[lemaymiami]

When the fish is right up on the fly (whether he's eaten it or not...) I tell my anglers to start start short stripping the fly -just fast enough so you know one way or the other that you're bit or not.... At the same time I want to see the tip of the rod actually in the water pointing directly at your fly. That way if the fish even kisses that fly you're gonna feel it and come tight on them (with absolutely no slack between the fly and your stripping hand.

Hope this helps.

I've seen plenty of times when a fish pick up a motion-less fly - but not nearly as many times as they turn away from it. For me, motion at the fly end of things is what draws strikes...