Fly Fishing Root Balls

[KCRIVERRAT]

Remember the deal about "Tito... the ghost fisherman?"

He can keep that moniker... we've got the new "Coppertone Baby".

Cricket... loan 'em a g-string for a photo shoot. MONEY! (once we burn his butt in a tanning bed).

His wife is gonna hate us.

Eventually...

[Wayne SW/MO]

Krat you know Cricket ain't loanin' out his G.

[FishinCricket]

Krat you know Cricket ain't loanin' out his G.

My "G" is fo "Gangsta", not "g-string"... Betta ax sum buddy, hustla!!

[Al Agnew]

And now back to our regularly scheduled program...

Fact is that there just ain't no good way to do it. Study the root wad, figure out a drift that will allow the nymph to get down deep before it gets there, and then play chicken with the drift, trying to let it go until it's an inch away from the snags before lifting it. Actually, fishing close without an indicator works best, trying to keep your rod high and the line and leader straight down to the fly. If you can't get close, you're out of luck in that scenario.

I always tell myself that rainbows don't relate all that much to cover, anyway. If they are there they are likely to be above the roots or alongside them where you can get a drift. Browns are more likely to be in the cover and a lot harder to dig out.

[Trout Commander]

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.

Sometimes the Kamikaze style pays off. What can I say?

You have to remember that you are after trout and not bass though. Trout don't usually tuck up into root wads like bass do. However, most root wads do create or are themselves insides seams that will hold trout. Don't get caught up too much in fishing the root wad, but fish the seam, just like it were a rock.

[Trout Commander]

You gave that story a happier ending than I remember.

What, like you never missed a hook set that day?! Oh wait, with no takes you probably didn't.

[Trout Commander]

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.

Horse feathers, Pops! Maybe the picture above will cure your sometimers.

[Trout Commander]

Remember the deal about "Tito... the ghost fisherman?"

He can keep that moniker... we've got the new "Coppertone Baby".

Cricket... loan 'em a g-string for a photo shoot. MONEY! (once we burn his butt in a tanning bed).

His wife is gonna hate us.

Eventually...

Eventually?! If she didn't already the condition in which I arrived home from that trip sealed the deal! It sure was a good'n!

[Trout Commander]

I admire the sweet tan on that TC fella.

Maybe one day you can attain that oh so desirable look if you work at it. I tell you though, looking this good doesn't come easy!

[stlfisher]

Maybe one day you can attain that oh so desirable look if you work at it. I tell you though, looking this good doesn't come easy!

How right you are. My pasty whiteness, accompianied by european swimwear, is a look all ladies savor. Only a select few can pull it off...