Quote:
Originally Posted by MattC
Great info, thanks. How do you fish the soft hackles and what type generally works best in the caney?
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Soft Hackles are probably the easiest outside of a wooly bugger to fish. Set it up with a tippet to match fly size or one size larger. Preferably a 9 foot tapered leader then 3-6ft of tippet and your fly... that's it.
Basically you pick a section of water usually a section with some current like a riffle or shallow flat where fish are active.
Stand upstream of where you want to fish then depending on current speed either cast straight across (slower water) or at a 45 downstream (faster water). You want it to move slowly across the current than fast downstream because bugs don't run towards fish.
Once you cast simply hold the line allowing the water to catch the fly line causing the fly to "swing" thru that area. As your line get straight hold for a second the fly will stop swing and rise toward the surface. You can add depth by using an upstream mend after your cast and also create a better lift at the end by raising your rod.
A lot of the strikes will come as it is held at the end. How long you hold is up to you. You can even just hold til one bites it. If a fish is there he will see it coming by trying to escape and usually the rise at the end closes the deal.
Be aware the strikes are hard. They may break you off on small tippet so don't jerk a hook set just raise the rod letting him hook itself.
After you have cast, held at the end for a little bit just strip it back in small strips take a step downstream and repeat the whole process until you covered the flat or riffle.
It's a great way to catch a lot of fish and great way to get a newbie hooking up.
Caney tomorrow?
