Fly for running fish

[granters]

was having some flashbacks to last season today (not long now i keep saying to myslef, whilst sitting in the corner rocking back and forward....) and i remember 3 different times where i encountered fish running into pools i was fishing, either off the tide or moving from a lower pool. One inparticular (on the Awe) was after the tide going out, every 20 minutes or so a school of a round a dozen fish would enter the pool. I think i threw every fly i had at them, tried different depths, changes fly sizes/styles and nowt! So i wonder, what's your favourite fly/ method for intercepting running fish? I'm really interested to find out about this one. Cheers

[elwyman]

I'll be interested to hear what Graham and others say, but the usual thought is than running fish won't take unless they stop for a breather. My main tactic would be to fish the head/tail of a pool which was below/above a stretch of fast shallow water, ie ambush the blighters!

Choice of fly would mainly depend on water clarity, but again It is said fish run high in the water, so not fished too deep.

[granters]

I've heard this too. "impossible to catch, those bastards!" was the local advice on the Helmsdale! But i've also heard trickles of information about how to catch them. Just wondering what the thought on here is.

[tyneandrew]

I think i would go a few sizes up and add something with a bit of flash in it. Keep the fly in the water and hope for the best.

Needless to say running fish are not the best of takers, but can be caught if your fly is bang in the right place at the right time.

[granters]

Tell me about it Graham. i'm sure one or two of them blew raspberries at me as they jumped over my beautifully presented fly

[elwyman]

Does a big fly, like a collie dog, pulled fast across the surface, work with runners?

[greenalert]

Graham

Is that like stripping a line on a trout loch?

[Sloggi]

elwyman said:

Does a big fly, like a collie dog, pulled fast across the surface, work with runners?

Yes, it does from time to time - one of the best ways to pick-up running fish.

The other option is when you see running fish, look upstream for faster water and often above the fast water is a resting place with rocks or smoother water with an obstacle where fish will pause momentarily. It may be very small and innocent looking - easily missed. I fish a lower Dee best where there is a longish pool with some fairy shallow streamy water at the neck. Above this is a flat area that appears pretty featureless apart from a small spot with a couple of rocks in about 3 1/2' of water. You only get a handful of delicate casts but the fish are willing takers. Look for this kind of spot.

If this does not exist or you can't find it go to the head of the pool and flog it to a froth!

[lomond]

I don't think the fly matters too much for fresh fish, something maybe with abit of flash in it. Probably more important(or Lucky) to get the fly right on it's nose. Fruin and myself were fishing the River Leven one day, I was in front of him and we watched a fish running up the river jumping every 30 yards or so, when it got within range I cast my fly to where I thought it would be and within a mili-second of the fly hitting the water the fish took. So I don't think it mattered what pattern I was using. I lost the fish incidently !

[Fruin]

Lomond,

I've been watching your posts trying to figure out if it was you or not. The custom built Carbotec was the giveaway. Catch up soon.

[Fruin]

I fished at the tail of a pool on the Endrick a few times when fish came running through in waves. I could not get them to look at a thing - small trout flies right up to collie dogs.

Next time it happened, I ran up to the neck of the pool about a hundred yards upstream (barnes ford), and bang - into a fish first cast.

If you know a point that fish regularly stop, upstream of your position - when you see them running, there is a fair chance that one of them will pause in the lie. You will have a better chance of taking a fish when it pauses.

[storlaks]

Regarding the Sunray. Depending on what type of pool you are fishing will dictate how you fish it.
If you have a fairly stable even flow all down the pool, then square cast and start stripping right away. If you have a current in the middle of the pool, then square cast and wait till the fly is almost coming out the fast water and start stripping. Varying the speed will get you better results than just stripping it fast all the time. If you are fishing early in the season, have a go and see how the kelts react. Speed can make all the difference.

[macd]

I use bigger flies when Im looking for licers. But in additon to the collie etc, which can also scare the bejasus out of the fish, try a big shrimp fly. I dont think the pattern matters too much but I use a 6 double Mairi's Shrimp (claret) which is about 3" in length. I handline it, but dont strip it. Seems to work best in the necks of pools- i have found smaller ones work in the tail. But salmon being salmon........

[easky]

I would agree with what everyone has said - try places where the fish will pause for some reason. The tail of a pool, particularly if it is just above fast water/rapids can be a good spot as they pause for breath. Another good spot can be the head of the pool, esp if it shallows into faster water - the fish slow down while they try and negotiate the best path onwards.

Knowing the 'running paths' through a pool is also a big plus ie. fish normally run up a fairly narrow stream of water even in a big pool. If you know where this is its where you should concentrate on

E

[storlaks]

Springer, Depending on the flow of the pool and how you strip can result in catching just a few kelts to loads of them. You do get a better feel for what works by doing this and you then know that if a springer is there or stops with the kelts, you're fishing the Sunray at the right speed.

[exerod]

I always think the question "how do you catch a runner" is a bit of an odd one. I've always found them the easy ones, its once they stop and settle in a pool that the problems start. A lot of this may be because I fish mostly on small spate rivers that have a lot of places where a runner must stop for a brief pause before running the next obstacle. It is these pausers that take well.

Andy

[rennie]

Fishing for running fish I usually find you have to grab their attention,in my book that means fishing a bigger brighter fly something a fish can certainly see and fish it square and at speed.The lower down a river you are fishing and the fresher the fish are the bigger the fly I would fish.Keep it simple for the fly,black and really hot orange little bit of sparkly and silver body,black/yellow,etc. etc.,back end fish Tweed etc. try an all red (again very bright red),make sure the fish can see what you are fishing. Pedro.