Home page About us Instruction Guiding Locations map Gift vouchers Prices Articles Contact us Accommodation Links S-Mends: Presenting a fly to salmon and sea trout The S Mend is a technique for presenting a fly to salmon or sea trout lying under overhanging bankside vegetation It is particularly useful on narrow rivers with restricted room for a backcast Fish seem to be attracted by the change in direction that occurs in two places: First as the fly turns at the end of its upstream journey and then for a second time at the end of the fly's downstream journey just before it comes to the dangle The thinking behind S-Mends "Mending" normally refers to moving the fly line after it has landed on the water in order to overcome the effects of drag on the fly. In contrast an S-Mend uses the current to induce movement in the fly. In his book 'Advanced Salmon Fishing', Reg Righyni wrote: "At temperatures in the lower fifties, it often becomes necessary to let the salmon have a good view of the bait only during a rather quick turn." He used this diagram to show the spinner making a U-turn ahead of the fish. He remarked that sometimes "a fish will take while the bait is traveling rapidly downstream" Finally he wrote:"When the fish are lively enough to respond to this type of presentation, sport can be possible from steep, heavily treed banks where there are lies that cannot be covered effectively in any other way." The S-Mend technique was inspired by these valuable insights into salmon taking habits. References: Reg Righyni, 'Advanced Salmon Fishing', published by Macdonald, Trowbridge, Wiltshire,1973, p110-115. Keep in touch by following us on social media Fly Fishing Devon Follow @flyfishingdevon   Copyright Paul Kenyon 2008-2016 If you like our website, please consider recommending it on Google +1   Didn't find what you were looking for? A Google search of the Fly Fishing Devon website may help: