I was out this evening and was forced to fish a banking with a strong side wind, this in turn "arced" the line in the water. I missed at least 5 fish as there was no tension between fly and rod.
Without stripping to keep the tension on, is there something I'm missing?

Any help appreciated.

Gary

In a crosswind, hold the rod with the tip pointing in the direction the wind's blowing from. That'll slow down the speed of the drift and put a bit more tension in your line. When trying to spot takes, watch the last couple of feet of the line like a hawk.

Nice tip Sir, I was doing the exact opposite


Thanks, Gary

Put a mend or two into the line

Pardon my ignorance, what's a mend?

Edit: Ignore that, I found what you are refering too: http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/t...n_mending.aspx

Thanks.

Gary

Send the line out as usual. Soon as you see it start to arc, lift the rod and look to flick 1/3rd of the line to the right (presuming the flow is to your left) by a soft short lift, quickly followed by a stab. The line will then slow to the same pace as the river.

If not repeat the operation.

Experience will teach you to recognise the oncoming drift before it gains momentum and you will mend sooner. hth.

Thanks again, that explains it superbly.

Assuming you are fishing a stillwater there are three ways of keeping in closer contact with your flies.

A) mend the line when the arc becomes too big as already outlined above. It may be necessary to do this two or three times each cast if the drift is that strong.

B) if space permits, edge downwind with the line as you retrieve. Care is needed to avoid stepping on the line while you do this. You may end up 5 yards or more downwind of where you started, but this doesn't matter if you just move back to your original position before the next cast.

C) use a fast intermediate or slow sinker to overcome the surface drift. This will probably be easier to cast as well due to its being thinner than a floater.

why try and fish out as far as possible ,fish down the edge on the windward side fish follow wind which equals food !!!!!!!!!!

__________________
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

That would be the bank of my choice, such a side wind can be the angler's best friend.

Something to remember, in these conditions when tightening into a fish, smoothly sweep the rod sideways not vertically - you want to move the line not lift it off the surface.

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

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