You make the call

[briansII]

Snaggers, or just setting the hook.

What really bothers me is they resort to using bobbers.

briansII

[beachbum]

I always knew that bobbers were evil.

[Flyjunkie]

some of the European Nymphing methods call for you to twitch the line at the end of a drift, because Trout can and will pick up the nymph and you will not notice the pick up. I've watched Videos of Europeans nymphing and when they twitch it and Mouth hook the Trout.
I've done it a few times and have picked up trout that I never noticed picked up the fly, all of them were fair hooked..

Maybe those Gents are trying that method, but with the amount of slack they seem to be fishing it could be likely they are fouling the Trout... honestly can't say...

can't really tell from the Video, other then the Filmers mentioning that the guys are snagging...

[planettrout]

That vid is at the dam at Ruedi Reservoir on the Pan...and yes, those A-Holes were definitely using the "snagging technique" (with a bobber)...the largest fish in that river hang out in that spot, gobbling the mysis shrimp that come out of the lake above...that's one of the reasons I no longer go there...too many *...

"The first few miles of the Fryingpan below Ruedi Dam are easily accessed therefore this section is usually crowded and heavily pressured. Remember, the river offers productive fishing throughout the 14 miles of tail-water so don't be afraid to venture from the dam and explore. Hatches will also vary as you move downstream from the dam. Close to the dam the primary flies used are mysis shrimp imitations. The farther downstream from the dam you venture the more emphasis you will find on mayflies, caddis and stoneflies. The water temperature will moderate a few degrees as you move downstream which in turn provides more consistent hatches. Swift moving pockets, pools and runs are found in the first few miles of river just below the dam."

PT/TB

[RSetina]

It looks like they're trying to snag fish to me too. I guess when you aren't smart enough to know how to catch a fish on a drifting fly, you have to resort to snaging them. I noticed they couldn't snag them very easily. I guess we know who was smarter. THE FISH.

[WanderingBlues]

Hard to say. As much as the cynic in me wants to say they are snagging, it seems like a consistent yank at the end of the drift, as opposed to your pure 'redneck' snagger who will yank on any bump. Also, when the narrator engages him in conversation, the dude says something to the effect of 50% of the time, the fly is in the fishes mouth, but you can't tell, hence the * at the end.

So, the question is how many fish end up foul hooked through this technique? I suppose if the guy is landing mouth hooked fish using that technique, it's fine and dandy. But, if he's fighting more than the occasional foul hook, then something is up.

[Pete]

Can't say they are snagging with 100% confidence. I agree with Flyjunkie about the quick flip of the wrist, at the end of the drift. That technique is taught when Polish Nymphing. Watched a video where the Polish Nymphing expert Valdi ????? used the quick lift at the end of every drift. He (Valdi) stated that a lot of the takes were at the end of the drift and not to just ignore the end of the drift.

I use the quick flip of the wrist at the end of every drift, when nymphing with or without the use of a bobber/ indicator, although not quite as harsh as the ones they are using. So the jury is still out.

Pete

[arctic_grayling]

they're totally snagging fish... but with that downstream * at least they are attempting to snag them in the mouth.

i've seen that technique used for salmon, with the idea being that you let the line settle and then set the hook when it stops drifting with the hope that your line or fly has settled in to a fish's mouth.

i'd say it's not illegal, but definitely annoying and uncouth on a wild trout stream, even one as crowded and overused as the frying pan.

[Flatsix]

First thought is, if you're nymphing, the line needs to tight all the way through the drift (low then high then low). The set is downstream which they appear to be doing. Every location fishes differently so I don't know where the shrimp are found in the strata, so I can't comment on the bobber setup. I think that a light check set before moving the line back downstream can get you fish because the indicator may be moving ahead of your fly and if you lift without a check set you may miss a fish at the last couple of feet of your drift.

If they aren't snagging then maybe they're just bad at nymphing but based on PT's response and experience these guys are absolutely snaggers.

I vote snaggers!

[WadeK]

Just wondering where you guys place the dividing line between snagging and nymphing.

I was taught to set with a lite downstream twitch if anything even seems like it's different. When I'm confident a fish has taken I set harder but I still try not to rip the fly out of the area. If I miss I can still fish out the rest of the drift. I haven't fully embraced the mantra of "Find a reason to set on Every drift", but if I'm confident that a fish should be there at a particular part of the drift I will blind set at the tail of the window. This has raised my catch rate noticably. I do occasionally foul hook a fish, but the vast majority are fair hooked. I don't feel I'm snagging.

Tight lines,
Wade

Edit: I've never been to the pan and I do this on relatively low vis rivers, otherwise I look for mouths or other indicators of the fish actually taking if I can.

[briansII]

To me, it looks like the guy is sight fishing/snagging. He is not yanking at the end of the drift. He's looking down, and setting directly in front of him. He doesn't appear to be looking at his bobber, but down into the water. I do not know this water, but it looks like there are fish lined up in a feeding lane and these expert fly fishermen are trying run their nymph right into the fish's mouth.

But...........

When I sight nymph, I am basically doing the same thing, sans the bobber. I set when I see the fish turn it's head, or the white of it's mouth.

briansII

[planettrout]

The water clarity in the Pan is amazing, except after a thunderstorm when it turns to chocolate...it is VERY easy to spot holding Trout in most of that water and hence, a inducement for some slobs to attempt "snagging"...



Some water on the Pan that I have fished in the past...


PT/TB

[NorcalBob]

Indeed, the 'Pan is very clear and "snagging" is frequently (usually?) practiced. Since I fish AK so much, snaggers don't bother me much any more. I can choose how I want to fly fish, and I can't choose how the other guy should fly fish.

[fly addict]

I can choose how I want to fly fish, and I can't choose how the other guy should fly fish.

Well said, If snagging is illegal and you see someone doing it, drop a dime on them! But I think it would be hard to prove their intent.

Mark