While enjoying a wonderful day at Vale End yesterday (thanks for all the advice), it began to rain.

I had fished most of the day and caught 2 beautiful healthy fish, one on a damsel and another on a dry with a long 15ft leader. After that I had a quiet spell. It started to rain in the afternoon and within 10 casts of putting a gold head daddy on I caught another 2 fish.

I don't know whether it was that my presentation had improved during the day or because of the surface disturbance due to the rain hid my clumsy newbie efforts.

I don't think I have a bad casting action and expect a bit of inconsistency as I'm learning, however I am getting a double haul working and I know when it feels, and looks right.

Was it the rain, the change of pattern, my emprovement or just luck?

I have heard people say that rain can liven fish up but I'd say it was probably the fly change. But I don't really know much

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Hard work never hurt anyone...but im not taking the risk

There could have been any number of reasons or of course it could have been purely coincidence.

Good to hear that that you're working on the double-haul. On our reservoir, with almost 50 members, some of whom have fly-fished for yonks, It would appear that I am on my own in using the double-haul. I feel it is an integral part of casting and commend you for trying to perfect it.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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The one thing I am unsure about the double haul is do you shoot line or just build a rythm and let the line fire out? I found I have to have a bit of line out before I can start the loading of the rod but I am addicted to how good it feels when it is rocking......pow, the fly whizzes past my elbow and on a narrow wing like loop it shoots out turns over and lays down....such a good feeling when it works

Surprised you favour the double haul. Why cant you keep to the traditional methods? It's a shame some people cannot enjoy their fly fishing without resorting to none traditional methods.I think you should be banned. Sorry Mr Ruffe I am getting my coat but after your diatribe against people who use indicators I just couldn't resist it!

Not my diatribe......as far as I know the double haul has been in use for generations, it's nice to have it in your armary. Anyway I'm the new wave, the Fly Punk so you'd better get used to it!

I fail to see what is untraditional about a casting technique as opposed to float fishing. Amusing post though

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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*****©(

Personally, I like to get into a good rhythm for the last back cast and final forward cast letting the line fire out. You can also add, what some refer to, as the "hammer tap" to the forward cast to get an extra few yards. I have my thumb along the back of the handle and "tap" on the forward cast.
I also like to let the line run through the fingers of my left hand when it shoots out. Then the line can be "feathered" to make the leader lie straight - critical when casting to a rise.

I would advise against casting to the horizon when first arriving at the water. Many fish can be close in and are easily spooked by casting over them. Start off by casting close in first and then work your way out.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

~~*~~~~~
*****©(

Back to the original question. Bet it was the fly change that accounted for your sudden upturn in sport. Even dumb, flabby tail-less pellet-pig stockie rainbows in small muddy holes in the ground (sic) get used to the same pattern going past their noses time and again, and a fly change every half hour or so is good practice.

BTW, I must try some of these muddy holes that stock dumb, flabby tail-less pellet-pig stockie rainbows for myself, as recently I have been fishing attractive and naturalised small stillwaters that stock silvery, full finned and hard fighting fish.

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

I think it was the change of fly too, I put a pattern on, fan cast at increasing distance for three lenghts then change fly. I'll do this for three different patterns and theen move, I like to think that is pro-active angling.
I like the double haul because it feels nice.