STILLWATER FISHING METHODS & STRATEGIES
When fishing stillwaters the angler must take the knowledge of the stillwater being fished, the knowledge of the available food forms, and the knowledge of how the trout will feed on these food forms and mix them all together and decide on the methods that will be used to fish on the stillwater.
Running out and casting willy-nilly will most often lead the angler to frustration. When fishing any stillwater all the information available must be processed and then the angler can plan "How, Where and What" will be fished in any given situation. Careful planning and the proper use of knowledge will lead the angler to a more productive and rewarding fishing experience. The following will be a breakdown of some of the more effective methods and strategies I have found for stillwater fishing,
Retrieves
Before I dive into the situation strategies, I will cover the basic retrieves used in stillwater fly fishing. There are two basic retrieves that are employed in stillwater angling. They are the "strip" and the "hand twist" retrieves. Everything else used is a variation of these two basic retrieves.
Hand‑Twist Retrieve: Allows the angler to move the line with the off‑rod hand. The speed of the retrieve will vary due to the actual fishing situation. Also, various movements of the rod can be used to achieve certain desired results.
Illustration of the Hand Twist Retrieve
Basic Strip Retrieve: The speed will vary and once again certain movements of the rod can induce desired effects in any given situation. This is performed in part by both the rod hand and the off‑rod hand.
Illustration of the Basic Strip Retrieve
Point the rod tip down the line lowering the tip to the surface of the water. Place the line under the forefinger of the rod hand. The length of the strip and the speed of the strip will determine the action the fly will have.
Stillwater Presentation Methods
Stalking trout near the shore in shallow water: Not all stillwater fishing is done with a floating craft. Often the angler may find the trout cruising in the shallow water close to shore, feeding on migrating damsel nymphs, mayfly spinners or even terrestrials. These trout can be taken without a float tube or a boat.
Often in shallow water a float tube can hinder the process. When stalking stillwater trout in the shallows the angler has to pre‑plan and be ready. The planning starts at home before you ever leave for the stillwater. Select clothing that will blend in and not be reflective. (Also remember to include your wading boots!! It's tough on the waders to wade without them.) You need polarized sunglasses and a hat to help you see.
Once you're on the stillwater and find that the trout are indeed cruising and actively feeding in the shallows, find out what they are feeding on. A small, compact pair of binoculars will allow you to do so without spooking the trout. Then prepare your fly and line. Have the fly free in your hand with the leader pulled clear of the guides, and have some loose fly line stripped off the reel and coiled in your hand. This will allow you to make that first cast without any problems.
The approach must be made carefully. Stay back from the edge of the shoreline. Keep low and move slowly and quietly. Often kneeling to cast will produce better results. Once the trout is spotted and the feeding pattern is taken into account, you will start casting. The rule of thumb is DO NOT CAST DIRECTLY OVER THE TROUT as this will most often spook trout and leave you somewhat frustrated.
Cast away from the trout, placing your last cast in the desired position. During the damsel fly emergence I have spent an entire day stalking trout in the shallows.
A lot of times there is cover that can be used in the approach. But in the open you must move slowly. Any sudden or sharp movement will spook the trout.
Fishing from a Boat: If you choose to fish from a boat, remember to be very quiet. Make sure that the oarlocks are greased and that the gear is stowed so it doesn't rattle. On metal boats I recommend that you install outdoor all‑weather carpeting. If you wish to anchor the boat, do so carefully and quietly. Remember that you generally will not be able to approach the trout as closely as you can with a float tube. I will use a boat on larger stillwaters if I plan on fishing deep.
Fishing from a Float Tube: I use a float tube for 80 to 90% of my stillwater fishing. The tube allows for the greatest maneuvering and allows the angler to approach close to feeding trout without spooking them.
PRESENTATION METHODS
Jumping Nymphs Tactic: This method is especially effective on Mexican Trout! Sorry, I just couldn't resist, but now, on to more useful information. Many times I will use this method when the trout are feeding in shallow water and tend to be a tad bit spooky. First the angler needs to determine the cruising pattern of the fish and cast far enough ahead so the trout isn't spooked by the fly line splash.
Allow the fly to settle to the bottom. Drop the rod tip and make sure that all the slack is taken out of the line, and then wait for the trout to come toward the fly. When the fish is about two feet from the fly, start a two inch strip and jump the fly right up in front of the fish. Don't try to look for the fly, just watch for the trout's mouth to open and close. If you see that, then set the hook. Try using the "lift and tighten" method, rather than the "break their neck" method.
