Most of what I fish are in smaller ponds, probably no deeper than 10-12 feet. I think I am doing okay using flies weighted with bead head or some lead wire.
Because of the cooler weather, I wonder if I get the fly down to the bottom, would I do better?
Asking for some practical advice, some of the books I have looked at recommend one of everything from the fly shop (a bit of an exaggeration). Some where in the middle is the truth?
If I should get a sinking line, that is another line of questions, sink tip, sink rate :shock:
I don’t think it’s necessary for you to get a sinking line if the ponds you fish are only about 10-12 feet deep. What I’d do is lengthen my leader to accomodate the depth. Give the flies plenty of time to sink and be sure the retrieve is very SLOW.
I had the pleasure of using an aqua view camera on year when I was ice fishing. it was very interesting to see how the fish reacted to all the things I did with my fly. When they did bite it was so sublte that if I hadn’t been watching it on a tv screen I never would have known they bit!
Just lengthen your leader and you should be fine. Then again, a sink tip line would be a good addition to your arsenal. It also comes in handy when you’re fishing streamers for bigger fish that are a bit deeper.
I’d add a sink tip not just for now, but even for summer fishing. They’re fun with poppers and hair bugs because they will pull the top water offering deeper into the feeding zone. If you do any warmwater river fishing for walleyes, a sink tip is a must as far as I’m concerned. It’s a nice investment. JGW
For the depth you are fishing I would recommend that you try a fluorocarbon furled leader about 7 foot long and attach about 5 foot of fluorocarbon tippet. Fluorocarbon will sink faster than mono leaders and I feel would get your fly down to the depths you are fishing. I make my own furled leaders and I nymph/wet fly/streamer fish year around on the local rivers, lakes and ponds and never change from the set-up I just recommended. I use the above set-up everywhere I go fishing and have had good success with it. My flurorcarbon tippet is 6 pound test attached to a 7 foot furled leader made from Berkley Vanish fluorocarbon that is 4 pound test.
The above recommendation is only my opinion and suggestion and others may agree or disagree.
I remember an article someplace, maybe perhaps here on FAOL, how to make a furled leader.
As I recall, you needed an electric screwdriver or drill to twist the line, but that is all I remember. Didn’t see anything under a search of FAOL other than descriptions about furled leaders.
Bill;
I’ve made some furled leaders using 4 lb. test Berkley “Vanish”. While I have not used one yet a good friend and FAOL member says they sink like a rock.
I had read this post earlier and got to thinking about furled flourocarbon, came back and scrolled down so fast I missed Warren’s post. He and I have been exchanging ideas on furled leaders for over 6 months.
A long leader will allow you to get down deep, but you fly will move “up and out” of that “deep zone” as soon as you start to move it (unless you go v e r y, v e r y s l o w l y).
A sink tip will allow your fly to go deep, quicker and as you reteive the fly, it will stay in the “deep zone” a little longer, but it will still “arc” up rather quickly.
A full sinking line or shoooting head will move your fly down to the zone quickly (depending upon the line) and as you make your retrieve, it will allow the fly to stay on a straighter line in the “deep zone”. That is to say, it will be in the “deep zone” longer than either of equivolent sink tip or a long leader.
Dan Blanton explained it as “staying in the Meat Bucket longer”.
I read of a technique where a floating fly (foam) was tied to a sinking line so that it would stay off of the bottom. Sounds like a real fish-catching idea.
Another tick mark in the “yes” column for a sinking line.
Until recently, my entire arsenal of flies was limited to woolly buggers and poppers. Both of which I have had good luck with on moving water (camping trips). Primarily targeting smallmouth.
But at home I am limited to pond fishing for the most part.
Instead of only using the flyrod on an occasional camping trip, I am using it almost daily. Trying to improve my casting and presentation skills - and maybe catch an occasional fish or two.
Because of the cooler weather, my thoughts are that I should try to get the fly down further in the water. The ponds I typically fish in are no deeper that 10 or so feet. Also looking at adding other flies to the ones I use now.
That’s probably enough of an intro. From what I see thus far, probably what I should look at is the sink tip line - hadn’t considered the action created by the line itself on the fly. This BB really has a wealth of info for the folks new to flyfishing like myself.
