Presentation is #1

Posted by rusty on October 15, 2007

     Did you ever find yourself on the stream getting skunked, and wishing you had a specific fly?  Well I’m sure you all have at some point.  Most people know that the way to catch more fish is to match the hatch, but my belief is that presentation is #1. 

     The reason I find this to be true is that so many times my good friend Philip and I would catch fish from daylight til dark on the same fly, while most people switch with the fish activity throughout the day.  We will usually start the day with what is a confident fly of ours, or what we know has worked in the past(keep a journal).  Even as the temperature heats up and the BWO hatch starts, or whatever is coming off that day, you can still catch you share of fish as long as you present the fly to the fish in a natural and enticing way.

     The way that I began to believe this theory we had was when I first realized how to read the water during every drift I would make.  After a while of tossing cast after cast to feeding trout with no luck, you will start to learn.  It’s kind of hard to explain, but I know when you figure it out it is one of the greatest rewards in fly fishing.  It’s almost like your force feeding them but without the force.

     The best way to learn this is to figure out what was different with the cast that caught the fish, and the casts that didn’t.  Fish a nice run or riffle that you know produces trout, with a fly that you wouldn’t think of using any other time, but this time trust it and fish it with confidence and close attention and I’m sure eventually you’ll figure out how to read the water.  Because remember, matching the hatch isn’t everything, presentation is #1.

     And as for now and always “tight lines”

     Rusty Foreman

The magic of the partridge

Posted by rusty on October 15, 2007

     Well it is now cooling off and the trout are starting to feed on some very interesting flies.  Some people will do well on the tradition egg pattern, some will stick to the old stand by, the San Juan worm (Philip), and others will hopefully find the magic of the soft hackle.

     The soft hackle to some people looks like a sparsely tied nothing, and I agree, but how the fish look at it is another story.  This time of year a lot of the trout are taking some odd presentations, and I’m about to tell you another one that works great for all eastern trout.  The traditional way to fish a soft hackle is on or just beneath the surface film, well pinch on some split shot and start to dredge.  Yes, I know it doesn’t sound right, but a soft hackle drifted deep and slow can pick up some large trout this time of year.

     Now all you need to do is pick a natural and productive color from the past and give it a shot.  The best way to tie a soft hackle is with partridge, but various other birds will work as well, like starling and chukar. The abdomen of the fly should be thin and not to bushy because the soft hackle on the fly will give off plenty of movement  in the water.  Just remember when tying a soft hackle that it doesn’t have to look appealing to you, but to the trout.  It’s pretty simple, fish them like you would fish any of your favorite nymphs and I believe you’ll be surprised by the results. 

     And as for now and always “tight lines”

     Rusty Foreman