Dry Fly Fishing Tips for Streams

On your next dry fly fishing trip astream, consider these recommendations.

While the great majority of fishermen have already decided on the lures or bait they plan to use before they approach a stream, the experienced dry fly fisherman approaches his favorite trout water with extreme caution, his eyes always alert. He quickly assesses the water. What are the conditions? Are there any insects hatching and trout rising? What are the color and sizes of the flies that are emerging? Where are the fish rising freely and what appears to be a steady rise and a good fish? All these thoughts quickly pass through his mind and he rigs his terminal tackle accordingly.

If trout are freely rising, he will have his floating fly line cleaned and ready. He will then choose a leader according to the water conditions; the lower and clearer the water, the longer and finer the leader.

Grasp a fly as it tumbles downstream...look at it, then check your fly box. Try to match as closely as possible the color of the natural to the imitation. And select one slightly smaller than the natural, for the opacity of the water will make your artificial appear larger, as compared to the natural insect.

Dry fly fishing in many minds is the ultimate of fly fishing. There is nothing that can compare to witnessing a trout gulp a dry fly from the water's surface. Dry fly fishing differs from most other trout fishing methods in that the fly is fished directly upstream. There is no other way to present the dry without creating undue leader drag except by fishing upstream. Line, leader, and fly floats naturally downstream in this manner, without any appreciable drag.

Of utmost importance, the dry fly angler should remember the following; try to keep your presence undetected by the fish. I've seen veteran fly fishermen in Montana, crawl on their hands and knees to the edge of a 'slough', so the sun behind them would not cast their shadow on the water and spook the cutthroat trout as they hold in the current.

Also, watch your cast, making certain line, leader, and fly drops naturally and silently into the water. Make sure, too, that the fly 'cocks' or lands upright, as the natural would. Choose the proper size fly; with the overall shape of the fly closely resembling the natural.

Remember always to keep the dry fly floating naturally. At the slightest sign of leader or line drag, quickly pick up and make your cast again. Dry fly fishing is easiest in a rather slow-moving body of water. Dead-slack waters are difficult to fish since fish see even the slightest disturbance of the water.

Fast Water Dry Fly Fishing

The combination of the dry fly and fast water harbors a school of anglers all its own. When fishing fast water with the dry fly, short casts are the norm, for the fly will only drift a few feet before it's dragged under by the current.

Fast water dry fly fishing is exciting because you must be instantly prepared to strike. A trout in fast water doesn't have time to survey the insect passing overhead. If he decides it's for him, he will strike instantly!