Fly Speed

[T7]

Hi Guys,

As an inexperienced salmon fisherman I was wondering if anyone can advise me on the speed that they fish the fly across a pool. I do a lot of night sea trout fishing and have, by trial and error, worked out the speed that is most likely to result in a take. (A lot slower than one might imagine)

I realise that the speed of the fly will depend on the speed of current so for sea trout fishing my 'normal' method of fishing would be to cast across a pool and use the 'pull' of the current on the line in my left hand as an indicator of how fast to retrieve (or not). e.g. if the line is pulled tight in my left hand and it is difficult to figure of eight I will let it swing round on its own, if the line in my left hand is loose I will figure of eight retreive quite slowly.

This method normally gets me takes with sea trout at night but fishing at a similar speed for salmon has done me no good at all. How fast do you guys 'normally' fish a fly round for salmon (most likely to provoke a take)?

Thanks a lot.

T

[salmonking]

Hi t7,,,,i norm let the flee come round on its own at first,,,if no one is following me down the run I'm fishing ,,ill recast and change the angle ,or speed by retrieving or short sharp plucks,

If I'm in fast water ill mend differently each time,as long as I'm not holding anyone up ill take my time and go through the changes
generally fast water ill try slow the speed down,
slower water, ill maybe speed it up slightly,,hope this makes sense.

[elwyman]

.........and nobody would disagree with Col's advice, after the season he's had. ;D