Practical Fishing Tips

[Phil Lilley]

PRACTICAL FISHING TIPS

At the November 2008 Bennett Springs outing, a poll was taken of 40 members of the Ozark Fly Fishers on the best advice you can give to a new trout fisherperson. Some of these practical and philosophical tips are listed along with some sage quotes and advice.

Enjoy yourself, don’t take it too seriously and have fun. ”A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.”

As in life -in order to catch fish, you need to put your line and fly in the water.

Read the waters. “You can observe a lot by just watching.”

Don’t be in a hurry to get into the water. Fish close, then gradually further away.

Watch for rises and cast slightly upstream to them.

Enter the water quietly and with a low profile. “Unlike many other human activities - no matter how much whiskey you had, you can still fish”

Learn to cast. Practice casting separately from fishing.

20% of the fishermen catch 80% of the fish, because 80% of the fish are in 20% of the waters.

Dead drift and no drag which means the fly should float exactly like the natural: not too fast or slow and not pulling across current lines. “Just as in cooking there is no such thing as a little garlic, as in fishing there no such thing as a little drag.”

Change flies often. Often going smaller is better. “You can try to match the hatch, but 90% of what a trout eats is brown and fuzzy and about five-eights of an inch long.”

If not catching fish, change the depth of your fly.

If you still are not catching fish, move to another spot or state.

Get a guide, which is important if you are fishing new waters. Why spend the time and money traveling a long distance and trying to do it on the cheap?

Be patient. This was the most frequently cited tip.

Go to the Orvis Fly Fishing School, similar tutoring service or even better join the Ozark Fly Fishers (www.ozarkflyfishers.org)to improve your knowledge and technique.

Label your boxes with your name, address and telephone number in case they fall out or are lost. If you drown someone will still remember you.

Watch the pros. ”You can observe a lot by just watching.”

Fishermen are born honest, but get over it.

Always tell your story last to add a few more inches to the fish.%nbsp; Fish grow larger after the fish is out of the water.

Find someone to go out with especially in remote areas for safety. ”If you don’t know where you are going, you may wind up somewhere else.”

Stop and enjoy the inner peace and nature, but relieve yourself first.

Listen and learn from your teacher because “Good judgment is based on experience, experience is based on bad judgment.”

Dress appropriately for the weather and conditions including preparing your terminal tackle before you get to the stream.

Respect other fisherman, do not crowd. “Men and fish are alike; they get in trouble when they open their mouth.”

Make sure you are aware of what is behind you.

Use all of your senses - sight, sound, smell, hearing - it will add to your pleasure and enjoyment.

If you are not catching fish and someone else is, ask them what they are using. Most trout fishermen are always happy to oblige misinformation.

Pursue the most interesting aspect for you e.g. fly tying, entomology, “BS-ing”, etc.

Read the classic fly fishing books such as Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It.” However I am NOT 'haunted by the waters' because I just finished reading 'Fly Fishing for Dummies.' "

Did you miss the rise form when you first viewed the video?

http://picasaweb.google.com/g.bohigian/Exp...442690999269714

YOU CAN REALLY OBSERVE A LOT BY WATCHING!!!!!!! Watch again:

George M. Bohigian, MD

[oneshot]

Enter the water quietly and with a low profile. “Unlike many other human activities - no matter how much whiskey you had, you can still fish”

If by chance you do figure you have drank too much Whiskey to fish and your laying in the back of your Pickup.The Stars are not moving that fast your Pickup is rolling into the river.Trust me on this.

oneshot