Techy Thursdays - Maximise that swing

As mentioned last week, attention to the details is what keeps the top anglers in more fish than most. They are always busy, manipulating their line to maximise control and get that slightly longer drift, that nearly unnoticeable slower swing or that extra hang time in the best of the water.

Most of the flies I swing imitate bullies and or juvenile trout. These dart about the slack waters nearer the banks and when in the heavier water are largely at the mercy of the currents. We should use that...Let's look at spicing up your swing rather than just lobbing it out there and hoping for something to tug back...

1:Pitch to the far bank / cover and immediately give two or three short fast strips. The touchdown is likely to attract attention from the cover position and the prey escaping will seal the deal. One bonus is that any fish wary of the splashdown may throw caution to the wind and smash that hastily escaping monster morsel. Another bonus is that these fast, initial strips will remove any slack from the system meaning better strike detection and and a more efficient hook set. Mend as required as your fly enters the fast water.

2: Let your fly swing under control through the heavier current. Leading your line with your rod tip will belly the line, speeding up your swing but also presenting your fly broadside across the current. Following your line from an upstream angle of the rod tip will result in a slower swing and will also present your fly 'butt first'. Pulsing your rod tip will impart movement to your fly if required and the jigging effect will often entice following trout to close in.

3: Finally strip your fly back up the slack below you in fast, erratic strips. Work that rod tip to guide your flies near to banks, rocks, log jams etc. Bullies won't stick around in quiet water when there are trout present so rip into those strips.

You are now working three parts to your presentation rather than just the one uniform swing, and presenting to each specific area (cover, heavier water and the slack edge / near bank)

rather than treating them as one and the same.

It's the little things that add up to a wet net...

Check out more of Chris' insights over at www.chrisdore.com