- Tip #71: Fly Fishing for Trout - Revive before Releasing
Before you release the trout you need to make sure that it is completely revived beforehand. If the fish has been exhausted it may turn over upside down or roll onto its side. Larger trout will take more time to revive while small fish usually require no reviving at all.
If you need to revive a fish make sure that you hold it so that it is upright. Try to find a flow of water that is quite gentle, just enough so that you can get its gills working and so that it can gain oxygen back from the water. As the fish starts to revive its gills will start to work more and more until it can stay upright in the water. The goal is to allow the trout to swim away without your help.
- Tip #60: Fly Fishing for Salmon - Choose Low-Light Days - Cool Water
Salmon like days that have a low-light or cloud cover. On days that are sunny and bright you'll most likely find salmon congregating away from the brightness in deep holes. It's those cloudy days that will make the salmon more accessible to you.
Water temperature, and knowing what it is, can play a big role in the success or failure of salmon fishing. You'll want to invest in a good thermometer so that you can keep track of water temperatures throughout the day. Make sure that you place the thermometer in the same place each time to a depth of anywhere from six inches to three feet below the surface.
Keep a notebook with a record of water temperatures, being sure to update whenever you can. After a few years of recording water temperature in your favorite fishing spot you'll have a good idea of which patterns are occurring.
Salmon do much better in cooler water. When water temperatures start to rise, salmon go deeper. This is because there is more oxygen in cooler water and salmon need this oxygen to survive. Salmon will be more active in cooler water than warm water so they will be a little more difficult to catch as they fight harder to escape. You'll want to find a happy medium in water temperature so that the fish aren't too active but nor are they too hot. Understanding the water temperature of the water that your fishing can play a big part in knowing what type of rod, reel, and line to use as well as what type of lures and baits you should be using.
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