How To Out Fox Those Hit And Miss Fish by Daryn Smith Here is a little trick an Indian Guide taught me. This man is the best fisherman I have ever seen in my life. I am 43 and moved here from elsewhere. He is a bit older and has fished the local trout river since he was a boy. He knows what he is talking about. His advice has worked for me, and others that he has shared this with. We were talking about how 20 inch plus browns will swirl at a fly, and are never to be seen again. You can cast and cast and change fly after fly. If the fish touches the fly forget it, if it swirls and misses you have a chance. This is his trick. He explained that the fish was in that spot because it liked it there. It went after the fly, missed and will swim around looking for it. A big trout's force will sometimes stun a small baitfish. When the trout can't find it will eventually return to its original lie. He said if you see a big fish swirl and miss, stop and wait. (He said smoke a cigarette.) Don't move from your spot or your feet, just wait. I timed a cigarette about 15 minutes or so. By the time you dig one out light it and butt it. Smoking is not good and bothers the fish but if you smoke it helps relax you for your next cast. We walk the bank here. This would be tricky in a drift boat but I suppose it is the same thing as why guides row back and go through good holes again. After 15 or 20 minutes has passed cast the same fly again at the exact same spot. It has worked for me on a few occasions and several other fly fishermen here I have talked to. The fish doesn't know, it just thinks the baitfish; (your fly) is a feeding minnow. Big trout go after minnows all the time that find shelter on them. When a minnow is hungry it takes it chances. Chances are the fish saw you, it doesn't care as long as you don move to much. That will bother them. Just stay standing in the same spot. Look through your fly box, take in the scenery, have a smoke or a new plug of chew. It is hard to wait when you know a serious fish is in the area, you just saw it and it's like buck fever. What else are you going to do? You just saw a fish swirl and miss, where are you going to cast? Cast again and again, and hope for a strike. That fish was on the move so it will need a moment to adjust its self. Repeated anxious cast will put the fish down or cause it to move. If you miss a big fish and have fished on, in 15 minutes, which you could of waited. You will be tossing the would of should of could of ideas through your head. That's bad, as you are not concentrating and the next thing you know your line is all tangled or something. The fish gods are always watching, so are the buzzard luck goods. Give it a try the next time you see a trophy swirl and miss, it might make the difference between an almost and a landed fish. Big browns give me nightmares, when I miss them. Though I sleep like a baby when I have landed and released a big golden gator. Hatches Magazine Subscription Price: $6.95 for each issue The Premiere issue is ready for shipping & the Fall 2008 issue will be available September 1st.