Over the past month I've been fishing a little local stream at various times of the day. I see fish moving but as soon as I get into position get a cast out - the water dies and nothing rises for the rest of my time there! I have landed a few fishing wets ect. But can't understand why I'm disturbing them so much.

I DON'T have polariods which could possibly help me and I can never spot any fish subsurface. Has anyone got pics over Polariod v non Polariod looking to the water?

Any other tips greatly appreciated.

Gary

Sounds like it is purely a stealth issue. Keep low, behind cover and don't enter the water unless you really really really have to. Catapult cast through trees before you have to wade lol. It is likely either the fish that are rising are actually seeing you and being put down or that fish you have not seen are spooking up through the rest. (polaroids are an invaluable tool!)

Dan

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I never enter the water on the stream as it's needless - to be honest the banks are fairly clear so being stealthy is hard. I can help but feel my fly line is spooking them?

I know RichardW on here is a big fan of dark non-flash fly lines (preferably brown) but eprsonally I have never had an issue with my little green one. Just make as few false casts as possible, approach from downstream and make sure you dont ats over fish, i.e. only the leader/tippet and fly lands upstream of them and you should be fine.

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If the banks are that clear of cover then getting in the water is probably going to be the easiest and quickest way of increasing stealth. It will get you off the skyline. Once in the water STOP! Stay still and see what happens, the fish may well stop feeding if they see you as you enter the water but give it ten minutes or so to see if anything starts to rise again. If not move upstream very slowly until you do see a fish rise (or spot one with your newly aquired polaroids!). Watch the fish and work out what it is taking and how you are going to cast to it. Don't rush
For a fish to be spooked by your line it needs to see it (an expert may be along shortly who will take issue with this but so be it). So keep false casts to a minimum and don't cast the line over fish (this is where your polaroids will help). Far more fish are spooked by quick movements on the bank and clumsy wading.
Keep low, move slowly and if possible cast with the rod horizontal.


Andy

Thanks for the tips so far guys! I'd still like to see a comparison with polariods though :-P it's my fly line hitting the water that worries me. It is only a 3 weight but im para I think. Not done much river fishing at all so it's a hue change lol.

I find polaroids essential. Well worth spending money on a good pair with glass lenses instead of plastic which are far more scratch resistant.
Not only brilliant for fish spotting and assisting to see where you're feet are going. Over a long day without good polaroids I found I was getting headaches after fishing on bright days.
Brown is a good lenses colour for river conditions. That last comment might spark a little debate.
I have wasted lots of money on cheap glass over the years, now using costa del mars which I find excellent and so they should be for over a £100 a pair.

Here but if I were you I'd turn the sound off to watch it...



richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

WC advice gets my vote but I would add keep tight to the bank if possible. If you do spook them, they may head downstream past you if you are not blocking the way.