Lines for Lake Fly fishing

[Dave]

I've just gotten to the point where I can identify (to some degree) the # grain line for river condition when fishing sinking tips, but with lakes and still water, its a whole different ball game, first and foremost because a line has less friction than in a flowing river, and can sink faster and longer.

Can you (still water fly fisherman) possibly outline some conditions coordinated with the type of lines you would use? And, also where the fish would be under those conditions? This could be ridiculous since I'm sure a book could be written about any facet of this.

[LorenWilliams]

There are really no correlations to be had unless the obvious surface activty exists.

I currently own and use over 10 lines for stills and I plan to add a few more this year.

Basically there are two factors at play:

1. What level are the fish feeding/cruising at? To me this is the #1 goal...to find the level. If you are under or over your fishing will suffer. I have had days with floating lines where the mere weight of the hook meant fish or not---using a heavy wire got me too deep too fast.
2. What retrieve (static to roly-poly and all points between) do they want?

Then, you blend the two together to try and maximize the time your flies remain at the feeding level using the preferred retrieve. Add in a drifting boat and you have a third variable since you will be moving toward your flies so you have less tiem to allow them to sink or to retrieve.

I do not troll.

For starters I would be sure I had a floater, clear intermediate, Type 3, and Type 5 full sinks.

[FK]

Loren,

Do you recommend the Uniform Sink design in sinking fly lines?

I also use very short leaders (12"-18") to avoid the upward belly with longer mono.

Regards,
FK

[AaronJasper]

FK,

Yes they are all uniform sink lines.

The leaders are anywhere for 15 to 20 feet using 2 to 4 flies tied off of droppers.

I know Loren can expand on this greatly.

[LorenWilliams]

The only time I use short leaders are when I am crawling floating nymphs along the bottom of the lake using a HiD line and this is just to improve strike detection.

Most often I use long leaders and wide spacing between multiple flies to cover water and/or alter presentation.

[AaronJasper]

Also, from what I have seen this is the standard technique that is used by lake anglers. This is used with nymphs and midges.

Would you rig up the same let's say if we were to use Damselfly larvae?

[1fly]

Aaron,

When you are imitating damsels it is important to remember their "angle of emergence". Its nearly vertical and imitating that can be critical. I think a fast sinking line that is thrown out the same depth of the water and then allowed to sink works well.

[AaronJasper]

Would you rig up with more than one fly when fishing them or is this a time when you would fish one fly?

[1fly]

I really can't think of a time when I would use only one fly.

[AaronJasper]

Ok I was guessing that would be your answer lol.

I will be over there in mid-July. Let's hit up Hebgen. I got the tickets today!