Don't shoot the messenger

[Kelly L.]

Thanks, I will look at that. I appreciate the link.

[Mike Connor]

Thanks, I will look at that. I appreciate the link.

My pleasure, here are the main "techniques" archives;

http://midcurrent.com/techniques/archives/

some really excellent stuff there.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

I'm glad that this topic resurfaced.
I'm very happy with the information that has been provided ...
just that I'm curious about the thoughts that run through your
minds as you size up a body of water. I'm asking as I was remembering
Ray's brief narrative of watching Bill (tie2fish), and Missssssster Anderson
(dub-ya), dissect a small stream during the Rosco get-together last year. It
was "New Water" to the both of them and I'm curious as to what 'keys' they
were looking for, and why they interpreted them as they did.
This isn't just for them to answer, I'm interested in other's methods as well.
I'm familiar with eddies, bulges, overhangs, riffles and the like ...the basics.
What are some of the subtitle nuances that cause you to drop your fly where
you do and what clues dictate to you the individual which tactics to utilize?
Thanks for indulging my curiosity ...

hank

[Mike Connor]

You can fish waters you know well much more effectively than "strange" waters, simply because you know more about them and can better suit your flies and tactics to them.

The more information you have the better.

On unknown waters it is much harder to do well, but not imposssible. You have to rely on your "general" knowledge a lot. The tactics I use depend mainly on how I feel at the time. I will not always use the most effective tactics, sometimes I use tactics which I want to try and often just because I feel like using them. Good tactics will work anywhere but the success rate depends on how well you use them and how suitable they are to the conditions. You also need good flies. One can make massive lists with all sorts of pointers, but really it is all down to information and "feel". You develop this over time. There is no way you can keep "lists" of stuff like that in your head. You do a lot of stuff more or less subconsciously. Reading water and thngs like that are skills you can learn and which then become more or less automatic. Here are some good basic tips on reading water;

http://midcurrent.com/techniques/reading-the-water/

[Mike Connor]

I just recently bought all these back issues from Rick. Some very good stuff in them;

http://hookednow.com/Backissues If you order them ask him to send them to you using one of the "large file" services. Otherwise they will fill your mail box and block it! A lot of good stuff very cheap.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=large+files+per+e-mail

This is an absolutely excellent book, and although basically UK based is useful anywhere;

http://www.first-nature.com/books/patoreilly1.php