10-30-2013, 02:16 PM
I had the same fly rod outfit when I started and caught lots of fish dragging streamers and buggers with a floating line. Buy some beadhead buggers and start trolling and twitching.
The floating line will limit your depth, but you can still do well. You can buy an add-on sinking line in 12’ lengths (Cortland Line Mini-Heads for $12 at Sportsmans) that will give you a little more depth, or you can spring for an intermediate or Type II or III sinking line, but I didn’t use a sinking line until my second year of fishing.
My favorite is to wind-drift in 15’ to 40’ of water – preferably with some underwater structure. There is a theory that the wind creates a current so that fish face into the wind. Thus, they can see your fly coming at a distance rather than coming from behind. My experience suggests this is true.
I troll at .5 to 2 mph. Around 1 mph seems to work best. Yes, twitch the line as you troll and/or strip it in. Vary the timing and length of twitches (an inch or so to 2 or 3”) until you find what works. It helps to keep the rod tip next to (or even in) the water such that the line runs straight from your hand to the fly with little or no contact with the rod. This gives you a greater feel for subtle strikes. But I’ve also caught fish with rod at 90 degrees to boat with lots of slack in the line.
If you just drag a bugger around Strawberry right now, I think you’ll have a hard time not catching fish. Then refine your technique from there as you gain experience. It’s a blast.
P.S. Listen to any advice from FlyGoddess. She knows.
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The floating line will limit your depth, but you can still do well. You can buy an add-on sinking line in 12’ lengths (Cortland Line Mini-Heads for $12 at Sportsmans) that will give you a little more depth, or you can spring for an intermediate or Type II or III sinking line, but I didn’t use a sinking line until my second year of fishing.
My favorite is to wind-drift in 15’ to 40’ of water – preferably with some underwater structure. There is a theory that the wind creates a current so that fish face into the wind. Thus, they can see your fly coming at a distance rather than coming from behind. My experience suggests this is true.
I troll at .5 to 2 mph. Around 1 mph seems to work best. Yes, twitch the line as you troll and/or strip it in. Vary the timing and length of twitches (an inch or so to 2 or 3”) until you find what works. It helps to keep the rod tip next to (or even in) the water such that the line runs straight from your hand to the fly with little or no contact with the rod. This gives you a greater feel for subtle strikes. But I’ve also caught fish with rod at 90 degrees to boat with lots of slack in the line.
If you just drag a bugger around Strawberry right now, I think you’ll have a hard time not catching fish. Then refine your technique from there as you gain experience. It’s a blast.
P.S. Listen to any advice from FlyGoddess. She knows.
[signature]