Types of Tactics Fly Fishing Tactics can pertain to any number of criteria that enable the fly fisherman to have better success on the water. There are three primary areas to consider: Water – knowledge of streams and lakes, their anatomy, how to read water, and where the fish lie. Types of Flies – the tactics of dry fly…
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Types of Streams There are three types of streams generally identified within the Sierra Nevada: Spring Creeks: Spring creeks have an even flow, year-round. They originate from a spring, maintain a consistent temperature throughout the year, and tend to have a higher pH and more nutrients. Often, spring creeks are associated with heavy aquatic growth. They…
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Nymph Rigs Standard Nymph Rig Euro Nymph Rig Deep Water Nymphing Shallow Water Nymphing Streams Dead Drift Presentation The Dead Drift presentation is one of the nymphing tactics used in riffles and runs of streams. It is usually done with a floating line and a weighted nymph. Cast upstream a short distance (1-30 feet) and…
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Streams Up and Across Presentation Within dry fly tactics, the Up and Across Presentation is probably the best to present a dry fly within a stream. The angled cast will keep the line and leader to the side out of the vision of the fish. The main problem will be drag, especially, if the stream…
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Streams Downstream Sweep A Downstream Sweep is probably the most popular presentation of streamers on streams. Usually, it is used with Full Sink or Sink-Tip lines. Cast the streamer across and slightly downstream. As the streamer moves downstream, line drag will cause the streamer to sweep across the feeding zone of the fish. The fish are presented a broadside…
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Double haul casts use the reserve power of the rod to cast farther and easier by increasing the line speed. Not only does it help arm fatigue due to casting all day, it also helps to provide the power in the stroke to combat headwinds, reach long distances, and handle large flies easier. The cast…
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Types of Lakes Lakes are often described within a classification system developed around natural forming lakes: the Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic, Eutrophic, and Dystrophic types. The Oligotrophic types consists of the young Alpine and Glacial lakes where the lake bottom is strewn with boulders and rocks. The Mesotropic types are somewhat older with rock and gravel forming…
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Reach Casts are used on streams where current differences affect the standard overhead cast. Depending upon the direction of the current, the caster will “reach” either to the left or the right so that the line falls to the tip of the rod which is away from the caster. The reach is most often done…
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Puddle Casts, also known as Pile Casts, create small S-curves in the fly line and leader that will alleviate drag problems in downstream presentations. Until the current straightens out the line, the s-curves allow the fly to proceed downstream in a drag-free manner. This is a great cast for swirling back eddies, or complex currents…
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Parachute casts is usually a slackline presentation downstream. The rod is kept high after the cast so that the fly line and fly descend upon the water, like a parachute. There will be a belly of line between the rod tip and the fly. The rod tip is gradually lowered and kept in line with…
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