Tools, Tactics, Strategy

LINE AND LEADER

Big And Little

water, sun and shade

WALLPAPER: FIREHOLE BOUND

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ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

.. A few hints should allow visiting fishers to cope with the spate of cold and snowy weather we've been experiencing.
.. Attitude is key to enjoyment. Clothing is key to attitude. Planning is key to clothing. A dram or two never hurt and, often helps.
.. Change rods, lines, leaders and, even reels to fit these situations. In a pinch you can "overline" your summer rod by one or two numbers. Use Vaseline on the guides, (WD-40 in a pinch.)

OPTIONAL FLY

.. The heavy lines help with precision casting in the wind. A sink tip will get down quicker, (you are allowed to cut off some sink tip line to match the depths of our shallow waters.) Use a leader stronger than you think is necessary: this allows a short tussle and a meaningful hook set. Abrade the leader with some fine sand or silt to remove the shine and break surface tension to allow quicker sinking.

GOOD WEIGHT

.. Don't be pure about weight. Weight in the fly and weight on the leader are not sins, (For those that catch fewer fish it is a sin.)
.. Fall fish, runners or not, are driven to strike and to eat. Winter is on the way. Offer a smorgasbord of flies. Bright ones, dull ones, big ones, little ones, internal action, external action, fuzzy, slick, etc., are all attractive fodder at various times with various fish.

THE  SKINNYTUKA

.. This is the one time that we will endorse the offerings of counter help at the feather merchants. Buy everything offered. Change often if you insist on the same run for hours at a time. We would suggest that you cover as much water as possible. Move around. Move up or down or both: the fish do!
.. Given the variable amount of clouds and fog during this kind of weather fishers tend to forget about the position of the sun. Interestingly, the fish are just as sensitive to sun and shade during these days.

TRY SMALL & SHINY

.. In fact, because of the diffuse sunlight, the fish are more attuned to the various depths of shadow than on days when the shadow line is abrupt and sharp. This can work to the fishers' advantage. Fish may be in comparatively brighter water than on very sunny days.
.. This is the time to listen to the successful catchers of fish. But, understand the full context of the catch: water type and depth, drift and retrieve, location on the water, location of the sun and shadow, try and either succeed or fail THEN - change it up.

IS BIGGER BETTER?

GOT THESE?

.. Pause periodically to evaluate your experience. Having a good time? Feel fulfilled? Like the scenery? Toes warm? Guides clear? Need a nip? Fingers good enough to change flies? To hell with it all, fish the rig and accept the consequences? Just where is your head.
..Talk to the world. Feel your surroundings. Talk to the fish and, the snow and, the trees and, the grass and, the water.
.. Listen to them. This is not a one way conversation. Are you the subject or the predicate? Can you be both? Should you be one or the other?
.. By the way there are still baetids on the Firehole River. Fish both top and, wet at the same time. Try it you'll like it. Done right you don't even have to set the hook, (provided that you sharpen it first and, sharpen it well.)
.. Don't catch 'em all and keep 'em wet.

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WALLPAPER: HONEY MOLASSES LOAF