Pro Tips Archive
- Casting (3)
- Fly Tying (5)
- Freshwater Fishing (15)
- General Tips (7)
- Saltwater Fishing (6)
- General Author (20)
- Dr. Way Yin (1)
- Rene' Harrop (9)
- Rich Culver (1)
- Mark Lance (1)
- Capt. Joe LeClair (1)
- Cale Van Velkinburgh (1)
- Chris Beech (1)
- Rick Kustich (1)
- 2009 (6)
- February (2)
- January (1)
- April (1)
- July (1)
- November (1)
- 2008 (28)
- September (1)
- October (23)
- November (2)
- December (2)
- 2010 (2)
- May (1)
- July (1)
Pro Tips
October 6, 2008
Pocketwater with Rachel Finn
Start short. Use a rod and line combo that will load well in close. Try and keep as much line off the water as possible to eliminate drag. Keep your rod and arm high to assist. Remember to use your arm as an extension of the rod. I like to make 5-10 casts per pocket to search.
On my river, you hardly ever see consistent feeding in pockets so you have to tease them up. If you do not get a strike, move on!!! Most people spend too much time in one spot.
Movement of your fly is key. Skittering your fly like a natural can provoke some really violent takes. Be ready! The strike can be sudden and almost scare you. Many times you only get one shot.
To skitter, you want to work the fly against the surface tension of the water- so it's almost like you are trying to lift the fly off the water, but stopping before it comes up. It takes some practice, but once you get it, you can start improvising with rod movement etc.
Think of yourself as a puppeteer.....
Another cast I use to get the fly into a pocket quickly, involves a vigorous haul towards the end of the cast, as the line has straightened out. This will force your fly onto the water almost in a right angle, and it will impart a small bit of slack to allow for drift. Of Course Mending is of the ultimate importance in pocket water, this skill will only improve as you become more familiar with your rod.
