Fishing Techniques & Tips

In this section of the

Game Fair Web Site you will find Fishing Techniques & Tips.

Knots.

Good knots are obviously essential to good fishing. Below are some links to excellent websites that you will find very useful.

Learn the knots by practicing at home and learn your leader material by testing the knots to destruction.

By breaking the knots (100%) and learning this force you can then test them to about 60% and be sure they are sound.

I personally as do a lot of other anglers use the two turn Water Knot for all of my droppers.

In my opinion the more tuns in a Water Knot (after two) the more likely it is to fail.

Not convinced? Try it and test it at home.

Knots by Grays of Kilsyth

Fish and Fly Knots

Beginners Guide to Knots

Casting.

Here is a link to a website with some good casting instruction.

http://www.corporateflyfishing.com/Casting.htm

This is the Game Angling Instuctors Site.

http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/home.asp

Bank Fishing

An Angler from Northern Ireland recently approached me through this website to try and help him catch

some fish. After some initial questions to establish what sort of waters and for what type of fish he was fishing for I e-mailed him the reply that is below.

He was fishing in February for mainly Rainbow Trout in small still waters which were stocked at many varied frequencies. He only had a Floating and an Intermediate line.

Hi Glen,

The first thing I would say to you is to fish logically.

I would draw up a plan based on what I have written below with your own modifications.

Think of a system and work your way through it.

Even write it down and take it with you.

A lot of my best “fishing” is done at home with a pen and paper!

You want avoid jumping around from place to place and method to method.

Try and find out where the hotspot is and start there.

If you don't know where the hotspot is…. ask.

If you cannot find out stand as close as is polite to an angler who is catching or someone who knows the water well.

Failing that get close to someone who looks as if he knows what he is about.

If anyone is catching ask them…..

what line, what retrieve, what depth/countdown and lastly what fly.

Tell them your are a novice and congratulate them on the fish they have caught

This loosens tongues. Ha Ha

YOUR PLAN

At this time of year unless there are rising fish start with your intermediate line and a black buzzer, bloodworm or wet black hopper size 12.

Fish this as slow as you can. Think of you slowest Fig.8 retrieve and then half the speed. Ha Ha

This is probably your best shot.

Fan cast to begin with and then work up and down the bank a little.

Cast then walk four paces to the side.

This moves the fly in a curve.

Move back to your original spot after the next cast then to the other side etc.

Don't move too far from the hotspot. 10 yards or so at most

If this does not work after about half an hour use a faster retrieve with a count down.

3 or 4 casts at 10 seconds and then 20 seconds and then 30 seconds etc

If this works try and remember your countdown, speed and place on the retrieve and repeat it.

If that does not work use a faster retrieve and repeat the above.

If you are still not catching change to a black lure and repeat All the above including the slowest retrieve.

Then again with white and then again with orange.

If this is still not working try your floater. (You may want to miss this step out and move to the next but weigh up your decision carefully)

If this has not worked go through the whole procedure at the second best place and then the third etc.

Hopefully you can see that you are now working through a system to try and find the fish, the depth, the retrieve and the fly.

Often the fly is the least important.

Please feel free to add your own variations but make them logical and progressive.

If you use fluorocarbon use a good quality, thin one in at least 8Lb. for the rainbows.

Finally a lot of anglers leave their brains at home when they go fishing.

This is fine if you just want a relaxing time but me…… I need to catch.

So keep your wits about you and keep asking yourself questions.

Concentrate and use your eyes for seeing not just for looking.

Many tight lines to you.

Best Regards  Robbie Bell

I know this reply is not perfect but I hoped it was useful to him.

He has yet to let me know however.

His reply came a short while after and gave me a real buzz.

I am always open to receive and give advice and if anyone has anything to add or indeed any further questions please feel free to send me an e-mail.

Margaret & Robbie Bell
Game Fair
12 Marygate
Berwick upon Tweed
Northumberland
TD15 1BN

Telephone: 01289 305119

E.Mail: robbie@gamefair-flyfishing.net