Are Army Fish the spookiest of all?

During a recent visit to Guangzhou, China, I discovered this exotic fish that is so fun to outwit using a fly. Few anglers in China actually manage to catch one. This may be because fly fishing is rarely practised in China.  Most people use spinners or bait, which don’t entice the Army Fish.

They are certainly very shy and powerful, capable of ultra-quick runs when hooked.  You can spot them actively patrolling near the surface on the lookout for terrestrial bugs.

I learnt that the key to success is to spot fish and then make a gentle, accurate just ahead of their path. A dropping fly mimics a real insect falling onto the water. 

Be prepared to set the hook immediately if a fish is interested, as it may tentatively rise to take your fly. If you can drop your fly actually on top of a group of fish, this can result in an explosive strike.

Short casts of up to 45 feet are best. Use a fifteen-foot leader tapering down to a 7x point. Use a size 16 Parachute Adams.

I observed that the Army Fish will rarely take your fly if it is left sitting for more than thirty seconds. The best tactic is to spend time just waiting and not casting until a fish is within range, then make a cast.   

As a nervous fish, they will bolt if you make a mistake.  It is really satisfying if you manage to catch one because they are so challenging and strong.  I recommend a 9-foot 6-weight rod paired with a reel equipped with disk drag.