Wobbler

[D-Loop]

Hi,

Got these wobblers (swim lips) last year in a fishing mag.

I decided to tie some up and hope to give them a swim this weekend. They're about 3 inches long and tied on Aberdeen size 6 straight-eye hooks.

Has anyone else tried them for salmon? I get the feeling they may be a bit awkward to cast.

cheers,

DL

[D-Loop]

I managed to get the wobblers out for a swim on the Leven yesterday.

The yellow fly (bucktail) refused to wobble despite many manual adjustments, lip angle, bending hook etc.

However, the orange fly (templedog) went into action straight away and it felt like there was an electric parr on the end of the line as it swam across the flow. Even the fly line was shaking and you could really feel the high frequency vibrations in the hand.

Both flies are very light and the plastic lip floats so they tended to float themselves. So I needed the heaviest 15' tip of my Monteith line to keep them down. Even with the fastest sinking line available I think they would still not touch the bottom - acting a bit like a trout Booby.

On the downside there is a significant increase in the drag (line pull) with the wobbler. As a result casting needs to be adjusted - I had to lift the rod tip really high to bring the wobbler to the surface, then quickly roll the line downstream then make the cast. The snap-C worked well to get the line/fly out. One advantage of the increased drag is that it appeared to slow the progress of the fly across the stream so helping to keep fly out in the fishy bit longer (as Dennis from Kercock would say).

Finally, a Rappala-type loop knot greatly helps the wobbling action.

In getting one of the flies to wobble I realise this was really down to luck. What seems to be important is the mixture of lip size, fly weight, fly material and hook type.

In conclusion, it felt great in terms of fishing with confidence to have a fly swimming with so much movement. If you can put up with the casting adjustments and the need for a fast sinking line/tip then the wobblers seem worth a go.

cheers,

DL

[say]

D-Loop,

The purists will disapprove I'm sure, as they will deem this spinning with a fly rod

Personally, I bet this type of fly will be good in the slower pools and will give a bit of life to the fly.

Something else to add to the armoury

SAY

[D-Loop]

SAY,

I had considered that it might go against the spirit of fly-fishing but as far as I'm concerned its just something to give a bit more movement to the fly.

Here is a (not too clear) video of the wobbler in action.



...and one of me adapting my casting to fish it.



No Oscars for the video production but its amazing what you can do with a cheap digital camera.

cheers,

DL

[elwyman]

Well, it certainly wobbles!

[Fruin]

Wow, it fairly moves. Just about the spot where you took your springer

[D-Loop]

Spot on Fruin. Just at McKinnon's on the swollen Leven.

Knowing my luck I can just see the salmon having a laugh at the wobbler in action .

DL

[doublehooked]

Link for tying the wobbler.

www.hopkinsholloway.co.uk/tutorial10.php