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This page will not be a complete how-to book, but a continuing discussion or forum on different strategies and techniques to help all anglers.
Current Strategy Topic- June 2005
The Damsel Hanger System
Have you sat frustrated during an extreme damsel hatch with large fish slashing everywhere but not taking your fly? This is one of the most disturbing experiences for many anglers who try 100's of different patterns and retrieves, without any success. One of the problems is obviously that there are 1000's of naturals in the water and no fly in existence looks like the real thing. I like to use the analogy of ordering a steak dinner at a nice restaurant and when it is served, it begins to move around strangely on the plate. Would you eat it? NO, neither will the fish take something that is acting different or floating at a different level than most of the naturals. I have tried lots of floating, hinged body, wiggly material and god knows other type of damsels without much luck. Once in a while, a pattern seems to work reasonably well and you think you have "the" fly. Then the next day, the fish just ignor your newfound treasure. A few years ago, while fishing with Rick Jorgenson and Dave Takahasi (the previous owner of the Grizzly Store at Lake Davis) we were having one of those days. Then Rick tried a new way of suspending his damsel from about a foot to just under the surface. He immediately started hooking fish and we quickly copied his rig. I am not saying that this method works every time, but it does seem to solve the problem more than just randomly changing flies. The system consists of using a small cork (just plain cork, but I gues you could just as easy use an indicator). Listed below are the steps and set up. By the way, I use some old Herter's cork tubes that have been in my fly tying cabinet for a long time ( we won't say when they went out of business). You can find cork at any hardware, hobby, or crafts store. Mine are about 1/2 inch long and a little more than 1/8th inch in diameter. I cut them into 3 pieces so they go a long way.
Step One - Cut the cork about 1/4 inche or shorter
Step Two - Insert sewing needle into cork capable of holding 3x or smaller leader end.
Step Three - Cut back your leader to a point just below where tippet section starts (for most tapered leaders that varies from about 12 inches to 18 inches). Insert the end of the lead into the eye of the needle and leave about a 1/2 inch or more going through. Pull the need through the cork so the leader end comes through.
Note: I used 20lb amnesia just so you could see it better, it is obviously to large compared to a normal leader end.
Step Four - Pull enough leader through the cork to tie a double surgeons knot between the leader and your tippet. Start with about 18 to 24 inches of tippet. Trim off the knot and slid the cork down to the knot so that it stays there. You can now trim the tippet section to a length that alows you to "hang" the nymph between a foot and 2 feet deep. I like to have about 8 to 10 inches of tippet when the fish are really boiling.
Last Word - Yes this is just an indicator, but much smaller and easier to cast. If you want to change tippets or fish a dry or something deeper, just slide the cork up the leader and do your thing. I find by using the cork which is hard to see, I concentrate more on my line and keeping in contact instead of watching a bright indicator. Besides, where elese could I use up all those old cork tubes I have. Ps. I usually always use 2 flies when lake fishing except, when using this method.
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