I’m not really a lure kind of fisherman. I don’t mind sticking them on as a way of finding fish or if I know fish are chasing fry but I’m not one for standing around stripping back deep fished lures all winter. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely against lures, I’m just not one of those fishermen that sticks a lure on in September and doesn’t take it off again until April. I like a bit of variety.
Up at the lake I’ve been having some good sessions on black nymphs so last week I headed out with the same set up. After a few hours of moving around without much action I went back to my favourite spot and tried again. I could see a few fish moving around just under the surface so decided to pop a yellow/orange FAB on point to keep my droppers up in the water and to act as a sight.
Literally, first cast out, a fish grabbed at the FAB as it landed! Fish number 1. I cast out again and let the line drift round in the wind with a very slow retrieve. Bang! Fish number 2. About 20 mins later, after missing quite a few knocks and pulls I had a fish give it another tug so I didn’t strike, I just left it. It tugged again so I left it again. And another tug. And then a tug and the line went tight! Got it! I’ve always had a problem with what to do when fish tap at the fly. Some say pull, some say leave it. I’m definitely getting fish come back and take the fly when I leave it alone.
After another 20 mins or so of missed takes I decided to change my retrieve. I gave it a good pull across the water and a lovely 6lb rainbow jumped on it. A few more fish came to the quick pulls on the FAB. All this time I still had black nymphs on the droppers but every fish went for the brightly coloured FAB.
I changed location for the last hour and I could see some very small rises from near a tree so angled round and popped a cast in a perfect position. As the fly hit the water a bow wave appeared and something very large grabbed at the line so hard it snapped the line instantly! Another big one gets away!
A few more fish came to the FAB with a lot of takes and follows missed but some cracking action on what looked to be a tricky day. In fact looking in the returns book there had only been a few singles and a few 2’s caught on the day and the few days before. I wonder what it was about the FAB on that day that got the fishes attention? I’ve tried FABs before but not had this much action. One to ponder and to try again next visit.