There is a fundamental principle of flyfishing that should never be overlooked.  It should never be forgotten or ignored.  Yet it is so simple, so elementary, that it seems to escape even the most experienced and seasoned fishing veterans on most occasions.

__________________________________

When someone has flyfishing success and no one else seems to be able to match it, the skeptic in us naturally suspects that he has some secret fish catching knowledge that no one else does.

__________________________________

I had an interesting experience on Strawberry Reservoir in central Utah that I'd like to tell you about. I have seen other large lakes exhibit the same condition and I think this episode might help you to catch trout under a very difficult situation if the lake near you is anything like Strawberry!

__________________________________

Flyfishing still water is quite a bit more puzzling than fishing a river or stream, in my opinion. It's a challenge to read the water as you might on an unfamiliar stream. You can't usually see very far down beneath the surface (especially if there's wind) and there are fewer visible signs or clues as to the water depth, where the fish might be concentrated, and what the trout are feeding on.

__________________________________

One of the ways I passed the dark evening hours on a recent flyfishing adventure in Alaska was to read a collection of true stories about fishermen and hunters that had been attacked and usually mauled by brown bears when they ventured into the Alaskan wilderness. The book was provided by my fishing guide who arranged my trip - and I'm sure was placed in my sleeping quarters as more of a joke to scare me out of my wits than anything else.