Casting Direction- Upstream vs. Downstream

[Rambler23]

What's up Friends,

Over the past two weekends I've begun to notice a trend. Maybe it's where I've been fishing, but the data has not lied to me.

I've been fishing a small wild trout stream that is predominately pocket water, one of those gorgeous places where it seems like every pocket is holding a fish or two. Given the narrow, wooded landscape, I've found it easier to cast up stream primarily, with the eye of the hook facing downstream once it hits the water. Using mostly small stimulators and mayfly attractors, I get a few strikes here and there. However, when I'm able to get in position to cast downstream into a pocket, with the eye of the hook facing upstream, I've noticed that the number of strikes I've been getting are significantly greater.

An actual fly floating on the surface almost always has its head facing upstream if I'm not mistaken.

So I thought I'd throw it out there, do you guys think it makes a difference to the fish which direction a fly is facing when it hits the water?

 

[PRomano]

I always present my dry flies from up and across whenever possible (casting downstream as you would say). It's not a matter of the fish seeing the head or tail of the fly; it's that the fly comes into the fishes vision before your leader or shadow does.

 

[Randyflycaster]

When fishing weighted nymphs I tend to fish more downstream because if I get hung up it's easier to free my fly.

Randy

 

[Stimulator]

It probably has more to do with drag and as Pete said the fact they see the fly before the leader.

In pocket water or any other time where the currents are mixed you can get a better drag free drift by fishing downstream. As your fly enters the slower water of the pocket, the fast currents are pushing slack to the fly as opposed to pulling on it.

 

[NJpatbee]

It totally depends on the technique I am using or the water conditions. For weighted nymphs and mayfly hatches with good water flows, usually upstream. For Fluttering Caddis, Soft-Hackles, and finicky trout in clear water with dry flies, I prefer downstream. For some of the small WTS streams, whatever it takes to get the fly to the fish in tight cover.

 

[Rambler23]

That's a good point, I probably should have considered that.

One thing I was thinking about doing for the next time I head to this spot is trying to tie up a few reverse body style flies to see if that makes any difference at all

 

[brough]

I think that NJpatbee pretty much summed up how I plan approach and cast to the fish. The type of water and technique really dictate what kind of cast you need.

Rambler, I mess around w/ reverse ties for the olives that are so prevelent around here. I always kind of thought that they were affective simply because they were something new for the heavily pressured fish to see. Never really thought about the direction of the fly. Something new to keep an eye on.

Have a Good One All

 

[Joe D]

Down & across is my preferred presentation when possible. Your observation about the direction the fly is facing is a good one and one made by others too.

Most often a fly faces into the current and the fish are used to seeing it this way. That becomes what it recognizes as food.

I have a friend who is an Atlantic salmon guide who is insistent that a fish won't hit (or seldom hits) a downstream facing fly, regardless of the direction from which it's presented. Now salmon aren't feeding per se, but what they hit is believed to be a vestigial behavior stemming back to their life as parr.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I'm a down and across guy myself. But that would be blasphemy on an English chalk stream. I just like the fact that I can overcast to my target and drag my fly into exact position without the fish seeing my flyline or leader/tippet. That's something you can't do casting upstream. One of many reasons I prefer down and across.

 

[coolkyle]

I like shooting streamers upstream and stripping them back to me really quickly. It works only when the streamer fishing is good, but the biggest fish seem to go for it.

 

[golden beetle]

Upstream with dry flies.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Upstream with dry flies.

A traditionalist I see. You'd do well in England

 

[golden beetle]

A traditionalist I see. You'd do well in England

I do fine here, but I'd like to be in your Musky one-fly tournament to prove it.

When is that happening?

 

[flyman23]

I like down and across as well, I think you get a much better presentation that way and as mentioned the fish sees the fly first, not the leader or fly line.

 

[afishinado]

Stand out in any river or stream during a hatch or spinner fall and you will see that insects face all different ways.

 

[Broadheadscreek]

As Njpatbee stated the water dictates the cast you will need to make. When fishing small WTS it's most always necessary to fish up stream be it dry fly fishing or nymphing as these fish are very sensitive to noise and movement by the waters edge so working upstream is the best. Now when you hit the big waters I prefer across and down as JoeD and the others have stated. But there are times that you will have to fish up if you can't position yourself above or across from the fish. I like to fish this way as it presents a challenge and it makes you a better and more accurate caster. Most of the time I employ a curve cast here to avoid lining the fish.If you find yourself fishing upstream a lot you will get more takes if you use a longer leader, 12-20 feet works best and will help to lay the fly down gently.Fishing gin clear limestoners will allow you to see the trout's reaction to the fly as it passes . The majority of the takes occur when your fly is presented slightly to the left or right of the fish not directly over head.The window is fairly large I have seen fish move for a fly floating by about a foot away. When the fish are feeding I don't think it matters what direction the fly is floating on the water as long as the presentation is good and you haven't lined the fish.

 

[Trout Nazi]

Since I've adopted down and across, as a result of fishing the Delaware, my Kung-fu has improved. My catch percentage has improved on all other waters I fish. It just works when the conditions allow you to employ it.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I do fine here, but I'd like to be in your Musky one-fly tournament to prove it.

When is that happening?

Tentative date is Sat. October 9th. We are supposed to nail it down this week including rules, time, etc. We have a rod being donated as a prize although it began as a bragging rights only event. We plan to have a perpetual trophy where the winner's name will appear after each year of the event and on display most likely at the Pequest hatchery. Could it be: Winner 2010 - Golden Beetle???

 

[golden beetle]

Rusty, I am definitely going to enter, but I wonder if you could tell me whereabouts on the musky we will be competing so I can scout out the water.

I want to win.