti if he sees this, however I tend to fish three buzzers under a bung/indicator on a 10ft leader, 2ft to the the first dropper then 4ft to middle and 4ft to point. Fished very slow or static, with the odd slow pull to mimic the rise and fall of the natural chironomids through the water column.

You can also straight line them on a longer leader but as you are starting out, stick with a shortish leader for now and gradually work your way up to longer.

If the fish are feeding just below the surface like this, try a 12ft leader with a couple of Diawl Bachs or Crunchers on the droppers and a small booby on the point. I would normally use a much longer leader for this but again take it easy to start with.

The Pirate.

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It could be one of two things buzzers or nymphs. Buzzers "swim" through the water in a jerking motion so a slow but jerky figure of eight can replicate this. I'm sure someone else will enlighten us more accurately on the rise pattern. The best way to find out is to get right down to the water and try to see yourself what is about, sometimes this can take a lot of peering or get a little white mesh beach net and scoop the water a few times you'll be amazed at how much life there is.

With respect PP.... AAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!..... Dont get drawn in chap!!! learn properly from proper 'fly' anglers not the ones that aint Flyfishermen/women and cant catch properly!!!... Try coarse fishing instead if you take that lot on board!!! (Float fishing that is!!) The rest of PP's input is far better and..... Flyfishing!!

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Before you cast the fly, make sure you can handle the fish! Vuoi imbrogliare? Poi Non competere! (If you want to cheat, then dont compete)

Hi', Paul.
At this time of year, there aren't many different species of aquatic fly emerging anywhere, and the greater diversity will be on rivers.
On still waters, midges will be the main movers. Their pupae, 'buzzers', on reaching maturity will be moving up the water column in preparation for emerging, so, as has been suggested, it could be midge pupae that are attracting the fish. They tend to rise and fall, and their characteristic waggling movement will attract fish.
The relatively few upwinged species, lake olive, pond olive, claret and sepia dun, caenis etc may well be present in larval form, but they'll be on the bottom or in any greenery that is still alive.
Some of the more hardy, late season sedges might also hatch, and if your lake has an inflow, there could be the odd little stone fly around; and there could be terrestrials coming off the banks. But, the pickings are becoming fewer and farther between for the trout.
Fortunately, in addition to midge pupae playing at elevators in the water, there could be a fair few corixae about. They are shallow water inhabitants, they have no choice, as they come to the surface for air, and are very vulnerable as they paddle up and down, collecting air. Snails, where they exist, are there all year round, also, and there are species which also come up for air -- pulmonate snails. Occasionally, trout may be seen sipping at the surface or bulging gently, in the absence of visible fly life, and they can be taking snails.
I've taken rather a long time to make the case for fishing buzzers, at this time of year, but I think it helps if you know something about the options, and there aren't a lot. The fry of other species is one option, but rises to them are usually quite spectacular.
Downstairs, an under-valued nymph is happily chomping away -- the damsel.
They are essentially bottom food just now, but they are pretty important in
some waters, as are hoglice and shrimps. So the options in the basement are generally better than those in the penthouse. Oh' yes, and caddis are a year-round option, also in the basement, but these bottom food sources are not generally found at great depth. Algae, weeds, and plant waste, the staple for many larvae, are vailable where there is good light penetration.
Hope that helps, wthout confusing. TerryC
PS Stewart, the Pirate, obviously likes the washing-line method of fishing in the top layers of the water column, and it is a great way to present both buzzers and nymphs to fish that are making visible disturbance. Go for it.

And no mention of the use of 'Floats'!!.... .. Good educated reply Terry.

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Before you cast the fly, make sure you can handle the fish! Vuoi imbrogliare? Poi Non competere! (If you want to cheat, then dont compete)

A 'bung' it is then, eh, Captain?

Seriously, many thanks for the replies, everyone. Your advice is gratefully received and will be tried next time we wet our lines. I'll have a look at how to tie 'dropers' and go speak to the fishing shops about the type of flies, I've not heard of them, apart from a 'booby'...but maybe thats with trawling the internet too much?

Again, many thanks for the time you took to reply and your help is very much appreciated. I'll keep you in touch!

You obviously are keen and enjoying your venture into fly fishing. It is indeed a wonderful art and you always keep learning, and I've been at it for over 1/2 a century.

I hope you also take up fly dressing which is most entertaining and there is nothing quite like catching a fish on a fly you have created and tied yourself.

Thanks, Ron. I'm sure one day I'll begin to make my own flies but I'll look to learn as much as possible about casting etc first. I can only imagine the feeling by catching a fish on your own fly! Great stuff.

just incase you do go with the bung idea happyeater, please check that the distance from your f*&^t (wont print the expletive captain) to the point fly is not greater than the length of your rod. inevitably something must give! especially if the fish is to be released correctly