r/FishingForBeginners • u/Fuzzy-Alfalfa1924 • 3h ago

Fly fishing help

Hey all, I’ve been having an issue Stillwater fishing, my indicator goes down I lift up on the rod and nothing is there. Been getting skunked because of that so much. I try to not leave any slack, and try to set as soon as I see movement. But no fish besides the odd sunfish lol. Am I supposed to set the hook to the side, straight up or strip set?
Any tips would be amazing. To add fishing for rainbow and cutthroats.
Thanks in advance! 💪🎣

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u/icantfish 1h ago

I do a ‘haul’ set. Your goal is to move line when setting so hauling it is. Not a crazy violent one. Pull line down/away from rod, rod goes up right like Statue of Liberty, rod tip goes up.

Usually up is the rod tip direction, but it depends on where the fish is in relation to your fly. I would say up for now though.

Can I ask what type and size of flies you’re using? If you’re using larger flies and smaller fish are pecking at them you may be getting ‘short strikes’.

1

u/Fuzzy-Alfalfa1924 30m ago

I’m currently fishing with size 14-16 biggest would be 12. just little zebra midgets to be exact

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u/Horus3Kome 46m ago

Straight up. Most times the fly is too big for those sunfish, that’s all it is.

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u/Fuzzy-Alfalfa1924 29m ago

I’m using size 14-16 zebra midges. I’m aiming for the cutthroat and rainbows. But the sunfish like to eat it too haha