Bonefish stripping techniques

[Jusbones]

I recently watched a video of a fellow bone fishing. I noticed he had his rod level with his waist or at best a few degrees toward the water (fishing from a flats boat). I guess my point is, I always have the tip of my rod in the water,
flats boat or wading). This technique was drilled into my head by my fav Bahamian Guide. It allows a straight line between the fish your retreive.....and more sensitivity to feel the take. my hook up numbers increased. Additionally, I see that with the rod tip out of the water the line tends to "slap" the water ....who needs more "spook factor" in the equation at such a critical moment. I solicit others thoughts on the tip in the water technique....or do you think it really matters..........

Mark

[bonefishdick]

It matters a lot. If I tend to stick my Nose into others people business, it's when I am fishing and I see someone who is just learning or who hasn't been at fly fishing very long ( they are easy to spot ) stripping in the fly with the tip up of the water. I will tell them they can really improve their catch ratio a lot if they keep the tip down on the water. Sometimes you have to remind them more than once, but it is for their own good.

I don't want to sound like a snob but it is easy pick out the beginner. I know when I first started I was very lucky because I had My Dad to teach me. I know I don't know it all but, it 's not just the ones you see on the water, it is also the ones you see in a lot of the commercials on TV and on a lot of the shows on the different fishing programs. Sometimes I wonder how they ever got the show in the first place.

Maybe I am A Snob:brow

[Henry]

"Tip in the water"...all the time. I've tested this theory in my pool and the results were shocking. When I had my rod tip 6 inches above the water and stripped for example 6 inches...the fly initially moved about 6 inches then moved another 3 to 6 inches at a slower pace. With the rod tip in the water...a 6 inch strip resulted in a 6 inch movement of the fly and nothing else.

What was happening was that when stripping the fly with the rod tip out of the water...the initial strip removed the "hanging slack" out of the line between the tip and the water"...then...once the strip was completed...the weight of the flyline above the water and my tip caused the line to relax and add further motion to the fly...

Basically what was happening (tip out) with each 6 inch strip...the fly would move a few inches directly becasue of the stripping motion...then move a few more inches directly because of the line sagging due to gravity. Ultimately, I discovered that my fly was virtually in constant motion despite my efforts at imparting a darting action at the reel end of the affair.

Henry

[figen]

Mark, it seems to me from your wording that a key rationale is to be able to set the hook faster, potentially from feeling the take faster.

Personally I suspect that a major cause of missed hook-ups is that I rip the fly out of the fish's mouth, potentially in conjunction with the hook at a less-than-ideal angle, perhaps due to a poor knot, a poorly tied fly or just the speed/weight relative to that of the fish. I will readily admit to rarely being calm enough to let the fly rest on the bottom while patiently and cooly observing the bone tail on it. In most cases, where I cannot see the bone and the fly properly, I usually strip slowly but constantly, and instinctively and immediately give the line a good pull on contact. I probably strip double the speed I would like in the heat of the moment, and I tend to raise the rod prematurely as well (on contact, rather than when sure a fish is on, which assures I don't get a second chance if the hook didn't set.)

I keep the tip above water, although usually not more than 6 inches over. It never occured to me that I might in fact be setting the hook too slowly, and that I might benefit from having the tip in the water. I would think a little bit of slack would work in my favor, assuming my stripping is on the faster side. How do you guys work the line when experiencing better hookup-rate with the tip below?

The video tape thing seems very interesting. To be completely honest, I usually remember quite well seeing the fish and fighting it, but the part between tends to be a bit of a foggy haze, except for those rare occasions when I can see the fish and take clearly. I think it could be quite revealing to see oneself in action.

[Jusbones]

Figen: yep, me too....old trout fishing habit of lifting the rod....and yes, as highly as some of us think of our ability, a video would be great...in my case
it would probably have folks rolling on the floor with laughter....I tend to forget everything I "think" I know once I hook up.....Trust me I am no pro....a hacker at best......

Henry: Interesting experiment....but as i said above, old habits die hard....a trout bum for 30 years.....still tend to lift the rod.....not put the tip in the water without admonisment from my guide (and an ocassional poke to the back of my head with his pole)...........

