Have you considered using a down stream presentation, that James E. Leisenring recommended, using his Leisenring lift method of called for the fly to be cast across the stream along the bank of the stream, with the only the leader in the water with the fly line held off the water. As the the fly reaches the end of it run, allow it to to be swept across the stream by the current. This work for dry flies as well as wet flies, nymphs and emergers. This will draw the trout out of their spot to follow the fly pattern.
Another idea created to James E. Leisenring was dressing the pattern backward on the hook with the head of the fly at the rear of the hook shank, and the rear up near the eye of the hook. Then as the fly pattern drifts downstream, the hook is presented up front toward the fish with the fly pattern being more realistically presented…
I have used both method (together) with great results. ~Parnelli
Parnelli’s approach is quite similar to what one might do if he was spin casting. It certainly worked for many years that way for me. I see no reason for it not to work in this situation.
I have a question. If both are males with hook jaws is it safe to say that they are nesting?
If so because of the slow stillness of the water and the leaves falling I don’t think they will rise too much and with film on the water and leaves its hard to get an undetected drift so I would send down an egg pattern maybe leach or something that they would attack to protect and not so much for sustenance.
I would fish at night and approach from above on the opposite, right side of the bank.
I would use a Borger collared leech or a Kelly Galloup Zoo Cougar or a Kelly Galloup Heiffer Groomer in black. All three of these patterns have the collared head which push water as they are retrieved. The collar sends out an acoustic signal that allows the predator fish to locate the area where the fly is. The black color then provides the strongest silllouette at night so the predator can see the fly.
I would cast down and across and bring the fly back across the holding position of the fish. Use the appropriate weight or a sinking line to get the fly down.
My little experience in water with no to little movement and leaves is, what ever you put out there is to let it sit for alot longer than you normanly would. I 'v put flie’s on water like that, and got lost in thought about something or another and have had my fly just dissaper from the top of the water, as a trout would just gentlly suck it under and it pop back up as it decided it was not what was for dinner and my mind going, did you see that? lol In still water giving them alot of time to decide is sometimes the way to go…
If you were to try the down stream approach, with large brookies I would go for a Micky Finn or a largish Parmachene Belle or Royal Coachman. Brookies like all of those flies flashy flies. If approaching from below is really required then for an upstream presentation a Royal Wulf dry might be worth a try, with a midge pupae suspended behind it. The surface clutter might make a dry harder to stand out, and if the midge pupae isn’t doing the trick I would try a pheasant tail nymph, or gold ribbed hares ear.
I love your threads like this. I find myself day dreaming, I can almost hear the wind soft in the trees, leaves falling softly offering warmth to the woods floor for a longs winters nap, a dog barking in a distant…so anyhow who is right man…chuck us a bone…what did you do…it was the dynomite right…I knew it…bold choice…but they were taunting you, weren’t they… hey sometimes you have to go with the big stick…pun intended.
the weather has been awful here lately.
The last two days we got 4 inches of rain.
Just two weeks ago we had the same scenario.
The streams were just getting decent again and we got slammed by the rain.
Today is sunny and 87 degrees with heat index over 90 with a nasty humidity.
The weekend is shot for fishing.
I went back to the hole with the big brookies 6 times since the thread began with no luck on the big dogs.