Chances are if you are seeing them that clearly then you are fishing them when they are off the bite. Try camping up near the foundation hole (public camping alllowed) and fishing the heads and tails of holding pools at first light, we are talking start when daylight is still dim. Bubble a muddler around boulders for fish hoding in rapids, don't waste your time with the ones you see unless you are able to present from way upriver and swing something subtle like a black sparse spey fly with a purple butt without giving them the slightest hint that you are there, and be the first on that pool -or- stay until the last half hour of the day.
I have gotten daytime visible fish to strike, I was even able to hook a fish in front of my mom in mid-day once, but this is not likely and you should put your odds elsewhere if an honest attempt at this holding fish fails to solicit a strike.
Also try a larger river with a big holding pool and wait until at least 6pm, fish a dry line with a long leader and look for deeper pockets with boulders close to shore. Don't wade deep and let the fly swing over the inshore boulder pockets as light leaves the day.
You can get these holding fish to strike sometimes, mid-day with bizzare flies and all - but the odds are against you. Fish in snotty downpour rain, fish in the first and last hour of the day, and fish where steelhead are holding in fast water.
Hope this helps, it sure increased my odds!
I have gotten daytime visible fish to strike, I was even able to hook a fish in front of my mom in mid-day once, but this is not likely and you should put your odds elsewhere if an honest attempt at this holding fish fails to solicit a strike.
Also try a larger river with a big holding pool and wait until at least 6pm, fish a dry line with a long leader and look for deeper pockets with boulders close to shore. Don't wade deep and let the fly swing over the inshore boulder pockets as light leaves the day.
You can get these holding fish to strike sometimes, mid-day with bizzare flies and all - but the odds are against you. Fish in snotty downpour rain, fish in the first and last hour of the day, and fish where steelhead are holding in fast water.
Hope this helps, it sure increased my odds!