Hi Rt et All: A great subject and a fine post by RT. These conditions ,low and clear ,are a challenge to all fishermen.In my experience this is the situation in which the good flyfisherman has the edge on the rest of us.
Several years ago I had the oportunity to watch a Scots gilly who had formerly fished competitively for Atlantics ;challenge two steelhead lying in full view in shallow clear water.
He approached the situation by first observing the fish, then he moved into the water directly above them in a small rapid about 40 feet away.
He selected an egg pattern of wool and a sink tip line. He made his first cast with a short dead drift and swung the fly past the nose of the higher fish. Rather than trying to cast again he made an upstream mend of the line and I saw the fly move back upstream of the fish sink slightly and then swing back under the pull of the current on the line directly in front of the fish. This time just after the fly had passed the fish he slipped some slack line and the fly swam downstream beside one of the steelhead. he jiggled the fly a little and then pulled it upstream sharply so that it passed close beside the fish. Just as the fly reached the steelheads periferal vision it snapped quickly at the fly and was hooked.
I have telescoped the descripion of this process ,actually many passes were required before the fish was induced to strike but what it suggests is the confidence and persistance the good fisherman must have and the technique and ability to place a fly or lure exactly where he wanted it to achieve success.
coot