"Not Another Tree Trout"

Doesn’t matter how careful you line up that backcast—there’s always a “Tree Trout” or “Bush Salmon” ready to take your favorite fly. That’s fly fishing some days. You hike in early, full of hope and half-baked strategy, only to donate your best hand-tied caddis to the willow behind you before your line even touches water.

I was chatting with Marc O'Regan, pro guide from WeFlyFish.co.uk, about the unfortunate fate of getting caught up in trees or bushes with a furled leader. And oh, what a sight it is when the dreaded Tree Trout lets go. Suddenly, that furled leader looks like it’s been struck by lightning—shriveling and wrinkling up as if it’s had a handshake with an electric fence.

Now, to the untrained eye, this tangled mess might look like a total disaster. Most people would look at it, shake their head, and toss it in the trash. But hold your horses! Because here's the thing—this is far from the end for your leader. Sure, it might look like it’s seen better days, but with a little patience that leader can be saved.

Marc asked me what I do to re-straighten my leaders. Now, I know we can always build a new one, but I’m not a fan of waste. So, I keep the tattered ones in my tin and sort them out when I get home. Here’s my process: I take the loop end of the leader and hang it on a nail high up on a piece of wood batten. Then, I grab a 5oz sea fishing weight with a lure clip, attach it to the tippet ring, and let it dangle. As the weight gently swings, it starts to spin the leader, gradually straightening and re-regulating the fibres until it's straight again.

Marc then told me about a trick he came up with for doing this on the river. Instead of waiting until you get home, you can simply let the leader flow downstream, gently pulling it in the current. The current will do the same thing—spinning and straightening the fibres as it moves. Ingenious, right? 

So there we have it. No more worrying about those Backcast Bandits stealing your flies and ravaging your furled leaders. With a little patience—and maybe a sea weight or a clever trick from Marc—you’ll be back on the water in no time, casting clean (or at least cleaner) loops.

If you're looking for a professional guided fly fishing experience in the UK, you can contact Marc through:

Web: https://weflyfish.co.uk/ Email: hello@weflyfish.co.uk