What do you do when your confidence fly doesn't work?

Josh

Josh

Dead in the water
Staff member
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Went fishing this morning at a spot I know very well and where I've caught fish hundreds of times. I could not get any love with anything that I normally threw. I'm talking stuff that has produced 90% of the fish I've caught there and it was getting no attention. I know the fish were there, they just weren't interested in what normally tempts them to strike.

So what do you do when your confidence fly (or heck, lure/plastic/etc) isn't working for you in a place where you know it usually ALWAYS works? Do you stick with what you know and just write it off as an unlucky day? Do you try to branch off to something new, but still stay similar (different color, size up/down, etc)? Or do you just start throwing weird stuff out there in the chance that what you need is something random you'd never normally consider?
 
It was a full moon today blame it on that, seems to make a difference with the fish not wanting to cooperate like normal.

When I ran into that situation it usually seems that if I know there are fish there, & they're being extremely selective, if I've tried everything that I think should work and it doesn't work I will move to another area to see if I can find some cooperative fish.
 
keep fishing that motherfucker!

PXL_20240530_022544159~2.jpg

Day in and day out, THIS type of thing just flat out gets it done!

All of that said, with much of my musky fishing, I tend to veer off and fish shit that I have more recently tied up...mostly to see how it swims (although, at this stage in my game, I've already got a pretty good idea). But when shit hits the fan, stuff like the above all black fly will always be on the end of my line.

🍻


btw, that full moon is your friend...don't let any of these other yahoos convince you otherwise.
 
The bite has to be really bad for me to go to something weird/experimental if it’s a fishery that I’m very familiar with. If I don’t have confidence in my fly its harder for me to relax and have fun. It puts me into a mindset that I’m wasting my energy. That’s why it’s fun sometimes to fish new water. Gives an excuse to try new things without expectations induced anxiety.
 
Jokes aside, this was less a serious request for help than it was "curious what the gang thinks" sort of discussion topic.

I'll admit, once I try my confidence stuff and maybe a slightly smaller/larger version, I tend to just start using rando stuff that I can never really convince myself to try when things are going well. I figure I can at least see how things cast/swim/etc. And who knows, perhaps I stumble on something that I've been missing out on because I'm so focused on the stuff that "usually works".
 
I just wait until later in the day. Doing that allows me to go into searcher mode in other areas of the water.

If that fails, I take a nap and dream about fishing...
 
I'd try the same fly in a smaller size. Also, in streams I usually fish dry flies. If nothing rose to a few drifts over a nice pool with the dry fly, I'd probably dredge the pool with a heavy nymph before moving on.
 
Don't care how long I've had it!!! Im going directly to the RETAIL FACILITY i got it at and YELLING AT THEM. Aggressively !! I will Aggressively Yell At the retail facility customer service as well as the customers!!! I will yell at everyone there. Till they provide me with something I can get RESULTS with!!

Im results o-riented!!!!!!
 
Re-tie the fly onto the line. Maybe change out the tippet.
 
My go to in those circumstances is go searching for reaction bites. Suggestive patterns fished at a brisk pace covering lots of water showing the fly to as many fish as possible. For a fly usually some suggestive pattern (soft hackles, streamers, etc.) fished with a rapid retrieve on a line to match where I think the fish maybe.

This approach is no longer a last resort option and often on unfamiliar this is where I will start.

Curt
 
Josh said:
Went fishing this morning at a spot I know very well and where I've caught fish hundreds of times. I could not get any love with anything that I normally threw. I'm talking stuff that has produced 90% of the fish I've caught there and it was getting no attention. I know the fish were there, they just weren't interested in what normally tempts them to strike.

So what do you do when your confidence fly (or heck, lure/plastic/etc) isn't working for you in a place where you know it usually ALWAYS works? Do you stick with what you know and just write it off as an unlucky day? Do you try to branch off to something new, but still stay similar (different color, size up/down, etc)? Or do you just start throwing weird stuff out there in the chance that what you need is something random you'd never normally consider?
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I assume someone got there before me and hooked the fish.

Another good assumption is that PGE and the confederate tribe of the Warm Springs nation screwed up the river :)

On the other hand, some days the fishing is just off.
 
in all honesty though, the tiger muskies don't really give enough feedback to really pattern positively or negatively with regard to actual fly pattern (which is usually last on my list anyway).
 
I usually chalk that up to these fish aren't eating now, move on, and come back later.
 
Smalma said:
My go to in those circumstances is go searching for reaction bites. Suggestive patterns fished at a brisk pace covering lots of water showing the fly to as many fish as possible. For a fly usually some suggestive pattern (soft hackles, streamers, etc.) fished with a rapid retrieve on a line to match where I think the fish maybe.

This approach is no longer a last resort option and often on unfamiliar this is where I will start.

Curt
Click to expand...
I agree with this approach. Change the presentation, usually a faster retrieve, or change the depth. I will also change flies, but that can be done to excess.
 
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