Our education page is designed to bring you information on proven and new fly fishing techniques to help you become a more successful angler. A variety of women fly fishing instructors, guides, industry representatives, and highly experienced IWFF members will contribute their knowledge and talents through a series of articles posted here. The information on this page will change monthly so you will want to check it often.

Tight lines!

Warm weather and water, the larger the flies. Cooler temps require smaller flies. When thinking about what flies to use for fishing this time of year, think small.

When you approach the water, look around. Do you see anything hatching off the surface of the water? This time a year it's hard to see the insects,
the fish are feeding on. Very small Blue-winged Olives (mayfly), Micro-Caddis and Midges are the food source on most rivers and streams. They range
 from size 18 down to 28...."Size 28"! UGH!

A great supply to have on hand is a pair of Flip Focals. They are magnifying glasses that clip on the brim of your hat, so you don’t go blind trying to tie the fly into your tippet. Another tip is to thread the tippet through the eye of the hook twice, before continuing tying the knot. This will keep you from breaking off on light weight tippet. Oh yes, light-weight tippet is necessary on most East Coast Rivers from July on. 8X is the tippet size on the rivers I fish, as the fish have seen so much pressure.

On the Truckee River in North Lake Tahoe, California, when we were at the October 2005 Festival, I found a stronger tippet, 4X was required. You will not easily thread 4X thru the eye of a size 22 hook. I found I could fish 5X, if I threaded the tippet through the eye of the hook, twice. Twice the strength, I saved flies, and caught and kept big fish on.

Another tip is to cut the tippet at an angle like you would sewing thread. If you get hits on small flies, but have a problem keeping them on try opening the gap and off-set the hook, using your forceps. Fish turn their head when they strike, you will increase your hook-ups and keep the fish on, using this method.

Many small flies are made with very little material and it becomes hard to see the fly on the surface of the water. Look for CDC patterns. CDC stands for Cul de Cunard, which is the butt feather of a duck, cute huh? The supply to use, to make this material float is called Frog's Fanny. It is a white powder that comes with a brush. Work the powder into the CDC and that fly will not only float beautifully, but it will light up like a beacon, on the waters surface.
You will be able to see it from 50 feet away. NO Kidding!

Stay away from fluorocarbon in cold climates. It becomes brittle and breaks more often then monofilament. There is a lot more activity going on, on the
bottom of the river, then. the surface and midge and emerger patterns in size 20 to 28 work fantastic, fished deep.

Separate your split-shot or tin-shot and use an indicator. Be sure to mend every cast and keep an eye on your slack line.

Be safe and have fun!

May your tippet never break and may you catch and release the "Big One"
 

by Mistress Marla

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