Fish-Hawk.Net

Went out on the Ottawa this morning and got there for about 0830. Located a ledge dropping off into a deep pool and started to throw a size 6, olive woolly bugger into it. The bass were hitting it like crazy for the first hour or so but then began to ease off until by 1100 there was nothing I could do to get a bite. Approx. 20 fish in all with a least 4-5 in the 2lbs range. Great fight in the fast water!

This was my first time out with weighted flies and I was having difficulty casting. Hard to get decent distance and it was bouncing as opposed to loading the rod. I'm using a 5/6 weight rod and this was a 6 size fly. Is that to light a rod or is there something wrong with my technique here? The stiff breeze didn't help either.

Cheers,
Rossco

Casting heavier weighted flies can be a challenge. It didn't seem to bother the fish you caught!

You mentioned that it is a 5/6-wt rod, so you might be a tad under powered to toss a heavier fly. The rod's action as opposed to its weight rating might be a factor. A medium to fast action 6-wt rod should handle a #6 weighted fly....unless the fly is really, really heavy.

The timing of your casting stroke could also be a factor. You might try observing your line on the back cast to determine whether or not your line is extending properly prior to your forward cast. Having someone else observe doesn't hurt your neck as much.....

As for casting in windy conditions, try making shorter casts in a sidearm motion. This keeps the line lower to the surface and a little less susceptible to the wind.

Ross,

Glad to hear that you were having better success this time out. Another solution to your casting problem is to use a Belgian Cast (http://www.sexyloops.com/flycasting/tbelgian.shtml), in which the cast is all one motion and does not allow a weighted fly time to fall on the change of direction. The only downside is line twist.

Cheers,
Todd