Frank Sawyer’s Killer Bug is lethal on chalk streams. Though designed for catching giant numbers of grayling, it will also be efficient towards trout. The Killer Bug approach is exclusive, however could be learnt shortly by anybody who’s prepared to study.
So far as I’m conscious, nobody is admittedly certain why the Killer Bug is so efficient. My grandfather, the late Frank Sawyer, initially designed it to mimic the freshwater shrimp Gammarus Pulex, however it’s simply as efficient in water with out the crustacean, or when tied a number of instances bigger than is pure. The Killer Bug is often taken when it’s made to ‘swim’. As a rule this might be within the ‘shrimp zone’ however it will probably typically be taken above this space whereas apparently ‘swimming’ to the floor. As shrimp solely inhabit the underside a part of a chalk stream it’s troublesome to see why the fish would take a synthetic shrimp within the improper place. Pigs might fly, however who would eat a bacon sandwich if it was floating a number of inches above the table? My grandfather urged in ‘Nymphs and the Trout’ that the swimming bug resembled a hatching sedge making its option to the floor. Some fairly well-known fishermen declare the Killer Bug seems like a maggot or a grub that has fallen into the water, others say it seems like a meals pellet to stocked fish. I’ve even seen small pike observe a Killer Bug by the water (though by no means take) so maybe it resembles a small fish below some circumstances.
The extensively reported chalk stream malaise and decline in fly abundance is a particular trigger for concern, however we typically neglect that maybe as much as 80% of a trout’s meals is taken sub-surface. Until we’re fortunate sufficient to be fishing throughout a hatch, the trout is probably not that all for dry fly. This presents an issue. Like most fishermen, I fish after I can discover the time, hatch or no hatch. Thankfully fish need to eat. If there isn’t any floor fly, or they appear to be ignoring any fly and hatching nymph which are current, then they should be consuming one thing else. It’s usually the freshwater shrimp.
It’s all the time superb how usually fishermen fail to notice the large variety of clearly discernible fish in a stretch of water. Step one in Killer Bug fishing is to attempt to function the place the fish are seen. It’s not important, nevertheless it makes the approach simpler and rather more enjoyable.
The Higher Avon, the place I take pleasure in most of my fishing, has a grayling inhabitants that far exceeds that of trout. It is vitally tempting to disregard the grayling and maintain shifting upstream on the hunt for trout. My grandfather had a phrase for this: “Giving up gold to fish for tinsel.” Grayling are a real wild fish and a pleasure to catch. Not solely do they supply worthy sport, however they style good and are extra plentiful than trout. On many events I’ve been fishing for grayling and a beforehand hidden trout has darted out of canopy to take my Killer Bug. For the out-of-practice fisherman, or these of us who fish sometimes, grayling are a super option to begin the day and polish up these Killer Bug abilities earlier than tackling the large trout just a few hundred metres upstream. My father and I typically make a day trip of grayling fishing with a Killer Bug. The objective is to catch each single grayling in a shoal earlier than shifting on. It’s not uncommon for us to land properly over 50 grayling in 3 or 4 hours of fishing.
A very powerful a part of the Killer Bug approach is making the bug swim within the right method on the proper place. To realize this, the bug should be allowed to sink to the underside a part of the river after which made to swim as much as the floor in a clean, pure method. The place to begin the swimming motion will rely upon the placement of the fish and the present circulation. The purpose at which the swimming motion commences is called the activation level. The forged must be made far sufficient up stream of the activation level so the bug can sink to the proper depth earlier than the swimming motion is began. This level is called the forged space. Here is the nice bit. So long as there aren’t any weeds or obstructions, the bug can bounce alongside the underside for far earlier than commencing the swimming motion. This reduces the requirement for correct and delicate casting as wherever upstream of the forged space might be passable. All of the fisherman has to do is enable the bug to bounce alongside the river bed till it reaches the activation level after which begin the swimming motion by slowly lifting the rod tip and sustaining a good line. The peculiarities of weed, obstructions and currents can sometimes forestall the fisherman from finishing up this system, and fish have a behavior of feeding in awkward locations, however there might be many areas on the chalk stream the place this system can be utilized. Trout can typically be startled by a bug rolling alongside the river bed however grayling are hardly troubled.
