Headed out this evening to wade some flats and look for some tailers. Got to the spot early and the fish were already there - a group of about five fish in a lower part of the flat, waiting for the water to get high enough to really get up on the grass.
I stalked in on one side and presented a copperhead to three of the five or so fish, with absolutely no takers - didn’t give it a second thought. I’m not foolish enough to think that all my casts were perfect, but there were at least three instances where the fly was directly in front of the fish, strip, strip, and he just kept on swimming. Any ideas on why this may have happened?
Water got up higher and the fish moved off that spot, and I never saw any again. Water was really high on the flat, so I’m not surprised not to see any tails later in the evening, but can’t get over all of them passing up the copperhead. Still had a great evening, with two of the fish swimming within 5-10 feet of me - very cool to see.
I say this with all do respect, but did you try a different fly? I have been having better luck with shrimp patterns lately. When I don’t get a response, I change up flies.
Hind sight is 20/20. I wanted to give the copperhead a legitimate shot - I’m new to fly-fishing, so figured I was doing something wrong. By the time I realized that they really just didn’t want that fly, the water had gotten up high enough for them to disperse and I never saw another fish.
Headed out this evening to wade some flats and look for some tailers. Got to the spot early and the fish were already there - a group of about five fish in a lower part of the flat, waiting for the water to get high enough to really get up on the grass.
I stalked in on one side and presented a copperhead to three of the five or so fish, with absolutely no takers - didn’t give it a second thought. I’m not foolish enough to think that all my casts were perfect, but there were at least three instances where the fly was directly in front of the fish, strip, strip, and he just kept on swimming. Any ideas on why this may have happened?
Water got up higher and the fish moved off that spot, and I never saw any again. Water was really high on the flat, so I’m not surprised not to see any tails later in the evening, but can’t get over all of them passing up the copperhead. Still had a great evening, with two of the fish swimming within 5-10 feet of me - very cool to see.
Maybe one day I’ll get one…one day.
We waded yesterday and saw a good number of fish too, but no takers. They just weren’t eating for us either. Next time.
When I first got started with a fly rod I was exactly the same way. I use to throw a gold spoon fly exclusively. Now, if I get a reject, I immediately change flies. I also pay a lot of attention to the bait in the area. If I see shrimp, I try to figure out the size. If I see mullet, I break out a clouser.
Agree on fly change. I have noticed that the copperhead seems to be the: end all, be all of flies for guys on here. Try a realistic looking natural fly and just use very slight twitches to make it look alive, not long pulls. A redfish will take it to the colon every time if you present it right.
Agree on fly change. I have noticed that the copperhead seems to be the: end all, be all of flies for guys on here. Try a realistic looking natural fly and just use very slight twitches to make it look alive, not long pulls. A redfish will take it to the colon every time if you present it right.
I agree with that about the copperhead, but being new to the sport, I figure the guys on here know much more than I do about fly selection. I presented it well in front of the fish, twitched it as they swam by, and it just didn’t happen. They weren’t feeding really heavily - no tailing - just seemed to be cruising.
Next time I’ll definitely have more of a fly selection ready for deployment, though.
I have gone through 6 to 7 fly changes before trying to figure out what they are eating. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. I now make it a point to try to locate the type of bait on the flat almost as much as the fish. I seem to do better when I figure that out.
It is a lot like trying to “match the hatch” on a trout stream.
When I first got started with a fly rod I was exactly the same way. I use to throw a gold spoon fly exclusively. Now, if I get a reject, I immediately change flies. I also pay a lot of attention to the bait in the area. If I see shrimp, I try to figure out the size. If I see mullet, I break out a clouser.
Good Luck,
Whalerman
Whalerman,
I’m also new to flyfishing, and am wondering how you go about changing flys. Do you pre-rig them with a tippet and use a loop knot to attach them to the leader, or do you just tie a new fly to the existing tippet each time you want to make a change? Thanks!
