Techy Thursday - Stillwater tips for newbies
PHOTO: Stu Hastie
Many anglers dislike lakes. It’s not all blind fishing as a lot believe, however being prepared to work the drop offs or work the water blind when fish aren’t visible will catch you more fish. With all the high water around still waters have been a very productive option for some. Here’s a few tips to help you find your feet if you’re new to the scene.
Stop and watch.
It can reveal a lot. Spend time simply observing the water, looking for movement, bug life or if a fish magically appears.
Fish your feet first.
Those shallows you’re standing in, or that bank you’re walking on provides prime tucker for still water trout. Spend time spotting or working the first few metres of water out from the bank before wading and casting beyond the drop-off.
Fish slow - nymphs / soft hackles.
Most bug life in still waters live a relaxed life. With little current to battle, snails, corixa, chironomids etc often move slow. Crawling a pair of soft hackles slowly across those weed beds is a great way to open your account.
Fish fast - strip woolly buggers.
If not much is happening, pulling streamers, anytime is a great way to find fish. Not only is it a top way to cover ground, but well fed fish, or those not really on the chew cannot resist a mouth full of bugger as it flashes through their territory.
Dry / droppers work too.
With beetle, blowflies, adult damsels, caddis and mayfly, one can do worse than to move along a shoreline, or weed bed dropping a dry fly / nymph combo ahead as they go. Watch the dry closely as well as for movement beneath, and once you feel your lightly weighted wet has suspended, twitch it back to recast.
Big, small or barely a puddle, our still waters offer a lot throughout the season. Give them a go.
