Party at the drop off
Image by Mr eNil
This Fly Fishing Tip is brought to you by RiverBum.com and Jake Ricks of Utah Fly Guides.
Why Fish Like Drop Offs
When reading water, whether in a stream, river, lake, or ocean, be sure to pay particular attention to drop offs. These prime locations, where shallow water abruptly drops to deeper water, are the perfect spots to find fish. The shallow water areas are generally productive with lots of food and the deep water affords fish protection from predators and a place to escape bright sun in the middle of the day. Here are a few tactics for fishing drop offs.
Fly Fishing Drop Offs in Rivers
I've had a lot of success in rivers by casting to the shallows upstream of the drop off and letting flies drift off the drop and into deeper water. This is particularly effective with nymphs. If your flies hang up on the bottom in the shallows don't yank them off simply pull them along the bottom until they reach the drop and then let them drift from there.
Fly Fishing Drop Offs in Lakes
In lakes and in salt water it often pays off to position a boat, tube, or whatever you might be floating on, just off of the drop off on the deep water side. Cast streamers or other flies like leeches or nymphs into the shallows and then pull them off of the shelf toward deeper water. Slow your retrieve as the flies reach the point of the drop so they fall along the drop off. Most often your strikes will occur just as the flies start to fall.
Fish a Multi-fly Nymph Rig
Another effective lake technique is to use a static nymph rig consisting of 2 or 3 (where legal) nymphs suspended under a strike indicator like a Thingamabobber. Hang the flies a little deeper than the shallow water shelf just off of the edge over deeper water. This is the zone that fish often cruise while looking for food without straying too far from the deep water.
Pay attention to drop offs as you read water and select spots to fish and you'll have a better chance at finding more feeding fish.
Good luck and tight lines!
Jake Ricks
Fly Fishing Professional, Guide, and Author
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Products mentioned in this article and where to get them:
Thingamabobber Strike Indicators Size: Small 1/2" dia. (5 pack)
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- Quantities vary by size
Thingamabobber Strike Indicators feature trapped air technology so the indicator rides high on the water. These lightweight round indicators are very easy to cast. The line guides are gentle on light leaders and are easy to attach and adjust for water depth. Thingamabobbers stay in place on your line and never sink and dont need additional floatant to stay afloat.
Price: $ 4.95
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