Fishing Technique

The beginner must learn to look with eyes that see. Occurrences of apparently little importance at the moment may, after consideration, assume proportions of great value. The taking of an insect, for instance, may mean nothing more than a rising trout; but the position occupied by this fish may indicate the position taken by others in similar water.

The flash of a trout, changing his position preparatory to investigating the angler's fly, will frequently disclose the spot occupied by him before he changed his position; and, later on, when the fish are not in the keenest mood for feeding, a fly presented there accurately may bring a rise. The quick dart up-stream of a small trout from the tail of a pool is a pretty fair indication that a large fish occupies the deeper water above; it indicates just as certainly, however, that the angler has little chance of taking him, the excitement of the smaller fish having probably been communicated to his big relative.

The backwater formed by a swift current on the upstream side of a boulder is a favourite lurking-place of brown trout. I was fishing such places one day, and found the trout occupying them in rather a taking mood. In approaching a boulder which looked particularly inviting, and while preparing to deliver my fly, I was amazed to see the tail and half the body of a fine trout out of the water at the side of the rock.

For a moment I could not believe that I had seen a fish-the movement was so deliberate and I came to the conclusion that it was fancy or that a water-snake, gliding across the stream, had shown itself. Almost immediately, however, I saw the flash of a trout as he left the backwater and dashed pell-mell into the swift water at the side of the boulder.

Down-stream he came until he was eight or ten feet below the rock, when, turning sharply and rising to the surface, he took from it some insect that I could not see. Up-stream again he went, and shortly resumed his position in the dead water, showing half his body as he stemmed the current at the side of the rock. Once more this performance was repeated, and I knew I had stumbled upon an interesting experience.

Hastily measuring the distance, hoping to get my fly to him before some natural insect might excite him to give another exhibition of gymnastic feeding, I dropped it about three feet above him, and, contrary to my usual method of retrieving it as it floated past the up-stream side of the boulder, I permitted it to come down riding the top of the wave, when the same flash came as the trout dashed after it.

The fish could be plainly seen almost directly under the fly. As it reached the rapidly flattening water below the rock, he turned and took it viciously, immediately darting up-stream again. He was soundly hooked, however, and I netted a fine fish lacking one ounce of being a pound and a half. My experience heretofore had been that if a fly were placed a yard or so above this point and allowed to float down to the rock a feeding fish would rush forward-often as much as two feet-and take it, immediately turning or backing into his position again. I had assumed from this observation when the fly passed the rock or backwater without a rise it should be retrieved and another try made.

This fish satisfied me, however, that when really feeding, or when inclined to feed, trout may be lured comparatively long distances by inviting-looking morsels. Either he did not decide to take the fly until just as it was passing him or else he liked the exercise of the chase. In any event, he was not peculiar in his habit, because four more fish were taken in the same manner the same day.

In most cases when the fly is cast above a boulder lying in swift water (which I consider, under certain conditions, one of the best places to look for brown trout) it will be taken as it approaches the rock, the trout darting out and retiring immediately to avoid being caught in the swifter water on either side of his stronghold. But if it is not taken, and is permitted to float down with the current, it may bring a response.

It was a somewhat similar observation which prompted the practice and, I must say, rather dubious development of what some of my friends are pleased to call the "fluttering" or "bounce" cast. This cast is supposed to represent the action of the fluttering insect, the fly merely alighting upon the water, rising, alighting again, repeating the movement three or four times at most; finally coming to rest and being allowed to float down-stream. It rarely comes off, but when it does it is deadly; and, for the good of the sport, I am glad but when it does it is deadly; and, for the good of the sport, I am glad that it is difficult, though sorry, too, for the pleasure of accomplishing it successfully is really greater than that of taking fish with it.

The cast is made with a very short line-never over twenty-five feet-and the fly alone touches the water. The action of the fly is very similar to that produced by the method known as "dapping," but instead of being merely dangled from the rod, as is the case when "dapping," the fly is actually cast. It should be permitted to float as far as it will after its fluttering or skipping has ceased.

The beginner practising the cast will do well to cast at right angles to the current, and he should choose rather fast water for his experimenting. The speed of the water will cause the fly to jump, and the action it should have will be the more readily simulated than if the first attempts are made on slow water.

----------------------SIDEBAR-----------------------

Older fly fishing classics contain a wealth of knowledge for the beginner fly fisher as well as the experienced angler.

The preceding article was an excerpt from: "Secrets To Fishing The Dry Fly - Vol II" by G.M. LaBranche (1914)

--------------------END SIDEBAR-------------------

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Don Berthiaume has uncovered fly fishing tips and techniques that were almost lost forever. To discover more about fly fishing, and claim your free, 4-part mini-course, visit this site: Fly Fishing Tips

Celluslosic Ethanol Better Batteries And Hydrogen ...

Making glow in the dark lures is easy, very fun and could be a profitable hobby. It has long be known by anglers that a huge attraction getter for fish it the use of light. Wether that be the color of the lure or the spinner it has attached,light triggers a reflex in the fish that makes them hit it. Often anglers are faced with the task of over coming dark or murky, muddy water to catch the smart little critters. One way many fisher men and women are turnig to over come this issue is glow in the dark lures.

