How to Avoid Spooking the Fish While Fly-Fishing

You can't catch a fish if you scare them all away. Fish have very wide angles of vision and sensitive nervous systems that allow them to detect your presence. Watching your movements and methods of casting can help keep your presence a secret.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fly-fishing Wading Jackets
• Fishing Fly Kit
• Fly-fishing Lines
• Fly-fishing Nets
• Fly-fishing Reels
• Fly-fishing Rods
• Fly-fishing Vests
• Waders

1. Gauge the water from a distance; don't just walk up and jump in.

2. Fish from the bank first. By hanging back from the water, you may be able to catch fish under the bank that you'd otherwise miss by jumping in.

3. Be careful not to make big splashes as you wade through the water and get closer to your fishing hole. Smaller and slower steps may make you less conspicuous.

4. Wade slowly and carefully if you're in water with a silt bottom. Quick movement will kick up sediment and dirt that will alert fish to your presence.

5. Avoid kicking or moving rocks - the lateral line of a fish can detect vibrations.

6. Try to keep your line from slapping on the water as you cast forward and backward, as this will certainly alert fish to your presence.

7. Avoid a splash when you let your fly, leader and fly line hit the water. This may spook the fish. You want your rig to land more naturally on the water at the same time; it makes for a more natural presentation.

Tips & Warnings

• When you're underwater at the edge of a pool, remember how objects at the surface look (and how easy they are to see, even when away from the edge). This will give you an idea of how much the fish can detect.

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[paddymc4445]

on 5/30/2007 if you can see them they can see you not good

on 11/22/2005 When you are false casting, either avoid passing the line over the fish, or do as little false casting as possible (this can be done with a strong, slow pickup and a powerful forward cast). You can spook wily trout by passing the line over the fish.

on 11/22/2005 Common sense goes a long way. Be as quiet as possible, slow as possible when wading and most of all be considerate to the other anglers. As in golf--don't walk in someone else's line.