geebee wrote:
i'm glad that you caught on that method - it was developed by test river keeper frank sawyer at the turn of the previous century, solely by observation.
as Dale said, for bows just feeding off the bottom i use a much heavier fly as the dropper and a midge as the point.
a small dark heavy stonefly will do it or a big hares ear, though i use those for exploring water, rather than casting to a sighted fish.
for sighted fish i stick with a unweighted midge or red serendipty dead drifted first. and then after 2 or 3 runs past i'll try an induced take.
at the start of the drift, i'll put in a big downstream mend to get the fly down and keep the rod tip down as it approaches the fish.
i have seen big browns ignore it, then turn downstream and take it - a time or two as i was lifting off, so fish out the cast, its something they tell you in salmon fishing and you should definately do it.
you can also fish small soft hackle spiders the same way when a hatch is on.
i usually fish a 9' rod, but part of me is eyeing these new 11ft 2 & 3 weights that might or might not be ideal for it - especially on spring creeks, which coming full circle are very similar to the test river...
