We all have our own ways to execute our fishing, and different preferences as to how we would like to spend our time by the water. In many cases we are too eager to set up the rod and hit the water to chase that fish we vaguely saw rising as we arrived. Thinking this will be an easy match, one often puts on a bug thinking – this is probably it – and start casting. But do you really know? 

Look back – how often have you been through the a number of flies, casting angles, techniques and presentations, and still end up gazing in your fly box wondering what it is is eating. The fish is still rising, but it is not taking your flies. Why is it so?

The grayling in these pictures is a classic example: It broke the surface film numerous times, and most people would assume it was taking top water flies, but closer a inspection shows the grayling taking nymphs, and a lot more actively than it first appeared to be.

Here you can even make out the nymph on its way in the graylings mouth.

Most times the fish broke the surface was just from turning around after snapping up a nymph sub surface. The advice is to spend longer time observing the fish before presenting an imitation to it. This will give you more fish in the net.