I am not going to go into great detail about what is glow in the dark powder and why does it glow. You can visit www.glonation.com to get the technicial stuff. What I will discuss is how easy it is to make these.

Glow in the dark paint and powder can be purchased from many retailers off the net. You can buy the paint premade or make it yourself.

If you are going to spray paint your lures such as plastic hard body minnows or chubs. Mix one ounce of glow in the dark powder to three ounces of your clear paint.Then spray with a air brush. Use the fine mesh powder. Stir often and use the widest #5 air bursh needle you have to help slow down the clotting. You will have to clean the air brush good after each use. The green or blue glow powders work best here. They are the brightest and longest glowing. Green around 13 hours and Blue around 4 hours.

If you are going make plastic worms. Use any soft worm plastic and mix the glow powder into it while it is melted. Stir and pour. I suggest letting it cool slightly, not to much, and stir just before pouring. The glow powder needs to be suspended in the plastic. If you want to add color add it just before the powder. Go light on the color so the glow comes through.

It takes UV light to activate the powder. Sunlight being the best. You ask?? What if the sun is not out, will my lures glow. Yes! they will. If it is overcast UV light is shinning down it will take a little longer for the powder in or on the lure to activate, but it will glow. Some people who ice fish use a small hand held black light. Cheap to buy and works great.

Other fishing items this stuff is good for is to paint the tip of your fishing rod for night catfishing. Also floats or bobbers are made to glow by painting them.

GloNation.com hopes these ideas help in your quest to land the big one. Just maybe glow in the dark paint or powder will help.

Troy Myers operates GloNation.com. GloNation supplies fishermen, crafters and artist with glow in the dark paint and powders. Very bright and very long glowing all GloNations products are commerical grade and top quality. Please vist us at. http://www.GloNation.com

Build Your Optin List Today Monsters Under The Bed

For many fishermen Alaska is the ultimate "mecca" of fishing. Early childhood dreams of Salmon choked rivers and Bears of every shape and size basking in the sun, their bellys full of fish- and the occasional "slow" fisherman- help to fuel the vision that is Alaska.

The north country.

The place where even a blind man can catch a fish. At least I hope so, because after forty-seven years of talking about it, buying books on it, watching videos and saying "next year"-- the time has come for me to make my Alaskan pilgramage.

Bags packed and flights booked.

Come mid August I will be on the upper Kenai River casting bugs to Silver Salmon and Graylings and Dolly Varden Trout. I sure hope I don't get skunked.

I literally have travel guides that date back to the mid 1980's, that I picked up, because that was the year I was heading north. For one reason or another the trips always got cancelled or put off.

Not this year!!

Every time I picked up a map of Alaska, I was always amazed at the immense size of our 49th state. So much so, that I always felt I needed three full months to explore it. With that kind of self-imposed mind set, I just kept putting it off.

I finally decided that one week is better than never, so I'm going!

A friend of mine has a son who will be guiding up there this summer, so it seemed like an ideal time to go. Besides, now I can blame him if I come home fishless. My real worry is that I am a lot slower these days so I will have to be selective as to who I fish with while I am up there. I have been having time trials here in Southern Oregon and anybody that can outrun me over 100 yards has been eliminated as a fishing partner. You know the old saying about not having to "outrun" the bear--you just have to be faster than the other guy. Unfortunately, if the bear happens to be a "long distance" bear-- I'm screwed, because I think both of my current fishing partners are marathoners. Maybe I can size up some of the other fishermen while I am up there and situate myself as close to a 250 pound out a shape smoker as possible.If he was to have a prosthetic leg, that would help also, but I'm not sure exactly how to check for that. I certainly don't want the guy to be too large, because then the bear might be intimidated by his size and opt for me as an appetizer??!!

A lot of things to think about before fishing in Alaska.

Another concern of mine that I have heard about, is the abundance of mosquitoes that apparently are everywhere. If there is one mosquito in a 50 mile radius he will find me, so I am concerned that millions of the tiny buggers might cover me like a bee colony drawn to the hive. Based on past experiences, I think my body must be made up of 90 percent carbon dioxide-- which I believe is what they are drawn to-- because I can stand next to ten people outdoors and while I am flailing and swatting like an epileptic, spasmatic fool-- they will stand there calmly looking at me like.... well... like I'm some epileptic, spasmatic fool!!

Again, not being one to enter a wild country unprepared, I am currently undergoing some slightly painful yet necessary skin grafts with a very fine screen mesh that should do the trick.

If not, I will be offering myself up to some rather slow and undernourished Grizzlies.

I know this sounds rather drastic, but my wife was once able to read the entire braille alphabet on my back after I was bitten so many times on another fishing excursion. That and the fact I have heard of guys having metal plates inserted into their head from to many bites. Oh, and of course there is always West Nile virus to worry about--but I can get that here in lower 48 as well.

Other than that, I can't wait to be fishing in Alaska.

AJ Klott-Author, blogger, and peddler of "fly tacks". AJ writes of fishing humor, and the events, people and characters that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.

View his articles and fly tacks at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com/ or http://www.twoguyswithflys.com/blog/blog.html

The Basics Of Training Your Dog Almost Free New Product Publicity Can Work For You... Country Quail