Any float fishing tips appreciated

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

All of my fly fishing experience to date has been wade fishing but, in a few weeks, I’m going on my first day of guided float fishing. I’m sure the guide will give me instructions, but I’d like to arrive with at least a clue as to how to fish from a boat floating down the river. I searched the Net , but found nothing. So any tips from you experienced folks greatly appreciated.

Even the most basic tips would help. How much line do you normally have out? Do you cast frequently as you would when wade fishing or just cast occasionally and mend like crazy? Can you use an indicator for nymphs? What’s the protocol for the guy in the front and the guy in the back to make sure lines don’t cross, etc.

As you can see, I know nothing about this!

Thanks!

2

Dear oldfrat,

Having only done float trips for smallmouth bass I can only offer a couple of generic tips and comments.

NO STUDDED WADING BOOTS!

You’ll have to pay attention to your line as you strip it in. You can really get tangled if you aren’t careful. If you will be fishing strictly from the boat you may want to go barefoot, or wear shoes that slip on to keep tangles to a minimum.

When fishing for smallmouth we used streamers and top-waters. You cast continously throughout the day because you are always working your fly. Trout fishing may be much different.

If you can cast sidearm your guide will appreciate it. The further you can keep your flies from your guide’s hide the better.

That’s about all I have to offer. All my trips have been with my brother and we have gone with the same guide each time. My brother is a left hander and I’m a right hander so we always managed to keep the guide out of harms way of our flies. We just swapped ends on the boat depending on which bank we were fishing.

Best Wishes,
Avalon :smiley:

3

oldfrat,
I have been on a few boat trips. There are two ways your guide could let you fish. Out of the boat anchored or moving and pulling the boat to the shore and letting you wade fish. I prefered stopping and wading but if you have a lot of miles to cover you probably won’t do that.
It could end up being a sight seeing trip or you could hit the jackpot if there is a good hatch and the fish are active.
One thing I had to learn is guides don’t make promises about having good fishing all day. Your hiring him to take you downstream.
29 yrs ago my wife and I took the 100 mile raft trip down the famous Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho. I was having a great time catching beautiful cutthroat for the first 50 miles. Then there was a big thunderstorm and a feeder creek turned to mud and ruined the river for me for many miles. You never know what is going to happen.
I don’t think I would use nymphs at this time of year. It would be fun for you if hopper patterns worked. Fish really clobber them.
Remember that your guide is going to be working harder dealing with two fishermen and controlling the boat, so keep that in mind when it comes to the TIP.
Take a Camera,
Doug :slight_smile:

4

You’re correct, oldfrat…your guide will give you a briefing before your outing, during which he will likely gather information about your previous experience and skills. He’s your guide and not just an oarsman, and he’s aware he is paid to make your day enjoyable.

If there are two anglers in the boat, your guide will give you a rundown on working as a team in hopes of reducing tangles and bad feelings. Depending on the river/technique, many feel fishing from the stern is more demanding; you may wish to switch locations with your co-angler.

Be aware that boats can be rough on tackle, so you may wish to leave your prized rod/reel at home. Bring a rod/line that is appropriate and adequate for the conditions.

Indicator nymphing from a boat is standard practice on many rivers. Your guide will keep the boat moving at the same rate as the current you’re fishing, thus negating the need to mend like crazy. In fact, you will probably be mending far less than you do while wading.

Also realize that you will cover a lot of water on a typical float, and things happen fast! You will concentrate on the water ahead, noting from which side of the boat you will make the next cast, and timing that cast with the cast of your partner. Try to pick reasonable targets and allow yourself enough time to make your presentation.

As mentioned, line tangles will spoil fishing time. You will not have time to untangle line you’ve carelessly laid at your feet. Try to keep unneeded line on the reel and not tangled in your laces. Try to work on those line-handling skills if you have even the slightest tendency to be careless.

Remember your guide is a professional that will listen to you. If you’re approaching a hot run and you’ve just lost your fly, ask him to slow the boat so you can re-rig. More than once I thought I could re-rig before we hit a sweet run, only to be reminded that things happen fast while floating!

