Fly Fishing Tips – The Stealth Angler

Over the years, I have accumulated some fundamental fly fishing tips that have made me a better fisherman. One of these is the skill of stealth. Whether you fish moving water or still water, being aware of your movement is essential to improving your chances of catching fish.

Fish have a keen sense of survival. If a fish senses anything that seems unnatural; it will dart for cover and stay hidden. I have observed as a fish moved to take my fly and in anticipation of the strike, I stood up only to see the fish turn away at the last second because my silhouette broke the horizon and frightened the fish.

Here are some important fly fishing advice to help you improve your success on the water;

• Approach a body of water slowly and with a low profile; you might be surprised to discover that there are fish to be caught right near the edge.
• Due to the light refraction that happens when light enters the water, a fish may see you long before you have reached the edge of the water. Dressing in natural drab colors makes a big difference in helping to camouflage your approach.
• Use trees, bushes or clumps of grass to help disguise your silhouette.
• Be aware of your shadow as it can alert fish to your presence.
• Try to make sure that your shadow does not fall across the water
• Your fly rod swinging across the water can also frighten fish. Keep your false casting to a minimum

Basically, it comes down to being as un-intrusive as you can. Implement these fly fishing tips and you will be surprised at the positive effect on your results.

This article was provided by guest angler Julio Salazar. Julio has been an avid fly fisherman for over 20 years and is a member of the Flatland Fly Fishers Club in Regina, Saskatchewan.

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