Strip - Tease - Bounce Method: This presentation method is very effective when using damsel fly nymph imitations. Make the cast and lower the tip of the rod to the water. Strip the line in slow 8" strips. Pause, strip the line in slow 8" strips and bounce the rod tip. Repeat this process until you hook a trout or the lake freezes over.
Heave it, Leave it, Twitch Method: This presentation method is very effective for fishing damsel fly dries, mayfly adults, midge adults at rest and some caddis and terrestrials. Figure out the cruising and feeding pattern of the trout. Make the cast (heave it), and let it set.
When the trout approaches within 24" give the rod tip a slight twitch. Often times this twitch draws the trout's attention to your imitation and triggers the take. Sometimes the angler will wish to just heave it & leave it, without the twitch.
Skating or Skittering Method: This method is most often used when caddis are hatching. The cast is made, the rod tip is lowered and the fly is skated back across the surface in slow, steady strips.
Skitter Bounce Method: This method can be used for caddis, hoppers and for adult mayfly imitations. This pattern can be very effective on days when you have a slight (fishable) wind. Make the cast and keep the rod tip high. Start a short 1" strip, make 4 of them and then snap the rod downward to the surface. This will cause the pattern to bounce or jump like an adult trying to lift off. Then pause, raise the rod tip and start over.
Strip ‑ Tease & Pause Method: Often times I use this method when fishing scuds, sow bugs and mayfly nymphs. Make your cast, drop the rod tip, strip in 1" to 2" strips and then pause for 2 count. Cast, strip, pause 2, 3, strip, pause 2, 3 and so on. The length of the strip and the count on the pause can be varied.
Count Down Method: This presentation method allows the angler to consistently get the imitation down to the desired depth. This method is used with floating and sinking lines. Cast your fly and allow it to sink to the desired count (10 seconds, 15 seconds, etc, etc) then start your retrieve. The retrieve used would depend on the type of imitation being fished. Often times this is a very effective method to use when fishing over submerged weedbeds. This is also a good method to use when searching for trout in a new and strange stillwater.
Rise & Fall Method: Some of the food forms such as sow bugs, shrimp, and mayflies swim with a rise and fall. Some mayflies, when leaving the bottom to emerge, swim quickly to the surface. But many species swim up and drop back. This is called a false start. The rise and fall method imitates this motion and is very effective. This method can be used with a floating or sink tip line. Cast out to the desired area, allow the fly to sink to the desired depth, and start a slow hand twist retrieve to a count of 5. Then allow the fly to settle, stop the retrieve for a five count and repeat the process. You must pay close attention or you will miss the strike that occurs while the fly is allowed to settle.
Rise & Fall Illustration
Lift Off & Settle Method: Stillwater trout are known as feeders of opportunity. Many times they feed on this or that as they browse along the bottom of the lake or just over a submerged weedbed. The Lift Off & Settle method has proven to be highly effective as a searching method when nothing seems to be happening.
As the trout are constantly in motion, one finds that many of the food forms are also constantly moving around as they feed, prepare to emerge, or migrate. During these periods this method of presentation can be deadly. This is also another good searching method. The angler can use a sinking, floating or sink tip fly line. Note: When using a sinking line or sink tip, use a 4' to 5' leader.
The Lift Off & Settle technique can be employed while wading, but this method works best in a boat or float tube. Place a split shot about 10" above the imitation. The fly is cast to the desired area and allowed to sink to the bottom or to the tops of the submerged weedbed. The rod tip is lowered to the surface of the water and any slack is removed. To start the retrieve, raise the rod tip sharply to the 2 o'clock position, count 3 and sharply lower the rod tip to the surface of the water and recover the slack. Repeat until time to cast again. (Or until your arm falls off!!!)
Illustration of the Lift Off and Settle Presentation
Wind Drift Presentation Method: A boat, (ugh) or float tube and a slight breeze is needed for the angler to utilize this technique. This method can be used with either floating or sinking lines and nymphs or dries. The boat or tube must be pointed into the wind. Cast at a right angle to the tube, and impart an OCCASIONAL twitch to enhance the natural drift.
