FlyLife Australia & New Zealand — Winter 2017

FLYLIFE^59

TRAVELLERS
These fish show up at any stage of the
tide, but are more common around
the second half of the push and
over the high tide change. They are
opportunistic even though they have
typically fed well already; they are
called travellers because they are not
in active feeding mode. I have found
travellers swimming near the surface,
in mid-water or on the bottom, but the
common trait is that they are moving
rather quickly and don’t appear to be
foraging.
These are low percentage fish but
they are still worth a shot. Lead the
fish well, do the vector calculus on
wind, tide, boat movement (unless
wading), fish movement and depth of
water to work out how to get the fly
on the bottom before the fish passes
over it. Once on the bottom, with the
fish approaching, apply subtle move-
ment to create some puffs of sand to
gain attention. Move with the fish and
try again if it ignores your first offer.
I’ve found that flies with more con-
trast against the bottom work well
in these situations, whereas other
fish behaviours demand flies that are
more subtle in colour. If the fish does
tip, be very patient: travellers can be
notorious for sitting on a fly, probably
because they are already well fed.

SCHOOLERS

These are the fish that were millers,

but have now moved up onto the flats

and are feeding as a school. These

are frustrating fish to target because

they move erratically and the lead

fish changes constantly. I have come

across schoolers when wading dur-

ing the tidal push. Patience is crucial

here, as you have to watch the fish

carefully.

The most successful approach I have

found involves landing a fly not too

close to the group when they all stop

to feed, then carefully trying to get one

fish’s attention when it lifts up from

tailing on that latest tasty morsel. This

can be the definition of frustration,

when you cast to the wrong side of

where they choose to go next, or when

they turn and come towards you. Slow-

ly backing away can sometimes work,

but in the shallow water they see the

line, rod, shadow, or something doesn’t

feel right and they decide to move off.

Don’t waste time chasing schoolers

if you think they are spooked — unlike

solo fish that bolt, schoolers move

A keel weighted VGDC undid this deep-water tailer.

Controlling a BB between the flat and the coral reef in the background. Note the handy roll-top backpack.

...BE SUBTLE, PICK OUT A FISH AT THE EDGE OF THE MILLING GROUP,

AND SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT GET THE TAKE.

BRENDON WEBSTER