Strategies for Selective Trout with Doug Swisher August 25, 2021 – Posted in: Films, Instruction – Tags: , , , , , ,

The three Mastery Series videos from Doug Swisher form a great foundation for anyone who wants to learn fly casting and then become a better trout fisherman.  Released in 1986, Basic Fly Casting, Strategies for Selective Trout, and Advanced Strategies for Selective Trout, each showcase Swisher’s extensive fly-fishing knowledge and instructional ability.  All were filmed with the best equipment available at the time.  Considering the advancements that have been made, the camera work is amazingly good considering it was done 35 years ago.  The content is clear and understandable.  All three are still exceptional learning tools.

Basic Fly Casting (https://youtu.be/Mvz7tncY3TI) highlights Swisher’s method of casting which was noticeably different than other instructors of the day.  He states early in the tape that, “it is different than tournament-style casting”, which was the casting technique that had been traditionally taught.  Swisher also states that his approach to casting is focused on fishing.

The difference we notice from the start is Swisher’s application of the “microsecond wrist”, where he highlights the wrist being a critical component to the cast.  Most previous instruction had told the beginner that minimal or no wrist was used in casting, so this statement was quite radical for the time.  Even today, this thinking still exists.  But as we see, Swisher’s method is much more adaptable to the ever-changing conditions found when actually fishing.  

He also calls this the “educated wrist” where a quick wrist snap at the end of each power stroke gives a straight, smooth transfer of energy in the line and forms tight loops.  For those who have viewed the Hank Patterson parodies, the words “snap” and “fly casting” are not normally a favorable combination, but Swisher presents and explains this so it makes sense.  In the context of the casting stroke, we can see that, indeed, the educated or microsecond wrist is needed to make a controlled cast.

There are numerous tips that are given to the beginner caster in the course of the video, including: 

  • Use a visible fly line and watch what you are doing to correct mistakes.  
  • Pay particular attention to the back cast- it is the key to the forward cast.
  • There are no shortcuts to learning, practice is important.
  • The rod tip controls the path of the line, the arm and wrist control the path of the rod tip

Perhaps the one change we would make at present is to discourage casting on grass as Swisher suggests.   The welded loops put on modern lines will often delaminate or “blow out” due to grass casting.  There is just too much force put on the thin weld (FYI- a fly line can travel several hundred mph on a forward cast) for it to hold together on grass.

There is extensive focus on line loops and loop control.  We know that the ability to adjust line loop shape and size to the situation is the sign of an accomplished fly caster.  Swisher covers all types of line loops- perfect, open, closed or tailing loops in detail.  Loop control ultimately goes back to the path of the rod tip which is controlled by the movement of the wrist.

A lot of initial demonstration is done with the short yarn rod.  This is a great tool Swisher recommends to give an excellent visual of the casting process as well as allow practice nearly anywhere.  Though these disappeared for a while, they are available again.  Scientific Anglers and several other companies offer them.  Loop control is very easily shown, understood, and practiced with the yarn rod.  It is a very worthwhile tool for the beginner to learn with.

We are shown a series of practical fishing casts starting with a basic straight-line cast.  This is expanded to show the pick-up and lay-down, change of direction, false casting, false casting with change of direction, and shooting line.  We see how to create slack line to extend floats.   All of these are needed when heading on to the water and actually presenting a fly to fish.  Swisher also shows how to effectively control the line when it is on the water.

The great thing about this video is its comprehensive look at casting that is presented in clear, understandable terms with great graphic support.  We see what a good cast looks like and what a bad cast looks like.  More importantly, we learn how to correct poor technique and turn a bad cast into a good cast.  This is key as anglers will not have an instructor at their shoulder all the time and will ultimately teach themselves.

This video is still perfectly suited to beginners and a great review for all fly fishers.  It gave cutting-edge information when first released that is still viable today.  Although the equipment may have advanced the physics of casting has stayed constant.

In Strategies for Selective Trout (https://youtu.be/4j94YPXio0I), Doug Swisher gives a comprehensive look at the various methods to catch trout from surface to bottom.   

