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Was fishing in PA last month.
Fished the last day in the snow.
We were using wooley buggers (size 10&12), and stripping them fast.
I seemed to get alot of bumps, but no fish.
I could see some of the fish appeared
to "Body Slam" the fly, then come back
for the take.
Have any of you experienced this, or can
you explain it.
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**MW**
I've seen tail slaps....I've heard you should hold still and wait when it happens. Some fish like to stun the prey before dining.
I am wondering why you were stipping them in so fast? Did you try a slower retrieve?
Emerger
Emerger,
Slow stripping got no response
from the fish.
Only saw and caught 'em on a fast strip.
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**MW**
I've seen that from Scotland to Washinton and all spots in between. As mentioned here, some fish stun the fly/prey and then come back for casual dining. Problem is, when a fish does this to me, I either yank the fly away or foul hook the beast.
Frank Reid
Emerger... I had a day like that on the White River also. We could see fish everywhere but couldn't get them to strike. The guy driving the boat cranked the motor and started to head out while my line was still in the water. As he slowly pulled away, the fish "attacked" the woolie bugger I was using. Once we saw this and made a few changes in presentation and retrieve, there was "fish on." I guess the fish were in the mood to chase. So we dropped anchor, cast and stripped line like crazy and caught fish after fish. One of those days I guess.
Mike
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There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm.
Patrick McManus
[This message has been edited by maddog48 (edited 12 May 2005).]
MPW,
I have had that happen when fishing buggers and streamers too. I have seen fish slash into schools of baitfish, and then pick off the stunned or injured baitfish that flutter in the water. Trout and salmon are the ones I have seen do this, and have had them do it to flies as well. Salmon in the salt have done this to me, and even trout in moving and still water situations.
It has been my experience when you feel a bump, set the hook with no fish, this is what has happened. One suggestion you can do to get the take is to stop stripping when you feel a bump, and keep the line just tight enough to feel a pull when the fish comes around to take the fly, usually by just slowing pulling the line as if you were stripping, but very, very slow, and only setting the hook when you feel a steady pull. Even after doing that myself, I have seen fish turn around to take the fly after a bump, only to refuse the fly as they get near enough to get a good look at the fly. A solution that has worked for me was to go to a smaller, sparser pattern giving the fish less to see wrong.
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Tis my time on the water, in the mountains, and in my driftboat where I can see things as they really are.
i prefer a slow strip myself http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
i've seen that with stripers--they stun the prey and then go back for it.
Thanks for the help guys!
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**MW**