Post by fenton on Dec 1, 2009 23:13:47 GMT
I would appreciate hearing of other peoples experiences of fishing slow moving water, fishing on the dangle and twitching. Particularly with respect to converting takes into fish! My thoughts, for what they are worth, follow.
Cheers
Fenton
Over the last couple of seasons I have caught an increasing proportion of my fish by casting further down stream than I used too, fishing slowly on the dangle, and twitching the fly. This has often coincided with fishing slower moving water than the streams, pools or even glides that I normally prefer.
I don't for a moment think that this is anything new, nor do I think that overall it is anymore effective than 'wanging it oot and letting it come 'round' (W Gunn esq circa 1800 ;D). Over the last four or five years I have caught a similar number of fish regardless of method.
However, in the same way that fishing the monkey fast and square is a specific technique, I think the same applies to twitching in slow water.
Although I can feel Willie Gunn pouring scorn on me from the sparkling waters of the North at any endorsement of canal fishing for salmon , it has its moments. Being in finger tip contact with your fly at all times, and feeling the effects of the induced take are both absorbing and exhilarating. I am sure that the fisher detects more plucks and takes using this method than a traditional off the reel approach.
For me, the important aspects of fishing in this way, are a fly that sinks quickly, a cast that is well downstream (11 ish?), twitching the fly, and increasing the speed of the fly if any interest is shown.
However, I struggle to convert takes into fish! About half of the fish I hook are lost, and that is not counting the wee plucks that amount to nothing. Some days every fish stays on, other days I have lost four or five.
In general the takes tend to be fairly tentative. Often I feel a pluck as I am twitching, twitch some more, and another pluck or two before the fish is on. I think that this contributes to the poor hook/catch rate. When fishing 'normally' (decent flow, oot n 'round) I do nothing when I get a take, let it run and tighten. However, when twitching, if I feel a pluck and do nothing, normally there is no further interest. But, by keeping twitching, often the fish is hooked after a few plucks. At this point I usually tighten and perhaps the fish is denied the opportunity to turn away and provide a secure hook hold? I would welcome any advice! (NB, the fish are usually lip hooked, I use Kamasan treble hooks, and am fanatical about their sharpness )
Cheers
Fenton
Cheers
Fenton
Over the last couple of seasons I have caught an increasing proportion of my fish by casting further down stream than I used too, fishing slowly on the dangle, and twitching the fly. This has often coincided with fishing slower moving water than the streams, pools or even glides that I normally prefer.
I don't for a moment think that this is anything new, nor do I think that overall it is anymore effective than 'wanging it oot and letting it come 'round' (W Gunn esq circa 1800 ;D). Over the last four or five years I have caught a similar number of fish regardless of method.
However, in the same way that fishing the monkey fast and square is a specific technique, I think the same applies to twitching in slow water.
Although I can feel Willie Gunn pouring scorn on me from the sparkling waters of the North at any endorsement of canal fishing for salmon , it has its moments. Being in finger tip contact with your fly at all times, and feeling the effects of the induced take are both absorbing and exhilarating. I am sure that the fisher detects more plucks and takes using this method than a traditional off the reel approach.
For me, the important aspects of fishing in this way, are a fly that sinks quickly, a cast that is well downstream (11 ish?), twitching the fly, and increasing the speed of the fly if any interest is shown.
However, I struggle to convert takes into fish! About half of the fish I hook are lost, and that is not counting the wee plucks that amount to nothing. Some days every fish stays on, other days I have lost four or five.
In general the takes tend to be fairly tentative. Often I feel a pluck as I am twitching, twitch some more, and another pluck or two before the fish is on. I think that this contributes to the poor hook/catch rate. When fishing 'normally' (decent flow, oot n 'round) I do nothing when I get a take, let it run and tighten. However, when twitching, if I feel a pluck and do nothing, normally there is no further interest. But, by keeping twitching, often the fish is hooked after a few plucks. At this point I usually tighten and perhaps the fish is denied the opportunity to turn away and provide a secure hook hold? I would welcome any advice! (NB, the fish are usually lip hooked, I use Kamasan treble hooks, and am fanatical about their sharpness )
Cheers
Fenton