If it’s a full-day float, confirm that lunch is provided. Even then, you may wish to consider bringing additional refreshments for everyone.

5

The fisherman fishing from the bow will get first crack for the most part at the water so you may want to work out a rotation as was suggested.

Also the stern fisherman is pretty much responsible for timing his [her] casts to avoid conflicting with the bow fisherman’s cast…obviously he’s less aware of what’s going on behind him.

6

Brad,

I’ve not been on a guided boat but from what I’ve heard and seen, wear sun glasses and be aware of the other fishers in the boat. You don’t want your trip spoiled by being a hooker or a hookie.

Have fun.

Allan

7

Well here it is from an old guide.

The guy in the bow of the boat has from the middle of the boat forward to cast to. You should be placing most of your casts in front of the boat. If you do so you will get a much longer drift on your fly. The person in the stern has from the middle of the boat to the rear to cast to. He will watch the bow fisherman and cast when the other or bow person is not casting. In so doing you will not get tangled so much. Be careful of the guide when you cast. Think about were your flies are going. Most guides are use to getting hooked now and then. I know I was but it is never fun.

Listen to your guide he is there to help you if he is a good guide. In most streams or rivers you want your fly to be very close to the bank. That is were the fish will be but not always. The guide will tell you were to cast. If you are casting right you will be able to hit his mark with just one or two backcasts. If he is a good guide he will make it possible for you to make about the same length of cast most of the time. It just depends on how may things he may have to move in or out for? But you should also be watching ahead of the boat for the next best place to put your fly. It is something that will become automatic after you have float fished some. Make sure to keep your eye on your fly as much as you can. About the time you take your eye of of it a fish will take it. I can’t tell you the number of times I have set the hook on a fish with my oars while the client was looking elsewere LOL But that is part of the guides job.
It dosen’t matter the bank you are fishing if in the bow cast over your right or left shoulder depending on which hand you use to cast with. I have had so much trouble with people trying to cast backwards it just is not worth the effort for them to try it.
The main thing is to listen to your guide. He will tell you what , when and were to do it all.

IF you have a good guide and he does a good job remember him at the end of the day with a tip. If he was not a good guide and you did not get along or he didn’t do what he should to help you then do not tip him.

Be were you are supposed to meet when you are supposed to be there. Guides hate late people. I know I did. They make plans to be someplace for the fishing and a client is and hour late and spoils it all. I think you get the idea.

A good guide will joke with you talk with you and help you all he can. Make sure you use him as that is what he is there for. But treat him as an equil because he is. Also remember to have a good time. Catching fish is fun but it is not the whole thing. Stop and look around now and then. You might like what you see. Have a good safe trip. Ron

8

Hey, thanks foks! This is all very helpful to me and probably helping some others as well. I haven’t seen a thread on this subject before and I’ve been monitoring FAOL for a few years.

Please keep the tips coming. Remember, even the stuff that seems most basic to you that do this is totally new to me and probably to a few others. As a newbie to float fishng the prospect is quite daunting.

9

Hey Oldie,

I hd good success on my latest float trips, when the fishing got a little slow in the afternoon, in thrwoing a 6wt. 30 ft sink tip line and streamers. Just a thought…for when things get slow.

10

I usually wade fish also but Glen Weaver was kind enough to take me on a float down the au Sable this week and one thing I had to learn very fast was to make quicker decisions on where to cast. I often just look at spot for a few moments to decide how to cover it and to let things settle down from my approach. Unless your guide says something about a spot oming up to hold the cast for just put the fly into the best looking spot you see as you finish the pickup or you’ll be looking back over your shoulder at the spot you can’t reach after you decide on hitting it.

11

Oldfrat,

I’m so glad you are getting to take a float trip. It just prepares you more for our trip down the San Juan when you get down here! Where are you going? Most of the good advice has already been posted. The only things to add are:

  1. Try to keep your body balanced in the center of the boat, and try not to sway back and forth as you cast. This makes it tough for the guide to row, and for the angler in back to stay steady. So, keep at least one of your legs in the leg locks at all times, and if you need to lean to one side drastically, let the other people in the boat know.

