Posted by Jim E (24.117.251.11) on November 04, 2004 at 15:58:33:
Trash on your fly
No, I’m not talking about catching gar, carp, drum or other fish often referred to as trash fish on a fly. Nothing wrong with them if you’re fishing for them but the trash that I am talking about is floating trash and debris. With Fall finally taking hold it always brings the falling of leaves and cypress needles followed by dislodged dying/dead moss all meandering their way downstream to points unknown. Well, as much as I long for driving down leaf covered roads and streets. Enjoying the quietness in the woods only found in the Fall and Winter, a quietness occasionally being broken by the soft landing of a dead leaf or the hard, fast thud of another acorn loosing its fight with gravity. These happenings can cause havoc for the fly fisherman when natures discarded ends up on the water.
Inevitably, your fly will come in contact with one of these getting hooked, ruining an otherwise good drift or retrieve. Twisting your tippet and leader as you try to cast thinking “maybe it will cast off” but it never does. Your only option is to stop all fishing and physically pull off the un-welcomed catch. Or….is it the only option ?
A few years ago I was watching Flip Pallot’s TV show “Walker’s Cay Chronicles”. He was fishing for fining reds in the shallows, shallows that were clogged with moss and grass. He stopped fishing (of course) for a moment when he caught a stem of moss and dragged it in, close to the boat. His words were something like this “I want to show you a special little trick for an easy way to remove moss and grass”, going on to demonstrate. I was impressed and tried it the next time I had an issue with this pesky annoyance. Well I soon realized it takes just a little practice but is easily mastered. Like with all fly casting it is in the form and timing. Here’s how to do it.
First, bring in your fly line and fly to within about 20 feet or less. Next, throw a gentle loop into your line much like you would when starting a roll cast. As your line rolls out and starts picking up your leader this will be the critical “timing” part. Just before the fly is lifted from the water, make a sharp and deliberate back cast. This quick change in direction/force on the fly 90% of the time will cause the desired separation using the water’s tension on the foreign object. If it was successful, you can go on and continue casting to whatever your next target might be. It’s that simple !!! What a time saver.
Good fishing,
Jim Enns <*;))))))))><