Stimulating striper's OTHER senses

1509 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by bill, Jun 20, 2001

Eroach

Discussion Starter · Jun 14, 2001

Looking for other angler's ideas on engaging a predatory fish's other senses to help it locate and strike flies.

So far (of course) my tying and fly selection has centered around sight (size, silhouette, shading, contrast, etc.) and how these factors interact with the conditions (light, water turbidity, bottom, current, etc.) and area I am fishing in. I am an extreme novice at this but I'm learning.

Recently I am remembering reading about spun deer hair heads and flies that "push" water so stripers can use their lateral lines to hone in on them. I remember reading something in Bondarew's "Stripers and Streamers" about Nickel vs. SS hooks and the effect a hook's magnetic field may have on enticing a predatory fish to strike. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Smell may be out (if you are a true SWFF angler), though this may be a lesson in what NOT to do (handling lines/flies after rubbing bug dope or sunscreen on yourself, etc.)

What about sound? How much does this overlap with the lateral line? Does anyone have any experience with pyrex rattles?

Does anyone use colorado or willowleaf spinners for flash and vibrations on a fly? I personally would draw the line at this one but I know Coyote designed one that is certified as a fly by the IGFA.

Finally, tactile stimulation. Anyone's thoughts about fly materials and how quikly one will be rejected based on its feel in the mouth of a predator. I am reading a lot about the "mush mouth" flies which made me think of this factor.

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Eric.

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juro

· #2 · Jun 14, 2001

Good topic! I know a lot of folks who swear by the rattles and they do catch fish. I have only barely experimented with them myself.

We know sound and impact is a big factor - just think about the last bass that exploded on your popper to prove that out.

On the topic of pushing water, I am a believer in the lateral line thing in fact I might have posted that myself on occasion, true or not they react to flies that push water when the retrieve is one of escaping prey. Capt.Todd Murphy is an expert in this BTW.

There is a general term we all know used to summarize motion oriented attraction... 'action'. It's key, even when the action is not to move the fly at all and let the water do the work.

May your stripers always be in Saturday night mode... out lookin' for a little action ;D

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juro

· #5 · Jun 18, 2001

I heard that pogie oil mats down the feathers and stinks up the flybox. }>

I am a self-proclaimed purist and damn proud of it! But not an FF elitist although I think a little playful snobbery (as long as it's playful and not serious) is parr for the course. I think the difference is that one puts limits on his own approaches (purist) and the other tries to put limits on or passes judgement on others (elitist).

In other words, I don't really buy $175 bottles of scotch for my flask but I wish I could. I do however sip good single malts ($40-50 2-3 times a year) and daydream of Spey fishing on the namesake river someday.

But wait- I use a lot of synthetic materials for saltwater striper flies, so I guess I am not a purist afterall in come circles. I use sinking lines half the time too, God forbid.

Perhaps my time (and I mean t-i-m-e) tying classic atlantic mixed wing full dress flies that go into shadow boxes and never get wet will counteract all the sin-thetic obession I hold for the briny atlantic? Maybe I am forgiven afterall.

Of course I am joking in all this - we are all free to fish the way we want where legal to do so, and should be compelled to do what's best for the fish and other creatures in the habitat regardless of the regulations.

I hope I am not coming across the wrong way to anyone but bait is just so damn easy and spin fishing doesn't give me the same satisfaction as gettin' em on a fly, especially one that I tied myself. I am perfectly happy with the process of catching them on a fly, and also perfectly happy with the results I am having, so why give myself less satisfaction in the few precious hours I get to practice this passion?

I guess it boils down to one question:

Why do you fish?

If the answer is "catch lots of fish" then bait is the way to go.

If the answer is "catch lots of fish effectively without the stink" spin is the way to go.

If the answer is "because I love to flyfish" (note lack of catching in that phrase) then I guess you (and I) are kinda sorta 'purists' too.

But what's in a name?

Tongue in cheek please, no offense meant and all that

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