Dry Fly Tactics

There's nothing quite like the thrill of watching a trout, bass, pike, or any gamefish eating a dry fly. It's one of the purest forms of our sport. Whether they take it subtly or violently, it sends tingling sensations up your spine and keeps you coming back for more. But let's be honest, it doesn't happen every time we go out. The fish gods aren't always in our favor, and catching that elusive dry fly euphoria requires skill and patience. I've learned this firsthand while fishing for the wily and sophisticated trout of the Upper Delaware River. I've seen grown men on the verge of tears trying to fool these tricky creatures, and even resorting to giving up fishing altogether in frustration. Yes, there are times when these small-brained fish outsmart us intelligent humans. But don't lose hope or trade in your fly rod for bowling shoes just yet! There are tactics that can save the day.

Now, what exactly is a dry fly? Well, it's not an easy question to answer because technically any fly that sits on the surface can be considered a dry fly - such as hoppers, poppers, terrestrials, and mayfly or caddis imitations. For our purposes, let's focus on the imitation of mayflies or caddisflies in their adult stage. This stage is irresistible to trout as they prepare to mate and become sexually mature spinners on the water's surface.

There may be a lot of scientific terms to describe these different stages in a mayfly's life, but I don't want to bore or confuse you with technical jargon. So let's simplify things! When mayflies are floating on the surface of a river or lake, they can either be still or moving as they pump fluids to their wings in preparation for their first flight and maturation period. This information is vital for presenting a dry fly effectively to hungry trout. There are times when keeping the fly motionless and ensuring a drag-free drift is crucial for success. However, there are also times when the fly is moving, such as during the spinner fall stage when they're supposed to be dead after mating. In these situations, it's important to stay observant and adapt your presentation accordingly to fool the fish you're targeting. Let's narrow our focus on one specific time period: when the fly is stationary and at the mercy of the water current. The speed and conditions of the water, whether it's a fast-running riffle, slow-moving tail-out, or calm pool, are also factors to consider. Fly fishing may seem complicated, but there are effective techniques and tactics that will work no matter what conditions you're facing. Think about it - when you're sitting comfortably in your living room watching your favorite TV show, you're highly aware of your surroundings. But if something were to distract you, like a strange light or an insect crawling across the floor, or someone opening a can of beer (ha ha!), you automatically become more alert and switch into predator mode because that's what we are - predators. In contrast, fish are pretty low on the food chain and their instinctive response is flight rather than fight. Any disturbance in their natural environment will cause them to immediately flee to safety. And make no mistake, their senses and instincts are sharp - even something as seemingly insignificant as heavy tippet material can startle them. Just ask my friend Dave Rothrock about the skittish behavior of Slate Run brook trout. So, we must keep in mind that even the slightest disturbance can cause our target trout to retreat to their hiding spot - a place where they feel secure. Therefore, our presentation from approaching the stream to presenting our enticing fly must be perfect or at least as unobtrusive as possible within their environment

Approaching the stream is crucial for successful dry fly fishing. Avoid wearing bright colors like fluorescent orange, chartreuse, or white as they will only spook your target and make them flee. Opt for earth tones and a neutral colored fly line to blend in with your surroundings and avoid creating any flashes of light. Move stealthily and quietly towards the stream, paying attention to the closest bank and gradually making your way out into the water. Many times, I’ve seen trout scatter as I approached too quickly or directly from above. So take things slow and be aware of rising fish before you start wading. Now, let's discuss the proper presentation of your fly to a rising trout. In the past, there were strict rules about using dry flies upstream and wet flies downstream - no exceptions. Those who broke this rule were deemed unworthy and exiled from the club! However, anglers like Doug Swisher challenged this belief by successfully fishing dry flies downstream. Their reasoning was that by presenting the fly below the tippet, leader, and fly line, there was less chance of spooking a feeding trout. The first time I saw this, I was blown away and had to try it myself. I headed to my local trout stream determined to test out this revolutionary idea on its wild inhabitants. And boy did it work - I was fooling plenty of fish but couldn't seem to hook any of them! Frustrated, I took a break to think things over with a beverage and sandwich in hand. It dawned on me that my hooksets were different with the downstream presentation - when setting the hook, the fly was being pulled away from the trout’s mouth instead of driving deeper into it as with traditional upstream presentations. So I decided to wait a few seconds longer after a fish rose to take my fly before setting the hook, just a simple pause while saying gotcha was enough for success and I finally landed a trout using this new technique. I was proud to have figured it out and added another successful method to my arsenal.

My current challenge was to attract picky fish without disturbing the water or my drift. As I pondered, an idea struck me: I'll call it "fishing the clock." Imagine you're fishing when a trout rises in a spot that would require you to move and reposition yourself to make a proper presentation. This would surely cause commotion and decrease your chances for success. Fishing the clock eliminates this issue by providing a system that works regardless of where the fish appears. Visualize standing in a stream with a clock face around you: twelve o'clock is straight ahead, up stream, three o'clock to your right, six o'clock directly behind you, and nine o'clock to your left. The first step is to attempt presenting a large fly to each of these positions without moving the fly once it touches the water. Let's break down each position and how we can achieve success using "fishing the clock."

At twelve o'clock, it's one of the toughest positions to present your fly as you do not want to cast your line over a feeding fish directly in front of you. Instead, try using a curve cast either right or left of the fish and strip the fly back at the same speed as the current. Be careful not to strip too fast, as this can spook the fish or result in rejection. A parachute cast and / or superfine cast is also very useful

For right-handed fishermen, presenting at three o'clock poses some challenges. You must perform an in-air mend across your body before making any on-water mends, which could potentially move the fly out of the feeding lane. Once your line is on the water with the belly upstream (not downstream), make short adjustments with the end of your rod tip to keep your fly riding naturally with the current. With some wrist flicks and small rod tip mends, you can successfully drift your artificial for long distances towards rising trout. And don't forget to shout "gotcha" when hooking downstream rising trout!

At six o'clock, you're fishing directly downstream. Throwing your line directly at the trout will cause immediate drag, so try using a parachute cast or serpentine cast to create slack in the line and feed it down to the rising fish with quick wrist mends at the rod tip. Let the trout take and set the hook while the slack line gives them a chance to take the fly on their own.

As the clock strikes nine, right-handed fly fishermen find themselves in a dream-like scenario. The upstream mend is much easier than at three o'clock, and feeding line to downstream trout feels effortless. Just be sure to wait for the fish to take the bait before setting the hook! This is crucial for catching downstream feeders, and it's the secret to success when targeting any trout feeding in this direction.

Have you tried the "Fishing The Clock" technique for catching fish? It works with various forms of fishing, such as nymphing or streamer fishing. Give it a go and see how it helps you catch more fish! Presenting a fly to rising trout or any other species is an exhilarating way to fish, with its visual and auditory components. However, don't limit yourself to just this method - there are countless other ways to catch all types of fish that we will explore in future articles. So get out there and give your dry fly a chance to make a splash!