How do you make your flies taste good?

[dlangan]

This past weekend I bumped into a reputable moderator (at least I respect him). Anyway, he said he was trying a couple of my flies and they looked good, generated a number of follows - but no takes. He concluded they must taste like $%#! --125-3 Maybe he was a jynx, but it turned out to be the weekend of followers for me - they looked but didn't eat.

Perhaps he's right, maybe my flies do taste like #$%! How do you make you flies taste good :confused:

[RogerStg]

Common sense says that to taste the fly the fish needs to get it in it's mouth - so the moderator's conclusion is ridiculous. It could be a matter of smell, but it can also be color, presentation, size, the fish sees the angler, etc.

[Eddy Merckx]

Only one way to answer this question: you're gonna have to man up and taste one yourself! --125-3

[loon]

When I see follows with no takes, the first thing I do is vary retrieve speed and pattern. Next I drop size of tippet; still happening I change the size of the fly. Sometimes the fish cooperate.

[ruge13]

I am going to go out on a limb here (crusify if needed)...if speed variance doesn't work....(my first choice as well)

I have never used scents, but have used scent impregnated plastics. I know people who have used scents on flies and do seem to have positive results so they say. I can honestly say I've noticed a difference with picky fish and plastics.

Maybe worth giving that a try. Of course if the purists see you they will tie you up and burn you.

[fishhunter2345]

It has been my experience in the past that head cement
will affect the fly.

I make shark flies for my local fly shop the flies with head cement
get no attention at all.

So I have resorted to using epoxy as head cement on all my flies.
!!!!!!!! EXCEPT SHARK FLIES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bonefishwhisper]

I have caught bonefish on fresh epoxy crabs that were still curing..I also use lots of sunscreen several times a day using both my hands...I have never noticed a bit of difference in the fishes response even though I have read to the contrary many times...to use scent on a fly is a crutch and self defeating...the whole idea of flyfishing is to fool the fish on a visual level to stimulate the attack response...if they have time to actually smell the fly you have already failed to get the attack response ...I would say it is a presentation issue of speed of the retrieve from what it sounds like...it happens to the best of us...good luck

[NE Sportsman]

OK, You guys have my attention. I lean toward the purist side of things, but you have me thinking. I have a package of Berkley baits that are swimming in scented juice. I am going to dip one of my chartreuse and white clousers in the stuff and give it a try on Friday night.

If they start jumping into the boat, I will let you know... ;)

-Ed

[Bob Parsons]

This discussion started on the water as good natured fun. But it is a common curse we all suffer. I did switch flies and took plenty of fish. But I wanted to see them eat some of the bigger flies that I don't use too often. Just looking for Moby Striper on the fly. :)

[dlangan]

The thread was started as good natured fun too! --125-3 I thought it was really funny.... until the remainder of that day and the following I was plagued with many follows from nice size fish... and I really wanted to catch a few of them.... one of them... please! Ok, I still think it's funny... but did you curse me :eek:

The weekend prior I couldn't keep the fish off my line and caught some nice ones. And, I did (briefly) have moby on the line. But last weekend, athough I caught some schoolies, it was the weekend of the big ones that wouldn't bite :rolleyes: Maybe it was my change in hours - fishing mid-day instead of oh darn early.

In any event, what a great weekend to be on the water. Enjoyed every minute of it.

[Bob Parsons]

So many variables, it could have beens something as simple as a change in the type of bait the fish were feeding on and our flies just didn't fit in. But that is why we fly fish. The added challenge. I still get a kick out of seeing 1/2 fish following the fly.

[MKDeceiver]

Not sure, but a sluggo tastes better than a clouser. A fish grabs a sluggo, for a second he thinks he has a sand eel until he feels the pull, on the other hand, a fish grabs a hook with some bucktail he knows it's a fake. I've seen a 45 inch fish grab one of my flexo crabs and not even swim away for 10 secounds after inhaling it. Perhaps the hard flexo feels like a crab shell. I wouldn't add scent, but if your looking for realism, don't be afraid to add synthetics to create a realistic texture to the fly...

[flatwingflinger]

If I understand correctly they are following your fly, but not taking it. That does not sound to me like a matter of taste or tecture. Sometimes throwing in a quick pause is enough to do it. Sometimes, when I have fished with Kenney Abrames he will pick over my flies. He might pull out a feather that looks unnatural, trim down the flash, or spread out some of the materials. The first change I would make is to cut down the flash so it doesn't trail behind the tail of the fly. That is often enough, although sometimes eyes are the offending detail. There are plenty of days where that sort of little change makes the difference between a take and a follow.

[NCCY]

Has everyone not had those days when they won't strike a fly but a cast or two with a berk. gulp and you connect? Is it the fly itself, the retrieve or other factors? Head cement? Or are diff. senses used at differeing water levels and clarity? Are fish driven by a predominant sense at certain times i.e. smell? Are fish actively feeding with differing senses at diff. levels of the tide? Is the smell enough to trigger a strike from a fish that is not actively feeding? I don't know, but I have had those days too and is likely more complex than changeing flies.

[G-Man]

How do you make you flies taste good :confused:

Simply hang pork rind off that there fly. ;)