Trout Dry Flies
Using a dry fly is one of the simplest ways to take trout on a fly despite what you might think.
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Dry Flies for Trout and Steelhead
Dry flies imitate the adult stage of aquatic insects such as mayflies, stoneflies and caddis flies. Even though the adults of a particular insect appear for only a few days out of the year, you know when they are around and when trout are feeding on them because you can see the insects and watch trout taking them off the surface. It is obviously more difficult to determine what trout are eating beneath the surface.
There are times, however, when you may be fooled into thinking trout are feeding on a large insect when, in fact, they are taking a very small one. It is important to watch closely to make sure of their choice.
In dry-fly fishing, you not only know exactly where the fish are, you can see them take the fly. Therefore, you know when to set the hook.
However, do not make the common mistake of casting to the rise. Remember that trout usually drift down stream beneath a floating insect before taking it. So if you cast to the ring left by the rise, your fly will land well downstream of the trout.
You will find that entire books written about matching the hatch. Seldom is it necessary to do the job perfectly. Trout never get a good look at a floating insect because they cannot see clearly through the surface glare. A fly of approximately the same size, shape and color of the natural fly will normally do the job.
In most dry fly fishing, you will normally want to angle your casts upstream. This way, your fly will have a naturally drift with the current.
The anticipation of a strike is what makes dry-fly fishing so exciting.
The anticipation of a strike is what makes dry-fly fishing so exciting.
Lines, Leaders and Flies
Dry-fly fishing requires a floating line, usually a weight-forward or double taper. The weight forward line will help with your cast. Leaders can vary in length from 7 to 14 feet. The diameter of your tip pet depends mainly on the size of your fly. Most trout fisher men use dries in sizes 8 to 16, although flies as small as size 28 are available.