Author Topic: Coop Virtual Practice Proposal (Read 446 times)

Aaron Laing · « **Reply #25 on:** June 11, 2010, 03:15:11 PM »

What a CF

Definitely a variety of ways to interpret your explanation, Josh. Maybe I could give my understanding, and you can let me know if I'm right.

I'm assuming the fisher occupies a position similar to "A" when working the yellow grid, and I'm also assuming he/she is working from near to far on the grid. After completing the yellow portion of the grid, he/she moves into position "B" and repeats the process for blue. Steps to position "C" and works the red grid, and so on.

If my interpretation is right then it wouldn't really matter if one was progressing upstream or down provided they covered the grid in the correct order--i.e. across and down with a three count drift. All things being equal I'd rather step upstream rather than down, but it wouldn't matter as long as you were sufficiently far enough away from the grid to avoid detection.

Just one thing... if my interpretation is correct, then it doesn't jive with my understanding of French nymphing as such. It comes closer to what Edwards calls a "Square Across" wet fly presentation, but potato/potaato--there's definitely some overlap.

Aaron

Josh McFadden · « **Reply #26 on:** June 11, 2010, 06:30:30 PM »

Aaron that's definately on point with what I'm talking about.
It's all just nymphing regardless of what we call it.
Josh

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #27 on:** June 11, 2010, 07:11:08 PM »

So, let's swing it!

I have to apologize a little. Because I take these things seriously. Very seriously. Seriously like a fox! Serious, but always with a tinge of humor.

I'm game for the modified "downstream french square across" nymphing approach. Josh calls the first round so josh makes the final call. I think it would be really beneficial though if we're all fishing in the same direction.

Aaron Laing · « **Reply #28 on:** June 12, 2010, 05:07:36 PM »

Okay. So I snuck out for a practice session before the boss got up and managed two and half hours this morning. It wasn't in the plan, but better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Unfortunately I didn't have time to prepare properly, so I made do with a beaded Czech nymph and fished without a sighter.

I picked a stretch of water that I've fished before that includes a variety of water speeds with about the right depth though most of it. I started at the top just below a short set of rapids, and worked my way down on the grid.

It took a bit to fall into the rhythm of the casting, but it came reasonably quick. Initially I was a bit sceptical that I was getting sufficient depth with the short count and in the fastest stretches I think this was probably the case. When the grid moved into a stretch of slightly slower water I was surprised when the first fish hit--so surprised I bounced it off... and then the next... and again.

It took me this long to realize I was setting the hook too hard at the end of the drift. The fishing slowed through a shallow stretch and i was beginning to get a bit discouraged when the i finally managed to pick a little cutthroat out of a small pocket--with a relaxed hook set.

and then again...

and so on.

About ten small fish in total, of which I got shots of six. After I finished the grid (moving as far as I could down stream), I turned around and fished upstream Czech nymphing and picked up another six--mostly larger--fish.

The lesson learned for me was formalizing and fishing the grid--i.e. staying on task when my mind screamed to either Czech the likely water or switch to an upstream wet presentation. I was pleasantly surprised at how many fish I hooked working down. The hook set at the end of the short drift was definitely the trick.

Great session and I might try and repeat this another day if the opportunity arises.

Aaron

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #29 on:** June 12, 2010, 08:18:58 PM »

Quote from: Josh McFadden on June 10, 2010, 11:18:03 PM

Quote from: Dejon Hamann on June 10, 2010, 08:53:21 PM
Quote from: Josh McFadden on June 10, 2010, 08:30:35 PM
it's important for me to work downstream on a tailrace so that the fish see the flies before the line.

Can you explain this a little further? Are you actually fishing downstream as in facing down stream (casting downstream)? I really never thought of doing that with the french method. If so, what kind of success have you had with this approach?

I'm not actually casting downstream, 98% of the time I always cast across stream drifting my flies downstream and then moving down stream as I go. I am wanting the fish to see my flies before seeing any line or leader up above them. Very good success this way so far just in the last few weeks. I've even had clients try it with success, because many of them
don't have the mending skill set to make long drifts anyways.

If it's too confusing we'll stick with type of water, bugs and sighter and not employ technique this time around. It is important to see that patterns will work under different techniques anyhow. That's up to you guys.

This is a completely new way of fishing for me, I have to say though it does interest me enough to give it a go.

Chris Topmiller · « **Reply #30 on:** June 12, 2010, 09:52:11 PM »

My camera batteries died so I'm calling today's session a prefishing session.

