Tactics for big lazy browns in Gin clear water
- This topic has 45 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated Dec 9, 2008 at 3:51 am by
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I’ve been having a tough time convicing some nice big lazy browns to eat my offerings.
I was wondering what tactics or tricks I could try to entice them?
I’ve found that once I’ve drifted a fly past them, they become “snooty” and want know bugger all else from me.My drift is pretty good on most approaches, as is my presentation.
“Pretty good” ain’t going to cut it for big fish.
I guess you are right Lando, its got to be perfect everytime.
On one drift, I watched 22″ fish follow the fly on the drift, must’ve been 6ft. Nothing!I’ll give your idea a go Marc!
Hey Dazza,
I agree with Marc, now days when in the South Island I steer away from the ‘reccommended’ flies and give them something small & simple.
I hardly use a Pheasant tail or hare & copper nymph anymore and my go to nymph is size 16 dull green , no tail and a small brass wire rib.
It still looks like ‘food’ but nothing too specific.
The same with dries, I will go a size 16- 18 simple CDCAccording to my brother, this is the appropriate fly for trout that won’t bite:
Amazing that he hasn’t been tying in prison yet…
Hey Dazza,
I agree with Marc, now days when in the South Island I steer away from the ‘reccommended’ flies and give them something small & simple.
I hardly use a Pheasant tail or hare & copper nymph anymore and my go to nymph is size 16 dull green , no tail and a small brass wire rib.
It still looks like ‘food’ but nothing too specific.
The same with dries, I will go a size 16- 18 simple CDC or DHE emerger, or para adams .
Also go to a longer leader say 15′ with a long 6x tippett say 18-20′ in total. While this can be tricky to turn over ( practice practice )when presented well, this will give a better and longer drag free drift .Show us a pic when you get one hey !!
Howdy Andrew,
I’ll have to make some adjustments to my leader/tippet. I’m only fishing a 12′ leader/tippet.
I got a couple the other day on an #18 H&C, but after that I’ve been out 2 more times, and they are flat out refusing anything, even the super #16 Klinkhammers that my good friend Mike McKeown tied up.
I’ve also tried Stimulators, but no reaction to them.
According to my brother, this is the appropriate fly for trout that won’t bite:
Amazing that he hasn’t been tying in prison yet…
HAHA, can only imagine what the farmer would say if I walked through his paddocks with one of those in my hand.
Ron Burgundy: Boy, that escalated quickly… I mean, that really got out of hand fast.
Champ Kind: It jumped up a notch.
Ron Burgundy: It did, didn’t it?
Brick Tamland: Yeah, I stabbed a man in the heart.
Ron Burgundy: I saw that. Brick killed a guy. Did you throw a trident?
Brick Tamland: Yeah, there were horses, and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.
Ron Burgundy: Brick, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. You should find yourself a safehouse or a relative close by. Lay low for a while, because you’re probably wanted for murder.Also go to a longer leader say 15′ with a long 6x tippett say 18-20′ in total. While this can be tricky to turn over ( practice practice )when presented well, this will give a better and longer drag free drift .
Amen.
I believe long leaders, presentation and light tippets work good sometimes, as do changing flies, but watching the fish and finding and targeting feeding fish also seems to help alot. If the fish are refusing all offerings and don’t even move at a fly and aren’t acctivley feeding I will try to move to other fish that are. And in most cases were fish are moving to food they will take a fly on heavier and shorter leaders which facilitates landing big browns after hooking up. I have tried this out with some good success and continue to learn. just another wiew.
Chad
Daryl… is this for fishing in the Wairarapa?
You can judge a man by the size of things which annoy him.
The Wainui browns can shut down at times and yes they do get pressured. But it isn’t fly pattern that will dicate their responses. It’s more presentation… I’d be using a 14′ leader or so and I wouldn’t taper to 6X on that water, the fish are simply too big .. I would go to 5X and #18 flies, probably a CDC for that style of water. Also, endevor to make your cast so the fish doe not see the fly alight but so it justs drifts neturally into their field of view on the current.
I fished the Wainui a lot 25 years ago and it has more pressure now, but the fish are catchable.
Jim Greeks used to be very successful by finishing his rods in matt colours and wearing almost full camo. If the fish are virtually inert and not seen to feed on anythng then give up… they’ve probably seen you already. Look at an even more stealthy approach from below, staying out of the water and keeping even your cast low. Be careful not to make any heavy footfalls.
However, many of those fish are virtually nocturnal, the easiest defense mechanism they have developed against the constant presuure is to feed after dark. For that reason we used to target them in the twilight and after dark with #16CDC Elk Hairs.
They are some of the toughest fish in the country, but they are not impossible, but take your focus off the fly and concentrate on stealthier approaches and presentations. Leader length with a minimum of five feet of tippet is crucial in my opinon.
Any line heavier than a #5 will be a waste of time too. A solid #4 with backbone would be even better.
You can judge a man by the size of things which annoy him.
To be honest, I’ve been suspecting my fly line as a culprit. I’ve been using a #4 Rio Nymph tip with a 10′ – 12′ leader/tippet, with Klinkhammer/Elk Hair Caddis/White Royal Wolf/Stimulator and a GRHE/H&C/PTN/Copper John/ZAK as a dropper.
My TFO is a little strong for my other lines, so maybe I need to fish a lighter rod, but they just dont have the backbone in the wind out there. Its a little concerntrated out on the Wainui.
Andrew and Marc have given me some other suggestions, which I am pretty keen to try out. Had my lad out with me today, so I was coaching more than experimenting.
The fish on the Wainui are not as free rising as I expected them to be!
The using something different is solid advice… It’s almost a mantra with me also… On that stream you have some big fish and 6X is fine if you plan on killing the fish, but if you want to release it you’ll kill it fighting it.
Your rod won’t make a difference if you are using a #4 line.
If the fish is active and then ceases activity on your first presentation then chances are it’s micro drag, leader shine or rigidity (12″ tippets will do that to most leader mateirals) or something of the like. Fly Pattern would be well down the list but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hedge your bets with a “different” fly pattern. Are you familiar with Bob Wyatt’s DHE Emerger… it would possibly be my first pic of flies if
You can judge a man by the size of things which annoy him.
Sorry guys, on that river it’s a tactic unlikely to work, unless the sea-runs are in.
The trials and tribulations of the Wainui-o-mata are well known..
You can judge a man by the size of things which annoy him.
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