• Lead the fish
  • Let fly sink to bottom
  • With a well placed cast you may not need to strip at all.  Otherwise
  • Short strip to get fish’s attention. Let it sit. 
  • Guide: “Okay, leave the fly there. Let it sink. Now short strip. Another short. Let it sink. Long strip.”
  • If fish goes nose-down in the vicinity of your fly, he’s taking it
  • Be calm! Don’t raise your rod! Just continue with a slow steady strip. If he’s taken the fly, you’ll feel resistance. This gradual pulling against the resistance will set the hook
  • If the fish didn’t take the fly, don’t yank it away from him, continue strip/pause retrieve
Angler demonstrates a perfect "strip set"
Angler demonstrates a perfect “strip set”. Left hand removes slack in the line. Right hand keeps the rod tip pointed down. The resulting tension sets the hook.