It was tough. The wind was howling, but I muddled my way through. tough to fish with two small nymphs in that wind, but I managed 7 fish out of my 50 foot section. I'll try again either after work or next weekend.

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #31 on:** June 17, 2010, 06:57:03 PM »

OK, I gave the French technique a good honest try today. I worked this section of the Bushkill

Details

only I did not use the micro mayfly on account of not having any. Instead I used a size 16 caddis larva with the frenchie. Anyway, I started at the top of these riffles, working the water as described above in this thread. I really didn't have much luck. The only fish I got was this holdover brown.

Details

I can definately see the advantage of covering alot of water in a short period of time using this technique. I need to practise it more in order to get better results.

Josh McFadden · « **Reply #32 on:** June 18, 2010, 10:27:55 PM »

6.18.2010

9:30 Am

South Holston River

Sunny- Blue Bird Skies 90 degrees 56 degree water

I started off this morning with practice in mind. I am fishing the section of water that I outlined in the diagram. I am standing at what will be the top of my beat fishing towards the bridge.

I rigged up my 9ft 4wt Winston Biix with a amnesia curly and 5ft of 5x to a #16 Tungsten copperhead nymph (micro may) with a #14 Tungsten Red Thread Frenchie as my anchor.

I as described on the grid. After a few minutes of no strikes I stepped down my tippet to 6x Rio FF+.
Then I started picking up fish. I fished for 1.5 hrs before a big pulse of generation halted my fishing. I brought 5 fish to hand and missed 4 others. Of the 9 takes I had not one of the fish budged the indicator. But were there on the hookset. What supprised me was that I had taken 4 of the fish on the red frenchie, which is a pattern I don't take enough stock in and clearly should.

I have much more faith in the copperhead to work though only 1 fish came on it. I have fished this section of river many different ways. This Tailwater/French method was as productive as other methods of fishing this water. I look forward to hearing how the rest of your practices went and hope you'll find similar or better success.

I finished out the afternoon in a massive sulphur hatch up river. It was ridiculous.

Josh McFadden

Chris Topmiller · « **Reply #33 on:** June 20, 2010, 08:04:58 AM »

Nice, Josh.

I'm still trying to find the right time. Last wednesday I went out with the intention of doing the virtual 2 hour round, but my brother-in-law showed up, so I rigged him up with an indy and we fished together for a while.

I've still got 7 days to get my entry in.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #34 on:** June 20, 2010, 07:31:00 PM »

Attended the Virtual Practice today. Much to my surprise no one else showed up

The Water:

The Flies:

The Fish:

The Story:
So, first I forgot it was supposed to be a "frenchie" and micro nymph - oh well

Also, about 30 minutes into the practice I realized the micro nymph was useless in this water and clipped it off. Just fished that single size 10 HE the whole time. I caught a good number of fish - all though I wasn't in the mood for the detailed analysis I probably should have done for the coop. I caught fish pretty evenly spaced throughout the practice, but knew the upstream approach was probably key. So, after doing my downstream approach I went and fished another piece of water for awhile then returned and fished the same stretch upstream with the same approach and really layed waste to them.

Final Analysis:
The French technique is a winner - that's no news in this book. However, this practice was a great reminder that individual fish and sometimes whole sections of actively feeding fish will key on a downstream "lift" rather then an upstream "lift". Learning how to engage both presentations circumscribes an approach with catches more fish!

Josh McFadden · « **Reply #35 on:** June 29, 2010, 01:15:10 PM »

Well let's round out this practice session. Any others make it out to try this technique this month. We need to figure out what to practice next month between July1st and 15th.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #36 on:** June 29, 2010, 01:21:33 PM »

I am thinking Dropper Dry in a section of flat frog water. I know just about everyone struggles with this one.

Josh McFadden · « **Reply #37 on:** June 29, 2010, 01:47:11 PM »

Do you mean a section if river that's deep and barely moving?
Any particulars pattern wise you'd like to look at on the dropper
Josh

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #38 on:** June 29, 2010, 01:56:42 PM »

Let me think about it and I will post up my idea later tonight or tomorrow. I usually use Midge or Trico patterns in PA.

Josh McFadden · « **Reply #39 on:** July 04, 2010, 10:41:23 PM »

Alright boys what's it gonna be this month. I won't have a day to fish until thursday with guide trips till then. What do we want to practice?
Josh

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #40 on:** July 05, 2010, 04:23:10 PM »

I thought Mark was going to call this one? Maybe terrestrials or small dry/dry or dry/dropper might be the ticket for this time of year? I'm game for whateve!