One of the key takeaways from this video that is never mentioned in present-day instruction is the “Efficiency Factor” Swisher stresses.  This relates to being able to tie knots quickly, keeping tippets flies, nippers, floatant, and any other needed equipment handy, so flies can be changed and treated quickly.  Another aspect of this is minimizing false casts to what is absolutely needed.  Bottom line- the fly needs to be on or in the water to catch fish!

The use a monocular to spot insects and scan water for feeding fish is another tip that has faded into time.  To wrap up the Efficiency Factor, Swisher has great quote to make this hit home, “A good angler can get an extra mile of drag-free float at the end of the day”.

Reading water and identifying seams is covered.  Feeding stations and lies are discussed.  Look for depth changes, by changes in water color.  We see that at any given time, only 10% of the water will hold trout.  These concepts carry through to present day and are still the foundation for locating trout in moving water.  

Swisher gives a beginner-level course in entomology, which is really only what most anglers need.  Identify the type of bug to know how it behaves, then match size, and get close in color.  This is used for fishing both nymphs/wets and dry flies.  The full indicator craze had not hit nymph fishing at this time, so his basic nymphing discussion is a bit dated.  

When Deep Nymphing is discussed (depths more than 4 feet), the use of copper sleeves and the method to get them on and off easier is intriguing.   The copper sleeves make casting easier.  But we have to remember this was the days before specialized nymphing lines that make turnover with shat and an indictor easier.  The use of a sink-tip line with this method as mentioned is never seen anymore, especially with the introduction of the Euro-nymph style of fishing.  

The streamer fishing section is very basic and focuses on a traditional straight line, across and downstream-style of presentation.  We can give Swisher a pass here as this was really not his forte and was before the streamer fishing revolution brought forward by Kelly Galloup and Bob Linsenman in 1999 with the publication of Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout.   

The sections on Attractor Dry Flies and Terrestrials are well-done.  The “hopper-dropper” rig is not mentioned as the video predates the popoularity of this technique.  Fishing the rise is well-done and you can see that this is right in Swisher’s real area of expertise.  The use of curve and reach casts, extra mends, pull-and-drop to extend float and cover extra water are all well presented.  

Anyone, beginner to expert will benefit from viewing this video, even today.  The review of stream insects and emergence stages along with the various casts employed in different situations are key components.  The discussion of learning to “Fish the Clock” is a critical piece information on any trout stream.  One negative could be Swisher’s landing technique of lifting fish out of the water by hand.  Why this is done instead of using a net is not mentioned and could be a confusing way to handle fish in today’s environment of “Keep ‘em Wet.”

Advanced Strategies for Selective Trout (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub6XmNBm_gk) takes all of this information to the next level and is targeted to the angler wanting to maximize the skills needed to catch trout in most any situation.  We see that some common techniques of today are not mentioned- specifically the use of shot and a large indicator for nymphing and sinking-head lines for streamers, but again, we are aware that these tapes predate these methods.

In a review of needed tools and knots, the use of a stomach pump seems less favorable at present with the potential for damage to the fish if not done properly.  Swisher mentions and demonstrates the Swirle Knot, but this seems to have been forgotten over time.  One wonders if he still uses this knot today as it never appears in any current info.

The description and uses for stack mending are well-done and an important technique for any fly fisher to be aware of.   We see it has multiple applications in both nymphing and streamer fishing.  Beyond trout fishing, stack mending is also a great tool for steelhead anglers as it can be done with a weighted fly, weight on the leader, or a sinking leader or line.  This is a “must learn” method to maximize depth with a fly in current.

Swisher does take fishing streamers beyond the basics in this video.  He mentions that fishing streamers is the quickest way to cover and explore new water and help locate fish.  He brings some interesting twists to presenting streamers that can certainly be combined and used with the lines that are available today.  Practicing what Swisher shows will make us better streamer fishers.  Basic concepts are presented- open line loops and minimal false casts reduce tangles and keep the fly wet so it sinks quickly.

Where we really see things happen is when Swisher shows a combination of line mends with line strips and rod manipulation to cover the most water in the shortest amount of time.  This goes back to the efficiency factor mentioned in the previous video.  The more time the fly is in the water, the more water covered, and the better chance to catch fish.  His presentations of shoot mending, the strip and flip, and the strip and slip techniques combined with the lines we have today will definitely make streamer fishing more productive.  

