“Mending A Fly Line” is a term often used in a discussion of the proper way to fish streamers. This is a great technique but it often causes a deal of confusion.
When I teach the students in our On The Stream Schools the proper way to mend a fly line I encourage them to mentally substitute the word “correction” for the often misunderstood term mending.
First, keep in mind that your goal is to have your streamer (minnow imitation) swimming across stream so it is as close to perpendicular to the currents as possible. This gives the bass a good broadside view of your streamer and often prompts a strike from a large bass that passes up other presentations.
The problem comes when you cast across stream and your fly line lands on many mixed currents. Some of these may be much faster or much slower than those in which your streamer is drifting. Here is where you need to “correct” that mess of fly line between you and your streamer in order to achieve that broadside presentation you want. This can easily be done by extending your fly rod high in the air at a 45 degree angle out over the river with your line tight in your line hand and simply flipping the belly of the fly line either upstream or downstream to achieve the straight swimming action you want.
With time you will come to recognize the potential for these problems before they occur and by making a simple short “correction” line flip you will be able to prevent the undesirable fly action before it occurs.
This is well worth mastering because it will enable you to catch more large fish.
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