Not having luck on the fly

[BASSMASTER19]

hey guys, as some of you might know already im a noob with my 6wt and have been reading up and studying and going out to try and fish, but im not sure what to do and what are the best flies to use ? i want to catch trout in duffins and oshawa. do i just let the fly sit on top and go with the current or do i strip it in ? i have a 6wt line with dt and 6ft leader i tie my flies directly onto the line am i doing something wrong. Ive also been called a snagger when fishing for salmon but i wasnt trying to do it i used single hooks and flies i bought, and the hook was always in the mouth, and i always put back the fish i caught and never took eggs. any help is greatly appreciated

 

[jlisk]

Not that I am an expert but basic setup is flyline -> leader -> tippet -> fly.

As far as techniques, start with the basics best way to improve your casting and get used to actually hooking and retrieving fish on the fly (worked for me so far).


Dry fly.

Using the basic line setup noted above I usually try to cast the line up stream and let it float back down towards me letting the fly drift as naturally as possible on top of the water. Applying floatant to the fly will help it ride on top of the water and not get dragged down and out of your target strike zone. Start with an elk hair caddis... really cant go wrong. Try to spot trout rising to the surface to inhale flys. Try not to cast your fly line over their heads as it may spook them from taking your fly. I like to us a longer leader/tippet setup for dry flies as I decrease my chance of over shooting my cast and landing my fly line on the trouts head. Try something like 9+3 feet and adjust as you feel comfortable.

Nymphing.

Same basic line setup but put an indicator/float on your line to control the depth at which your fly will hang in the water column and make takes a lot easier to see. The general rule is to set your indicator 1.5 times the depth of water you are fishing above your fly. I like to start somewhere close to this rule and then adjust depending on my first few casts. Hitting the bottom is good, but you shouldn't be dragging the bottom every cast, more of a bounce of a rock here and there well staying tight to the bottom. If your nymphs are light or you are having trouble getting them to the bottom you can add a small split shot 12-18 inches above your fly

I have found the best way to start nymphing is to cast slightly upstream and let the fly drift down to you as naturally as possible. You may have to mend your line upstream or downstream depending on the current you are fishing in. You will understand this when you try it out. You don't want your float to be affected by your fly line (pulled or pushed by it). Instead try to keep the line out of the water/mend as needed. As the float crosses you flip you may need to mend the line upstream of the float (and you) to keep the float as drag free (or natural as possible).

IF your float goes down set the hook, IF your float wobbles slightly set the hook, IF your float slows down unnaturally set the hook. You get the idea.

I like to use caddis/pheasant tail/prine nymphs as my "all around" nymphs. I use similar length of leader/tippet as dry flies.


For leader/tippet I like to try to use the lightest I feel I can get away with. You would be surprised how much a 9' (or more) rod and proper drag/handling can take on lighter tippet.


Like I said I am no expert but these are the few things I have learned in the past months getting out on the fly several times a week. It is a learning process, it will take time to get used to it but when you start hooking into fish all the skunks and tangles are worth it.

 

[BASSMASTER19]

thanks a lot jlisk ill have to try these out tomorrow :mrgreen:

 

[jlisk]

No problem, I am sure there are much more experienced fly guys on here who can help you out much more then I can.

 

[BASSMASTER19]

No problem, I am sure there are much more experienced fly guys on here who can help you out much more then I can.

I'll take any help I can, apparently seeing a 14 year old in shorts wading a river in mid October fishing salmon on a 6wt is unusual lol

 

[Jacklake]

from ChasinTails orginal post

[SIZE=9pt]Hi all, hope you all had a nice trout opener [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]last year during the fall salmon runs i was always asking around about correct line and rod for salmon on the fly. Everyone told me no lighter than an 8 wt and i was getting overwhelmed with all these terms for flies tipets and backing...in my frustration i tied on a 4lb fluro leader on a 6wt and a ghetto homemade fly and to my surprise i was catching lots of salmon. Now to my question, can i do this for trout ? I know theyre very finnicky but the only reason im bringing this up id because ive caught chrome on my mh baitcast rod with 45lb braid i had set up for fishing in florida.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]ChasinTails, on [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]24 Aug 2013[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]9:34 PM[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], said:[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE]

i have a 6wt line with dt and 6ft leader i tie my flies directly onto the line am i doing something wrong. Ive also been called a snagger when fishing for salmon but i wasnt trying to do it i used single hooks and flies i bought, and the hook was always in the mouth, and i always put back the fish i caught and never took eggs.

