By Lindsay Simpson
With Rutland usually stocked to the gunnels with trout and no secret areas around the spring match is really an open competition. In the last few years since the implementation of fishing an experienced angler with a novice many anglers come of the water early with big smiles and bags of fish and a healthy time bonus.
So what must I do to improve my chances of winning the Bob Elliot memorial shield?
The rule of thumb this time of year is lures fished slow as the trout are not as active in the cold water. In recent years I have noticed that the fish seem to be getting higher in the water every year, five years ago you would be using a DI7 counting it down anywhere between 15-20 seconds. I recall fishing one year with Karl Weaver in unbelievably cold conditions my hands were like watermelons with bratty fingers, they took a week to go back to normal. Last year on the practice day I fished in just a shirt, there is something in that global warming.
How does this affect the way I am going to fish?
This makes a great deal of difference to the way you are going to fish if the fish are higher in the water you don’t want to be fishing under them. This does not mean that you can leave your DI7 at home it means that you should try retrieving it straight away. With the water temperatures getting warmer each year the fish are more inclined to chase. Try a 15ft leader with a pink blob on the top dropper about 5ft from the fly line and then a black blob 10ft from that. This is an easy set-up to handle in a strong wind. Cast as far as you can and start to retrieve using steady pulls. If you have your fly line marked always stop and count to five this often induces a following fish to take. When you have finished your retrieve do not recast hang your flies in the water, if you can see the pink blob you can use it as an indicator. When the fly is hanging in the water if it does anything out of the ordinary you should strike more often than not a fish will be on the black blob. Sometimes if you are wearing a good pair of Polaroid glasses you can see fish chasing the top dropper on occasion the fish will turn away but remember to hang it may turn and take your other fly.
What if that does not work?
There are many different things that you could try I will try and mention a few here; The DI7 and a single booby are a lethal combination at any time of the year but in the spring with so many fish around you cant fail. If you are lacking in experience and cant master the subtle takes tie a booby onto 10ft of nylon again cast as far as you can with your DI7 and instead of a long steady pull mix it up a bit quick quick slow slow figure of 8, you won’t have to worry about missing the take these are usually like somebody pulling on your jacket sleeve. If you fancy something a bit more leisurely then the bung is worth a bash conditions need to be right though a nice ripple and a few buzzer hatches coming off. I have heard of some anglers who fish blobs under a bung each to their own. Some of the more experienced anglers nearly always fish with four flies now if you have not done this before, the day of a match is not the time to try it. If the fish are finicky four flies can be very effective you can fish two lures with two nymphs in the middle, if they don’t want lures then your options are covered with the nymphs.
Should I go for the quick limit and the time bonus or seek out the quality fish?
That’s the $64,000 question last year we fished to a 2lb an hour time bonus. I don’t care how good the quality of the fish you’re catching are if someone bags in an hour 14lb is a hell of a head start. This year however we will be fishing for 1lb an hour so the time bonus may not play as big a part as it has in recent years. This may encourage some anglers to seek out better quality fish. You must make the choice for yourself yer throw the dice yer take yer chance.
Do I really have a chance of winning?
I think if you are completely new to fly fishing but are prepared to take advice from experienced anglers that offer it the spring match above all others can be won by anyone and even more so now the time bonus has been brought down to 1lb an hour. All you need is a bit of luck if you can pick up fish in the 2-3lb brand and have a decent time bonus on both days you could win the spring match.
I don’t like using heavy sink lines what can I do?
Get some golf clubs this game is not for you .