Small still waters: Maximising your chances with pulling techniques.

Pulling flies on small Still-waters shouldn’t be a mindless technique, in this video I give some proven tips on maximising your chances on every cast .

[@drvaleriejuliebrousseau9607]

Thanks a mil for this video - this is the best explanation I have heard about the stripping part of fishing… I think we put a lot of effort on matching the hatch, proper casting and good surface presentation, but underwater presentation, swinging and stripping and forgotten… will definitely remember this instruction: makes so much sense!

[@petermitchell421]

A breath of fresh air for the fly angler, keep up the great little films I’m a fan. Love your presentation and clearly explained techniques. Engaging stuff!

[@stuartduke999]

Really useful stuff. Thank you Howard!😀👍🏆💥🐳🐳

[@waynedavies5569]

Hi Howard, Thanks for sharing your tactics relating to the way you approach Fly Fishing. Unfortunately, the majority of us “pleasure” Fly anglers have made the mistake of constantly casting and then figure of 8 ’ing it back …occasionally mixing it up to try and create some variation to induce a take ! When you listen carefully to your video, it makes total sense. Best regards, Wayne 😀👍

[@davidwillacy4796]

Absolutely great! This sort of advice is exactly what Joe Average fisherman (myself included) needs to seek out and absorb to have any sort of chance of improving. Thanks very much Howard. Cheers

[@howardcrostonflyfisher9227]

No worries. Many thanks Hc

[@paulatkinson4812]

This one of the most informative and thought provoking fly fishing videos I have watched. I have recently just re-started fly fishing again after seven years, having previously given it up due to my lack of success. Although my catch rate is still poor I am determined to keep on learning this time until I succeed. This video has contributed to transforming my thought process, specifically around the depth I'm fishing at, as opposed to trying to pick out the "magic" fly, but also actually thinking about what I am doing in terms of retrieving, rather than just going through the motions. Although this is about small water tactics I would also love to see more video tutorials from you on river tactics.

[@cgln8760]

Im glad it's not just me 😁

[@OnTheFlyNZ]

Awesome video, first season in the competition. Done fairly well on my river comps as I've always fished rivers but my pre comp lake experience was nearly nill so got schooled on the stillwaters. This helps a lot, thanks!

[@ajj4483]

Look forward to testing this excellent tip, thanks 👍

[@graymain]

Same here I'm a newbie . Great advice thanks alot . i will put that into practice next time i go to my local small water. ;)

[@johnpringle4759]

Great bit of advice increases your chances

[@martenskagert7428]

This was exactly what I needed. I wIll practis this next time by the lake! Tanks!

[@samburgio8825]

Awesome info. It would be great if you can make the same type of video pertaining to the french/spanish leader type of fishing. Tips to increase your odds while nymphing.

[@misterjohntmaguire]

Thanks very much Howard. That info is gold dust! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@martinicarbine]

Superb Common Sense and insight here.

[@ianrobertson9744]

Hi Howard really good info been following your blogs used too fish Stillwater when I started fly fishing but got into rivers so only fished Stillwater so when rivers out of order, but my age has caught up and I have to start again on Stillwater this info in your blogs is so useful and really helpful thanks a lot. Regards Ian fro Mersey side.

[@keithykeith7971]

Lovely video, thanks for the pointers

[@pauldalby8549]

Good advice ... sounds more like fishing as well 👍

[@michaelmackie9434]

Very informative videos alot to put into practice once lockdown over👍

[@TradLimePlastering]

Really good content, I'm definitely going to practice these techniques. Thanks for posting this video Howard.

[@mikejames663]

Howards, excellent and clear information, subscribed.

[@SimonC194KFF]

Great advice as always.

[@thehomelessrat]

Fantastic video thank you.

[@erikkarlsson5727]

Great video👍👍

[@mrintresting256]

Brilliant advice…..I knew there was something I was missing….the thought of all those missed chances per cast will haunt me and maybe make me slightly more focused on what I’m supposed to be doing. Any advice on buzzer fishing and retrieving?

[@barrygrey5119]

Great advice!

[@Sanemancured]

This is great information. I watched your video at Chatton and it was also superb. I'm a raw beginner and I'm not sure how to increase depth.Using a short 5' Polyleader with a long fleuro tippet? Mowing to intermediate line? I'm presently focussing on casting. I'm not ready for fly sets or an indicator methinks.

[@shannonyork5300]

Howard, Enjoyed your newest video on Sportfish this morning. Thank you. The Comments section was closed, so not sure how to ask my questions, other than here! For your line marking system: 1. Do you use anything special? Just a waterproof black marker, or something else? 2. How far back (from the fly end of the fly line) do you typically go with the markers? 3. The black marks appear to be about 1' long---is that about right? 4. For fly lines that are darker, and thus for which a black marker may not be as visible due to less contrast, do you use any other colors? Thank you. Cheers,

[@howardcrostonflyfisher9227]

Hi Shannon 1 Just a waterproof marker 2. Probably about 3rd of the line but can vary 3. They are probably 8 - 12” long 4. I only mark up light coloured floating / tip lines . Hope that helps . Hc

[@shannonyork5300]

@@howardcrostonflyfisher9227 Howard, Got it. Thank you. Cheers

[@shannonyork5300]

Howard, Hope you've had a fine Summer. Off-topic, but I would greatly appreciate your opinion: Do you prefer a comp-legal para-drogue to have a hole in the center or not? Thanks.

[@michaelglover9354]

I think I have learned more off watching this video than I have on any of the others Iv seen - thank you! (could that be a Wigan accent by the way sounds like your from gods country?)😊

[@JH-mn3zj]

Howard - are you planning to write any book on Stillwater or river?

[@oscarbarreiro4266]

Thanks¡¡

[@barrygrey5119]

When using sink tip or intermediate fly lines do you use tapered leaders for pulling lures and nymphs on still waters.

[@howardcrostonflyfisher9227]

Generally not a true tapered leader - I have a short (2ft) section of fairly heavy mono ending in a tippet ring that helps with turnover and reduces the sudden diameter change .

[@barrygrey5119]

@@howardcrostonflyfisher9227 👍👍

[@michaelmckenna14]

Hey Howard, do u have any tips for early season nymphing on rivers ? This is my first season on it so early and my usual spots seem void of any brownies.

[@howardcrostonflyfisher9227]

The fish in the first couple months are typically not holding in the “normal” summer lies - that’s often driven by a combination of water temp & insect activity, I generally find more fish “ further back” in the pools in slightly more moderately paced water .

[@michaelmckenna14]

@@howardcrostonflyfisher9227 awesome I will try that cheers, been struggling to catch my first of the season so will look at the slower maybe shallower areas as I'd assume shallow water heats up quicker than the moderate to deep water.

[@davidstocker5736]

Nothing wrong with 'fishing' behind the stocking wagon? Really? Only if you don't call it fishing...

[@howardcrostonflyfisher9227]

Each to there own - although anyone fishing a normal commercial small water is effectively fishing behind a stocking wagon. Only thing that ever rankles me is when anglers intentionally target fisheries the day or two after stocking and bolt for known stocking points and down tools for the duration. Worse still is when it gets “dressed” as being a “good” angler . Everyone goes through it at some point - unfortunately not everyone comes out the other side 😂.

[@crystalfa3763]

Hello, How can we contact you? We have some fishing products and want to cooperate with you.