In my last column I discussed flies and what they might represent. In this column I would like to talk about using them effectively. For those of you who have read my book, “Chucking Flies” (available at Lone Butte Sporting Goods, Nuthatch Books, and Parkside Art Gallery and Gift Shop), in the chapter titled “Techniques and Strategies” I spoke to the fundamentals of the three “Ps” - namely, Position, Pattern and Presentation. While my book deals primarily with the subject of fly casting from an anchored craft in a lake, these same strategies can be applied to trolling a fly as well.
First, positioning is anchoring in such a way that allows the individual to present a fly to a point where the fish are suspected to be. It could be a reedy shoreline, a sunken shoal or drop off, a marl flat, or in deeper water, areas fish are known to forage for food. If the boat is moving, it can also cover the same areas while being cautious not to snag up in shallower water. In previous columns I mentioned that in order to catch fish, they must be located. To reiterate: one can see them surfacing or see where other people may be anchored or trolling. When it comes to fishing near anchored boats, or trolling in their proximity there is an unwritten code of ethics that most people follow when on a lake. While this example of infringement might be outdated; it would be like going into a phone booth occupied by someone already on the phone. In general, a respectable distance to maintain between anchored boats and even those trolling would be 100 feet or roughly 30 meters. I have witnessed large fish being hooked and in making a long run, get tangled in someone else’s anchor rope and breaking off. Please be respectful of others when using our precious waters.
In previous columns I have discussed different strains of trout and their feeding preferences as well as lake environments and the importance of locating them. Again, as just mentioned, this can be done in many ways including the use of sonar. Finding the fish does not always guarantee success. This is where the next “P” comes into play, pattern. Sometimes the fish can be extremely selective and will take only a fly pattern precisely tied to match the size, shape and colour of whatever organism they are feeding on. Quite often this requires changing the fly until the correct one is found.
Nonetheless having the right pattern does not always result in takes, and so presentation becomes very important. As Ron Newman stated in his book, “Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing, A Guide for Still Waters”, trout are near sighted, meaning they can only see for a distance of about five metres or 15 feet. With that in mind, it is paramount that any counterfeit offering be presented within that distance. When fishing shallower water say up to 15 feet in depth, this is not usually an issue unless other factors such as water temperature or oxygen keep fish down closer to the bottom. Since most fish cannot look down, the offering must be presented above them. As an example, if the fish are feeding at a depth of say three feet off the bottom in the aforementioned depth, it would be best to hang the fly under an indicator at around the 11-foot depth. This presumes the fly fisher is using a floating line. Presenting the fly can be done with the use of a sinking line (the sinking rate appropriate to the depth being fished) or even a floating line with a long leader and a swivel attaching the leader to the tippet helping it to sink to the correct depth using a countdown. In this I mean counting how many seconds it takes to either reach bottom (and then shorten the count), or the fish (and remember the count).
Presentation also includes the type of retrieve used which could include a slow, constant retrieve imitating such organisms as a mayfly nymph; short, jerky pulls to imitate a shrimp or water boatman; or leaving it static under an indicator representative of an emerging chironomid pupa. It is wise to vary retrieve methods and speeds to see what the fish want. For the trollers, depending on the type of sinking line being used, speed can make a huge difference on where in the water column (depth from the top to the bottom of a lake) the fly may be. A good rule of thumb is that early spring and late fall will find the fish in the shallower portions of the lake and as the water warms in the summer, they will move to deeper water.
This is a very brief overview of fishing strategies, and I recommend readers do more research on whatever medium they are comfortable with, being it books, the internet, or YouTube. Enjoy what is left of the open water fishing. The ice man cometh!
