{"id":15031,"date":"2022-07-01T15:02:58","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T13:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=15031"},"modified":"2022-07-04T11:20:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-04T09:20:40","slug":"habits-7-of-successful-fly-fishers-part-1-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=15031","title":{"rendered":"Habits 7 of Successful Fly Fishers \u2013 Part 1 Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t

Mindset might be everything, but I\u2019m no shrink and I\u2019m not going to pretend that the positive laws of attraction are going to get you more fish. But what is proven, is if you fish with confidence, you don\u2019t second guess what you\u2019re doing all the time and hence stick with the plan that will eventually yield results!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
I have a few seasons (my wife might argue too many) of Winter Trout fishing in South Africa under my belt, so hopefully these cardinal basics will make your experience on the water more rewarding.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n
\n\t
    \n
  1. Find the fish<\/strong>.\u00a0As\u00a0obvious as this might sound, to many anglers jump onto a water and start casting. Aside from the evident tell tale rises, you have to make an educated guess as to where the fish are. In the colder months, Trout will favour the shallows, either looking to go through their instinctual spawning behaviour or feed on the fringes. Spillways are a productive starting point, being easily accessible and generally have rock \/ shale, which the fish will mill around. Inlets will also have fish gravitate in this direction, looking for flowing water, but reeds \/ weeds often dictate that you need a float tube to work this area effectively. Dam walls, especially if they have a rocky layer on top, tend to have fish cruising up and down near the surface. It\u2019s always better to cast to a sighted fish!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
    \"\"<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
    \"\"<\/div><\/div>
    \n
    \n\t
      \n
    1. Work the top water first.\u00a0<\/b>Early morning is when the fish will be in the upper reaches of the water column, so tackle up with your floating line (I prefer the Airflo Superflo) and stay out of your float tube. Work those fringes, with short casts and a gentle presentation, the least amount of casting the better. A 12 foot leader is preferable. Your choice of retrieve is a little like roulette, in so far as static \/ slow or give them something to chase. I like to start very slow and let the fish find my fly and then only strip when I\u2019m sure they aren\u2019t buzzing your fly. Obviously, patterns in this respect vary greatly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      3. Patience <\/b>will always be extolled as a virtue for fly fishers and I\u2019m a big believer in keeping your fly in the water longer, as opposed to casting relentlessly. If you have to cast to a moving Trout, then make sure you lead it, any fly put on its' head will invariably spook the fish. Patience is a relative term, so if you think you\u2019re fishing slow, try fishing a little slower or try leaving your fly, but always keep in contact with your line. The finest anglers that I\u2019ve had the pleasure of fishing with have more patience than I do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

      \n
      \n\t
        \n
      1. \n
        A<\/b>re they Feeding or Fornicating?\u00a0<\/b>This will dictate fly pattern, in so far as whether you are going to use a colourful set up, \u00a0to attract \/ \u00a0irritate the Trout or are you going to mimic a food source. Spawning fish are easy to spot chasing each other and will always gather around shallow, shale\/ rocky substrate. Feeding fish will be largely found foraging around the weed beds and dam fringes, bare in mind that their food supply is predominantly made up of far smaller invertebrates at this time of year.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
        \"\"<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
        \"\"<\/div><\/div>
        \n
        \n\t
          \n
        1. Time to Float tube.\u00a0<\/b>When the sun get\u2019s high enough, (around 9am in Winter) then you can focus on some effective flow tubing. It has been called legalised trawling and although you might catch a lucky fish motoring around the dam, you\u2019ll scare more Trout than you\u2019ll catch. So, again find an area that you can work effectively, which will revolve around structure. Keep your movements to a minimum and make sure you cover this area with your fly before you disturb it with your tube (to a Trout we look like the QE2 bobbing around). Generally you\u2019ll now be on an intermediate line, which is better than a sinking one, as you keep your fly in the water longer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

           <\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

          \n
          \n\t
            \n
          1. Induce the take. <\/b>There\u2019s no real textbook on retrievals or stripping your fly, your slow is another anglers medium, a pause can be any duration between retrieves and length of one\u2019s strips vary greatly. But regardless of your retrieval, on a intermediate \/ sinking line I always induce the take or hang the fly. You never know what\u2019s following your fly and all too often Trout will chase right up to the bank or your float tube fins. Get into the habit of simply lifting your rod when you\u2019ve about 5 meters of fly line left in the water. This changes the direction of the fly from a horizontal motion to a vertical one, often resulting in the Trout committing right at the death. Do this on every retrieve, so it becomes ingrained in your style of fishing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
            \"\"<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
            \n
            \n\t
              \n
            1. \n
              Fish where the fish are.<\/b>\u00a0Don\u2019t move away from an area just because you caught a fish there. If there\u2019s one fish there, there will be more, as it\u2019s the habitat that holds fish. This is especially more evident in Winter, when they they tend to congregate. Hence work an area properly and methodically before moving off to find greener pastures.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
              \n
              \n\t

