Buzzers and FABs - Spring Washing line tactics explained

A short afternoon session on Chigboro's Home water . Targeting buzzer feeding fish in early spring with washing line tactics .
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[@stevewellings201]

Another great video Tim. Can't beat those Buzzer takes, had a big smile on my face watching the line peel away. Great stuff!

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Its good for the soul isnt it ! Easily the best sport of the year ! Thanks for watching mate

[@lonewizzard8456]

Pure genius, thank you for your knowledge and detailed instructions. I'm 'bunged' out. Time to learn new and more effective techniques.

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

As much as I love the bung and we cant deny how effective it is on small waters , there are so many other methods out there that are just as deadly . Im glad your enjoying the vids . Thanks for watching .

[@MrLobstermash]

On straight line techniques vs the bung, do you have any tips for fishing cross winds? A lot of places I fish don't have much bank access where the predominant wind blow onto or from. It's not so bad fishing a bung and mending the drift, or using a sinking line with buoyant flies, but I'm new to stillwater and really struggling for confidence with straight line techniques, especially the washing line where I haven't a clue where the flies are sitting!

[@martinstevens2925]

Well Tim you given me food for thought 💭 this weekend can’t wait to try it out 👍👍✊

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

It really is a deadly method !

[@Steviemac05]

Good to see you back mate . Cracking video for people wanting to fish this time of the year. 👍

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Thanks for watching . I think this is some of the best sport of the season as everything wakes up from its winter slumber !

[@Steviemac05]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Agree completely . Once there totally hammering the buzzers nothing beats it . 👍

[@jessedavis3123]

Great video! Cheers from the US…. Started fishing Stillwater’s here and has been a major adjustment from the rivers. Learning the Washing line technique has been fun!

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Glad you have found the vids useful . I think the washing line is probably the most controlled way to fish small nymphs . Its certainly a staple of our fishing in the UK through the season

[@philippendlebury4518]

Cheers Tim. Lovely video as usual. I'm from up north and last time I was fishing my mate said to me "why are you talking like you've just come out of "TOWIE". I told him "it that bloke Tim Joyce's fault - he can't stop catching fish and I'm trying to copy him" 😂😂😂

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

😂🤣😂 I will make Essex lads of you all yet ! lol ... Cheers for watching ..

[@philippendlebury4518]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Cheers mate. Great videos. Top man.

[@ibelieve1468]

Great thanks and good length of footage.

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Thanks , I am glad you enjoyed it .

[@markjones4031]

Great tim. Tight lines 👍

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

And to you mate . Thanks for watching

[@robjoyce2395]

FAB video Tim!

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Thanks Rob

[@neilandrew961]

Good video sir you're right about wind people very rarely go to bank were its blowing into went to a fishery never fished before other day and a few fish then fished bank that wind was blowing into no body else there not easy casting but worth it had quite a few when most people were struggling

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Excellent , thinking outside of the box usually pays ! Thanks for watching .

[@wvlongshooter3912]

I really enjoy your videos!!! I’ve used your advice and gotten better at Stillwater fishing. Here in the state of West Virginia, we have a lot of creeks with wild reproducing trout but are lacking lakes that have trout. The lakes are stocked by the state in the fall winter and spring. I’m waiting on the stockings right now. I love the washing line but I always seem to catch more on the bung. I feel like I’m missing something here. Our lakes are very shallow and it just seems like I can catch more trout using a bobber or bung. I do catch them on the washing line. If I could just get you to visit over here, I could get your assessment on what I’m doing wrong, lol. Thanks for the video!!!

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

You send me the plane ticket and im there ! lol .... Thanks for watching .

[@haydenhincee3974]

An amazing video like always

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Thanks for watching I love spring time fishing !

[@markcleaver4668]

Nice to see you still pulling them out mate

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

How have you been mate ? Good to hear from you ! Still in the area ? Ever getting over to Chiggers ?

[@markcleaver4668]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Hey mate. Doing really well thanks. Getting married next Thursday. I'm actually fishing chigboro on Friday. Probably have an early start and see how it goes .

