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TROUT FISHING WITH MAURICE RODWAY - Weekly Column: 10-March-00
 Southland, New Zealand

The Ultimate Judges

Upstream from the old concrete bridge gentle ringlets spread across the pool. Under overhanging willows noiseless ringlet makers could sometimes be seen, as they finned just under the surface. Above the water a dance of mayflies shimmered in the afternoon sun.  On the shore, crouched below the skyline is an angler with a slender fly rod  She ties on a fly and pulls the line off the reel in a soft chatter.  

In such still conditions an angler's box of tricks must be concealed, and like a magician's hands, deceive the eye of the trout. A dancer from the sky and a pretender hiding a jag must be seen as one. To achieve such deception an angler must become a magician.

Fly fishing does require a collection of specialised gear. Usually the most important is considered to be the fly rod, and while it is true a light weight rod which is strong enough to propel the fly line far and straight is a highly desirable acquisition the final connection between the fly line and the fly is the weakest link and therefore must be the most important part. It usually is the cheapest.

A good quality fly line is important to maximise casting ease and for manipulating the line while it is on the water, especially to minimise drag. Anglers often debate which colour the fly line should be but this should be of less concern than the final connection. A quality reel is important too but this is a simple device, used to store the line, and perhaps to apply resistance to a fish fleeing for the far bank.

The thin line that connects the fly to the fly reel is called the leader and the finest part of that is the tippet. It is important to have a good quality tapered leader for fly fishing in conditions where trout can tell the difference between a waltz and a two step. These can be purchased in fishing stores but there is a difference between good leaders and a single piece of nylon. A tapered leader will deliver the lightest fly out to the extremity of the leader, provided the correct fly casting stroke has been executed.

Serious fly anglers will have done some experimentation with tapered leaders and maybe even made up their own. This is a time consuming business and with such good ready made leaders available such an activity is only for the most seriously afflicted of us. However all leaders do need, if not straight away, at least after a time, a new tippet. The tippet should be fine and soft and long, at least a metre and up to 1.5 metres. The extra length gives the presentation of the fly the required finesse that the ultimate judges require.

Maurice Rodway
Southland, New Zealand                           E-mail: information@southlandfishgame.co.nz

Article © 2000 Maurice Rodway, All Rights Reserved.

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