This page is dedicated to things we've learned on the water and at the vise. Enjoy.

Clousers and Leaders - The up & down swimming motion of Clouser Minnows and other "jig" type flies can be improved by using longer, lighter leaders than would normally be recommended for flies of their size and weight. ex: A size 6 Clouser would normally be fished on a 9ft 1x or 2x leader, however, the action of the fly is better when using a longer leader with a lighter tippet. If you are fishing good water and the fish aren't responding try changing to a longer leader (12-15 ft) and a 3x or even 4x tippet. But remember, when extending you leader, don't just add more tippet or the leader will not turn over a heavy fly very well. Extend the butt of your leader and you can get away with a much longer leader that will still turn over heavy flies (if your casting is well-timed). You can also use this approach in slower moving water to avoid using sinking lines, which don't impart as much jigging action to a fly.

Nymphing in Warmwater - We all like the visual take of a fish slamming a topwater bug or chasing a streamer. Unfortunately, the fish are in control of this game and our job is to present the flies they will eat in the manner they want to see them. Indicator nymphing can be effective when other methods are not producing. Try a weighted crayfish pattern, a weighted Wooly Bugger, a Hellgramite, or even a small Clouser Minnow. Put the fly under an indicator about 1 foot deeper than the estimated water depth you are fishing. Look for the fly to tick the bottom while being pulled downstream by the indicator. You can impart more action by twitching the indicator a bit or mending it upstream for a dead drift.

High Water Smallmouth - In high and somewhat off-color water (such as in Spring), using larger flies (sculpins, large baitfish patterns and crayfish) can entice hungry Smallmouth and other warm water species when smaller baitfish patterns would be ignored.

Low Water Smallmouth - Switch to less visible (more impressionistic) fly patterns as the water drops and clears. In low, clear waters of late-Summer and Fall, using Clouser minnows tied sparsely with synthetics usually outproduce traditional bucktail Clousers.

3 Season Crayfish - As crayfish molt, they are most susceptible to being eaten by Smallmouth. After shedding their exoskeletons they are tasty little morsels. Fortunately for us, the different types of crayfish resident in Indiana streams molt at different times of year. So fishing crayfish patterns can be successful Spring, Summer or Fall. But don't think that Smallmouth only eat crayfish when they are molting. Here's a picture (taken 4/18/08) of an 11" Smallie with a 4" adult crayfish in its throat, and he ate a large streamer before he even swallowed the cray!

Poppers on Sink-tips Lines - You can offer a unique diving presentation by fishing a floating popper on a sink-tip line. This presentation makes the bug dive when stripped and causes it to suspend below the surface when left to drift. This can be effective when fish are aggressive but surface-shy.

Popper With a Dropper - Add some extra spice to your popper presentation with a dropper 3-4 feet behind. Use a Clouser Swimming Nymph, Wolly Bugger, a Spoon Fly or other "swimming fly" on 3-4 feet of 2x to 4x tippet tied to the bend of the popper hook. Each time you twitch the popper the trailer does it's dance and can draw strikes from fish that won't come up for the popper.