Weedline Tactics
Because we’re fishing water that is less than 10ft, and often less than 6, there is seldom need for fast sinking lines. The most consistent tactics fall into two categories: intermediate line tactics and indicator tactics.
Indicator fishing is difficult in water less than 4ft deep unless you go with a single, lightly weighted fly. Indicators work best in water deeper than 6ft, as you can fish a couple flies to show the fish different options, and at different depths. Start with the bottom fly just a few inches from the lakebed, and experiment from there. Chironomids, scuds, and leeches seem to be the best flies to use under indicators.
I consistently find casting and retrieving two small (#10-14) general impressionistic flies to be the most effective way to catch trout in the shallows. This is especially true during non-hatch times when trout are likely to inspect any fly that’s reasonable looking and well-presented. Damsels, dragons, scuds, leeches, baitfish, as well as attractor flies are all very effective and good options with a slow sinking line.
With cast and retrieve tactics, simply cast out and retrieve from an anchored craft. Fore and aft anchors are best for boat control, as the boat will not sway and turn in the wind. Use the countdown method, starting with no sink time, then 5-seconds, 10, and so on, until you locate trout and figure out a depth that results in fish. Hand-twists, 6 inch strips, and slow 12-24 inch pulls with regular pauses are amongst the most effective retrieves, and it is often best to vary each retrieve.
I cannot emphasise this point enough - when fishing shallow water for trout, trolling is amongst the least preferable tatcic.
The trout are already shallow, and when they are in thin water are on high alert; any unnecessary movement above them is going to at best put them off the feed, and at worst send them to deep water for the foreseeable future. While trolling may catch a few fish, anchoring and fan casting - adjusting depth and retrieval speed - will consistently be far more productive. If you’re in a float tube or pontoon boat, slowly kick the shoal and cast to water on either side of you so you’re not fishing where you just moved through.