Spot and Stalk Sight Fishing
One of the pure joys in fly fishing is sight fishing. Whether you're after trout, bonefish, tarpon, bass or any other fish it always gives you an advantage when you see them first. It's also usually much more fun.
When sight fishing here are a few things to always remember:
1. Get as high above the fish as you can for the best view. This can be up on a bank or side hill or in the high seat on a boat or even just a few inches higher on a rock. This gives you a better angle for seeing through surface glare and minimizes refractive effects that might make you miss on the cast. Remember, however, to stay far enough away or behind cover to avoid detection and approach fish from behind when possible and keep your shadow off the water.
2. Use the right gear. This means polarized glasses that are appropriate for the kind of water you're fishing. Certain lens shades are better for certain water types.
3. Know your fish and what to look for. Practice looking for fish and you'll get much better at it. Fish are made to blend in to their environment so often you'll just see subtle things like their shadow on the bottom, a slight movement, a subtle color difference or the whites of their mouths as they breathe. Doing these few things should help you see and catch more fish and add to your fishing fun.