“A ship is always referred to as she because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder”
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
DS, just tie them on as you change flies. You can change a lot of flies until you need to add tippet to the leader. See, another perfect excuse to add at leat 10 more patterns to your fly box.
“Reasonable risk is implied in lion hunting”
Peter Hathaway Capstick
DS, just tie them on as you change flies. You can change a lot of flies until you need to add tippet to the leader. See, another perfect excuse to add at leat 10 more patterns to your fly box.
“Reasonable risk is implied in lion hunting”
Peter Hathaway Capstick
Thanks much!
“A ship is always referred to as she because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder”
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
they really seem to be locked in when tailing. i get right up to them sometimes. they almost act like lm bass in a trance. that makes me think they are tuned in to a very narrow cue, which may be triggered by different flies at different times. im also really new to stalking reds so salt my thot. i modified that rattling shrimp from the swap and gave it to a kid who has taken several on it. ive got gout right now so im missing this set of tides(killin me we got so few good ones this yr). my buddy went but didnt see any tuesday at little murrels river.
we dont need no reservations we dont need no cruise control
they really seem to be locked in when tailing. i get right up to them sometimes. they almost act like lm bass in a trance. that makes me think they are tuned in to a very narrow cue, which may be triggered by different flies at different times. im also really new to stalking reds so salt my thot. i modified that rattling shrimp from the swap and gave it to a kid who has taken several on it. ive got gout right now so im missing this set of tides(killin me we got so few good ones this yr). my buddy went but didnt see any tuesday at little murrels river.
we dont need no reservations we dont need no cruise control
PI, that was the rattle shrimp pattern I tied for the last swap. If memory serves me right I tied those with lead eyes for targeting fish lower in the water column. I have been working with some variations of that pattern for tailers that have been successful. Most of the variations center around making the fly lighter (no lead eyes, smaller rattle, no 3X strong hook) as well as adding some materials to make the fly more buoyant (adding some schlappen, craft fur, dubbing). Would you mind letting me know how you altered the fly so that I can keep refining the pattern? Thanks.
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
Would you mind posting a picture of that fly? I’m trying to find some good, non-epoxy shrimp patterns to tie for some tailers, as well.
quote:Originally posted by Shadowgrass
quote:PAWLEYSI
Senior Member
213 Posts
Posted - 07/03/2008 : 5:42:28 PM
they really seem to be locked in when tailing. i get right up to them sometimes. they almost act like lm bass in a trance. that makes me think they are tuned in to a very narrow cue, which may be triggered by different flies at different times. im also really new to stalking reds so salt my thot. i modified that rattling shrimp from the swap and gave it to a kid who has taken several on it. ive got gout right now so im missing this set of tides(killin me we got so few good ones this yr). my buddy went but didnt see any tuesday at little murrels river.
we dont need no reservations we dont need no cruise control
PI, that was the rattle shrimp pattern I tied for the last swap. If memory serves me right I tied those with lead eyes for targeting fish lower in the water column. I have been working with some variations of that pattern for tailers that have been successful. Most of the variations center around making the fly lighter (no lead eyes, smaller rattle, no 3X strong hook) as well as adding some materials to make the fly more buoyant (adding some schlappen, craft fur, dubbing). Would you mind letting me know how you altered the fly so that I can keep refining the pattern? Thanks.
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
i was talkin bout that really ugly hair backed thing that i tied. i was just putting 1/8 pearl piping with a woody rattle inside and some silicone legs more like flyguys go to shrimp, but ugly. the kid had me add some flash and eyes and a weedguard and palmered estaz. i did some in gold and copper piping with turkey tail fibers as a rostrum.
heck ill just send one. ithink i can tie it faster than i can tell it. shoot me your address unless i find it first.
we dont need no reservations we dont need no cruise control
ETA: I’ve been playing around with a shrimp pattern, as well as a few others I’d be more than happy to send to you in exchange. I probably still have your address around here from the first swap I did.
