Bob, As I reread your e-mail, I remember a gent who "dapped" along the edges of RFC with a size 20 Brassie while his dog romped around nearby. He would stand at the edge of the reeds and drop the fly straight down to the fish that lie along the edge. You could see his rod tip start to move up and then suddenly it would be jerked down by a deceived fish. He may still be fishing there but I didn't see him last year. He would catch at least 20 or more fish in a day and one time he said he caught a hundred in one day! The method you described is not exactly Leisenring's method but it's pretty close. You actually make a cast so it's not "dapping" and "Leisenring Lift" sounds more romantic. (and, for Kent Lufkin, it's more like fly fishing) <BIG GRIN> Some descriptions follow- Cheers, -Bob
Leisenring's Lift for streams and rivers where the water is moving... "In 1941 Jim Leisenring developed the Leisenring Lift. Here is how to execute this method: 1. Cast above where you think a trout might be lying. 2. Keep the rod tip up. As the fly moves with TENSION on the line follow the fly with your rod tip. 3. Retrieve just enough line to maintain the tension. 4. A foot or two upstream of where you believe the trout is located STOP MOVING THE ROD TIP. This will cause the fly to rise to the surface." For slow moving water or a lake... (Kent, the pun is Jason's.) >From an article by Jason Borger: "The Leisenring Lift also has uses in lakes, particularly for fishing imitations of midge pupa or snails. Because there are no serious currents to contend with, there is no use for the dead-drift portion of the Lift, so it becomes all swing. Or in this case, all rise and fall. The angler casts along a weed edge or drop off, and allows the fly to sink. Once the fly is down, the angler lifts the rod up slowly, pulling the imitation up to the surface. The rod is then lowered again, allowing the fly to sink again. A long (15 feet or more) leader with a butt section greased with fly floatant will not only help the fly get down quickly, but will also alert the fly fisher to a take. Learn and use the Leisenring Lift. It is one of those "must-have" techniques that no fly angler should be without. Try it, modify it, adapt it, you may be surprised at its versatility and how it can lift your angling to a new level." ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Birkner To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 5:51 PM Subject: Re: Trick for Rocky Ford Bob, I believe that's called the Leisenring Lift and it's very effective. -Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert J. Lawless To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 3:50 PM Subject: Trick for Rocky Ford Here's a trick for Rocky Ford when it's cold or anywhere else for that matter where you have cruising fish. Hide or stand still in a spot where you can observe any fish that might come near your fly. A scud is good for this tactic. Now make a cast to a spot that you can plainly see. Let the scud go to the bottom with no retrieve. Put hands in pocket with the handwarmers. Light up something. I use a cigar, of course, in order to stay legal. Enjoy but watch out for cruising fish. As soon as one approaches from either direction, twitch the fly up out of the mud, just a little at a time. We want mud on the fly and mud on the leader. Trout are not afraid of mud. They will attack and dig up the fly if necessary. Give them a little tweak when you think the time is right. If you miss, then go back to your twitching. Chances are that the fish will look around, locate the scud, and attack again. This technique requires patience, a modicum of casting ability, and a good cigar or two. Bob, the Pay Me A Dollar
