Forum Home › Fly Fishing Tips and Techniques › Refusals

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    • November 12, 2018 at 7:23 pm #6831
      Bob3700
      Participant

      Ok, so u are indicator fishing and u can see the fish. You drift a blonde leach right down the feeding lane. The fish moves to the fly and last second turns away. Put on a black Wooly Bugger and fish turns away at the last second.
      The fish is interested but just committing. What do u do to close the deal n catch that fish?

    • November 12, 2018 at 8:32 pm #6833
      MOfishMO
      Participant

      Bob,
      Excellent question.
      Once fish refuses fly and turns away immediately/quickly…Stop your indicator from drifting and strip back to feeding lane quickly. The technique sometimes will help make the fish strike. The KEY is quickly after refusal!
      I’ll be interested in other techniques for fish refusal.

      Mike

    • November 13, 2018 at 9:47 am #6835
      Bob3700
      Participant

      One of the “Sage” pieces of advice I received about fishing was:
      If your not catching fish, change flies, if ur catching fish, change flies!

      So, two flies to an interested fish n two refusals. Change flies! The two previous flies were tied on #10 hooks. I changed to a Crackleback on a smaller #12 hook. Drifted that down the fishes feeding lane n BINGO, that nice big hen grabbed the fly n took off.
      So a couple of things to think about if u have had refusals, different fly, smaller fly, and u could add smaller tippet too. As I was already using a 6x tippet, I just kept tippet size the same as I didn’t think that was spooking the fish.
      Just some things to think about next time ur out.

      Bob

    • November 13, 2018 at 8:30 pm #6849
      Mcclurey
      Participant

      Thanks Bob. It’s always a great reminder to change flies and or at least size.

    • November 14, 2018 at 6:12 am #6853
      bkbying89
      Participant

      Going smaller is why some of us are tying smaller flys. Like down to size 24, 26. I haven’t gone below size 22 and need to practice tying those on the tippet. When I can, I use big eye hooks.

      Bill

    • November 14, 2018 at 9:02 am #6854
      Sensei
      Participant

      Oh Grasshoppers’

      An awesome discussion on catching of the trout. Refusals are frustrating. But since the trout did look, it means he’s interested – in something. I have seen trout take in a leaf or a stick before – trout – remember the brain the size of a pea. BOB3700 has some good ideas. When you bang your head continually into the wall after awhile it HURTS! So, some things to think about, Bob3700 is correct.

      If the current is slow, trout have much time to peruse their prey so Bob 3700 is correct in what he says:
      1. Try smaller fly
      2. Make fly more active (like bkbing89 suggested)
      3. smaller tippet
      4. change fly altogether
      5. change color of fly (light color or dark color)
      6. change technique – strip or swing vice dead drift
      7. last, move out of the way and let your Sensei in the hole

    • November 15, 2018 at 8:09 am #6867
      Bob3700
      Participant

      Bill,

      I think the smallest hooks I have to tie flys on is maybe an 18 or 20. Even at that size, I struggle to tie it onto the tippet and can’t see em on the water.

      Two years ago in Montana, the guide tied on a dual dry fly set-up. The trailer was an insanely small fly that I could not see. When the fish did come up for the fly, I missed the takes cause the “Ring” wasn’t anywhere near where I was looking. I may have been on the guides last nerve as he would call strike and I would just look at him like “What”?

    • November 15, 2018 at 2:56 pm #6873
      bkbying89
      Participant

      Bob3700, these small flies are generally emergers meant to stay near the surface. I think when I am using flies as small as I have been tying I will need an indicator. A New Zealand style or a Griffith Gnat type fly. A size 16 Griffith Gnat should float a small emerger. Another hint I got from reading was to use your own judgment. If the trout disturbs the water around where you cast just lift the rod to set the hook if the trout took your fly, fish on.

      Bill

    • November 15, 2018 at 6:40 pm #6875
      Bob3700
      Participant

      Bill,
      You are correct in that any disturbance in your area and you lift the rod. That is the only way you can fish those tiny little dry flies.

      Bob

    • November 15, 2018 at 6:40 pm #6876
      bkbying89
      Participant

      I should also mention that Daiichi and Orvis have big eye hooks in dry fly models. I just adapt were I can.
      I have suggested to Firehole Outdoors that big eye hooks could be a big attractor to the older anglers.

      Bill

    • November 16, 2018 at 11:00 am #6881
      Barry Dunnegan
      Participant

      Hey, here’s a tip on unobtrusive indicators for surface or just below surface indicators: take a single strand of acrylic yarn (the yarn is usually 3 strands twisted) of about 6 inches and tie a slip knot in it. Place in about 3 to 6 inches above your midge or emerged. Tighten knot. Trim excess yarn to about a thumbnail height. Comb out yarn with Velcro and paste floatant. If trout strike your indicator switch to a dry Adams!

    • November 16, 2018 at 11:02 am #6882
      Barry Dunnegan
      Participant

      Oops. Meant to write surface or subsurface midges or emerges.

    • November 17, 2018 at 7:51 am #6883
      Mcclurey
      Participant

      Thanks Barry. Great alternative.

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