[SIZE=9pt]OK, call me either suspicious or confused. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Here we have a person who is claiming to be 14, but he knows about fluoro tippet and one time uses 4lb tipped (not in kilos as is currently taught in school) but only a 6ft leader (in spite of apparently doing all the reading he can), then says he ties the fly directly to the line. ??[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]He is curious about fishing steelhead but catches lot of salmon in the mouth - on a ghetto fly.[/SIZE]

apparently seeing a 14 year old in shorts wading a river in mid October fishing salmon on a 6wt is unusual lol

[SIZE=9pt]And as far as wading - who would wet wade in shorts in October? and further who would wade at all for salmon in [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Ontario[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]? Most salmon streams east of [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Toronto[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] are fished from the bank so not to spook (or be in the way) of the salmon. Accessible parts of the rivers aren't that big.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]And how did he get to [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Florida[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] and who set him up with braided line? That person might know something and could answer some of these questions.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Then there is this post from him [/SIZE]

well its been a while, lol sorry thanks for all the great help guys. so what about that fly outing we were talking about ?

[SIZE=9pt]Does his mom know what he is planning? - and how is he going to get there - in a car with a stranger?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]And what is a 14-year old doing in this website @ [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]midnight[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Very curious to me - has anyone met ChasinTails?[/SIZE]

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Jacklake, are you curios because you feel Chasintails is lying about his age?

 

[Christopheraaron]

from ChasinTails orginal post



ChasinTails, on 24 Aug 2013 - 9:34 PM, said:

OK, call me either suspicious or confused.
Here we have a person who is claiming to be 14, but he knows about fluoro tippet and one time uses 4lb tipped (not in kilos as is currently taught in school) but only a 6ft leader (in spite of apparently doing all the reading he can), then says he ties the fly directly to the line. ??

He is curious about fishing steelhead but catches lot of salmon in the mouth - on a ghetto fly.


And as far as wading - who would wet wade in shorts in October? and further who would wade at all for salmon in Ontario? Most salmon streams east of Toronto are fished from the bank so not to spook (or be in the way) of the salmon. Accessible parts of the rivers aren't that big.
And how did he get to Florida and who set him up with braided line? That person might know something and could answer some of these questions.

Then there is this post from him

Does his mom know what he is planning? - and how is he going to get there - in a car with a stranger?

And what is a 14-year old doing in this website @ midnight?

Very curious to me - has anyone met ChasinTails?

I have not met him but have no doubt in my mind that he is who he says he is. I myself am 15, although I don't wet wade I have friend that do (yes that late in the year). A short leader could be acceptable in some of the small eastern ditches. Ill be coming to the get together, my parents know and they're fine with it. NO ONE in North America measures line strength by kilos, and I stay up til midnight every night. And why the comment about braid? If he's done any reading he'll know it's the best line for bass. If you have nothing useful to contribute please leave.

And to the OP, try a royal wulff, dead drift

 

[Christopheraaron]

and to the Florida point, who's to say his family doesn't go on a yearly vacation?

 

[remyboy1]

I think we should launch an investigation--are you guys serious?

 

[Cody309]

he's just a curious kid trying to learn - I don't understand why the fifth degree was necessary lol

 

[remyboy1]

totally--who cares...hey tails come fly fishing with us man

 

[AaronKrick]

Who gives a crap.

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Poor guy. LOL. Ignore the drama Chasintails.

 

[grayer]

I started fishing alone at 13! Only way I got better was asking questions and getting out there on the river/lake. Keep on fishing and asking questions bud! I learn something new on OFF everyday

 

[Kit]

This is too funny.

I believe tails 100% if you haven't seen pictures of this kid he is surely 14. Its awesome to have someone that young out alone fishing.. Giver bud.

 

[BASSMASTER19]

Thanks guys lol,I was just curious, I didnt realize there were FBI agents on this forum

 

[W_boughner]

I was fishing alone when I was 10 at the local ponds and lake !!! Times were different 20 years ago but y would you think 14 is to young to fish alone??? Unless your a excessively over protective parent a 14 year old should be mature enough and smart enough to keep safe around water

 

[BASSMASTER19]

lol this guy thinks i fish alone ???? yup because i walk to the ganny when i wanna fish right ?, the season would be over by the time i get there. i fish with my dad and grandpa the only thing is that they dont fly fish so i needed help

 

[remyboy1]

tails get with the boys sometime soon man..between us well get ya goin. PS use tippet---tie to leader--you will save leaders as well the leader is tapered for a reason (to properly "unravel" and turn the fly out onto the water,, when your leader gets too short you will only be in the thick part///taking away its smooth roll out properties.