The activation level is simple to calculate. To be best the Bug ought to be made to begin swimming 1 to 2 ft in entrance of the goal fish. This makes the activation level 2 ft in entrance of the goal fish whether it is positioned on the backside of the river, or additional upstream whether it is feeding nearer the floor. The forged space will rely utterly on water depth and present pace. Until it’s a notably deep pool or a really quick present, 4 ft is an efficient place to begin, however trial and error will in the end be the deciding issue. Whether it is clear that the bug has not sunk to the underside earlier than the activation level, transfer the forged space additional upstream.
Understanding when to strike is no doubt the toughest a part of Killer Bug fishing. I’ve seen fisherman draw of their line and forged once more blissfully unaware that a number of fish have taken, after which spat out, the Killer Bug. The strike is best when the fisherman can see the bug and fish clearly, however will also be made when simply the fish is seen. It’s even doable to make use of the road on the level the place it enters the water as a strike indicator and the perfect Killer Bug fishermen could be profitable by putting on intuition alone.
With good light circumstances and clear water it is vitally straightforward to see bugs within the water and even simpler to see the fish. What may very well be less complicated than watching the Killer Bug enter the fish’s mouth after which putting? Sadly fish spit out bugs in a short time and the act of putting can take a very long time compared, notably if the fish is a good distance off or there’s plenty of slack within the line. That’s the reason Killer Bug fishing is extra profitable shut in; it removes the necessity to anticipate the fish’s motion. If the fish is greater than 15 -20 ft away, the strike should begin earlier than the fish has taken the bug as a result of time lag between putting and the hook being set. Fish very not often hook themselves on a Killer Bug.
It is usually comparatively straightforward to guage when a bug has been taken by watching the fish. That is the extra frequent approach as it is vitally troublesome to maintain watching a tiny Killer Bug because it sinks a number of ft away. Though you might be unable to see your bug, it’s best to have an affordable concept of the place it’s positioned within the river. Any fish that runs in direction of that tough location after which stops might properly have taken. That is the time to strike. In case your forged has been very correct the fish might not have to maneuver that far to take your bug. On this case search for a flick of the tail, a sudden transfer of the top or a slight upward tilt. Paradoxically, inaccurate casting, that causes a fish to maneuver to your bug, is typically extra profitable as it may be simpler to determine the take 어포튀각.
Often it isn’t doable to see both the fish or the Killer Bug. Maybe the river is just too soiled or the light is improper. In these circumstances it pays to watch the road on the level the place it enters the water. When the bug is swimming, watch for tiny, nearly imperceptible checks or motion on the level the place the road dips beneath the floor. For those who see such a sign, strike. Often the fish will take with a thump and there might be no mistaking the act, however that is uncommon.
Fishing on intuition alone is essentially the most troublesome of the methods, however actually it’s simply frequent sense and expertise. Widespread sense dictates that the Killer Bug is most probably to be taken within the first few seconds of the swimming motion whereas within the ‘shrimp zone’. Expertise tells us that grayling and trout are predictable; most fishermen know the locations the place they’re likey to feed. Combining frequent sense and expertise results in an intuition for the place and, extra importantly, when a fish is most probably to take. Putting at this level might end in success. It’s definitely price a attempt if it isn’t doable to make use of any of the opposite methods.
Regardless of the way you caught the primary fish you will need to ‘slime’ the bug, nylon forged and chief. Fish slime has a number of properties that are extraordinarily helpful to the Killer Bug fisherman. Firstly the slime makes the bug style extra pure. This causes the fish to take extra time in spitting out the unreal, giving useful further milliseconds through which to strike. Slime on the forged ‘wets’ the nylon and permits it to slide by the water extra simply. This makes the bug sink shortly and pressure is imparted alongside the road with much less water resistance. Lastly, slime masks the distinctly human smells, corresponding to soap or tobacco, that are left in minute traces on every thing we contact.
There aren’t any guarantees in fly fishing however a reliable Killer Bug approach on the chalk stream is as shut as one can get to a assure whereas nonetheless adhering to membership guidelines. The approach is straightforward, efficient, nice enjoyable and, as soon as mastered, it’s by no means forgotten. The Killer Bug’s greatest attraction is arguably its versatility. In right this moment’s hectic way of life, with the related pressures on useful fishing time, and the notable decline in fly life and floor feeding, it’s maybe extra related to fashionable fishermen than ever earlier than. After greater than 50 years of distinguished service the Killer Bug stays a lethal enigma, and lengthy might it stay so.
