Checking the fly

[JAD]

Do you ever check your fly when say half way down a pool to make sure your fly is fishing correctly. Many times I find the tail of the fly has got caught on the hook or the fly has twisted and caught in the cast. So the water I've just covered was really a waste of time because the fly wasn't fishing properly.

Being just a new boy to Salmon fly fishing I sometimes begin to wonder after every cast if my fly is fishing properly

[macsalmo]

Hi JAD, I check my fly fairly regularly especially when the fly gets near known lies
I once had a good take off a big Salmon that let go very quickly, when I checked the tube fly it was back wards on its self

I think you need to find the fine line between; not checking at all to being obsessive.
As your casting improves your fly turn over should improve too, resulting in your fly, fishing the right way round

Hope this helps,

ATB

Macsalmo

[jimthefish]

Check regularly especially in adverse winds or when overheading long distances.

As you develop a "feel" in your fishing you can often detect that something is amiss by the diferent pressure transmitted up the line as your fly is swinging. Signal to check.

[JAD]

Thanks Macsalmo and jimthefish.

I'm still working on the Spey casting but feel I'm slowly getting there and as to be able to 'Feel' how your fly is fishing I think I know what you mean. At the end of the day it all comes down to experience and the more I go fishing the better I should get

[Fruin]

I tend to check when I feel that I never managed a good turnover on my last cast and when I am reaching a known lie. As jimthefish says, you often feel an additional pressure on the line when the fly is not swimming correctly.

[williegunn]

With a good contolled lift you can usually see the fly "drag" as it exits the water.

[jollyrodger]

I tend to check the fly when I haven't quite nailed the cast.......... I check it a lot!!!