[woodwalker]

I have been fly-fishing for around a year now, and have amassed a few questions to ask...

1) No-Knots. Should I use them? I fish bass/blue gill (I live in west-central Georgia), and like to have my rod as close to ready as I can, and this makes it easier to attach flies quickly. My question is this: would that spook a trout?

2) Of leaders. How do you store your leaders? As mentioned above, I like to keep my rod ready to go, so I leave my L2L Reconnect leader attached to the line. This ties in with the above question, as there is a No-Knot on the tag end, which makes it easier to attach the leader to the hook keeper thing. Sans No-Knot, how would this be done?

[woodwalker]

I forgot two...

3) Retrieving (is that the right word?) fish. I have just glanced through these forums, and see it mentioned that one should NEVER strip the line to get a fish in, but use the reel. I found that odd, as my grandfather said to just strip them in. The reels don't even look like they are built to reel, per se, but just kinda hold the line. In other words, could someone clear up that confusion?

4) Landing the fish. I have a nine-foot Cortland Pre-loaded Travel Outfit(Just dd water...), and am curious how to grab the fish AND hold the rod in such a way that it doesn't get get wet/dirty. I can do one or the other, but both would be nice.

Thanks in advance.

[Frank Whiton]

Hi woodwalker,

I will see if I can help you.

1) No-Knots. Should I use them? I fish bass/blue gill (I live in west-central Georgia), and like to have my rod as close to ready as I can, and this makes it easier to attach flies quickly. My question is this: would that spook a trout?

I assume you are asking about the "No-Knot Fast Snaps" like the photo. You might get away with them for bass/blue gill but I wouldn't use them for trout. I guess you might use them for trout when sub-surface fishing. The fact is you should be tyeing your flies to the leader tippet for all fishing and especially for trout.



2) Of leaders. How do you store your leaders? As mentioned above, I like to keep my rod ready to go, so I leave my L2L Reconnect leader attached to the line. This ties in with the above question, as there is a No-Knot on the tag end, which makes it easier to attach the leader to the hook keeper thing. Sans No-Knot, how would this be done?

Leave a fly tied on your leader, fasten it to your hook keeper.

3) Retrieving (is that the right word?) fish. I have just glanced through these forums, and see it mentioned that one should NEVER strip the line to get a fish in, but use the reel. I found that odd, as my grandfather said to just strip them in. The reels don't even look like they are built to reel, per se, but just kinda hold the line. In other words, could someone clear up that confusion?

Many people bring in fish by stripping in the line. Most people who strip line are catching smaller fish and they find it satisfactory. If you are comfortable stripping line instead of playing the fish from the reel that is fine. If you graduate to larger fish like big Trout or Steelhead you should learn to play the fish from the reel. It is not a matter of just winding in the fish. You have to learn a technique that allows you to wind when a fish comes toward you and to allow the fish to run when it takes off. You have to do this so no slack is introduced between you and the fish. If you simple try to reel in the fish with no give and take you will break off.

4) Landing the fish. I have a nine-foot Cortland Pre-loaded Travel Outfit(Just dd water...), and am curious how to grab the fish AND hold the rod in such a way that it doesn't get get wet/dirty. I can do one or the other, but both would be nice.

This is a hard thing to describe with out showing you. You should extend the rod high so your rod hand is above your head. You need to wind in your fly line so you only have enough line/leader out so you can bring the fish to you. A landing net will make it a lot easier until you get some experience. If you are using a long leader you may have to reel the leader into the tip top.

Here is a tip that might help you out. Only post one question in a post and more people will give you answers. It takes too much effort to address multiple questions in a single post.

Frank

[woodwalker]

Thank you very much. Indeed those were the No-Knots in question.

As far as the multiple questions per post goes, I kinda like to ask all the question I have in one fell swoop, but I do see how that might make it hard on the posters. I will be sure to remember this.