Fly Fishing Techniques: Beyond the Swing

June 13, 2006 By: Marshall Cutchin

If you’re like many of us, your first thought when you realize that trout are not taking insects on the surface is to tie on a nymph and a strike indicator. But there’s an alternative, one which can provide infinitely more interest than watching for subtle subsurface takes. It’s wet fly fishing, and though it’s probably been around since the beginning of fly fishing history only recently has its practice gotten renewed attention.
In “Beyond the Swing,” John Likakis talks about why he likes swinging wet flies and the simple adjustments to style that make all the difference. As a follow-up to Phil Monahan’s “Think Outside the Swing,” it’s a round-trip ticket to methods of getting big fish — who won’t always rise to dries — to change their minds and clobber a fly.