No doubt the climatic conditions we are experiencing here this new year are unique; but before too long we will start to see some settled patterns move in for the spring. And when we do, we will also see some degree of regularity so far as the trout feeding patterns throughout the day.
We eagerly await the onset of the caddis hatches, surface feeding fish and the fun of fly fishing the caddis hatch. As for me and my customers, the last week of February we did experience some of the best fishing out there. The low water and warm days brought about fish feeding activity. We also saw the first stragglers of the early season caddis emergence, which allowed for some great top water action, particularly one day at Buffalo shoals. The action was hot all through the day.
Further downstream on other days, we fished long drifts working the shallow gravel bars looking for the trophy Browns that typically look for resting spots amongst the moss beds found there. The chosen method was fishing with sink tip and streamer. Now this method of fly fishing is not quite as simple as you may think, particularly when using a downstream drift approach with a boat over shallow water. You do run the risk of spooking the fish downstream from you before they see the fly.
Here the ability to be able to cast longer line than normal is a very big plus in the 50 to 70 ft ranges. You also aim for the fly to be seen by the trout before anything else. Often as not, the take is within a few yards of the strip back of the fly.
Days with good overcast cloud cover, some wind that disrupts the surface of the water and may be a touch of color in the water all increase the odds in your favor.
Choice of sink tip line, length of leader added and fly is also an important consideration. Fly line choice is determined by a number of things--the downstream drift speed and the average depth of the water being fished. Two to four feet differs from three to six feet and knowledge of the river is a big plus.
The options for sink tip lines are determined by two factors. The length of the sinking section of the tip and by what IPS it carries, inches per second it sinks.
In simple terms, the slower the water speed the less sink rate you will need and over shallow water a shorter sink section. Faster water you need to use a line that carries a longer sink section with a faster rate of sink.
The deal is to be able to have your fly maintain its swim closer to the bed of the river for the longest period of time as you work the fly back toward you, which will as a rule be across and with a downstream return angle back toward the boat. Same would apply if you were working by wade fishing a downstream tract to cover the water being fished.
Overall for our rivers, l prefer a longer sink section of at least eight feet or more, for the reason it will maintain the swim of the fly at a more consistent level within the water column. And one with a IPS of four to six. There may be times l will use a tip section of as much as fifteen feet for fishing both deep and faster water zones.
Consideration for the length of your leader is also at times more critical than many believe. The is a very big difference in the way the fly will fish with a four foot leader than it will with a six to eight or ten foot leader. There is also the consideration at times when fishing over shallow water zones that having the fly too close to the fly line will spook the fish. The sight or sound of the fly line landing will draw the attention from that trout in a hurry. The further the fly is away from the line the less that is so, provided you cause the fly to turn over in a straight line in front of the fly line and not land in a jumbled mess.
Leaders for sink tip fishing are simple affairs of construction. By whatever means you have a permanent connection to your fly line. Braided loops work fine or a short butt section for a loop to loop. It really does not matter here. Simply add to that your chosen length. As a rule l will have four feet of eight or ten pound mono. To that l add my additional line which may be two to six feet overall for our rivers. l have found eight foot to be the best option. Add four feet of six pound to the butt section, l may reduce that to four pound when fishing smaller streamers and at times wet flies. No need to waste your expensive spools of tippet here. Go buy some bulk spools of P-line or Berkley FC, which are good enough for any streamer fishing.
There are many options in flies out there. What matters more to me is visibility of that fly given the conditions we are fishing. At times a fly that is too visible may be followed but not taken. If you see fish doing so, then change the fly or alter the retrieve pattern you are using or both. As a rule on any day there will be a combination of both fly used and how you fish it that will be the right way, while other options promote fish to chase but not take.
There are also the options for flies with or without bead heads, and that too may make a difference relating to how you retrieve the fly. Weight allows for a fly to rise and fall during the recovery back to you, while no weight will tend to see the fly remain more so on a even keel.
Other than fishing the caddis emergence, sink tip fishing early Spring can be a deadly tactic.
My all time personal favorite fly that l use for sink tip fishing is the Goldie, also known as the DW Bugger, with either a gold or a silver body, with and without a bead head in sizes 10/8/6/4, with eight and ten being overall best here.
Tight lines guys.
Davy.