This twitch will imitate the swimming movements or struggles of an adult trapped in the surface film. The angler must watch for drag and strikes. The tube must be drifting along at the same speed as the waves to insure a dead drift. This method can be used anytime, but I often will use it as a searching method.
Fan Casting: This is one of the most effective methods I have found for fishing a stillwater that I am unfamiliar with. First I select an area where I think the trout will be working such as a drop off edge, the top of a submerged weedbed or off the edge of a floating weedbed.
Then I decide on the types of lines, leaders and imitations I will be using. Once everything is ready, I position my float tube in front of the area I wish to fish and start casting to my right, working my way with each cast. This is called fanning an area or casting around the clock. After I have covered the area I move the tube to the next grid and repeat the process. Often I have to change lines, patterns or retrieves, but I generally find a combination that works.
OTHER NOTES ON PRESENTATION METHODS
So far I have covered a wide range of presentation methods that are used in stillwater angling. Now I will attempt to pass along some of the tricks that I have found to be effective during certain situations.
Fishing the Damsels
Nymphs: When the damsel fly hatch occurs, the nymphs start migrating to the shore or floating vegetation where they crawl out of the water then split their nymphal shucks and emerges as an adult. Often times when the damsels are in this migration stage I find that fishing from shore can be most effective as you move the imitation in the same direction that the naturals are traveling. My favorite retrieve is the Strip Tease Bounce. The fly is cast out and the strip is a SLOW 12" pull then pause and repeat.
Dries & Drowned Adults: Adult damsel flies are poor flyers and the slightest of breezes will often send hundreds of them crashing (fluttering) to the surface of the water. Many of these are drowned in the film. An excellent method to fish these drowned adults is to cast out the imitation and then SLIGHTLY wiggle the rod tip. Often times it is the wiggle which imitates an insect struggling in the film which triggers the strikes. The dries are fished the same way.
MIDGES & DROPPERS
On most stillwaters, midges hatch throughout the season from ice-out to freeze-up. Several years ago, while spending a day on Trout Lake, which is located in the Northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, I was involved in a midge emergence where none of the standard presentation methods would work. Since that day on Trout Lake I have seen this same emergence and feeding pattern on many different stillwaters. Now that I have thoroughly confused you I will backtrack and explain the situation and how the problem was solved. The trout were keyed in on the pupa and were actively feeding 3" under the surface. They were feeding very aggressively, much like they do when feeding on caddis pupa.
I tried all the standard imitations and presentation methods, to no avail. Finally, I stopped fishing and watched for a few minutes. I could tell by the aggressive behavior of the trout that they were intercepting the pupa before they reached the surface film.
I had to figure out a way to imitate this popping towards the surface with the midge pupa. After several aborted attempts I finally stumbled on a method which was very effective in fooling the trout. I still didn't land any more fish but I was sticking the hook into them. The solution was to use a 3‑fly dropper leader. As the lead fly I used a #12 weighted damsel nymph. The first dropper was 36 inches up from the lead fly and the second dropper was 50" up from the lead fly. The dropper strands were 5 inches long and were greased with a paste fly floatant, as were the imitations.
The cast was made and I counted to 10 prior to starting the retrieve. To retrieve I did a very S L O W hand twist retrieve while gently lifting the rod tip. As the greased droppers & flies neared the surface, they tried to pop up due to their buoyancy. This effectively imitates what the naturals were doing and thus I was once again hooking trout. Now landing them, that's a whole different story!!!!
SPARKLE BUGGERS, LEECHES & STREAMERS
Often I have found sparkle buggers, leeches and streamers to be very effective in stillwaters. I prefer to fish these imitations with either a floating line or a shooting head. The floating line works well when fishing from shore, or over submerged weedbeds in about 3 feet of water. The shooting head allows me to cover the deeper sections of the stillwater at varying depths depending on how long my countdown is and how fast my retrieve is. Many times I find that the retrieve being used is way too fast. Remember, trout will eat something they can catch, but tend to ignore jet propelled food forms or imitations thereof.
CLOSING
These are but a few tips, tactics and ramblings on fly fishing the stillwaters. You will find that some of this STUFF is true and actually works. But this is by no means the final word. There is still much to be learned and discovered, new patterns to invent, new methods to figure out. I hope that this pamphlet will increase your understanding of stillwater fishing. You will find that stillwater fishing takes time. Time to study and learn about your stillwater and time to develop and grow as an angler.
Enjoy & Good Luck.