Gathering Information
Before lauching your tube, you can save yourself
time and increase your effectiveness by obtaining
the following information from fishermen at the
lake or near-by fly fishing shop:
Depth of the lake
Location of inlet and outlet streams
If there are underground springs or channels
Specific points, drop offs or weed beds that
are productive for fishing
Insect populations that are currently hatching
Color, size and type artificial flies that fish are taking
Kind of line retrieve that is working best
Depth fish are taking flies
When there is more likely to be an insect emergence/hatch
If you are able to obtain this information, you
will be ready to start fishing; however, lacking
these resources, you can find out by using the
techniques described in this chapter.
If you ask when you should go fishing, you might
get numerous semi-scientific answers to this
questions such as: the moon phase; certain kinds
of weather; the next insect hatching cycle; or
whether cows are lying down or standing. But,
the answer I like best comes from an accomplished
and dedicated fly fisher. My friend, Pat O'Neall
says, "The best time to go fishing is when you
have the time." And, she might add, "Any other
activity just keeps you away from fishing."
More seriously, you will find clues as to the
more productive times to fish throughout this
book, but if you just like to be out on the lake
whether you catch fish or not, you might follow
Pat's advice.
Choosing A Line And Leader
If you don't know much about the lake or where
the fish are, you will need to rig your line and
leader for a searching expedition. A slow sinking
line can be used to start your search, but you
should also have in your tube pocket extra reels
and spools rigged with an intermediate and a fast
sinking line so that you can more efficiently go
to either shallower or deeper water. Your choice
of strength of straight leader (all one size)
depends on: the clarity of the water; the presence
of underwater obstruction, such as weeds and brush;
the size of your fly; and the size of the fish that
you are expecting to catch in this particular lake.
If the water is murky and there are many weeds,
your selected fly should be relatively large, you
would choose a stronger leader (8, 10, 12 lb).
For bright, calm days with clear unobstructed water,
it is better to use a lighter leader size (4-6 lb.)
since it is less likely to frighten fish. If you
find that large fish break off this leader, then
you need to use a stronger one. In this situation,
the no-knot eyelet or braided loop facilitates the
easy change of leaders. When fishing in shallows
and water down to 10 feet with a sinking line, you
can use a 9-12 foot length leader. However, if you
are fishing in depths below 10 feet the leader should
be shorter (6-9 feet) so that the leader does not
drift upward thus carrying the fly above the depth
you choose to fish.
Choosing An Artificial Fly
Clues as to the kind of artificial fly to use can
be found on the shoreline or in the air. Look
under rocks and on weeds for nymphs (immature
insect state) and crustaceans (shell covered arthropod)
and shucks (outer covering of an immature insect) of
recently hatched mature insects and in the air or
reeds for adult insects, such as damselflies,
mayflies or caddisflies, which have already
emerged from the water's surface. If you see
birds or adult dragon flies feeding in the
shallows this might indicate the presence
of nymphs or minnows. If you are still not
sure what fly will work, you can use a searching
or attractor fly such as: Olive, Black or Brown
Woolly Worm or Woolly Bugger; Prince Nymph; Zug
Bug; Hare's Ear; Marabou or Canadian Leech.
A good mid-size pattern of artificial fly to
search with is a number ten or twelve. Use
larger artificial flies in the spring and reduce
the size as the season progresses because as a
rule the insects that hatch in the spring are
the largest while the subsequent generations
become smaller. ~ PCP
Continued next time.
Credits: Excerpt from Float Tube
Magic By Patricia C. Potheir, published
by Frank Amato Publications. We appreciate use
permission.
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