Fly Fishing Root Balls

[mic]

Can anyone recommend a technique for fishing nymphs around root balls in the creeks. I know they hold fish but the only thing I ever catch is the tree. Thanks in advance.

[fishinwrench]

Its not "nymphing" but I have done well flippin' rootwads using one of two techniques:

1. Use a slingshot (bow&arrow) cast to shoot a leech pattern right next to the densest part of the ball ( there's normally a calm water eddy there), let it sink out of sight, then give it a little snap every few seconds to see if something has hold of it.

2. Cast a streamer (I like muddlers ) past the rootwad and strip it fast and erratic past the wad. Don't give them time to look at it very good, you're trying to get a reaction strike.

I once watched the Trout Commander do a kamakazee drift into the center of a massive rootwad with a copper john and save a nearly fishless day. You wouldn't be doing much of that in a days time though, unless you had about 4 dozen nymphs to spare.

[FishinCricket]

lol, @ the trout commander anecdote...

[eric1978]

I once watched the Trout Commander do a kamakazee drift into the center of a massive rootwad with a copper john and save a nearly fishless day. You wouldn't be doing much of that in a days time though, unless you had about 4 dozen nymphs to spare.

You gave that story a happier ending than I remember.

[FishinCricket]

Funny how alkehawl can have that effect on yer mammary... Eh, Eric (or, as the natives call you, Kicking Midget) ?

[eric1978]

Funny how alkehawl can have that effect on yer mammary... Eh, Eric (or, as the natives call you, Kicking Midget) ?

My mammary is fine, I just like making the Trout Philanderer look stoopid any chance I get. Know what I mean, Running Mouth?

[FishinCricket]

My mammary is fine, I just like making the Trout Philanderer look stoopid any chance I get. Know what I mean, Running Mouth?

Sure do! (as if being a Ginger isn't curse enough, he's also got "friends" like us! lol)

[mic]

Gents, this thread is about fishing techniques.

Ah who am I kidding, keep at each other this is free entertainment.

[stlfisher]

I admire the sweet tan on that TC fella.

Mic,

I have the same issue as you, mostly getting hung up around root wads. Think wrench has the right idea in stripping something fast and deep and hope for a reaction strike.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Actually what the youngsters aren't telling you is that TC could fish under the wad because it was hanging off the bank for the most part. A wad that runs to the bottom generally requires a drift as close as possible and with something to call them out. A bigger fly or streamer would be my choice and with some color if I could get away with it. Trout by their nature don't chase unless it's either big or easy, preferably both.