open for debate

Well, I guess if I can answer this question and could sell that answer, I would be a wealthy man.  I don't understand the why, but I do know a lot about when.

I have also taken fish when a big marabou fly hits the water in a blob.  Doesn't even have a moment to sink and wham the salmon hits.   I have fished all day to fish I can see with not so much as a look.  Like I said, I don't know why.

I do know that fish are as instinctual as any other animal and have natural brain waves that turn off without thought.  Let's say we are fishing a pool that has 10 fish that we can see.  How much greater might our chances be to have a fish react to a fly if we couldn't see them?  My logic is that if they can see, feel, smell, taste or hear me I have lost the game at that very moment.

As I said, I don't know why but I do know when.

When I am willing to get into a position that will not cause my line, rod, feet and body cause natural instinct to take over I catch fish.
When I am willing to stand motionless for a reasonable amount of time after taking my stealth position I catch fish.
When I make presentations that are right without excess false casting over the fishes head I catch fish.
When I am thinking and willing to do the things I know are correct I catch fish.

I feel that using a two hand rod offers me these abilities more often than when using a single hand rod.

Picking the fly that will work has more to do with the the absence of instinctive freeze than what fly.  Sometimes it is all about the fly.

When a hawk is stalking a chipmunk, rather than chase the chipmunk, it makes a very loud screech.  The screech causes the chipmunk to instinctively freeze.  The hawk gets an easy meal.

When conditions cause a fish to instinctively freeze they don't eat and freeze as motionless as possible.

Like I said, I don't know why, but I do know when.

Check out this post I made in my blog.

The Nature, Senses & Instinct Of Salmon