I have read some interesting posts on the forum about dapping – most recently from the Assynt anglers. It is a brilliant and exciting way of fishing. However, there seems to be a dearth of books and advice on the method. I started fishing on the colliery flashes and canals of industrial Lancashire over sixty years ago. I have done every kind of fishing and practised dapping for trout on wild Scottish lochs. I am by no means an expert but am proven successful in this style. Based on my own experience, I offer some ideas, for what they are worth, to those who want to become serious dappers.
Forget telescopic rods. They are clumsy, heavy and prone to collapse with the noise of somebody with noisy loose dentures! Throw' em away. If you are a serious dapper spend some money and have a rod made. My rod is a three piece fifteen feet made on a Harrison blank. It is the perfect length, light, easy to wield, and gives good sport with small and larger specimens. (I have no commercial connection with any companies). Best reel is a 4.5 or 5 inch basic centrepin with a strong click pawl which will allow the fish to hook itself.
Lines: this is a no brainer. Without doubt, one hundred yards of 20 pound breaking strain Airflo braided mono fly line backing is the best: the type used for making braided leader loops. There are other brands on Ebay. I use white which is easy to see. This line is light, hollow, visible and does not kink or tangle and is easy to handle. Because of its light hollow structure it performs like a dapping line. The top Irish dappers say that in strong winds the braided mono will suffice although I have yet to try this. Hence, a five to seven feet length of dapping floss is all that is required for presentation. Glasgow Angling Centre (Megastore) sell floss.
I use a superglued needle knot to make a permanent loop on the end of the braid. And a loop at the top of the floss to enable a loop to loop connection. I tie an overhand knot about every foot or so of the floss followed by a overhand loop knot at the bottom of the floss to connect the cast. I use about four feet of nylon monofilament tied loop to loop for the cast. I lke 8 pound breaking strain: it is fine but strong and gives confidence in every situation. Experimentation will soon allow you to devise your own preferred formula for dapping.
Do not get precious about flies. Big and bushy is the rule. The Kingsmill Moore Claret Bumble tied large is my favourite killer; but experiment between dark and light colours. Daddy longlegs is a favourite with many dappers. It is amazing how fish will come up from nowhere, often when least expected and no fish are rising. Always take your wet fly rod with you. Misses or lack of takes on the dap will often lead to results on the wet fly and vice versa. If fishing with a partner, one dap and one fish the wet fly and alternate methods. Purchase or tie dapping flies but when the going gets tough in calmer conditions a scaled down standard loch bushy top dropper or dry fly like a sedge or Wulff will often work.
Fish will usually take the fly violently with a savage take or slap the fly down and take sub-surface. Occasionally, the take will be a gentle sip and smaller fish will even jump out of the water to grab a fly hovering over the surface. Fish hook themselves but you will also miss a few; or, more likely, the fish misses the fly.
Good luck and make sure you take your heart pills in preparation for those sudden takes.
