Speed of fly?

[macsalmo]

Thought this would be a good rookie corner question:

I've just read Neil Graesser's finer points of fly fishing for Salmon, which I thought was a good read, the problem I have is that he states to fishing in early spring and autumn with a fast moving fly and then slower in summer as the fish are more lethargic
This contradicts lots of other text stating to fish extremely slow in early spring as the fish are not very active

Help!!

Macsalmo

[macsalmo]

Thats what I thought Springer.
Why do you think Neil Graesser has other idea's (certain type of river maybe)?

Macsalmo

[williegunn]

Speed cannot be looked at alone.
Today it was cold water 37f, air 4C, I cannot think of water in C or air in F.
I took a salmon stripping a Sunray Shadow, not slow at all BUT the wing was 6" long.
Stop and think when water is cold, fish being cold blooded move very little so they would consider a small fish swimming fast as false, but a large fly quite realistic.

Does this make sense?

Read McKenzie -Philips I think or Dynamics Fracis Grant? my books are still in Boxes.
Graham will keep me right

[macsalmo]

I read it several times Springer as I found it strange too.
I have been trying to scan it to show you but with little success at the mo

Watch this space.

Macsalmo

[williegunn]

Springer..........another string to the bow, if you are fishing a pool after the likes of Graham Ritchie has fished it I assume that there is nothing around to take a 1.5" tube fly so I give them a 6" sunray/collie to think about.

I have had 10 fish this season 50% on the big stripped fly.

[munro]

I was talking to a local bailiff yesterday who has fished all his life and who told me that he has cause to rethink his whole spring deep and slow philosophy following a trip up north after seeing an angler on Tulchan a week on two ago beat a blank by fishing a floating line and stripping a 6inch fly across the surface - must be the same technique as WG uses.

[williegunn]

Munro
What makes you think I fish a floater?

[munro]

WG -I know you like your sinkers but I must admit I have met a few successful anglers this year who never use anything other than a floater (with polyleader) all season (after my buying an IG slow and fast sinker too!. Doubt if they will see much use.)

[williegunn]

Munro, stick with the sinkers, poly leaders only tickle the surface

[kercock]

munro,I have to ask,this bailiff who has fished all his life,was he dead when you found him,or, are you a medium ?

[munro]

Wille - A Ghillie(?) on middle Tweed (where some pools are up to 8' deep) told me that he never used sinkers now as floaters (with polyleaders ) were just as successful.
Also one one my acquaintances who has had a few fish on the Teith this year only ever uses a Loop Quattro.
It may be, of course, that these rivers are shallower than those you fish. Its certainly easier for me to cast a floater (an IG being easier than the Quattro - at least for me) although in slack water a roll cast to the surface is sometimes needed

[williegunn]

Munro, The Tweed is a canal compared with the Spey water speed is also important

[williegunn]

springer said:

Can anyone post a picture of the Sunray?

Water I have fish from both deep slow pools and fast flowing pieces.

[Bogyoch]

Malcolm
Have the fish you have had on the Sunray Shadow refused/ignored conventional flies the first time down the pool, or have you been using the big fly at the outset?

[williegunn]

Richard it is a second/last time down the pool option.
Anything yesterday?

[jan]

why arent you fishing?

[macsalmo]

springer said:

He is quite an authoritative writer and having not read this book Im not sure. With respect Mac, have you read it correctly as Im surprised at this. Fish in the early and late months can sometimes be less lethargic if it is not really cold and Ive experiences a fish coming up to a fly fished just under the surface but to describe them as lethargic in warm water isn't something Ive witnessed, only when they are sick due to low oxygen saturation.
Bear in mind that there are lots of theories about salmon and some of it is more substantial than others.

Springer, I dont know if this will work or not:

[macsalmo]

You need belting eye sight though !!

[williegunn]

jan said:

why arent you fishing?

Day off.
Shopping to do and I have to empty the fridge of a heap of rottinhg fruit that someone from Shetland discarded on his last(possiibly ever) visit.

[jan]

dont forget the veg - tatties shoudl be sprouting by now!