Greasing Leaders

[Silver Creek]

For example, it's not evident to me yet how this would accomplish anything different in terms of keeping an emerger in or near the film than using an ungreased, or an un-DEgreased leader would - unless we're talking about such a slow current that normal "lift" doesn't occur at the end of a sweep. Even with a run-of-the-mill leader/tippet structure and an emerger, I would think the fly would still be just in, or under the film at the end of a sweep (with rod tip pointed downstream). Even the weighted PTs I fish often cause a V on the surface at the very end of the drift, so I'm sure they're up in that same area. An emerger would have to do the same, unless - again - the current we're talking about is excruciatingly slow. (And in that case you wouldn't catch ME fishing there in a million years!)

And I guess the other thing that confuses me about greasing is that it's increasing, not decreasing the visibility of the leader. If it's becoming more visible to the fisherman (serving as an indicator) then is it not going to be more visible to a wary fish?

Curious.

Well let me answer your questions.

To catch a fish, you need to present the fly at the level that the fish is feeding. This is rule #1. If the fly is not at the level of the fish, everything else you do from a drag free drift and natural imitation does not matter.

The greased leader allows you to do that place the fly at the exact level you want. Greasing the leader allows you to choose how much of the leader sinks, and that allows it to choose the level of the fly.

The second rule is that if you cannot detect the strike, you will miss fish. The more sensitive the the detection is to a subtle strike, the more strikes and the faster you will detect them. The Greased leader allows you to do that.

A greased leader is more detectable by the fish than a sunken leader BUT rule 1 and 2 trump the fact that a less detectable leader cannot help you if you cannot put the fly to the fish at the level you need to catch the fish.

[davechina]

OK. Now I'm seeing it differently, I think.

My example of the PT at the end of the drift rising into the film only applies in a small window where it's at the very end of the sweep. But I think you're talking about the fly being in the film the entire length of the drift, due to the buoyancy of the leader/tippet.

Is that correct?

[Silver Creek]

You got it.

It is all about detecting where and how the fish is feeding and then getting the fly at that level. Then comes imitating the looks of the food with the fly (size, shape, color), then comes the behavior of the food, then comes detecting the strike. Each aspect you improve on increases the catch rate, but locating the fish and getting the fly to it must come first.

That is why reading the water and observing the the river BEFORE entering and fishing is so important. That is what rise form analysis is about - it helps answer whether the the fish is feeding, on, in, or under the film. Remember the the mantra about real estate - location, location, location.

Once you locate the fish by either seeing them or by reading the water, then you choose the most effective fishing method for you. It becomes an individual choice about what is the most effective method based on your personal skill, knowledge, casting and wading ability.

I personally think there are the best methods in each situation but given the ability of the fisher, another method may be more effective for that fisher. That is why I believe guides tend to prefer indicator nymphing for a beginner. It is easier for a beginner to make a flip cast and watch the floating indicator than to sight cast to individual fish for example.

Fly fishing becomes very logical and systematic when you break it down, plus it gives you a systematic method of approaching new situations. I wrote a series of Fly Fishing FAQs during the mid 1990s for Flyfish@.

Fly Fishing FAQs

The one on dry fly fishing discusses the systematic approach.

Dry Fly Fishing

I'll put in a plug for Gary Borger's new series of books on fly fishing. The first two books, Fishing The Film and Reading Water would be a great start for you.

Fishing the Film and Reading Waters by Gary Borger ... Tomorrow River Press

[davechina]

Very interesting stuff. I will definitely check this stuff out.

Thanks again!