which way to wade?

[strongbow]

I have read on the site that you must cast at 45deg and let the fly swing round, making sure the presentation of the fly and line is presented,without any slack so that it starts fishing straight away.
This I understand...but what if it's impossible to fish down stream, what do I do then?
Is it like trout river fishing where you cast and mend to compensate for the water speed?
And would salmon be less spooked if you waded up stream rather than down if this is possible?
Mike

[strongbow]

Thank's for the advice....I keep storing these answers in anticipation of my first fish.
Mike

[altmor]

Strongbow,

Springer's right - there's no hard and fast rule, and anywhere between 90 degs and 30 degs should be fine.

The trick is to read the water when approaching and if "fast" the 45 deg - 30 deg angle should keep the fly swimming at a good pace - not too fast nor too slow.

In slower water, a cast straight out across (90 deg), keeps the fly swimming faster - aided by the "belly" formed on the line in pulling it across the current.

I'd always advocate wading downstream when fly fishing, normally cast then pace (about one good step), repeating to the end of the pool, yet if spinning - a good tactic is (with a toby), to cast then a pace or two upstream, casting from 90 degs (straight across), to 120 degs - or 30 degs upstream.

If the depth of the river or bankside foliage prevents wading further downstream when fishing the fly, then provided you're not at your maximum cast length, pulling a yard of line off the reel at a time is equivalent to taking a pace downstream, and you may get a further 3 - 5 casts in at the point where wading isn't an option.

Always better I find though in presenting the fly well, and by that, have it fishing from as soon as it lands on the water - there's no point trying to gain that extra 2 - 3 yards if the fly doesn't turn over properly, or the line falls slack and doesn't start "fishing" till half way down the current.