So, you’re all set up and fishing.  You’re already luckier than most being out in the great outdoors.  But it is the thought of catching something that got you out of bed so early, so you had better be on your game. A key success factor is taking your opportunity – with a great strike.

Luckily I (Greg) have had Dad (Tony) on hand early on – often suggesting I just missed a strike as the indicator dipped – not fast enough – then urging me to slow down with a dry fly!  Like many things – flyfishing can be confusing for a beginner.

To illustrate the point, my most successful strike with a dry fly was on Lake Sarah in the Canterbury high country.  Calm conditions meant we could see a nice brown trout cruising the edge.  Hiding behind the flax and rushes, we first tried to ambush it with a nymph, before working through to a dry.  We were about to call it a day when a light zephyr riffled the water, the fly twitched, and the tell-tale bow-wave appeared of a trout ‘eat’.  I was a little slow to react – which with a dry fly is just perfect!  Landing, then releasing, such a beautiful brownie transformed an interesting session into a most memorable one.

Fast forward a year and I’m fishing for a superb trout in the Clarence River. The cast is on the mark, but adrenaline gets the better of me, I yank too hard, too fast, and the opportunity for the fish of the season is gone. 

Top Tips for a Perfect Strike:

Check your indicator

What we mean here, is that the indicator itself needs to be up to the task.  It should be just big enough to stay visible, without being spooky.  You’re unlikely to catch much using your winter fluro ‘shuttlecock’ on a small summer stream.  It is worth adding floatant every now and again to make sure.  You can’t see when to strike if you can’t see your indicator!

Be ready

It is easy to let your mind drift to the next cast, or glance at the next piece of water, only then to think “where’s my indicator?” at which point you’ve missed your chance.  As if the trout like to make a point, you’ll sometimes see a silvery flash as the missed fish rolls and disappears. Bugger.

Strike often

If you can’t see the fish – blind fishing – then any unusual movement in your indicator is worth a strike.  Yes, the tell-tale dip under water is the best sign, but sometimes a pause is actually a take, and you might not get a second chance. Trout recognise and spit a fly incredible quickly.

Don’t be vicious

A strike should be positive but doesn’t need to be too aggressive.  You don’t want to lose your fly when the reason the indicator dipped is actually a snag.

Strike Downstream

Not always possible, or the first thing that comes to mind.  But it stands to reason that you want to set the hook in the opposite direction to travel of the fish – which will generally be facing upstream.

Dry Fly Pause

Because the take of a dry fly is more positive and you want to strike against the motion of the fish, it is best to wait a second or two (which can feel like 20) so the fish is on its way down. This is particularly important if the fish is facing you when taking the fly.

Keep the Pressure on

Watch videos of experts getting a take.  Note that they don’t usually reach for the reel first, but instead strip line back manually to maintain a connection before winding the slack.  Early days, it is important to get this in your mind before the frantic first few seconds.

There you have it. Whilst not an exhaustive list, and everyone will have their favoured techniques, these tips are a good start next time you’re keenly watching the drift. Tight lines!