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

@@markcleaver4668 Congratulations mate . Its been fishing great on both lakes as im sure you know . Im not due there Friday but be good to have a catch up some time .

[@markcleaver4668]

​@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 would love to catch up at some point mate. Just a little question. Do you tie flies for customers or just for yourself?

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

@@markcleaver4668 Yes mate I do tie to order for clients and friends .. What are you after ?

[@Johnnyalexwales]

A St Patricks day post, disappointed you arent wearing something (more) green :D Great video. Looking forward to getting out on home water this sunday!

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Ha ha , my leprechaun hat blew off in the wind ! Probably see you there Sunday mate .

[@Johnnyalexwales]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Ive gone mad buying flies this week - I am coming with a suitcase

[@jameswilson6717]

Great video Tim and a deadly technic also,I always try to fish into the wind when things get quiet the way I see it is the wind brings the food with the current and food means fish.All the best pal 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Yea I have to admit I do love fishing into a warm wind when I have the option , for all the reasons you point out ! Thanks for watching .

[@dazz6117]

brilliant video tim cant wait to try this place out in may looks gr8 hopefully it aint as chilly lol suprised u had that full bank to ur self normally wen some 1 catches every1 comes to that side 😂 also loving ur new waders m8👌starting to think u have a wychwood tattoo 🤣 lol

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Some folks just arnt that observant , and to be fair Chigboro is not what you call a Peggy water , both lakes fish well all over .

[@allancunningham6019]

Quality tactics thanks 😊

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Thanks for watching

[@nicke6394]

Great video 👍

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Thanks 👍

[@alandavidson4725]

Two thumbs up mate, you’ve inspired me to use this tactic next time instead of 2 cormorants 6ft apart. Just need to avoid those tangles. You are making all this look far to easy. Keep up the great work👍

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Im glad you found it useful . Keep your droppers short , the leader balanced and don't try and cast to far and you will be absolutely fine ! Thanks for watching .

[@alandavidson4725]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Thanks Tim, will keep this in mind for my day out tomorrow.😃👍

[@imeach2897]

Nice video Those bikes would do my head in on a quiet days fishing though, and I like bikes but not if I was fishing

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Terrible timing wasn't it ! Some youth on a buzz about and had to pick that moment to come up the lane and ruin a nice quiet day lol ! Thanks for watching

[@lewisgraydonflyfishing5575]

How do you make it look so simple haha, love the vids mate keep em coming 👍🎣

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

It helps that its my day job lol .. that and 30 years obsessive fishing at every opportunity ! Thanks for watching mate

[@lewisgraydonflyfishing5575]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 best job on earth pal, hope you have a great season 👍

[@stephenasbridge878]

Does anyone out there remember the trout lakes at Great Chesterford? That’s where I learnt to fish the fly back in the early 80’s. Massive pike in there, too.

[@jamesnichols8893]

thank you again for another great video. i am new to your channel and I am trying to catch up on your instruction so I can be more effective in Upstate New York’s Adirondack Pond do you have tying instructions for the FAB?

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiXZ4OMmKt6frc

[@davidbrowne2536]

Brilliant Tim as always. The lake I fish allows only 1 fly, no droppers. What do you recommend? I use your draw and sink method and sometimes the bung - any other thoughts? Thank you!

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Single fly really narrows things down and the above two are probably your best . We are now coming into dry fly season on small waters and a single small dry on a 10ft fluro leader can be deadly , especially small emerger CDC or tophats in 14s or 16s

[@davidbrowne2536]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Cheers Tim! Sadly I don't make the rules, just follow them but glad to hear I am not missing any tricks! Keep up the great videos - it is you taught me to buzzer fish and saved me many a blank!

[@nicke6394]

Great video 👏👏👌👍. Could you do a video on casting into wind and how to get a good turnover please 🙏

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

I did do a joint vid last year explaining and demonstrating casting techniques with Leigh Pond , you will find it on his channel . But yes I will try and put another one together on here soon . Tha ks for watching

[@simonpeters3499]

That famous Last, Last....and usually Last Cast....Oh and just one more! Great video again Tim. Sorry but Newbie questions: What sort of depth was the water in front and why would you use a floater over an intermediate on a washing line ? ?

