False Albacore - The Picky Days

[captshiner]

Hey Tom, great book, I just finished reading it. One question I have is what advice would you offer when you encounter albies that are picky. I mainly fish LI (montauk and along the south shore inlets) and most times I came across obvious feeding fish last season I'd get right up to them, toss a fly and not get a hit. I tried every conceivable retrieve, longer leader, lighter leader, etc. I've had days of 4-5 hours of constant blitzing fish around the boat and they wouldn't touch a fly. I'd even watch them follow the fly for a good 20 feet and turn away at the last moment. The kicker is when I tossed a tin it got hit immediately every time. Any suggestions to up my chances with a fly in these circumstances? Thanks and again, a great book you put together.

[Tom G.]

Hey Tom, great book, I just finished reading it. One question I have is what advice would you offer when you encounter albies that are picky. I mainly fish LI (montauk and along the south shore inlets) and most times I came across obvious feeding fish last season I'd get right up to them, toss a fly and not get a hit. I tried every conceivable retrieve, longer leader, lighter leader, etc. I've had days of 4-5 hours of constant blitzing fish around the boat and they wouldn't touch a fly. I'd even watch them follow the fly for a good 20 feet and turn away at the last moment. The kicker is when I tossed a tin it got hit immediately every time. Any suggestions to up my chances with a fly in these circumstances? Thanks and again, a great book you put together.

Hi, captshiner, I have those days myself! Usually when I have that problem it is because there is too much bait in the water. The albies can't find your offering among all the naturals. That might be why the tin got hit immediately, it stood out! It had more flash and prehaps was larger in size than your fly and the bait they were feeding on. When I run into too much bait I often have to give up on "match the hatch" flies and try the following:

Bigger Fly

More Flash

Bright Color, especially chartreuse

Weighted Fly with little or no retrieve

Crease Fly worked fast across the surface.

Good luck and thank you for your kind words.

Tom