Not so Wet

“On the scale of open to closed this is more closed, you see the fish for about a second as it comes up, and then you have about a second, two max, to place the fly. Saucer accuracy is perfect, a dustbin lid should be enough. Instant reaction. Outside the dustbin well we have probably messed up. If the shot goes in as the fish is rising, or even if we are casting, usually the fish spooks.

But the key to doing this is to take fraction of a second to decide where to place the fly, set up your imaginary backcast target, ring the bell and deliver the fly.

Now we might say “that is very fast” and compared to most other fly fishing it is, but it’s also a deliberate shot and the more you do it the more time you have (I feel that time slows). So even though it happens quickly, the difference between successful and non successful anglers is planning the shot. So on the balance heading towards closed.

Choking can certainly happen here, there is huge pressure we put on ourselves and since we are planning there is the possibllity to overthink.

The second shot is freerisers. No babies to tell us where the fish may approximately rise, and it just “appears”. There are two shots here actually. One is where we see the fish come up. This one second of a submarine surfacing. We must stay still (usually). Fish breathes, turns down, shot goes in as before. Even here I think there is planning. Without it the fly goes wild, or lands behind the fish, or the cast just goes short. Key again is to visualise the shot and be deliberate.

The other freeriser shot is when we don’t see the fish, but instead hear the rise, and turn to see the fish descending. This is a now a reaction. Generally speaking this is harder technically, but choking rarely appears. So I would look at that as being more on the Open skills end? We can go for those shots, usually there are more fish in the territory and if we are not happy with the shot we don’t bloop the fly and will probably get another go. (If we bloop the fly that’s too slow or in the wrong place then we probably spook the fish).

I see them very much as different skills. I have many clients who can do one and not the other. Babies is likened to the pressure of a penalty kick. Freerisers, particularly if you don’t see them come up, is much more of a reaction.

And now I should get a FP up and go and do it.”

And in other news; Not So Wet…

We are getting a small amount of rain every day, but the long torrential downpours have yet to materialise, at least in this part of the country. The lake level is still low and still has about 6 metres to rise, for a normal season. I would be surprised if it doesn’t do this, so heavy rains are coming!

Soon I have a guest arriving from LA. I’m really looking forward to guiding and hanging on with David. He’s been one of my long term Zoom students and we have known each other for a few years now. He’s a very tidy caster nowadays and I always enjoy our Zoom meetings.

Last week I made the trip to KL with the intention of buying a new 12V fridge, since the old one decided it would like to become a freezer, and I’m sure David would prefer his beer cold and not frozen. The shop had discontinued selling them however, but had a shop sample that they sold me at half price! And what a fantastic fridge this is; quieter, proper insulation, easy to clean, has a lid for each compartment and is very much larger (more beer).

One of the problems I had in the past, was if we had three overcast days in a row, the fridge battery would run flat (I use solar on the boat). Now I don’t seem to have that problem, so that’s great. There you go: a lesson in buying quality vs cheap.

Last week I renewed my Malaysian VISA. Next year I’ll be eligible for Permanent Residence… if I learn to speak Malay!! So I’m learning a little of the language every day. Awak tidak ada lembu… you haven’t any cow. I learned this yesterday. The book is called Malay for everyone. I suppose this includes farmers.

Have a great week!

Gopal ada lima ekor lembu… Gopal has five cows.

Cheers, Paul