Library

Reading the rise

The water tells you what the fish are eating — splash, sip, hump and shower each mean something different. What you’ll see, what it means, the flies to answer with, and when to strike.

On the lough

The quiet sipSmall ring, no splash — often the biggest fish of the day Head-and-tailNose, back, tail — feeding in the film, usually buzzers The bulgeA hump that never breaks — nymphing fish, dries get ignored The sedge slashA violent surge at a moving fly — dusk, murrough time The fry smashFry showering, birds working — and the take comes on the pause Caenis podsThe angler's curse — pods of noses at dawn and dusk The boil behind your flyA swirl at your wets — do NOT strike it Nothing showingA 'dead' lough usually isn't — the fish are just deep Wind lanes & slicksThe lough's own larder shelf — always worth a drift

On the river

The ring liesOn moving water the rise ring drifts — the fish didn't Splashy vs confidentNoise is about the FOOD, not the fish Refusals & short takesA turn-away is information — usually about drag

Takes you feel

Takes you feelSighter checks, draws on the swing, taps on the strip

When to strike

The strike clockOne axis: from strike-everything to don't-strike-at-all

Related

TechniqueHow to fish it — boat craft, casting and line management Fly libraryEvery pattern these pages point at, with dressings