Bonefishdick: I think you said it well:-%

[sweet+salt]

Mark, I am going to weigh in with the tip top on or in the water. That slack line in any aspect of presentation or retrieve separates the angler from direct connection with fly and, ultimately, fish. Let me expand by commenting that my experience leads me to believe that most larger bones do not take a fly on the strip but rather on the dive toward the bottom or actually on the bottom in simulation of a shrimp or crab seeking sanctuary. A slack-free line, leader (hand and brain) can put the metal to Mr. Bonefish when he lights up and tilts on your pulsing fibered imitation. Secondarily, just because an angler is featured on TV, magazines or, ahum, internet forums, does not make him (us) an authority to be emulated. We participate in these threads and share ideas that seem to make sense and strive to achieve a consensus where we all learn or at least get to think about alternative ideas.

[Jusbones]

S+S

So, I think you agree....tip in water can, I say again, can, be more productive ?
I guess we all fish differently...in fact we do. Now the guy did a great job landing the fish.....but I could not take my eyes off the position of his pole as he stripped.....indeed no strip strike at all......the bone just ate and hooked himself. I recall being absolutely BLIND to a bonefish, hearing only the guides instructions.......made 4 or 5 casts....bone goes left.....5 feet right and so on...
so without ever seeing the fish, but keeping a straight line, tip in water WHAM
he finally took.......dont know if this relevent but a good story.:-%

[sweet+salt]

Yes I absolutely agree; no slack between tip top and water. Also in film/video editing occurs...a fish on every cast...bad technique not withstanding.

Yes we all do and should fish with our own evolving styles, however, there are sound fundamentals we should strive to be conscious of understanding and incorporating.

[Marshrunner]

In general, the tip in or on the water technique will give you better and more predictable stripping rhythm at the fly, keeping you in touch with fly better, and putting you in more of a direct connection with the fish. But there are also times to raise the rod a bit--as when fishing over turtle grass in knee deep water. Lifting the tip a foot or so will allow your stripping to pull the fly up and out of the grass so the fish can see it. If the fish follows it, let the fly drop as if it is trying to escape into the grass, while you also lower your rod and take out the slack. Then wait for the fish to tail on the fly and eat it--and make your strip strike.

Dick

[figen]

Assuming you can't see the fish clearly enough to rely on visuals alone for the take ....

... what is a good speed of retrival as the fish closes in, and your fly is not resting on the bottom?

Half a foot per second or so?
As slow as you can manage while keeping the line fairly tight?

I believe my hook-up is significantly reduced when stripping in an excited and rather rapid manner, but I lack sufficient data points to claim it a fact.


If only someone had written a book on this...;)

[aaronc]

Long and slow. I learned this from a senior guide on andros and it worked very well. I remember thinking I was stripping slow and he told me slower. I think it was just barely moving, kicking up a bit of mud/sand, not really fleeing, more of an unaware movement it that makes sense.

[Marshrunner]

figen,

In general, if I can't see the fish, my experience is that both slower and shorter are better--even to the point of stopping for a heartbeat or two. If I'm over grass as descibed above, then I would make a short but quicker pull--fast enough to hop the fly up above the grass, and let it drop and then wait a second or two. But either way, if you can't see the fish, make sure you keep your stripping hand tight to the line while you pause the strip and watch your floating line on the water. If it jumps even an inch, strip strike.

Dick

[SteveP]

Dick,

That is very good advice. In the last few years I have been using about 3 to 4 ft. of flouro tippet. I have noticed in the turtle grass the fly does not hop up like it would with mono. I love flouro to much to give it up but what do you do?

Steve

[sweet+salt]

Dick, What are your thoughts on fish eating during a retrieve? Assuming the movement of the fly attracts their attention, is it the 'oblivious crustacean' swimming along going about its business or is it the alarmed critter diving for bottom cover or actually sitting on the bottom in futile defensive posture that the bonefish is most attracted to? Obviously depth of the tide and wading or on the bow of a skiff are variables as is fly weight and design and leader length. Most of us simply don't get as much time on the flats as we would like to develop the subtle perception of reading larger bonefish's attitude. Thanks, S+S

[Jusbones]

S+S
Great question......strip....get the follow....stop....see if he "expands" when inhaling the fly.....especially if we dont have a good visual of what the fish is doing......hope Dick sees you question......:-%

[Marshrunner]

Yes, good question.