  2. Don’t pay attention to your buddy if he or she gets a fish. Chances are, you’ll take your eyes off your indicator or fly, and the fish that are in a pod will take your fly, and you’ll miss it.

  3. If you take pictures, use the water dripping off the bottom of the net to wet your hands to protect the fish’s slime coat. That way you don’t have to reach down into the water off balance.

  4. Expect to get your hooks and line wrapped around everything. Try to keep as little extra line out of your reel as possible to prevent this.

  5. Reach out far with your arm before you strike or cast to prevent your weights or hooks from catching the overlapping gunnel of the boat.

  6. Have a great time my friend, and enjoy yourself!

Ron,

Great information!! How do you set the hooks with the oars?

12

Some great advice, especially Riverdancer’s # 1 & 2.

To which I’d like to add to #1 " and if you need to lean to one side drastically, let the other people in the boat know." - don’t just call out your intention - before you act, listen for their response and be prepared to hold off !

About the only other thing I can add is don’t second guess a call to “Set”, just do it. Your guides eyes are much more accustomed to subtle takes in that water than yours as a visiting angler will likely ever be…trust him or her and act on their directions.

Best, Dave

13

Good grief, I didn’t realize I was going to be standing in a moving boat! This could turn into a combination fishing and swimming trip.

The trip is to SW Montana. I’m not sure where we’ll be floating, but the waters include the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers, Clark Canyon Reservoir and Poindexter Slough.

This will be my first big fishing trip, as opposed to fishing Colorado waters, since I took up the sport as my main hobby. I am really looking forward to it.

14

:slight_smile:
oldfrat;
Some very good advice has been given here.
In most cases the caster in the front seat has the best seat and many guides will switch the front and rear about half way through the float. As mentioned there is a No Cast zone in the front seat between 11:30 and 12:30 as this would endanger the people behind you.
Just finished 2 trips, one on the Au Sable & one on the Manistee up here in Michigan. These were in Au Sable River Boats. 24’ long very narrow and little freeboard. The guide sits in the rear so this really restricts the person in the center seat.
Many times we would be drifting with the current keeping pace with the fly and you only had to twitch it once in awhile.
Casting to log jams required a lot of “Line Management” to keep it close but out of the jam. I managed to get a lot of splinters on my hooks!!!
If you are in the front seat keep ahead of the boat in the 10:00 to 11:30 or 12:30 to 2:00 positions.
The second seat should watch the front seat and announce when about to make a cast. I didn’t and ohiotuber nailed my back cast so bad the guide had to ground the boat and wade up to untangle us!!
Keep down the false casting ( I should say DON’T!! ). Someone in the second seat making a lot of false casts can put the front seat’s fly under the boat of force him to reel in and wait.
One last thing. You will be so intent on watching your fly or line you will fail to see what is behind you and end up snagged in a tree!! Our guide was about to change his name to “Tarzan”!!
You’ll have a great time for sure!

15

Ok, a couple of tips here. If you are in the front of the boat, keep your casts foreward of the oar locks, if you miss a fish, too bad, you had your chance now it is the rear seats shot at it. If you are in the rear seat watch the guy in the front seat cast and cast parallel to him or your backcasts will cross resulting in entanglement. The other choice you have is to wait until he is done casting. When stepping out of the boat keep in mind that as soon you put your weight on your outboard foot the boat is going to raise up 2 inches making it more difficult to swing the inboard leg clear of the gunwale. Have fun, you will really enjoy the much longer drag free drifts you will get as you move downstream at the same speed as the fly. Be looking ahead and try to anticipate the hot spots and be prepared to place your fly in the zone quickly, you typically will only get one shot at any one fish. Try to minimize false casting it only leads to trouble and normally very little is gained.

16

Good grief!
With all this info you will be the most prepared first timer ever!
I am also jealous of WHERE you are going to fish.
Keep calm and don’t be a nervous wreck for your guide, that should make things go smoother.
Your going to be making great memories.
Doug :slight_smile:

17

Thanks all! Your advice will help me a lot as I try this new adventure. I appreciate your taking the time to pass along the tips.

