duaneredford.com   "Fear No Water"

I have already talked up sight fishing, but I continually harp on it because I think it’s the pinnacle of nymphing.  It incorporates all of the facets, and bundles them up into a few  (maybe one) good presentation(s).

Sight fishing allows your predatory nature to ooze.  You can’t deny the instinct, it’s there.  Some have a bit more mature instinct than others, but it’s there and it can be nurtured.  Once you start walking the banks, while noting the sun and shadows, hunting for a solitary big fish, you’re well on your way to becoming an apex nymping predator!

I filmed a short blurb last week on the South Platte.  Unfortunately, I didn’t set the shot up right so it’s not youtube worthy.  I’ll post a link so you can view it later, but please allow me to list a few things to watch for in the video.

• Notice how I am set up
• Notice where I cast (distance and angle)
• Watch the set

The set-up is critical.  Watch the sun angle, water depth and “chop”, and fish activity.  The choppier the water, the better chance I have to get close to the fish, depth plays a role here too.  Deeper water means easier fish to stalk, but it also means tougher sight nymping control.  Experience is key.  Why fish activity?  The more active the fish, the less movement I can get away with, but I can get away with a poorer presentation.  In other words, more active fish feed in a wider area, but tend to spook easier.  The less active the fish (like the fish in the video) are easier to sneak up on, but your presentation has to be near perfect because inactive fish aren’t likely to move far side to side to eat.  

I usually walk the elevated portions of banks to spot fish.  After I spot one, I’ll reference a landmark, then sneak downstream to the waters edge.  At this point I’ll strip out the line I think I’ll need, make any adjustments, and begin the stealthy stalk upstream with a low flat flyrod and line trailing downstream. Now, when I’m set, I’ll pick a spot upstream of the fish, and lay it in there.  The distance I cast above the fish is determined (mostly) by water depth, water speed, my bugs weight, and the depth of the fish.  Experience will teach you exactly where you need to cast if you use the same nymphing set-up to the point you know it well.  Remember, you can move the flies to the desired line, depth, and speed if you happen to miss your mark.  Go practice on a submerged rock.  Really. 

Fish to the fish.  Usually, I see the fish eat.  Look for side to side motion or “cotton”.  “Cotton” is what you see when the fish opens it’s mouth to eat.  Look at how I keep the fly rod tip downstream of the indicator.  This helps me see what going on and reduces the time it takes to set on movement.  This short of a drift doesn’t call for a mend, just high stick it.  Keep your indicator in your peripheral view.  When you watch the video, you’ll see it stop.

That’s enough for now.  Here’s the link, I put it on the Flies and Lies Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/#!/Flies.and.Lies

Sight nymphing is great!  Fear No Water,

Duane

Here’s the fish that is in the video……