When i catch fish on the hang more often than not i loose these fish be it
brown or rainbow what am i doing wrong and how can i overcome this?

I tend to wait for the fish to pull AND move before I tighten into it, having had experience of striking too early and losing the fish.

Another thing: if the fish does come free in the early stages, continue the hang as it will often induce a further take.

Lastly, you must expect a certain amount of lost fish when 'hanging', just as you would from takes during your regular retrieve - unless it's deep sunk boobies where the fly can be nearer it's **** than it's mouth!

Possibly the fish has more than likely been on your fly without you realising it Springers,resulting in you just nicking them with a poor hookhold .
Instead of waiting for a pull at the hand,try watching your leader where it enters the water for a visual indication.Failing that, try putting on an easilly seen fly on your top dropper and watch that for any signs of a take.....e.g dropping back suddenly or moving to the side.

one thing that i have learnt is to watch the dropper knot, not the actual dropper fly. If you have a 6inch dropper then that's half the amount of the slack that has to be taken up by the fish before the fly will actually move. If you see the fly move, then i find that you are probably too late and will often strike into nothing.

I know it's very hard to watch the actual knot, esspecially when it's windy, but you get used to what to look for with experiance. It's amazing just how many fish you can catch just by looking for the slightest variation in the knots movement.

Hit em fast and hard......................same as the dry fly......... to be honest, never done me any harm this way.

__________________
www.te-ff.org/
Trout Fisherman Magazine.
Hardy/Greys. Fulling Mill.

Aye agreed chickenfish but its still a fraction quicker than waiting for a touch at the hand.And as you say,its not always posible to see things clearly on the leader. I think it would be safe to say we would be missing a lot of chances if we relied on a pull of some sort.

Couldn't agree more on the hang Fred ..............but yer dry fly technique

__________________
Too much Saturn, not enough Moon.

Buzzers 2012


Fly Clips & Stands

Totall agree. I fish for brownies from the bank with a team of 3 wets. I get lots of takes as I hang the first 2 droppers and then slowly lift the tail fly to the surface. I just watch the angle of the leader to the water and watch for it to move and then strike. Works fine. I use a similar method on boats.

THE HANG - (Traditionally a pause at the end of your retrieve in which you can get the following fish to take)

Early season the wind can be strong and conditions difficult.Line markers are essential for fishing the hang…it lets you control your flies and strike.

When the line marker hits your tip ring get ready….this is the most important part of the cast…(do not just lift and recast or just hold the flies motionless in the water…just hanging…the fish will swim round and then off )

You must induce the take (get the fish to take the fly’s)…so bounce the flies a little (dibble them)

You will see any take before you feel it (often you don’t feel it)…if in doubt Strike Hard

If you feel any resistance strike (HARD)….Use the top dropper as a float…..if you see your top dropper go sideways, dip or dissapear STRIKE HARD….

Do not just lift into the fish or you will loose it…the rod will absorb the take and you won’t set the hook…it’ll be on for 3-4 secs then off

Also watch your leader line…..if it suddenly straightens, moves etc, STRIKE..


hope that helps

__________________
Mock me, vilify me, but don’t ignore me!

Works for me Rob ............. each to there own mate, no mercy !

__________________
www.te-ff.org/
Trout Fisherman Magazine.
Hardy/Greys. Fulling Mill.