Answers to questions / Stillwater fishing

Walter & Group...

Jim Bass sends his answers to Dennis's questions in the attachment.   G.

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Answer from Peter Morse :

Gordy,  My first choice to assist would be CCI's who are serious about 
going on to their Masters, even if they have only declared an intent. 
An MCCI should be pretty familiar with the instructors in their area.

Fishing experience in an instructor is also very important in the 
classes I teach, I want to work with someone who is very good at being 
able to answer fishing questions and who can inspire their students to 
go fishing. This is the best carrot I know of to get someone focused 
on their casting.

How much time they spend with the rod in their hand rather than in the 
student's hand is also very important to me and is something I keep an 
eye on ........


Peter.

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From Ralph Tomaccio :

Hi Gordy, 

Consider that you have been asked as a Master Instructor to set up a weekend (2 days) casting class for 15 people. The location and the food have been arranged and there is ample equipment for everyone. You determine you will need the assistance of TWO CI's and you know there are SIX CI's in your close proximity.

 

1.)     What are some of your preliminary considerations ?

 

I would look at the ?mix? of the people signed up.

What is the age range?

How many men, women and children?

What is the experience level of the group overall, ie, are the majority experienced to some extent or are they all newcomers to the sport?

 

 

2.)     How would you go about determining who you want to assist?

 

Of the CCI?s in my area, which two has the personality that would fit best with the above considerations in mind?

Do I want a ?take charge? type of person or one who is laid back and needs to be told when and what to do next?

If there are women in the group, I would consider having at least one female CCI to make her/them more comfortable and to avoid a feeling of the class/sport being an ?old boy?s club?.

 

Just some ideas to get the thread started. I?m sure there are many more considerations I have forgotten.

 

Regards,

Ralph Tomaccio, CCI

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                                           STILLWATER FISHING

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Walter Simberski gives us some information on fish behavior and locations in stillwater as compared with moving water:

Gordy - I know that this was discussed in the past but I don't recall seeing it in the recent thread on

stillwater fishing.

 

One of the big differences when fishing in still water vs moving water is that in still water the fish tend to

move around in order to find food and also to keep water flowing over their gills. In moving water they

tend to stay in place and let the water bring the food to them. So when targeting rising fish in still water

watch for two or three rises and aim your fly where the fish is headed. In streams and

rivers aim your fly such that the current will carry it to the fish.

 

Flip Pallot had a great discussion at the Conclave this year about the fish's "zone of awareness", i.e.

the area around the fish where it is aware of just about everything that moves. You need to place

your flies outside this zone (depending on species, feeding habits, etc.) so that the fish don't get

spooked but the fly must enter the zone in order for the fish to become aware of it. This can happen

when the water carries the fly into the zone or because the fish moved toward the fly so the "zone

of awareness" concept applies equally well to still and moving water but in calm water the zone may

be much larger than noisy water.

 

In stillwater the fish will tend to follow underwater structure such as the shoreline or they will swim facing

in to the wind looking for bugs on the surface. Depending on species, time of day, feeding cycles, etc.

they may also stay close to underwater structure such as logs or rocks where they can escape

predators but all fish need to keep water moving over their gills in order to take in oxygen so they

rarely stay completely motionless in the water for very long.

 

I guess one way to look at it is that the fish are always moving relative to the water but in streams and

rivers the fish don't move relative to other stationary objects.

 

Where there is very little water movement the water tends to become stratified based on temperature

gradients and fish will often be found below the thermocline. This is why we use the countdown

method when using sinking lines in stillwater so that we can consistently place the fly at the same

depth in the water column once we have located the fish. Another option is to use a non-uniform or

sweep sinking line in order to more quickly locate the depth the fish are at.

 

One further comment is that still water often isn't completely still such as around river mouths or due

to tidal flow. Most fish prefer moving water.

 

There is a lot of video and written material by a couple of British Columbia/Alberta fishers and

authors, Brian Chan and Phil Rowley, on fishing chironomids in still water.

 

Walter

 

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From Jim Blauch :

Gordy,

I would like to comment on Don?s remarks about using full sinking line and floating flies.  I use this method a lot when pursuing Smallies, Pike and Muskies.  This technique is DEADLY during our summer months (in northeastern MN) as our lake waters warm and fish suspend off of the bottom in deeper water.  I have also used this method to catch lake trout but not as effectively.

 

Thanks,

Jim Blauch

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