Mending help???....

AC22 · Senior Member

Mending help???....

SCM · Senior Member

Have a look at this article:

http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/techniques/monahan_mending.aspx

-- Edited by SCM at 20:53, 2007-12-17

JT · Senior Member

You want to mend�when your flyline is causing your fly to move in�a manner contradictory to your liking.� If you are trying to achieve a dead drift, you may be mending every cast (sometimes more than once).� When nymphing, I cast upstream and immediately throw an upstream mend to help my flies sink faster.� The upstream mend prevents the current from pulling on the line, thus your�flies.� If your flies are upstream of�the bulk of your�flyline, you are most likely not getting a dead drift.� An indicator can help you find out if your�flies are drifting as they should.��Just watch for the little v-wake�coming from the indicator.��

AC22 · Senior Member

Thanks SCM that was a great article...easy to read and very helpfull

so JT if the indicator is creating a v-wake the fly is not at a dead drift?

-- Edited by AC22 at 21:32, 2007-12-17

SCM · Senior Member

You're welcome. I agree with the author of that article...mending is key skill, even more important than the false cast. Putah in particular, with its abundance of shrubbery and other assorted vegetation to hang your fly, is place where a good roll cast and mending skills are a must. One way I have been working to improve my mending skills is to fish a dry fly like a #14 EH Caddis or Stimulator with #18 nymph or midge dropper. The dry fly, unlike a yarn indicator, is much more sensitive to line movements so it forces you to focus on line control. If you can get a dry fly to drift correctly, you will have no problem controlling a nymph rig under an indicator.

-- Edited by SCM at 22:31, 2007-12-17

JT · Senior Member

That's right, AC22.� It gets a little more complicated than that, but that would be a good start.

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

Another thing to remember when mending you're line is in most cases you must mend and manipulate the line before the fact.I notice many people wait untill the line already has unwanted drag to make a mend and at that point its too late.You have to forsee and act before it happens,this takes time and expierience,practice practice practice!

AC22 · Senior Member

Alright well thanks for the advice I will definately try it next time im out on the water

cole · Senior Member

I can't sit this one out. After you cast you want to mend directly at or just upstream from the indicator. I think it's called a pile cast? It's a roll cast but with half the strength. Hopefully I'm not repeating the article, I didn't read it. One of my favorites though, and everyone should use this, is called a "reach cast". Basically as your line is unlooping in front of you punch your rod to the left or right which throws a perfect hook mend in your line whilst laying out gently like a friggin Rio line ad. No need to mend and less disturbance on the water.� It's easier at close range where only one or two normal mends would be needed.

-- Edited by cole at 17:42, 2007-12-19

AC22 · Senior Member

so on a pile cast just dont snap as forward much as on a roll cast?

shon42073 · Senior Member

all great advice, Bono hit it on the head, I never really thought about it that way. Mending has been something I have worked hard on lately, As I still consider myself a rookie flyfisherman. My biggest problem seems to be #1 causing to much of a disturbamce on the surface, I also have this problem at times when rollcasting,� #2 trying to cause minimal disturbance to my indicator when mending, I am sure that I am spooking fish alot of times when trying to mend, and sometimes when rollcasting. More practice ! I guess best thing to do is just accept the fact it's gonna take a lifetime to master this art called fly fishing.

brian clemens · Senior Member

here is a hint on mending, i saw this on the angler west show that i posted about, and ofcourse i tried it and it actually works. i am with captain on this as well, still a rookie at a lot of stuff, and it will take a life time to learn, but my mending is gettin better.

i used to run a short peices of mono maybe 8" or so with a precision loop at the end of it to switch out new and old leaders easy, and i have had problem moving the indicator when mending, well on the Ang West show they actually added about 4-5ft of mono from the fly line to the leader, and was mending without even moving the indicator on the trinity. well lets just say 4ft is way way to much line for putah, it did a great job for when i mended, didnt move the indicator one bit, but have you ever tried to roll cast 14ft of line with a 9ft rod, not the easiest thing to do, especially with trees and branches over your head. i have found out with trial and error and about 45 mins that 16-24 inches of mono (8-12lb regular mono) works great, the exta 8-16 inches really makes a big differece when mending and i personally am doing a lot better when it comes to movement to my indicator. the only time it moves now is when i am not paying attention and i miss a strike from a fish. any movement set the hook, and say FIIIISHHH OOONNNN!!!!

hope this helps some of you, i know it did me.

Nohackle · Senior Member

AC22, you've gotten a lot of good information.� To answer your question about when to mend,�there's a pretty simple test.� Watch your indicator and check to see that it is drifting at the same speed as the current (often there is a leaf or some debris floating by to compare it to).� If it is floating faster than the current you need(ed) a mend.� Also, watch the direction of the float.� If the indicator is not floating in the same direction as the current (usually it will move towards you), this is also a reason for�a mend.