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

I was fishing in no more than about8ft of water . The reason you use a floater is because it offers the best control over the flies allowing the slow rise and fall of the flies through the depths . With an intermediate the line is always sinking and pulling the flies through the depths too quickly . Where there is the option I will always select a floater over any other line no matter the depth of water I am fishing over . Thanks for watching and yes I had about another 10 last casts ! lol

[@brianr9529]

Hi Tim, great video as always. I'm going to get some casting lessons to help with casting into the wind, should help with the blanks. 1 question for you if that's okay my friend I have the excellent hoverer line, can you use the same tactics on that or can you only do it using a floater or midge tip thankyou, I'm still a novice.

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

For this particular method the floater is the best because you need to be able to see the line to detect the takes . The washing line however can be used with any line you like . But with a sinking line , even a slow sink then depth control becomes a lot more difficult as you have to factor in the sink rate of the line . So from the bank a floater every time , from a boat then the midge tip is also good as the running line floats and you can see the takes . Thanks for watching .

[@brianr9529]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 thanks very much for that and obviously you can't sink and draw with the sinking line.

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

@@brianr9529 exactly . Floating lines offer the best control over your cast . I think I do 95% of my flyfishing on a small water with just a floating line , resorting to an intermediate in only the worst conditions .

[@brianr9529]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 maybe for use when it gets really warm and the fish go down. Thanks very much.

[@erikkarlsson5727]

Brilliant video! Since you stand on the muddy bank, do you find the lines get any muddy or wear out faster? I usually lay a wet towel or have an casting pad. 😄

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Evening mate . No it makes no difference to the longevity of the line , gravel or concrete can be a real pain but the mud washes off very easily . I just submerge the reel at the end of the session and wind the line in under the water . These lines take some real punishment over the seasons with all the tuition I do and they hold up very well . Thanks for watching .

[@lisapurvis4053]

Great video Tim, I'm returning to fly fishing after a few years off and keen to learn the washing line and straight line methods, these vids are a great help. When i got my old gear out I have a braided tapered leader attached, around 5 foot long, are these a good idea or shall I scrap them off and tie the fluorocarbon direct to the fly line? Cheers

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Great , im glad you are finding them useful . Just go for fluro straight through , there's no need for the taper . Turnover is achieved by the rod and line when fishing like this , tapered leaders are designed for close work where little to know fly line is aerialsed like small rivers etc , also when using very large lures when fishing for predators .

[@janphillips1093]

Enjoyed the outing! How long are the droppers off the leader 8” - , is it equally effective to tie commorants not on the drop but in line ?

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

6 inches is plenty , dont want to make them too long or you will get tangles . Using droppers allows free movement of the flies , cormorants are a great pattern when the fish are on buzzers and I would happily fish a team of them but I would keep the leader construction exactly the same . Thanks for watching

[@davebento1548]

Just wondering what line you use for the droppers off the 8lb flurocarbon leader ?

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Same material as the leader , same strength .. Mixing diameters will result in week knots .. No benefit in mixing it all up

[@BrianGartland-l3k]

What kind of net and pole is that your using

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

This is they Wychwood boatman handle and net .

[@derickhannant6947]

Hi Tim, enjoying your latest video. Again very informative, I wanted to ask you what length dropper do you use. I do get tangles when fishing so perhaps I’m tying the dropper too long at about 10 inches. Tight lines, Derick.

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Tha ks for watching . Yes definitely sounds like that’s your problem . Maximum length 6 inches . And even shorter . There is no Benefit in using long droppers it doesn’t improve presentation and is definitely the reason you are getting so many tangles . Also don’t forget to open your cast up , tight loops can cause problems when using multiple flys . Glad you enjoyed the vid .

[@derickhannant6947]

Thanks Tim, I’ll adjust my dropper length as advised. Tight lines. Derick.

