Re: Swinging flies during a hatch
Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 3:12 pm
Getting back to the swinging of wee wets through an obvious hatch. I am curious as to how others are doing it, what method of attack and presentation, their findings on strike rate (especially if fishing with a buddy that is fishing dries) and the size ratio between just sub-surface fish and those rising to dries on the surface.
True rises you can set your watch by are not happening here yet, even the traditional November Brown Beetle hatch has not happened yet, so fishing wets through an obvious hatch is not really happening.... yet. I am hoping for much better things come December!
But on past experience, I use a single handed rod of 8 1/2-9', often my go to #6 weight, with a 9' minimum tapering leader that has been knotted from Maxima mono. On the end of this will be two feet of sacrificial tippet of choice and only a single fly. Fly choice is dependant of the natural of the hatch, but more often than not it will be a slender biot wrapped body #16 soft hackle that kind of resembles a hatching Mayfly, Purple & Starling spider style also works well here in this situation. The dark silhouette may be to advantage to a trout looking up?
If presented upstream and allowed to sit in the film this fly will often be taken in a subtle rise by often smaller trout. If it is not taken near immediately after hitting the film (as is often the case here) I can give the line a slight tug to sink the fly a little. This is often where the fun begins.
It has been my findings that on average, if not in the dark of night, the larger more educated trout seem to concentrate on the emerging flies as they leave the relative sanctuary of the stream bed and swim to the surface.
If I can do my part, keeping the drift as natural looking and drag free as possible until the line comes parallel to me and starts to swing, I will often connect with a trout that will have you into the backing before you know what has happened! If the drag free drift does not produce results, the cast is allowed to swing, just like a traditional across and down wet fly cast. Often the fly will be ignored on the swing, but when it reaches the full extent of the downstream run and lifts, you will often get hit...... solidly. If not on the lift, pause the fly and give a couple of twitches on the line. I have found some bigger trout will follow a fly and give it thorough inspection before deciding yes- or no. Most times those couple of twitches will be enough to convince the "food" instinct.
Then and only then do I lift the line and start the procedure again.
That, in a nutshell is pretty much how I do it here, curious as to how others approach the obvious surface hatch with wee wets. Choice of flies and number of flies used at one time.
True rises you can set your watch by are not happening here yet, even the traditional November Brown Beetle hatch has not happened yet, so fishing wets through an obvious hatch is not really happening.... yet. I am hoping for much better things come December!
But on past experience, I use a single handed rod of 8 1/2-9', often my go to #6 weight, with a 9' minimum tapering leader that has been knotted from Maxima mono. On the end of this will be two feet of sacrificial tippet of choice and only a single fly. Fly choice is dependant of the natural of the hatch, but more often than not it will be a slender biot wrapped body #16 soft hackle that kind of resembles a hatching Mayfly, Purple & Starling spider style also works well here in this situation. The dark silhouette may be to advantage to a trout looking up?
If presented upstream and allowed to sit in the film this fly will often be taken in a subtle rise by often smaller trout. If it is not taken near immediately after hitting the film (as is often the case here) I can give the line a slight tug to sink the fly a little. This is often where the fun begins.
It has been my findings that on average, if not in the dark of night, the larger more educated trout seem to concentrate on the emerging flies as they leave the relative sanctuary of the stream bed and swim to the surface.
If I can do my part, keeping the drift as natural looking and drag free as possible until the line comes parallel to me and starts to swing, I will often connect with a trout that will have you into the backing before you know what has happened! If the drag free drift does not produce results, the cast is allowed to swing, just like a traditional across and down wet fly cast. Often the fly will be ignored on the swing, but when it reaches the full extent of the downstream run and lifts, you will often get hit...... solidly. If not on the lift, pause the fly and give a couple of twitches on the line. I have found some bigger trout will follow a fly and give it thorough inspection before deciding yes- or no. Most times those couple of twitches will be enough to convince the "food" instinct.
Then and only then do I lift the line and start the procedure again.
That, in a nutshell is pretty much how I do it here, curious as to how others approach the obvious surface hatch with wee wets. Choice of flies and number of flies used at one time.