And this is why I lean so hard on seeing fish better as the one best way to improve your bonefish game. The problem is bones are not all the same and they are constantly reacting to their own mix of fear, discomfort, and hunger. One day they'll be happy and go after anything that looks like food, whether it's a defensive counterattacking crab or mantis or a settled one that's methodically going about its business. Another day they'll be freaked over porpoise, sharks, barracuda or a boat (or the water temp will be too cold or too warm, or the barometer will drop, etc.) in the same area and they'll chase but turn away from the same profile every time. So for you and me coming to the fish on a given day, the best way to find out which fly presentation works best is to watch the reaction of the fish. If I'm fishing a rear-facing fly with a lot of self animation like a Simram and the fish takes a look but refuses, then I might try casting a little further away to the next fish and give the fly almost no strip at all. And then if I get refused again, I'll switch to a fleeing pattern (facing forward) like a Gotcha, a Kwan or a Ghost that is less animated. But the key to that whole evaluation is seeing the fish, not necessarily 100%--in fact, maybe only 25%--but enough to read its attitude.


Dick

[sweet+salt]

I like your comments about fleeing patterns vs. flies with built-in mobility. There is so much to grasp regarding sink rate and material determined fly action. I am personally inclined to tie flies with diversity of material texture to suggest the contrasting action between filimentatious gills, quavering swimming legs and stiffer, mini-claw mandibular structure so that my shrimp flies retain shape while stripping but pulsate with the tidal current when dropped to the bottom.

This sounds good to me as I write it from my NYC desk but when up on the bow with a guide saying strip, mon, strip...faster, OK, drop it mon, he's on it...strip, strip...no not like that to the side, straight back and longer! OK, we go find another fish... It's like; you want this, your cousin yesterday wanted that, and WHY we strive to do something a particular way is infrequently communicated.

Fortunately my eyesight is pretty good and I have enjoyed several talkative, insightful guides and I have begun to develop a sense of Bahamian bonefish's behavior (all your variables plus compound tidal changes and rum hangovers too sort of taken into account). However, even though I try to observe the various prey species actions as I wade about, I remain somewhat mystified by the relationship between stripping style (length, speed, frequency) and dropping the fly to the bottom as the predator that can not be out-swum approaches.

[Spiral]

Have your fishing partner record you sometime. Then do the same for him. What you will see on tape will astound you. All this talk about what to do goes out the window when the fish are coming in and if your (un?) fortunate enough to have the guide barking in your ear. I've found for me I don't pause enough, I strip too fast, etc etc. It's downright comical at times.

.......and the rum/Kalik hangovers don't help things either!

[Jusbones]

Buck Fever ? Bone Fever ? Same thing. However, I try to keep my focus, as best I can, my fav guide understands that I want to "make my own mistakes"
(which we discuss over a few beers later), hence no backseat driving/casting/stripping advice. However, a good after action report at the end of the day. I found that 1/2 the battle is keeping your cool....easy to say ,harder to do.....I find that not counting the catch, observing the fish, has paid me hugh dividends.....it took a while but accepting a miss/refusal/spook is ok....as my Cherokee friend says....."No problem mark, lots more fish":-%

[sweet+salt]

I have thought about the video recording approach. Now with mini-digicams it is technically do-able except I would want to get out of the boat or be in a second boat which increases fish spooking likelihood. There is no doubt that the coolest among us experiences a quickening pulse as casting range closes on a big bone. Premature back cast loads, overestimation of our accurate distance skills and forgetting how fast shrimp and crabs actually swim are all too common flaws. A good guide can help keep you focused and aware but the video may shockingly reveal that most of our casts bear little resemblance to Steve Rajef's effortlessly bullet shaped lengthening loops. And I already have trouble back at the thatched roofed bar as it is...