FlyLife Australia & New Zealand — Winter 2017

FLYLIFE^65

AERIAL MENDS

The most fundamental layout is called

a reach (see FL#60). It is the simplest

and probably the most valuable of the

mends we can learn. We can use it

when we’re stationary and the water

is moving, or we can use it when

we’re moving and the water is sta-

tionary. Think of the curved belly of

line that develops on the water when

we’re fishing from a drifting boat —

that belly is dragging the fly and is

easily overcome by a reach in the

direction of the drift. Apply the mir-

ror principle. The reach can also be

used for a myriad of other situations:

shortening up a cast in midair, laying

a line along the edge of a weed bed,

The concept of ‘mirroring’ in order to determine where mends should be placed is not

difficult to understand. If the water is going to drag a certain shape into the line, then you

need to create the opposite shape. Implementing the line shapes is not so simple.

The best shapes are created while the line is still unrolling in the air. Imagine the layout

you want to achieve and move the rod tip laterally out and back while the line unrolls.

Practise these moves. Do them slowly; give yourself time.

UPSTREAM

MEND

DRAG

ON LINE

CURRENT

FLOW

Well placed mends to overcome complex currents result in

more fish, hooked and landed.

BRAD HARRIS