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Post by darkwatchet on May 15, 2006 14:24:40 GMT -5
 I was on the river, very briefly, this evening (Lancashire Calder). It had just about stopped raining but the river was up and rising, a bit coloured and colouring more. Apart from what I did(come home), or tipping with lobworm!, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might have done to attract the attention of a trout? I saw no fish rise tonight - though I had something of a red letter day last backend in a real flood, on dry fly. I'm new to flyfishing, though was a coarse angler for many years, and I am a bit 'nonplussed' by these conditions. any sensible suggestions will be very welcome, thanks.
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Post by welshy on May 15, 2006 14:45:39 GMT -5
First let me say welcome to the forum mate. Regarding your question im not sure whether it applies to rivers as it does to stillwaters but usually i find in coloured water use dark patterns such as black as any light that will be the in water can be absorbed by the colour of the fly making it stand out better than a light coloured fly making a big silouette for the fish to see and chase. Hopefully this helps abit. Maybe try a black and pennel? Im not too sure as i dont fly fish rivers much, especially in these conditions!
welshy
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Post by darkwatchet on May 15, 2006 14:57:55 GMT -5
thanks for the welcome Welshy and for the effort to try to help
- I did actually try the Black Pennell, with the same result as the PTN, the Partridge & Orange, the Snipe&Purple. the Waterhen Bloa, the Dark Watchet, a Winged March Brown & the Black & Peacock. I also got fed up of tying knots!
Though there was one consolation this time - none of them failed me!
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Post by The Famous Grouse on May 15, 2006 15:02:09 GMT -5
I was on the river, very briefly, this evening (Lancashire Calder). It had just about stopped raining but the river was up and rising, a bit coloured and colouring more. Apart from what I did(come home), or tipping with lobworm!, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might have done to attract the attention of a trout? I saw no fish rise tonight - though I had something of a red letter day last backend in a real flood, on dry fly. I'm new to flyfishing, though was a coarse angler for many years, and I am a bit 'nonplussed' by these conditions. any sensible suggestions will be very welcome, thanks. My tactic to counter rising and colored water with big offerings that move. Namely, streamers and buggers. Here's my theory and it's pure speculation because only the fish know for sure and they ain't talking. I think in rising water the fish become oriented toward structure that shelters them from the current. Pockets in the bank, rocks and boulders, neutral current seams, etc. With the reduced visibility, they obviously cannot see a #16 nymph as it bounces past, so a big wooly bugger or streamer has a much better chance of catching thier eye AND the fish are inclined to strike first and ask questions later because in fast, stained water, food doesn't hang around long. My favorite rig is an olive wooly bugger trailed by (if regs permit) a Rainbow streamer or a Mickey Finn. Grouse |
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Post by stylie on May 16, 2006 9:58:47 GMT -5
Here's my theory and it's pure speculation because only the fish know for sure and they ain't talking. I think in rising water the fish become oriented toward structure that shelters them from the current. Pockets in the bank, rocks and boulders, neutral current seams, etc. Grouse Thats a bang on theory Crouse but do you mind if I add to it ? That in rising conditions food will be washed loose by the current and whisked off downstream, large food particles worms/leather jackets/big grubs/injured fry etc... Now in a fast moving dirty stream this food will be passed the trout before they can take it, however due to the actions of Grouses said structures, the food will hold up in these areas providing not only a safe refuge for trout but also a fine larder to dine on. The problem fishing these conditions is that trout can gorge themselves very quickly and if u have timed it wrong they will be off there food and simply picky. But all is not lost in a day or two after gorging the river will be running clear, it will be highly oxygenated and the trout will simply be ravenous. Timed right you will have what is quite simply the easiest fly fishing known to man and I include mackeral in that statement |
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Post by meirion on May 16, 2006 16:28:16 GMT -5
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Post by The Famous Grouse on May 16, 2006 21:40:39 GMT -5
Chill, baby. It's all part of the plan.
OK, maybe not part of YOUR plan but stuff happens. I've seen it too, where rising and falling water throws the rise off. I have no idea why, but what can you do?
Take your cue from the trout. If the trout aren't rising, go sub-surface. Nymphs, streamers, or wets will produce its just not as easy as fishing the dry. You have to have faith too.
Grouse
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Post by darkwatchet on May 17, 2006 6:39:24 GMT -5
Thanks everybody for responses, I thought it worth a quick update.
Especially for those familiar with 'clean' water i should point out that the Lancashire Calder is just recovering from the industrial revolution and you are more likely to see a pantie liner than a rising trout. Having said that there are trout AND it does represent a great challenge.
Now I did return to bthe river last evening to find it still carrying extra water, though some colour had dropped out of it.
I did see a small fish move, but nothing rising to feed, so decided on a 'wet' approach, to give them a choice of three.
To cut to the chase then I landed three fine browns, best nearing 2lbs, each of them having taken a sparsly dressed GREENWELL SPIDER (tied by me - just started that as well)
So a message here for Meirion - stick with it. Carp on a pole (I started pole fishing when they were only available made from CANE) are no challenge at all and will give little satisfaction. A nice wild brownie from your river, is worth any number of pastie carp.
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