The demonstration done by Barry Beck on fishing the Woolly Bugger is also important.  Tying the fly on with a loop knot with a shot in front, then combining a rod flip with a hand-over- hand retrieve is an extremely effective streamer presentation in a wide range of situations that can be used successfully for smallmouth bass in addition to trout.  This same set up can also be done with a wide assortment of streamer patterns. 

Swisher also does a significant expansion on fishing dries in this video.  He shows the skittering technique for caddis, which can also be used to fish the water and cover it quickly.  The key here is to grease the entire leader and tip plus the tip of the fly line.  A combination of stripping and wiggling the rod tip impart the skittering action.  This can be alternated with a drag-free float to combine presentations.  A great tip still valid today, is to spray dries with Scotchguard or a similar material to waterproof flies.

There is very detailed info on fishing the rising or visibly feeding fish.  If a single insect is rising floating nymphs and emergers are often most effective, especially early in the hatch when they are most abundant.  It is important to observe the feeding interval and rhythm and match your presentation over a feeding trout to that.  If you get a good presentation several times and no strike, change flies.  Often going to a darker color works best.  Swisher recommends always having these flies with you- Adams #14-#20, Henryville #16-#20, Blue Wing Olive #18-#22, Brown Spinner ##16-#18, Brown Floating Nymph, #16-#22.  These are all great tips for any trout angler.  

We are also presented a look at various types of compound hatches, where multiple insects are present, and how to handle these situations.  The Masking Hatch is where a large and small insect are hatching at the same time.  Here the “pounds of meat” rule comes in to play.  The bug giving the most food value for the least effort will be selected.  If the smaller insect is most abundant, it is likely this is what the trout are feeding on.

Mimicking Hatches have similar looking bugs, but of different sizes.  Again “pounds of meat” comes in to play and it is important to observe the rises careful.  Remember the monocular?  Use it to help identify what bug is favored.  Also, pay attention to rise forms.  A noisy, splashy rise may signal a skittering bug or one of large size.  A gentle rise indicates a smaller bug.  

In Complex Hatches different insects of varied sizes are hatching simultaneously.  All of these rules need to be followed and the favored bug can likely be identified by process of elimination.

If fish are rising and definitely feeding on the surface, but no insects are seen, we can assume two likely scenarios.  If during the day in warm, windy conditions ants may be the target.  They often fall or get blown into the water in significant numbers and trout appear to relish them.  The are mainly in size #14-#22 and can be various colors.  Fish feeding on ants present a gentle sipping rise.  

Midges are the probable item early or late in the day or if it is cloudy.  They can also be found year-round in many locations.  Look for most midge activity in slower quiet areas off the main current.  Most midges will be found in size #24 with color less important than matching the size accurately.  A long leader tapered to 6x is used for midges and smaller-sized ant imitations.  Swisher gives an excellent overview of how to properly fight trout on small flies and light tippet so they can be released successfully

Swisher also shows a portable fly-tying kit that can be easily carried to quickly tie simple patterns to match hatch situations.  Most of us may not get quite that extreme in our zeal to match the hatch, but this is actually a good suggestion if going to an unfamiliar area you are not familiar with and you are not sure what insects to expect.  The thought of tying a fly streamside as insects are emerging and then catching a fish on it is actually quite appealing.  

A final, important presentation in the video is Swisher’s description of “Fishing the Clock”.  Here he describes what casts and mends are used depending on angle of presentation needed to reach feeding fish.  Using the analogy of a clock face, we find presentations broken into four quadrants depending whether we are looking upstream, downstream, to the right bank or left bank.  This can be considered a graduate lesson in casting, mending, and fly presentation.  Anyone who has these skills can consider themselves ready for most any angling situation.

These three videos cover the needs from the total novice trout fisher to the skilled angler.  A beginner should master the skills presented in the first two, before viewing the third film.  An experienced trout fisher will find the third tape a wealth of information and tips that will increase their onstream success.  As with the Gary Borger videos, the information presented is as suitable today as it was 40 years ago.  There have been advances in equipment, but the on-stream skills needed to successfully catch trout have not changed.

Scientific Anglers has partnered with the American Museum of Fly Fishing in the effort to digitize these classic film masters for future generations.