Issues with my polish style

[Keith Brown]

I have been trying this, new to me style, for the past couple of trips, and it is not going really well. I am sure it is me 
I am trying to "pull" the line back to me but sometimes I think i am pulling too hard and other times I am going too slow and getting slack. I am sure this will come with time. It could be the nymphs I have tied, and they are heavy, but look similar to the flies I use to tie before i found this technique. I have missed several fish, but I certainly can feel a lot of stuff going on down there!
Are there any tips you can give me to cut the learning curve?
Thanks for any help you can give, and I apologize if this is too simple for the great anglers here.
 

[Dejon Hamann]

Please Keith   There's no question too simple for this forum and this may seem like one but it's definitely not. 

Maintaining contact with your flies is right up there with breathing when it comes to comp. fishing importance. 

Starting off with the Polish technique I have 2 suggestions:
1) Use a team of flies that, for that specific water depth, will tick bottom 2/3 times through a drift... not more.  If you're not touching bottom, or dredging bottom the whole time, then switch one of the flies out (changing the overall weight of your team).
2) Endeavor for a smooth "pull" through the drift.  You're looking for a pull that is just a tad faster than the current.  Make it steady.

[Keith Brown]

Thanks for the tips.  I will get out and keep trying it.  Hopefully my pull will get more consistent soon.  I will have to re evaluate my flies as well.  Right now I am just using two, but I may try a third when I get brave

[Aaron Laing]

Right now I am just using two, but I may try a third when I get brave

A tip... learn to fish with one, two and three fly rigs when you train. Some jurisdictions will have limits on the number of flies that can be used, so it's best to be prepared.

Aaron

[John Dunn]

           I have the same  problem that Keith is having,what helped me was a small piece of tubing on the line that can be adjusted to water surface when the nymphs are ticking the bottom. That way all I have to do is watch the speed and not the depth,the piece of tubing is only 1/4 inch long pegged with a tooth pic,my sighter is usually a foot above that.  The piece of tubing also acts as a strike detector.
                   I think after I finally catch on I will be able to discard the tubing.

                                                                  Hope this helps
                                                                      John
  Can you use a slinky for this type of nymphing.?

[Josh McFadden]

When I'm leading the flies I like to have a straight sighter, It seems like the can can pull and stretch the slinky while trying to lead the flies eliminating it's effectiveness somewhat.
Josh

[Chris Lee]

My advice would be to not get hung up on the term "pulling" your flies like you hear so many talking about. Think about setting the drift properly. Sometimes you may need to slightly pull the flies to get them through some dead spots in the drift. Sometimes you may need to allow some line belly to form and slow the flies down. The benefit of this technique is that you can easily manipulate drift speed, depth, and induce motion throughtout the drift as well as make quick, successive casts to cover water. I have found that delibertly pulling flies can induce strikes under certain conditions, i.e. when bugs are actively emerging, etc. However, as we enter the colder season and bugs are not on the move you are looking for the long, slow, deep drifts and that usually does not mean pulling. Maintaining contact and paying attention to the line is the key.

You don't need to use flies that are overly heavy either. Small flies can get down if you give them time and your using light enough tippet. Save those super heavy bugs for the big, deep, swift water where you have no time to wait for them to sink. Otherwise you will be losing flies all day.

[Chris Puchniak]

I am trying to "pull" the line back to me but sometimes I think i am pulling too hard and other times I am going too slow and getting slack. I am sure this will come with time.

That will happen, but like you surmise, you will get used to it over time.  That's one of the main reasons Todd always preaches you have to practise this.  I find you really have to develop a rythym and get used to the flow of the water.  Before you know it, it does become second nature.  But you cannot do it a couple times in summer, then expect to step right into it again 8 months later and be just as good right off the bat.  Practise, practise, practise.

But working to stay in constant contact with the flies (fly) is what I really want to shoot for.  The takes can be viscous when you lift your rod during a drift, but when you are pulling barely faster than the current, they can be very subtle requiring a tight line. 

When the water is slower, I often find I am more like jigging than flyfishing (just to ensure I am in contact).  Although the technique isn't as well suited to really slow water.  But it's amazing what you can find still. 

In addition to what others have said about the flies and weight, I find it helps to find a fly (or team) that not only helps get me down with a very light tippet, but gives me the weight that I can feel.  And I think that takes some practise as well. 

I like a curlie sighter myself partway down, plus a hi-vis braided loop at the end of the line.

Best thing though is to go out and practise.  And if you have anyone you know that does it too, it helps to team up with them too so you both have someone to compare yourself against - otherwise you sometimes cannot tell if you are doing good, bad, or otherwise. 

[Keith Brown]

Thanks guys!  I do appreciate the info. I will keep practicing this style.  I have found myself getting too fast many times, but then i have found myself in the zone a few times and being in touch with the flies and water.  I do like this method, as i can cover some serious water. I also need to work on my reading of the water too.
Thanks again