              Fishing still involves some luck and in the sage words of Gary Player, the more you play the luckier you\u2019ll get.<\/p>\n

              Above all, remember not to take it too seriously, as this is your relaxation time, <\/strong><\/p>\n

              and you although we all want to celebrate each catch you should always celebrate the moment!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Mindset might be everything, but I\u2019m no shrink and I\u2019m not going to pretend that the positive laws of attraction are going to get you more fish. But what is proven, is if you fish with confidence, you don\u2019t second guess what you\u2019re doing all the time and hence stick with the plan that will eventually yield results! I have a few seasons (my wife might argue too many) of Winter Trout fishing in South […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":15163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[92,23,57,70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fly-tackle-box-2","category-fly-fishing","category-fresh-water","category-south-africa"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Banner-copy.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2589,"url":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=2589","url_meta":{"origin":15031,"position":0},"title":"Flies for Midlands Lakes","author":"Gareth","date":"June 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The debate around what flies works best is as old as the art itself and one that becomes most animated over a dram or two. Tying pundits the world over will swear blind on their unique patterns, with the multitude of variations now requiring one\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Flies-for-Midlands-Lakes-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Flies-for-Midlands-Lakes-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Flies-for-Midlands-Lakes-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Flies-for-Midlands-Lakes-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Flies-for-Midlands-Lakes-copy.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9583,"url":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=9583","url_meta":{"origin":15031,"position":1},"title":"“Indicators” of a Stubborn Angler","author":"Rhuan Human","date":"September 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been told that I can be stubborn\u2026 downright difficult at times, and it's true I'm as stubborn as they come. I have always danced to my own tune and done so with conviction. I wish I could say that this attitude has forever served me well but I'd be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fly Fishing"","block_context":{"text":"Fly Fishing","link":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Indicators-of-a-stubborn-Angler-copyTOPS.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Indicators-of-a-stubborn-Angler-copyTOPS.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Indicators-of-a-stubborn-Angler-copyTOPS.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Indicators-of-a-stubborn-Angler-copyTOPS.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Indicators-of-a-stubborn-Angler-copyTOPS.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Indicators-of-a-stubborn-Angler-copyTOPS.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2623,"url":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=2623","url_meta":{"origin":15031,"position":2},"title":"35LB Fish Caught in the TOPS Corporate Challenge","author":"Gareth","date":"August 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"After 15 years, you would think that you've seen and heard it all at a fly fishing event. \u00a0 From tales of 10 pound Trout lost at the net to filming trophy fish( that would have won a Yamaha Ski Boat ), being landed in the wrong dam\u2026\u2026..the disbelief etched\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/b2ap3_thumbnail_Grass-Carp.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10560,"url":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=10560","url_meta":{"origin":15031,"position":3},"title":"Self Isolating Trout – TCC Leg 3","author":"Gareth","date":"October 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A few anglers thought that the Trout were adhering to the Covid regulations this last weekend as they certainly were reluctant to come within casting distance, let alone out to play. Weather is always a go-to excuse, but 34-degree heat and Trout do not mix well, let alone the toll\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Airflo\"","block_context":{"text":"Airflo","link":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?tag=airflo"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/self-isolating-trout-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/self-isolating-trout-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/self-isolating-trout-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/self-isolating-trout-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/self-isolating-trout-copy.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13042,"url":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=13042","url_meta":{"origin":15031,"position":4},"title":"The Fly Shrink","author":"Gareth","date":"June 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"How smart do you think fish really are? I mean it\u2019s not as if they\u2019ve managed to crawl out the water\u2026\u2026yet we seem to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure them out. There\u2019s a lot to consider when throwing a fly at a fish and some might\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fly"","block_context":{"text":"Fly","link":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/The-Fly-Shrink-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/The-Fly-Shrink-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/The-Fly-Shrink-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/The-Fly-Shrink-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/The-Fly-Shrink-copy.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9239,"url":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?p=9239","url_meta":{"origin":15031,"position":5},"title":"The Kitchen Sink","author":"Gareth","date":"August 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"What to throw at the problem is the @#$%&$! problem. That fish are fussy, no frustrated angler will argue about and when it comes to fly fishing for Trout the debate quickly devolves into fly patterns? It is a question more worn than a green and gold jersey when the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fly"","block_context":{"text":"Fly","link":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/The-Kitchen-Sink.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/The-Kitchen-Sink.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/The-Kitchen-Sink.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/The-Kitchen-Sink.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fishbook.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/The-Kitchen-Sink.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa8sv9-3Ur","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15031"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15041,"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15031\/revisions\/15041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fishbook.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}