Tips for early morning fly Fishing
There’s a special quality about the early morning air that seems to encourage fish to do things they won’t do later in the day. Rising to shallow water along a lake shore or near the banks of a stream pool is not out of the ordinary for early morning behavior. These are times with a special solitude, as well as ample light for the fish to spot a bug or even a bait.
For this reason, when setting out on foot in the early AM, it’s always a good idea to approach the water’s edge very slowly. Some fishermen use a method similar to stalking, by stopping and crouching to eye the surface of the water from a distance. Many times this will disclose a fish that w
ould have spooked, and been gone for the rest of the day.
Being familiar with the approach area helps as well. Some fly fishermen don’t start fishing until they’re either at the water’s edge or wading. But many a nice fish has been hooked by presenting a fly from a grassy area or a clearing, well back from the water.
When reaching the bank, it’s best to acclimate to the feel of the morning before starting to fish. Even in cases where the hatch is right and there is some activity, noticing the way things may be moving is a good way to stay on the fish. Chasing is never recommended since fish tend to come back to certain areas and this is especially true in the early morning. The fisherman who can find ways to be invisible will sometime find fish at his or her feet.
