I need some coaching

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Date: February 02, 2003 at 11:22:23
From: ken, [pool-64-223-40-76.prov.east.verizon.net]
Subject: I need some coaching

Date: October 12, 2002 at 02:34:51
From: ken, [pool-64-223-41-39.prov.east.verizon.net]
Subject: Re: Help! I Need some coaching.

There is no answer that is absolute. The thing that is hard to see is that even though the bass are breaking and the bait is scattering sometimes the bass are not chasing it but blowing up from the bottom on it. This is a big difference. The water may be churning and the bait may be coming up in the grass but even so the fish themselves may be very relaxed and holding in position and feeding in a relaxed tip up and eat, turn down and swallow manner. What this means is simple they won't chase bait. They break and pop and the bait flushes but the fish hold in the same place. Once in a while a fish does chase but turns back and takes up it's position again. In the mouth of a tidal river the current is moving and the fish are stationary.
That is a normal routine. Sometines they are chasing bait and when they are they move around and the school moves in or out and so does the bait. It seems from what you said that the feeding took place in one area, the mouth, for an extended period of time. That means that the fish stayed in position and the bait moved over them as they left the esturary or entered the estuary. Casting and stripping with an intermediate line didn't work even though you tried it three different ways. A dead drift just above a feeding fishes position with a short line and an across current cast might have worked even with an intermediate line. A greased line swwing which moves the fly down in front of a holding fish broadside to the current is also a method that might have worked witt a floating line. A wet fly swing down and to a rising fish also might have worked. The principle that is operating when fish are holding in current to feed is simple, the bait comes to the fish they are not chasing. Either the fish are chasing or waiting. When they are chasing they will hit flies that come to them and flies that are stripped in front of them. When they are waiting for bait to come to them in current they often will not chase a stripped fly. They may if it is placed right in front of them sometimes but it is not a high percentage tactic although it does work. So either the fish are chasing or they are holding and feeding. When they are holding you have to bring the fly to the fish the same way the bait is coming to them. When they are chasing they will chase the fly and are usually much easier to catch. This is not gospel just an observation of two ways fish feed. Current locates fish. Fish in current that are feeding ordinarily are stationary in relation to the bottom. They move up and down and a bit to the side or upcurrent or drop down current but do this in a small area about two square yards. Fish that are moving to feed move with the bait.. Use droppers and flies that look alive when at rest. Catch some menhaden and tie up some patterns that look like them to you and don't be even slightly concerned about using standard patterns. Droppers will help a great deal and get a floating line so you have more options in presentation.

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Re: I need some coaching ken 02-Feb-2003 11:30:16 (0)

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