mending line up stream

**Magnet** · 11-24-2007, 11:07 PM

Sometimes it takes me a while to get it. Thick headed I guess. I had been taught to mend my line up stream during a drift. I guess I ignored that important technique till today. I finally noticed while watching my indicator after an upstream cast, even with 4 bb's, it seemed to travel with the surface current. There was no bow in the line,so I thought I was drag free. I finally realized that just having the line down stream of the indicator, I was imposing drag. I then flipped a roll cast up above the indicator and was promptly amazed at how the indicator slowed down and was just chugging along at bottom speed. I know for most guys on this site, this is not even something you have to give much thought to, but for me it was a REVELATION !!

alanb_ct · 11-25-2007, 08:28 AM

That is probably why you are now a fish "magnet!" It took me awhile to learn this too, even though I had read about it, I wasn't really putting it in to practice. Now I lob upstream with a reach cast, then immediately roll cast just up to the indicator. Tullis talks about this, but I really learned it the first June day I watched Aaron fish.

The next critical element after the reach and the mend, is too throw some big S-curves in your line by wiggling more line out of the tip. This will completely eliminate drag and extend your drift for many, many feet.

The best way to learn all these techniques is via Aaron's nymphing class. A book is no substitute for a good teacher.

Tight (nymphing) lines!

**Nymphmeister** · 11-26-2007, 12:27 AM

Yeah, mending will make a BIG difference in your catch rate while nymphing. Usually the mending is upstream, both to keep or get the belly out, but also to take tension off the indicator so your nymphs can quickly reach the bottom. Sometimes you need to mend downstream, like when you are standing in slow water and throwing into faster water- your line will belly in an upstream curve and you need to mend downstream to remove it or your nymphs will drag & swing across the current.

**Magnet** · 11-26-2007, 07:14 PM

Thanks guys. This is starting to make sense. Now I know the reason why almost all of my hits and fish have come during the lower, down stream portion of my drift. It has been my habit to reposition my line after it has past me by, usually flicking it above the indicator. I have been using 2 to as many as 5 bb's so I don't think getting down would be a problem if it were'nt for my poor line positioning.

**Troutbum from Griswold** · 11-26-2007, 08:58 PM

Magnet,
Also, remember to keep more line on the water(unless your high sticking close in) during you drift. Having slack line on the water helps maintain a drag free drift for a longer period of time. I'm not talking having the whole spool on the river but use your judgement for the distance you are casting. Plus, instead of making big mends upstream on a regular basis(doing this on the initial cast one time is fine. In real fast water you might do it a little more) you can make smaller mends upstream throughout the drift with the flick of your wrist. Doing this will maintain a drag free drift for virtually the majority of your drift. I have seen people many times make big mends throughout their drifts and they lift the indicator off the water and they are also bringing the flies off the bottom and not getting a natural drag free drift. Too little line out and maintaing a tight line or small bow will limit your drag free drift and it can also drag your flies through part or most of the drift(usually from 1/2 to 3/4 into the drift) This limits the window period the trout sees the flies in a natural looking drift. I have seen this where people make their cast, have no slack on the water, and keep a tight line no matter how long the cast is. Long casts are fine, but if you want a drag free drift, make sure there is enough slack on the water to accomodate the distance to get a nice drag free drift. Can't stress that enough. Larry Tullis talks a lot about that in his book Nymphing Strategies...hint hint ;D People talk about drag free drift when they are dry fly fishing. Well, in nymphing it matters just as much. Hope this helps man. www.firsthatchflyfishing.com