Concentration is the main key
to not missing a take. If you take
your eye off the dry fly for just a
second, you may miss a fish.
to not missing a take. If you take
your eye off the dry fly for just a
second, you may miss a fish.
The higher you stand, the easier
it is for the trout to spot you. Stay
as low as you can to get close to
the fish.
it is for the trout to spot you. Stay
as low as you can to get close to
the fish.
Presentation: (How to present your fly to the trout)
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| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Rewards for making a good
presentation in a small pocket in a
tiny stream don't come easy.
presentation in a small pocket in a
tiny stream don't come easy.
Getting the fly to land in exactly
the right place where it will drift
drag free over an awaiting trout is
just one of the requirements.
the right place where it will drift
drag free over an awaiting trout is
just one of the requirements.
Just like it is anywhere you are fly-fishing,
presentation is usually extremely important.
Getting a drag free drift is not easy in many
situations when you are fishing pocket water.
Conflicting currents, or currents that flow in
different directions and at different velocities,
are commonplace.
There are two basic things you can do to deal
with drag. One is to keep your fly line out of the
water as much as possible. The more fly line
you have in the water, the more drag you will
have and the more likely it is that your fly will
look more like a power boat than a sailboat. The
second thing is to learn to mend your line
effectively.
presentation is usually extremely important.
Getting a drag free drift is not easy in many
situations when you are fishing pocket water.
Conflicting currents, or currents that flow in
different directions and at different velocities,
are commonplace.
There are two basic things you can do to deal
with drag. One is to keep your fly line out of the
water as much as possible. The more fly line
you have in the water, the more drag you will
have and the more likely it is that your fly will
look more like a power boat than a sailboat. The
second thing is to learn to mend your line
effectively.
Casting Direction:
Most of the cast you will need to make will be
most effective if you cast in an upstream
direction. Rarely will you need to make a
downstream presentation but there certainly
situations where you will need to. You should
also try to avoid making across stream
presentations where conflicting currents exist
whenever it is possible or unnecessary to do
so. Short up and across or better, slightly up
and across, short cast are preferred in most
situations.
Casting Distance:
As we said in the casting section, long cast are
rarely necessary in the smokies. Most of them
should probably be in the range of 15 to 20 feet
or less. .
Positioning Yourself for the Cast:
First and foremost, position yourself such that it
is possible to make some type of cast without
hanging a tree limb or bush. Alway check
behind you to make sure you can make your
back cast.
The best thing you can do to avoid drag is to
position yourself in the best possible position
for the cast. In other words, don't cast across
conflicting currents unless you have to. If you
are fishing from the bank, there is not much you
can do except move up or down the stream to
help improve the situation. If you are wading you
can move anywhere in the stream that the depth
and obstacles allow you to move in order to get
into a better position as long as you can do so
without spooking the trout.
Casting to Individual Rising Fish:
If you see a trout rising ocassionally or steadily,
first get into the best possible position to cast to
it without spooking it. Your first cast should a
few feet above and land between you and the
fish, not past the fish. If you cast on top of it or
too close to it you may spook it. If you cast
beyond the fish you may spook it with you fly
line, leader or fly not drifting drag free. Being
short is much better. Make each sequential cast
slightly farther until your fly is directly upstream
of the fish and drifting drag free.
Casting to Likely Feeding Lanes:
(Check back-Coming Soon)
Casting to Likely Holding Areas:
(Check back-Coming Soon)
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Most of the cast you will need to make will be
most effective if you cast in an upstream
direction. Rarely will you need to make a
downstream presentation but there certainly
situations where you will need to. You should
also try to avoid making across stream
presentations where conflicting currents exist
whenever it is possible or unnecessary to do
so. Short up and across or better, slightly up
and across, short cast are preferred in most
situations.
Casting Distance:
As we said in the casting section, long cast are
rarely necessary in the smokies. Most of them
should probably be in the range of 15 to 20 feet
or less. .
Positioning Yourself for the Cast:
First and foremost, position yourself such that it
is possible to make some type of cast without
hanging a tree limb or bush. Alway check
behind you to make sure you can make your
back cast.
The best thing you can do to avoid drag is to
position yourself in the best possible position
for the cast. In other words, don't cast across
conflicting currents unless you have to. If you
are fishing from the bank, there is not much you
can do except move up or down the stream to
help improve the situation. If you are wading you
can move anywhere in the stream that the depth
and obstacles allow you to move in order to get
into a better position as long as you can do so
without spooking the trout.
Casting to Individual Rising Fish:
If you see a trout rising ocassionally or steadily,
first get into the best possible position to cast to
it without spooking it. Your first cast should a
few feet above and land between you and the
fish, not past the fish. If you cast on top of it or
too close to it you may spook it. If you cast
beyond the fish you may spook it with you fly
line, leader or fly not drifting drag free. Being
short is much better. Make each sequential cast
slightly farther until your fly is directly upstream
of the fish and drifting drag free.
Casting to Likely Feeding Lanes:
(Check back-Coming Soon)
Casting to Likely Holding Areas:
(Check back-Coming Soon)
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
The Large Boulders make
perfect hiding places to cast to
trout that are close to you without
spooking them. Notice also that
you can barely see the angler
because the clothing matches
the surroundings.
perfect hiding places to cast to
trout that are close to you without
spooking them. Notice also that
you can barely see the angler
because the clothing matches
the surroundings.
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About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
