(From Phil Bailey in the UK. This article was originally used in our May 2013 newsletter. It is worth reading again.)
As I write this the trout season on rivers (or ‘game fish season’ as it is known here in the UK) has started in some counties, but most begin on April 1 each year. Where I am in Yorkshire our season starts on March 15, but this year it has been far too cold to get out.
So what have I been doing?
As you may know I have converted to the Italian style of casting and fishing. This has meant long hours (probably about 200) relearning how to cast and unlearning old habits. One thing that I always note when teaching or just observing is how poor most fly fishermen are at presentation and accuracy, not to mention fly selection.
These three components, and in that order, are critical to successful fly fishing, irrespective of whether you are fishing streams or still waters. I bet that if you spent time observing the really good fly fishermen you would find that they are extremely efficient. They are constantly trying to remove faults in their fishing, looking at ways to correct bad habits and streamline their selection of flies.
Most fly fishermen do very little in this regard and simply do not improve between or during the season. I spend a lot of time on these three elements, especially during the months when I am not fishing. So I practice. Here are some of my thoughts and tips that may help you. This is how I prepare for the season ahead.
Presentation.
It is no good locating a fish and then blowing the opportunity to catch it through poor casting or bad habits. I read recently that an experiment was undertaken in New Zealand to assess the impact of false casting on fish catch rates. It was demonstrated that the likelihood of catching a fish after the first false cast decreased by 30%, then 50% after the second false cast, 70% after the third, and almost 100% after the fourth. I agree with these observations, and when I am fishing, or even practicing, I try to limit the number of false casts that I make. Two false casts is the exception for me. So during the off season go down to a park, set up a target, and try to get the line out to it after a single false cast.
This may mean that you need to deploy mini double hauls into the back and forward casts to create line speed. Interestingly, this is exactly what the Italian style does in order to generate high line speed on underlined rods.
Another thing to note is the plane in which you cast. Most people tend to cast in a horizontal plane (i.e. the line travels back and forth parallel to the ground). In the final cast the line straightens out and the leader turns over and delivers a ‘delicate’ presentation. To me, there are a couple of things wrong with this. The first is that the line generally hits the water first and if you are fishing a stream drag will immediately start to pull the line downstream so that when the leader finally lands the fly is almost immediately impacted by drag. The second is the effect that wind has on a leader that is trying to turn over when all of the line speed has been removed.
Try this. When I first started fly fishing I was mesmerized by Charles Ritz’s ‘high speed – high line’ theory. Get the back cast up high and change the plane of the forward cast downwards so that you’re targeting the spot at which you want the fly to land. In the Italian style of casting, and because we are casting at high speed, we achieve this sort of delivery as we believe that you only have one chance at catching a fish. You could take this same approach, so practice it.
I practise using two hoops set up two metres apart with the front one higher that the rear one. I then cast through those hoops and their orientation forces me to cast in a plane that is directed down at the target.
Accuracy
I think that this is vitally important. I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have seen people overcasting. I am even guilty of it.
Vary your leader length and you will invariably overcast because you are not used to the additional length. So I practice line control religiously. I take a target down to the park and I cast to it, not at it. I move a couple of paces back and do the same, then move forward and repeat the exercise. From this I get to understand the length of line I am casting PLUS the leader so that I am placing the fly right where I want it. If you are fishing in New Zealand then this is one competency you cannot afford to neglect.
I use three hoops. I start with a hula hoop (yep, you can remember those) and once I have got into the slot of casting every cast inside this hoop I move to a smaller one and repeat the process. Finally I move to a hoop that has a diameter of about 50 cm and concentrate on hitting it every time.
Lining a fish with your cast to me is unforgivable. Yet I see it all the time. I even do it myself sometimes and admonish myself every time. So I practice a different approach. I make a cast off to the side so that I know that the amount of line I will ultimately cast to the fish will be the right length. This is much easier to achieve on running water as you don’t have that luxury to a cruising fish in a lake.
But if you fish rivers then practice it. Using the same target, make one cast off to the side and then the next cast right on target.
Flies
The more I fish the more convinced I am that a generalist fly with the right shape and size for the food chain is all I really need. Yes, I carry quite a few patterns, and carrying a number of fly boxes is a habit I have tried to break but failed; I simply love tying flies. But I mainly fish out of one fly box, and in that box I have five flies in three different sizes. If I am getting refusals I change the size before I change the fly. This makes it easier for me and I become more efficient as I concentrate on PRESENTATION and ACCURACY. Something to think about!
In Summary
I know how lazy we can become in the off season or if we cannot get away fishing regularly. I also understand that what I do is not for everyone. But I do know that a few sessions of practice using some simple props can make a substantial difference to your fly fishing.
So for me, the weeks leading up to the season will find me out in the park at any opportunity with a few hoops and targets, just practicing my presentation and accuracy. It can be quite a lot of fun if you do it with your fishing buddy.
Cheers,
Philip Bailey