By Ben Baynes
- When worming in coloured water, a coloured bead placed above the swivel can add a visual stimulus to the bait.
- Use stret-pegging (letting the current move the position of the float by giving line out) across the river action when using worms. This involves casting to the far bank and using a staggered action to bring your bait to rest below you. Your main line should only be released a couple of feet at a time 3 or 4 times on its journey across/downstream.
- When the river is dropping fast and the salmon are not taking too well, try upstream spinning with a Flying C or a Toby spoon. Your retrieve should be extremely fast, even combined with a few steps up stream.
- To improve the hooking capability of a spoon lure esp. Toby spoons, the addition of a 2nd split ring between the hook and the lure should improve the hooking ratio.
- When choosing a fly, the adage “dark day, dark fly – bright day, bright fly ” is a sound guideline to fly selection.
- When fly-fishing fast flowing water and your fly ” skates ” despite a downstream mend, try several rapid steps downstream whilst mending.
- When fly-fishing slow-moving water,a technique that generates more interest from salmon is ” backing up “. Commence fishing downstream of a chosen stretch, cast squarely across, take several rapid steps upstream and retrieve extremely fast. If a take is induced, it is usually bordering on violent! However, be aware that this technique is best done on a pool where there are no other anglers present as you may infringe on normal angling etiquette.
- Regardless of which knots are used for angling, the appliance of saliva or water helps prevent undue friction when tightening up. This also helps to set the knot properly.
- When wading in the river with a wading stick, think of the stick as a ” third leg “. To help with balance keep one of your legs + the stick on the river bottom at all possible times.
- Finally, a tip to keep your net mesh intact and lessen the damage to it during angling – use a heavy elastic band tie it up in a bun like a lady ties up her hair.
Tight Lines!