[@marklangman2875]

Great video Tim, that last fish do you think it knocked the fab then took the buzzer as the take was quite gentle for a buzzer?

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

It was a steady decent take , but because of the knock before I assumed it had hit the FAB lol .. what do I know eh ! lol

[@matthewlowery8704]

Great video Tim (as ever). I've been thinking about using a strip strike for those more gentle takes on FABS so was interested in your use for takes at distance. What is the rationale for using a strip strike at distance? Cheers

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Hello mate , great question . If you lift the rod to strike at range you are usually just lifting the belly of the floating line this has no hooking power because of the slack line and the flex in the rod . If you strip strike at range , while keeping the rod tip low as in my videos you put yourself in immediate contact with the fish and stand a better chance of setting the hook . The bonus with this method particularly on flies like FABs if the fish hasn't taken the fly properly you have only pulled it away from the fish by a couple of feet and you are very likely to get a second or third take ! .. By lifting to strike if you miss the fish you have pulled the fly 20feet away and are very unlikely to get a second hit ! .... It really does make a huge difference to your catch ratio over the season . Thanks for watching .

[@matthewlowery8704]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Thanks Tim, that makes a lots of sense. Tight Lines. Cheers

[@matthewlowery8704]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 Sorry this has got me thinking , does the same apply for dry fly strikes at distance or are the angles wrong???

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

@@matthewlowery8704 No mate , always an upwards strike with the dries . And for this reason its best not to fish them at range , keep them short and sweet .

[@matthewlowery8704]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 cheers Tim, thought that was the case

[@brianreed1451]

sadly i am only permitted to use one dry or nymph. could i use a fab on its own. never seen one cheers

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Yep a single FAB can be devastating !

[@davienicol1141]

Got 7 last week on egg pattern casting into wind it was hard going though

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Excellent . Yep not easy but the rewards are worth it ! Thanks for watching .

[@markdavies1006]

Newbie question, does the fab on the point stay on the surface or sink slowly?

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

It sinks slowly so as to control the sink rate of the buzzers . Thanks for watching

[@markdavies1006]

Thanks for reply, learning a lot from your vids👌

[@keithmarshall8478]

Do the buzzers make the fab sink

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

They definitely do . The FAB would sink just with the weight of the flurocarbon leader . I use the FAB to slow the descent of the buzzers and keep everything in the taking zone as long as possible, the trout love this slow sink and rise of a buzzer pattern . I tie my FABs easy on the foam , this fly is meant to sink very slowly not float like some shop bought FABs tied with big cylinders on foam . If you want a floating fly use a booby but the buzzers will pull this down too . Thanks for watching .

[@keithmarshall8478]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 do you tie flies to sell

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

@@keithmarshall8478 When I have the time yes mate . Message me through the website and we can have a chat www.flyfishing-essex.com

[@martyjohn100]

4 trips to my local lake & not a touch, everyone else catching like mad. Very close to thrashing gear

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

Simple question , have you asked the other anglers what they are doing ?

[@martyjohn100]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 they wouldn’t tell you in a fit

[@martyjohn100]

It doesn’t matter now my 4 piece rod is now 44+piece burnt buzzers & rest of flies

[@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769]

@@martyjohn100 That's a real let down mate . There's no need for the secret squirrel crap ! I have usually found the fly fishing fraternity to be pretty good about sharing but I do know that certain small waters are very very close shop . There's absolutely no excuse for that kind of un helpful unfriendly behaviour !

[@martyjohn100]

@@timjoyceflyfishing-essex6769 I was watching your brill videos over & over last night so I was full of hope in applying your tips.. no to be Perhaps I should do some videos on how not to do it …being a fishing prick and all

[@michaelshaw8370]

One of unwritten rules that separates a successful angler from the the guy who is just giving his fly collection a swim. It is never about what is easier or more comfortable for the angler. It is always what is the best for the fish. When that fish is not pressured and feels safe inside it’s surroundings. Then you have others wondering why you are enjoying good results and they are not. Read the water understand the conditions work out and crack the ever changing code. That extra effort is the difference. Not the kit or a magic fly.