FISHING CALM WATERS II

The flies to use in this type of water or better said, the ones that I always use, are traditional models that many fishermen already discard because they are too old. An interesting fly is the Red Tag in hooks of the 16 always of the best quality. Another is the humble ephemera ignita (Ephemerella ignita) very abundant in all the low river channels and extraordinary fisher. The ignite is better to mount it with wings, much more fishery than the parachute mount, since it is of small size 18 or 20 and upright wings will help to see it among the aquatic grasses. Finally an important insect in these calm waters are the chironomids. Chironomids are bad swimmers and are insects so small and tiny that it is difficult to imitate them on the surface given their small size. The ones I use are chironomids in spent or emergent in black colors or cigars in hooks of 20, 22 and 24. Always trying to mount them in hooks with a curvature wide enough to hold as much as possible a large fish.

An important aspect is the nailing of a large trout when it is eating these insects that appear in spectacular blooms. When the fish takes our fly you have to count to 3 or say “God save the Queen”. It is the only way that our artificial one gets deep enough into the mouth of the big trout. The vomer of an old trout is very hard in the front part, that is, in the jaws of the big trout, but it becomes softer a little lower, and that is where we have to let our tiny hook lock. Otherwise the hard vomer of our friend will ensure that the small hook has many difficulties to dig deep and consequently lose the fish in the middle of the battle or the first change.

Caddis flies in the “Coup de Soir” are also usually effective moving them on the surface, that is, making them skate in the water as the natives do during the afternoon hatching.

The casts in calm waters can be at medium distance but sometimes due to the great depth of these waters can be long or very long. A very long launch is a launch of 25mts or more.

Another important aspect is to move very slowly so as not to cause waves that will be immediately noticed in these shallow waters that also tend to be a mirror. Many times the immobility and the conscientious observation together with an impeccable launch will be our only weapon to wield.

Nymph fishing is also advisable and sometimes very effective.

A very indicated nymph is the Phaisant Tail. This nymph imitates very well an ephemeral ascent to the surface. It must be a nymph mounted on a hook for nymph number 16 or 18 and plumb on the body with lead thread or with a tungsten ball on the head of 2.8mm should be enough for this imitation. When we throw this artificial it is convenient to let it sink enough so that it can do its job well.

Likewise, the emerging nymphs of chironomids are very effective, plumbed on hooks of 16 or 18 for nymphs and moving them with small taps with the discreet lifting of the tip of our fly rod. The larvae of emergent ephemera must be moved in a slow but constant way with the progressive rising of the tip of our rod. In all cases I use a single nymph that must be deposited one meter and a little above where we believe our trout can take refuge. The nymphs of both chironomids and ephemerals can sometimes work much better without plucking or with just a little copper or lead thread in their abdomen. These nymphs fish very well in the middle of the water or near the surface, just when they give the sensation that they are going to emerge, and even better, their mobility and their appearance of life is notoriously increased.

The fly rod I use is a nine-foot rod line 4, 5 or 6. You can also use a little longer rods like the 9.5-foot and light lines of 3 or 4 as long as these rods have a large reserve of power and action of tip, because in the battle with a big trout it is necessary to be able to remove from its hole an old victim. I usually use a line 5 line but with a line of 6, this allows me to go around very long lows, about 6 meters, without having to strain so much and throw at great distances with less effort. And also the weighted fly lines turns around easier large leaders (5mts).

The sight fishing is very interesting and if we are good observers we can get to see the fish and of course calibrate it conscientiously. It is important to have good polarized glasses not only to see the fish but to protect ourselves from the dangerous UVA rays that bounce off the water and are fatal to our ocular macules. Therefore, it is important to acquire polarized ones of good quality and the color that I recommend for being the most suitable is brown. The yellow provides too much light and can give us headaches and the gray is too dark and only recommended during fishing days with plenty of sun. Use also a good hat to protect both our head and our neck. For fishing in sight it is best to choose a sunny day. The cloudy days in summer or with fine rain can provide unforgettable days of fishing, but then it becomes difficult to see the fish clearly, something very necessary in the fishing nymph seen, because you have to nail the trout when we see that the fish is moves to eat the nymph.

As always, fishing is unpredictable but at the same time fantastic every time a fish bites. Finally remember two things: be very patient and try to move as little as possible: observe and cast with precision and delicacy. Fish with very long leader and do not worry about the diameter of the tippet. If the fish are large and there are obstacles such as thick aquatic buttercups or large fallen trees in the river, their thread must be robust enough to grapple with a large trout.

~ Carles V.