sinking line, moving water

I've been trying to figure out how to fish some waist to chest deep very
fast water near here. Thus far my most heavily weighted efforts have
clearly zipped downstream well over any fish and/ or in a manner that
allowed no contact with the fly to sense strikes.


Last night I woke up at about 3:00AM thinking about sinking lines.

I've used them for years in stillwaters but never in moving waters.

So, my question, before I trundle off, at some risk to life and limb, to try
it. Does "swinging" a fly on a HiSpeedHID ... down and across ... have
hidden inherent problems that I'm not visualizing having never tried it?
Turning around and facing the other direction, does the 'Brook's method' of
high sticking with a sinking line have any advantage over lobbing a ton of
lead and fuzzy bobber .. ah, I mean, casting large quanities of non-toxic
shot and a strike indicator ... in water where getting anywhere near the
bottom is the first big challenge?

On Oct 27, 10:05 am, "Larry L" wrote:

Last night I woke up at about 3:00AM thinking about sinking lines.

When I saw your post yesterday I almost fired a quick reply saying to
try sinking lines.

it. Does "swinging" a fly on a HiSpeedHID ... down and across ... have
hidden inherent problems that I'm not visualizing having never tried it?

I've done this a few times up at the San Juan when I've gotten tired
of watching an indicator, and have taken several nice fish. On one
very strong seam (top of Texas Hole) one evening, I didn't fair catch
anything but did tail-hook two browns. After the second happened I
imagine they were slapping my fly with their tail.

Turning around and facing the other direction, does the 'Brook's method' of
high sticking with a sinking line have any advantage over lobbing a ton of

I've also tried this and can't recall ever taking a fish, but maybe I
have. The main problem here is detecting a strike. A fish just isn't
going to move your sinking line much, it's much different than having
only thin leader between the fly and indicator. You have to hope they
hook themselves.

in water where getting anywhere near the
bottom is the first big challenge?

I think the real issue for you here (although I haven't seen the
water) is captured in that part of the Serenity Prayer that says
"change the things I can change, accept the things I can't, and the
wisdom to know the difference". There is water that simply is not
practically fishable, runs that you simply cannot get a drift through,
holes that you cannot get your fly into. No sense getting frustrated
in trying. Leave 'em be; a better strategy might be to fish at times
when fish holding in those places might move out into feeding water
where you _can_ fish to 'em.

Jon.

On Oct 28, 1:57*pm, wrote:

.. There is water that simply is not
practically fishable, runs that you simply cannot get a drift through,
holes that you cannot get your fly into. No sense getting frustrated
in trying. Leave 'em be; a better strategy might be to fish at times
when fish holding in those places might move out into feeding water
where you _can_ fish to 'em.

Jon.

Often, "unfishable" water holds the best fish.

Sinking lines cause a lot of problems unless used with taut line
techniques, and these can also be extremely difficult to implement.

For the type of water described in the original post, Czech-nymphing
is a viable technique.

http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/czech/

http://www.bishfish.co.nz/articles/fresh/czechnymph.htm

http://www.czechnymphs.co.uk/CzechNymphing.htm

there are other techniques, but this one is particularly effective.
One may also use such nymphs below a floating indicator if desired,
which is then a slack line technique, but may be used at greater
range.

The links provided should contain sufficient info to at least get
started.