Sink the leader

[steve]

I have been doing a bit more dry fly fishing of late (hard core nympher), and when fishing slow water am noticing that my tippet, which is fluorocarbon, is floating, which must put some fish off. I have tried Mud, real mud, Xinx (I think it is called) and saliva, but it seems nothing I do can get the tippet to break the surface.

Any tips?

[Heckler]

i only worry about that if the water is very low and slow moving. besides you want the fly to float no? just my 0.02

[The Fisherman]

I subscribe to the notion that the fish are more interested in the drift of the fly than the diameter or floating state of the tippet. That's not to say you should be using 4x in Church Pool this time of year (although last year at this time I was fishing CP in very low water, and out of laziness, didn't change my 6x tippet and still caught fish).

But back to your question. I've never attempted to get my tippet to sink, and I do pretty well.

[Huh?What?Huh?]

be concerned of your fly presentation and not the tippet. Drag is deadly.

[steve]

Yeah, I know all that (but appreciate the replies).

Still, I think in slow water that the tippet floating, right near the fly anyway, is still a potential problem. I have seen times recently where I have gotten a good drag free float (the tippet still in S curves) and still the fish won't hit, and this on streams without much pressure.

I saw an article a ways back that showed photos, taken underwater looking up at the fly, comparing a floating tippet to a sunken tippet, and the floating tippet was very obvious, due to the depression it makes in the surface film. The point of the photos and that part of the article was the importance of getting the tippet to sink.

Still, it is quite possible it was a combination of presentation and fly selection, and not the floating tippet, that put the fish off. It is a bit reassuring to know that you guys don't see it as important.

[Huh?What?Huh?]

ok, perhaps your floating tippet is the problem. I never considered that. If fish doesn't strike my fly, I always go to the next smallest size or 2. The size of the fly may be the problem in your case (as is in mine)

[The Fisherman]

While I recognize that conditions and situations are dynamic, I couldn't possibly count the number of trout I've caught in low water/crystal clear water/fussy trout conditions with my tippet floating on the surface.

Yikes, I even put a smidgen of Gink on my tippet and leader!

[Huh?What?Huh?]

How about the size of your fly? Mostly I find that we use too big dry flies since they are easier for us to see and follow. When I switch to smaller, I seem to do better as far as number of strikes. Unless you are involved in a massive green drake hatch. Well..... even then, I had the fish actually come up and touch it with its nose but not take it. Had to go one size smaller. So I guess after all, size DOES matter. (that's a joke)