favorite techniques?

[willis5]

What techniques do you use the most when flyfishing?

I like to use a dropper from a dry on occasion, but I mostly like to drift drys or throw caddis flies right at rising fish (to try to get them to hit it as it hits the water or even before).

[SQUACKS]

when fish are obviously rising, i love to fish dry.

 BUT! there is always a but. most of the time i like to fish across and down with a maribou muddler. it wakes you up when one tries to rip the rod from your hands. no dainty sipping of flies that i can't seem to see anymore.

 those old cannibles like muddlers. i try to accomidate them as much as possible.
                                                luck!

[Woodbutcher]

Dear Squacks:
 Normally a bit chilly this time of the year in western Pa., but as long as the water conditions are favorable, it's amazing what happens. Top water possibilities are a mite iffy, however.
 Sometimes the daily movements, in streams, can put the fish in water 2 to 4 ft deep,and they are active, and they will take. Either small nymphs and wets, dead drifted, or streamers. Leadwing coachman, Zug Bug, PicKet Pin, and other Peacock type dressings, and of course Hares Ear and Pheasant Tail nymph are a good place to start. Size 12 and 14 are pretty good. Three flies spread out on the leader, each about a foot apart, covers a lot of water. Just take it easy on the cast.  Since things are a bit slower now, because of the cold, soft dressing on the streamers is a good idea. Ain't nothing wrong with 2 or 3 streamers fished like wets.
 Now is also the time to watch for the ice melt on lakes and ponds. If the edge of the ice can be reached from shore, this can be productive. Usually this involves pretty agressive roll casting, because of shoreline brush, so I use a single fly. While a dry might be effective in this situation, I've always used a wet.
 When all else fails, use Woolly Buggers.       Woodbutcher

[SQUACKS]

woodbutcher:

 i have seen midge hatches in wisconsin in mid jan. they usually happen in late afternoon. i suppose a fellow could find trout taking dries at that time. it is not my idea of having lots o fun if the ice keeps freezing your guides shut! lol!

 i have used those 2 fly set ups out west. they do work well. in fast water i can usually pick out one of a 2 fly rig if i am lucky!

 i like late may for flyfishing the trout. of course i combine it with some spring gobbler hunting. turkey hunting in the morning, flyfishing in the evening and loafing about spread all through there! what a great time of the year that is!

                                              luck!

[Woodbutcher]

Dear Squacks:
  Flies hatchin in winter, I've read about it, and heard about, even seen it once, but I ain't never had it happen when I got a rod in my hand! So I stick with wets and streamers at this time of year.
 Wisconsin gets a mite chillier than we do round here, I'll bet! Sorta like Lake Erie shoreline for steelhead. It ain't the guides freezin, it's yer runny nose. Durn snotsicles!
 3 wets can get really tangled, in everything and anything, but rollcasting seems to keep me out of trouble, if I keep the droppers short and sorta stiff, and take my time. Ain't never had a double header on Trout...yet...but I'm tryin!
 Turkey huntin is coming real soon, I can taste it in the air. Woodbutcher

[SQUACKS]

woodbutcher:

 i was in west yellowstone, mt last aug and got to float the madison in one of those drift boats. i did an all day trip with just a guide and myself.

 that was the first time i actually fished two dry flies. i have usually just used a dry with a dropper that i tie a serendipity to. i used that combo on yellowstone lake a few years ago to cast to cruising cuts. they always took the dropper.

 the 2 dries in that fast water worked really good. we tied a dark fly and a light colored fly on. i was able to see at least one of them in that rough water most of the time.

  it took some getting used to fishing those dries downstream. i kept missing the hookups by striking to quickly. i got lots of practice on striking though. it was a great day of fishing!

                                                         luck!

[Woodbutcher]

Squacks, if I'da seen your post sooner, I'da responded sooner. Madison!!
 Man, that must Nirvana. I'll tell ya what, you talk, I'll listen! Woodbutcher

[SQUACKS]

woodbutcher:

 i went out there last aug.  i did not realise that the fff was having their conclave there that week. there were heaps of flyfishermen everywhere.

 i have fished the yellowstone area  a few times. i always thought i wanted to fish in that buffalo fordes area for those yellowstone cuts. i drove through there last aug. and there were people everyplace fishing. i  opted for fishing in the headwaters of the gibbon and never saw another fisherman. elk and camera bugs...yes. fisherman...just me.

 i have been lucky enough to be able to fish out west quite a bit. i mostly wander  around out there fishing in out of the way places. it's the scenery and big moving water i love. trout are a plus but not required.

 my wife enjoys the hiking along as well. she does fish some but just likes to nose along the streambank identifying wildflowers. the nice thing about it is that i don't have to talk her into going west. she enjoys it as much as i do.

                                                          luck!

[Woodbutcher]

Squacks, out there ya might get run over by a buff or an elk or bear, round here it might be a barge that does ya in, or heaven forbid a water skier.
 Yellowstone no less, you're hittin where it hurts!! The fish are big, the bugs are big, and the bears are big!
 Actually, there are lots of lonesome places in this part of the world. Deer and turk are pretty common, and a whole lot smaller than things you would face out there! But I think the trout would average a mite smaller also!
                                                          Maybe someday, Woodbutcher

[SQUACKS]

woodbutcher:

 i have only ever seen one bear in yellowstone and i was not fishing at the time. it was a small grizzly.

 i went to alaska once bowhunting for caribou. i saw some of those brown bears while there that would dwarf that little grizz! we were camped in a tent lots of miles from anyplace and i saw 4 of them from the tent. the first night, i had a few minutes of uneasyness before i drifted off. we stayed out 10 days. i was always too danged tired to worry about bears after the first night.

 i got to salmon fish the kenai river one day while there. i absolutely died over having to leave my flyfishing equipment at home. i had to settle for a spinning reel. the pink salmon were running up that river the first week in september and you could not keep from catching them! it was a 4-6 lb fish pert near every cast. they were plumb beautiful fish too.

 i plan to go back to soldatna ak sometime in the near future for a fish about! you can bet i will have my 9 wt along!

                                                                luck!

[Woodbutcher]

Squacks:
 Ya see big bears, and have a "few minutes of uneasyness" goin to sleep in a tent!
 Sir, you have the gift of understatement!!!
 May you be blessed with many such adventures, and you have your flyrod!                                                         Woodbutcher