RE: Pheasant Tails (was RE: Yakima report)

[Tim Harris]

I’ll second that, I mend a lot.  In many spots I’ll wade onto a gravel bar or shallow area and cast back towards the bank casting up and across.  I try to throw a loose curve so that the line all falls upstream of the flies and I’ll usually have to keep mending to keep it moving properly since there often is faster current between me and the slot I’m trying to fish.  If I can get into a position to do a mostly straight upstream presentation it is much easier.  I also let the current pull load the rod to help me make the next cast.   Tim   From: owner-[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Jim Speaker Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 11:24 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Pheasant Tails (was RE: Yakima report)   I mend quite a bit to keep the drift dead.  At the end of a drift, however, I do almost always swing or lift.  Not only does it pick up strikes at times, but as I mentioned I like to lob cast this type of rig so I almost always let it tighten up downstream of me and fling it back up and out.   I agree with your statements re weight.  If I feel I'm not getting down quickly enough I add more weight.  I tend to go through a lot of splitshot (esp. #4) because I will add and remove them as I fish throughout the day to get that "just right feeling".  I guess I would describe just right as seeing indicator movement from bumping the bottom here and there but not really hanging up very often.   Jim -----Original Message----- From: owner-[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 10:56 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Pheasant Tails (was RE: Yakima report) I have learned to cast long leaders and split shot with minimal problems. It's a technique I picked up from some of Dave Hughes writing. This technique has been very effective for me at times. One of his comments is sometimes you add another split shot and suddenly discover there are lots of biting fish in a slot that was producing nothing. It's happened to me in deep holes where I've found it took up to 3 #4 split shot to get down. However, it is a hassle to switch back and forth so I often am fishing a lot of weight in shallow water where it is not needed. I have a feeling it screws up the natural drift in shallower water and perhaps PTs tend to work better in those spots. One final question, when you fish these lighter combinations, do have to mend a lot or do you just rely on a dead drift and swing at the end? Terry