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Observation, knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and fish behaviour, and the ability to spot "signs" are all assets and clues that can help the sport angler get the most out of his fishing trips.
Signs: water movements, flushing, waves
To feed, many fish create "signs" or manifestations that are visible to the seasoned angler who knows where and what to look for. Whether it's pike or any other predator (pike-perch, perch, catfish, asp, etc.), sea bass or even the dorado that I've stalked extensively abroad, their hunts for forage fish, whether on the shallows or at certain times of the year, near the edges or on the surface, tell us about their presence. When a hunt occurs, the fish are active and therefore biting. Nevertheless, it's important to quickly find the right size and color of fly to use, and cast without delay in the area concerned. In most cases, you'll catch one or two fish before a new lull. Then you'll have to find their position again before making any further catches.
At sea, some predators can also be spotted by hunting on the surface. During a trip to the Seychelles, I was able to catch a very large barracuda that had just set its sights on a small shoal of mullet and caught my eye.
In Argentina, in the Estero del l'Ibera, one of the country's most extensive wetlands, one of the guides had noticed that dorados made small waves when they moved in small groups to hunt in the lagoons. When the wind was absent and the surface of the water smooth, often at daybreak, it was common to observe this phenomenon and manage to present an imitation forage fish on the trajectory of one of these ripples.
In the same way, I remember that my guide Juan in Mexico allowed me to take several permits in the lagoon near the lodge, also fishing on "nervous waters" or ripples created by one or more permits moving below the surface.
In both cases, the difficulty lies in identifying the wavelet of the fish in question and then managing to cast very precisely and discreetly one metre in front of the wave despite the wind, the movement of the fish and the adrenaline rush!
In recent years, I've been concentrating on finding sighted bass in estuaries. They feed mainly on shrimps and crabs, but also on various small fish (mullets, sprats, gobies,...) and come in very little water in search of them. Very often, as they move, they create a wave or frighten shrimp on the edges, which wriggle and jump to the surface. These clues may go unnoticed by the neophyte, but for the experienced sight fisherman, they often help locate a fish before closing in and finally spotting it marauding under a clump of wrack or seaweed. In dirty water, sea bass will sometimes even stick their backs out of the water to gorge themselves on shrimp.
Occasionally, you can also hear the sucking sound they make when they open their mouths to suck in a whole flock of shrimp or a small crab camouflaged in a clump of seaweed. In this case, you need to quickly cast your shrimp imitation or streamer on these edges, as the bass spin and don't stay put.
At sea, whether for sea bass, tarpon or bonefish, seabirds (gulls, terns, northern gannets, pelicans, etc.) can help us locate our opponents.
I remember a trip to Los Roques, where on some of the flats-poor islands, we had to find the pelicans to locate the bonefish. Venezuelan bonefish eat a lot of small fish (especially sardines), whereas in most parts of the world they eat mainly shrimps and crabs. They therefore follow the pelicans, which hunt exclusively fish on the surface. When the pelicans dive to capture their prey with their deep beaks as landing nets, the bonefish literally dart under the pelicans to peck at the small dead or stunned fish. So we had to find the pelicans and cast close by, then simply keep the line taut to feel the bonefish tap our wounded fry imitation!
Fish behaviour: tailing, swirling, porpoising
Some fish are caught exclusively on sight, such as bonefish, permit and often tarpon, which would be difficult to catch otherwise.
For bonefish, also known as "grey ghost", it's sometimes difficult to see them in the water, especially if you're not used to them. You have to look for a shadow moving across the bottom. Fortunately, they come into very little water to feed and sometimes do what's known as tailing, i.e. tilt their body forward, bringing the tail out of the water to take prey from the bottom. In this case, it's possible to see their flipper fluttering just above the water's surface. In poor light, this is sometimes the only way to locate them. In the same way, whether in Mexico, Cuba or Venezuela, the guide will often walk or take a boat along the permit spots in search of a black tail waving on the surface of the water. Once spotted, the fly can be presented to these wary and moody fish.
In the case of tailing, it's very exciting, as we see all the action and the fish in its element. The difficulty lies in casting very precisely and close to the fish while being as unobtrusive as possible. I was able to catch a large bonefish in Venezuela (estimated at over 4 kg) and a trophy permit in Cuba (nearly 20 kg!).
Since then, we have adapted this type of fishing to other second category fish, which have become very fashionable over the last ten years, notably carp and barbel, which feed on the bottom. Carp often venture into shallow water in search of a variety of prey. When feeding, like the above-mentioned marine species, it is possible to spot their caudal fin above or below the surface. They can also create a cloud of mud when foraging on the seabed, or stick their backs out of the water in seagrass beds.
Other species, such as salmon and shad, but also tarpon, porpoise on the surface for reasons that are still poorly understood. Some scientists say it's to find their bearings on migration, others to take a breath of air to reinflate their swim bladders. These visual manifestations enable anglers to locate the fish and therefore to fish or insist on a given position.
Underwater tracking: visual acuity and habit
When sight-fishing in rivers, lakes, estuaries or the sea, we develop a special kind of vision over time. The slightest movement, eddy, shadow or "abnormal" shape jumps out at you. Of course, we need to work on this sensitivity with practice. However, we are not all equal in this respect. Not everyone has the same vision and perceives colors and contrasts in the same way. Not to mention visual acuity. With a little practice, however, it's possible to improve and be able to identify a fish in its element.
As you can see, fish have their own habits. As they feed, they sometimes give themselves away, leaving clues that can help us spot them and track them down. Be observant and you too will see that in the end, small details can make a big difference!
Polarized glasses, an indispensable tool
Quality polarized glasses are an indispensable tool for fly fishermen, and all the more important when sight fishing.
They offer undeniable fishing comfort by limiting reflections and protecting against UV rays, and therefore enable us to see better underwater, their main use. But they're also useful for protecting your eyes from a fly, and therefore from a hook that might accidentally come in the direction of your eyes and hurt you.
The choice of frame depends on individual taste, but the color of the lenses is essential. It's a good idea to have several types of lenses to adapt to the conditions encountered. Yellow for low light - Copper/pink for sea fishing.
Every major brand has a wide range of models.
