How to Fish: Setting Up Your Fly Rod | GoFishBC

[@susanscovill6817]

I met Brian Chan at a meet up and talk put on by Sea Run Fly Fishing in Coquitlam @15 years or so ago. He had a new book out that I bought and he autographed it for me. I learned so much about chironomids and matching the hatch. He’s so interesting to listen to speak. Thank you Brian. Cheers from Vancouver eh!

[@adrianperez4770]

Un Lujo este Caballero!!! Cuanto para Aprender!!!

[@AdamCraigOutdoors]

i like the idea of adding the small swivel on the end of the leader. Help with twist but also able to tie the tippet on to it as well. Thanks guys!

[@tedcyril]

On your sinking line set up do you add a indicator also.? I will be trolling. Can I use a sinking line for Croni fishing? Or does it have to be a floating line?

[@randybailey4349]

Thanks Brian.. Great info..

[@wn9742]

Hi Brian, first off great video! Question regarding your leader and tippet. Are you using a tapered leader in this video? If so did you cut down any of the end of the tapered leader or did you simply attach the swivel to the end of the leader and then add the 18-24 inches of tippet? I’ve seen another video where they cut down the tapered leader when it essentially becomes the same thickness as the tippet and they then attached a swivel or a tippet ring and then tippet to get the length they desired.

[@springteen3743]

Thank you very much I will try 🚣🏼‍♂️

[@604axeman]

Is it important to have the peg of the indicator at the top toward the rod?

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: when using the quick release indicators the peg can be put in from the top or bottom. I prefer to peg from the bottom for two reasons : lessens the chances of catching the leader on the peg when casting and second, with the peg on the down side if you break off a fish the peg and indicator will slide down to your swivel ( which you should be using when hanging any pattern under an indicator) and you won’t lose the peg or indicator.

[@sbitschy]

First off, I love all the freshwater fisheries society of BC videos! Well done. Second, I am curious about using a little rubber bobber stop so you don't have to measure out the line every time you get a strike. Does anyone know of any cons to doing this?

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: I use slip float style indicators when fishing water over about 18 ft in depth. The trick is to find indicators with small diameter holes so a bobber stopper will not pass through it. There are several indicators out there that work for a slip float presentation. It works great and so much easier to cast.

[@BallaKING247]

Thanks for the info. Does the leader and tippet size depend on the fly being used or can most chironomids be fished with one sized leader? Also can my leader and added tippet material be different sizes or should they always match? Thank you

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: Generally when chironomid fishing the patterns are small so we typically fish 4X (6-7 lb) for flies in sizes 8, 10 or 12 or 5X (5 lb) tippet to smaller (14, 16, 18) sized flies. You can add more tippet to your leader to lengthen the overall leader length by adding more of the same sized or diameter tippet or go one size smaller ie. Attach 5X tippet to the end of a 4X leader. Use a Triple Surgeons knot to make the connection between leader and tippet.

[@townieoutdoors8121]

How necessary is the swivel ? Can you just use a split shot ? Or just indicator and fly ?

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: The swivel serves several purposes. First it adds weight to help get your fly down quicker when suspended under the indicator. Second it reduces any twisting of the leader or tipper material from the swivel down to the fly. I like to have the swivel 18 to 24 inches above the fly. You can use bigger or smaller swivels depending on the depth you are suspending and the chop on the water. Adding a bigger swivel helps reduce the bouncing motion on a chironomid when it is windy and increased wave action. You can use split shot as well but pinching the leader or tippet can cause it to weaken. I find using improved clinch knots on either end of the swivel to be a very strong knot.

[@springteen3743]

Can you use a small size 18 nymph with that size indicator?

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: you can use as large an indicator as you want but for bite detection it is best to use the smallest one that you can still easily see. So a ½ inch dia indicator would be fine for suspending an 18 nymph such as a mayfly nymph or chironomid pupae.

[@MapleGoodness]

What type of leader do you use for a full sinking line? I've gotten mixed advice... some say use the same type of tapered leader as you would for a floating line, others say to use a tapered leader, but shorter (like maybe 4 feet long), and yet others say they just use a short straight piece of mono or fluorocarbon.

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: I use 9 ft long tapered leaders ending in 4X and then add more tippet to get the leader length I want. I’ll use a 12 to 14 ft long leader when using clear camo intermediate sinking lines and fishing shallow clear water for instance. However, fishing type 6 or 7 full sinkers and casting boobies or dragonfly nymphs I will use a 4-5 ft leader made out of a butt section of 10# followed up with a piece of 8 lb for a total length of 4-5 ft. You do not want a long leader when fishing these types of flies as the longer leader puts the fly to far away from the very fast sinking line and changes the movement and tracking of the fly.

[@MapleGoodness]

@@gofishbc Thanks!

[@FlyRiderFishing]

what's the name of the self releasing indicator you use? thanks!

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: Those are called quick release indicators and they are available through most fly shops

[@johncurran5306]

Hey, great video. I'm currently looking to purchase a new 7# fly rod for lochs and resivours. Though I'm not sure if i should buy a 9ft, 9'6ft or a 10ft rod. Any suggestions? And greetings from Scotland.

[@gofishbc]

From Brian: Nice to hear from a fellow fly fisher from Scotland. I suspect you will be doing some drift fishing ie. Droque fishing and also using multiple or teams of flies so I would highly suggest looking at a 10 ft rod. The longer length will make it easier to handle teams of flies as well as doing the hang technique at the end of your retrieve. 10 ft rods come in all the popular line weights but I would be considering a 6 or 7 weight for your waters.