I’ve been looking forward to this trip for months. Am now in a tying frenzy, hoping to catch as many on my own flies as possible --fish, that is, not guides or boatmate’s fly line. :wink:

18

If you’re in the front your fly should be in front (downstream) of the boat! You’ll get a better, longer drift and YOUR FLY will be the very first thing a fish sees. Obviously you will catch more fish than if you are fishing off the side or behind the boat.

If you are going to practice casting before your trip practice so that at some point in your cast your rod is PERPENDICULAR TO THE WATER. You may over the years have found it easier to cock your rod off to the side which is ok for wade fishing but in the boat it can lead to hooked guides or friend in the other seat. Often it leads to tangled line.

You might also be casting while seated in a raft. Everyone’s got their boat set up differently. I row a raft that has no standing platform so my guests are always seated, and no one ever complains about this. Your casting motion wil be a little different though. Being seated allows you to fish longer as you don’t get fatigued.

Maybe your used to minding your line so that there is a bunch of it piled up at your feet. Boats all have little things that your excess line will get wrapped around: anchor mounts, drain plugs, seats, cup holders… Usually you notice that your line is around the anchor when you get a huge fish on and look to see if it’s all clear. That’s too late.

Good luck. I’m sure any guide would love to spend the day with you after putting some thought into this before even getting there. A little practice before hand will go a long way to maximize your fishing time, and your catch rate.

No spiked shoes
Bring warm cloths
Have reasonable expectations, let your guide know what they are.
“I only fish dry flies” is a real important one to tell your guide BEFORE he’s launching the boat.
Your guide can probably teach you all kinds of things learned after so much time on the water and no matter what your skill level he’s got something to teach you, all you need to do is ask.

That is a good solid time of year to fish around Dillon. Browns in pre-spawn madness, water cooler, good hatches of mayflies.

19

About Guides…

About spikes, cleats, etc. I’ve found that guides have accommodated to them…with carpet, plywood inserts , etc. …but indeed check with them…their boat is dear to them.

I’d like to emphasize how much a guide is doing that most folks aren’t even aware of…they can be actually doing most of the fishing for rookies…[and sometimes for the more accomplished]…they are working with the speed of the river…putting you the right distance for your casting…almost setting hooks…and it goes on…if you have a guide who is back rowing a lot appreciate him and reward him whether you caught fish or not…and then there’s those great lunches that most provide.

I really wish I had had the opportunity to fish with RONMT when I was going to Montana… 8)

20

Brad,
You’ve got some really good advice here, as you’d imagine. Some of these guys have been at it for a long time.

I’ve only been on one guided trip a few years ago on the Mo, below Holter. It was a brand new experience and one I wasn’t prepared for, as you will be here. This was a good post you made. It’ll make your trip much better and the guide and your buddy will be better off for it!

I did it during Trico season and experienced frustration because I didn’t tell my buddy to switch off often enough. I should have. He had the best fishing and the guide even mentioned we’d switch “periodically”. My bad!

Anyways, tend to your line. Mine got caught in the anchor rollers as the guide “quickly” took up the anchor when I was not looking. This happened a couple times and (I) ruined a new line.

Be watchful of your casts. This has been said by everyone! Talk to your guide on the ride out so he’ll know where you’re coming from in every aspect of the experience. Important!! He wants to do a good job for you…help him!

And try to be positive even if you get frustrated, which I did. It’s not wade fishing as mentioned by the experienced guys here, so you do what you need to adjust.

You’ll have a good time Brad. It’s just different, that’s all.

At break or lunch, you’ll get to know your guide fairly well. Ask questions that might be important to you regarding fishing etc.

And lastly, I was impressed with the amount of WORK a guide does for your trip. Rowing like heck and watching out for everything pertaining to fishing and boat positioning.

Make sure you let him know his efforts were appreciated, both verbally and out of pocket. You’ll know what to do.

I hope you have a good trip. There’s a couple of guys I’d like to float with here and on another board. Benjo and RonMT, among others, come to mind. One day…

Jeremy.