Re: [VFB] Trolling flies

[Monte Smith]

Hi Ronan, Id like to know if anyone of you go trolling flies for trout on the lakes? You bet.  It's standard fare for us when fishing the lakes of the B.C. Interior, a trip I  look forward to making each year.  There are usually more boats trolling flies than those parked somewhere and flogging it. If so, Id love to see................ 1. What your best flies are Buggy, "Could-be-Food" kind of flies such as a Carey Special or similar large soft hackle type fly.  Leech patterns.  Dragonfly nymphs are highly effective for us, too, along with many common nymph patterns (Pheasant Tail, Zug Bug, Hare's Ear, et al).  I love fishing colorful wet flies as well. 2. Any techniques you use when trolling? i.e do you drive in a S shape, do you weight your flies, do you combine with a bait such as a tasmanian devil!? I try to vary the speed of my rowing, and I usually have to work hard to SLOW down.  I will steer in an S shape and also make slow turns.  Often times it's the turns that produce strikes, and I always figured it's because the lifting or dropping (depending on the direction and position of my turn in relation to my line) of the fly that elicits a strike. I use weighted flies at times, but it's more important to me to select the proper line.  I will troll with a floating, a clear slow-sink intermediate, a sink-tip, or a full sinking line of various sink rates depending on the conditions.  That's the experimentation part.  Once you get it dialed in, the weather will change on you and push the fish to other depths anyway!  ;-) Before I started fishing the BC lakes, I never saw trolling a fly practiced on the lakes I frequented.  Indeed, I thought trolling was simply a 'Ford Fender' and worm kind of a deal.  The BC guys really brought me around on 'dragging the fly' techniques.  Now I actually enjoy this leisurely, but not ineffective, method while I'm waiting for that evening sedge hatch to take place where I can chase fish on top.  For lakes in my local area (western OR), I will resort to trolling a fly as well.  Since I fish when I can, and not when I necessarily would want to under optimal fishing conditions, I'll use whatever fly rod techniques will bring me a little action.  Non-purist?  OK, whatever. Cheers! Monte 3. Anything else that you would like to mention! This is a big thing on the Irish lakes and each year, before the duckfly (Chironomids) and after the early Olives (Mayflies) you will see most practicing it. Looking foward to hearing from you! Ronan.