Tag: dry flies

Choosing Flies Size Matters When choosing trout flies, the relative importance of fly characteristics in your selection, in order, should be: size, shape, color, and action (for stripped flies). In saltwater, action is often more important than exact size and shape. Dropper Flies or Tandem Rigs Dropper flies are a trout angler's secret weapon. A simple...

In the low, clear flows of summer rivers, smallmouth bass can turn difficult. This is especially true if the water is clear and smooth, as in a pool. Under these conditions I try a series of tactics. Sometimes one or more of them work, sometimes none of them work. One that can work is going small. A fly tied on a size 12, 1X long hook is small for...

Question: Sometimes my fly drifts are too short, and when my fly starts sliding across the current a trout won’t take it. What can I do to get longer fly drifts without drag? —Brian L Answer: Your question, Brian—a classic! Drag has plagued dry-fly enthusiasts since, well, probably ever since there have been dry flies and anglers enthused about...

Question: I fly fish steep-gradient creeks in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in California. Many of these streams are not fishable except in the pools averaging four to seven feet deep. What is the best method to fish this type of water? And would one fish nymphs or streamers in such pools? —Dave B Answer: Best method? I’ll get to that. Let’s start with...

Question: “Looking at my assortment of flies collected through the years, I cannot tell which are emergers and which are dry flies. Is there a way to tell the difference?” —Matt J Answer: Funny you should ask, Matt, I mean that you should ask now—I’m just finishing up a new class on fishing emergers (and soft-hackles and wet flies) for a...

Have a question you want answered? Email it to us at [email protected]. Question: I am looking for a recommendation for a river where I can take a beginner. I will probably invest in a guide. I’m looking for a dry-fly fishery with lots of action. Smaller fish that hit anything is preferable to larger fish that are selective. I’m looking for a western...

Question: "Do you consider the species of trout you are targeting when deciding which flies to take along to a particular river? And would you target different places to fish in a river or stream based on the type of trout that inhabit that water?" — Glenn D. Answer: Yes. And yes. Sort of… I’ll explain. But first I must say that normally I answer...

Have a question you want answered? Email it to us at [email protected]. Question: Please tell us what five dry flies you are never without.  That means, if we looked in your fly boxes, what five dries would we be guaranteed to see?  — Jack W Answer: I carry a lot of flies I fish only occasionally, and a relative few I fish regularly. Makes me a pretty...

I like to listen to music when I tie flies. It reinforces a free thinking mood, and if you looked inside my fly boxes, you’ll know I’m not very good at following patterns, recipes, and instructions. Some would call that attention deficit disorder, though I prefer to think of it as improvisation. The other day I got to thinking about music, and how there...

Tom Rosenbauer begins by talking about rod actions, line sizes, sunscreen, and high water, then offers several tips for summer dry-fishing. "Summer is the prime time for dry flies, for some reasons I'll get into. And I've got 12 tips here for fishing dry flies for high summer. Number one: I wanted to talk about the physics of water, and what I've noticed...