Any tips on getting a dry fly to land more lightly?
I'm not causing a massive splash, but I'm casting on a small, slow moving stream and comparing my catch rate with others fishing the same water, I suspect I'm spooking rising fish more often than I'd like.

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You can only fish for so long before you have to throw a stick of dynamite in the river.

Raise the rod just before the line unrolls

Idris,

Try the following, or a combination:

1) Make sure you shoot the forward cast high enough. Practice it on grass and see how the height allows a gentle fall of the fly. That leads too...

2) ... trying the pile cast. A high forward cast followed by dropping the rod tip. This allows the fly to fall very gently and with a series of wiggles in the leader to combat drag.

3) Make sure you are using fine enough tippet. Depends on the size of fly you're using and the size of expected fish, but 7X on small streams is my 'go to'.

4) Make sure you are using supple enough tippet.

5) Make sure you have along enough leader. A short, stout leader may add to your troubles.

As for it being thr reason your catch rates are lower, don't forget to degrease the leader - the last 24" would be fine.

Also, watch your fly size. Many fish a fly that is simply too large.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

All of the above and practise, practise, practise................oh, and a lesson or two wouldn't hurt......................birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

All the above plus don't false cast over fish, line spray will hit the water and the line flash will spook the the trout. Make sure you are not casting directly over the feeding fish try to come slightly from the side. Which i know can be difficult on a narrow stream, this leads to the positive curve cast. Side cast but put a little to much power in it and it will curve round into an arc. (That is for fishing upstream casting with the right hand) this cast this will bring the line in an arc from right to left. The opposite can be achieved by putting to little power into the cast letting the line settle with an arc from left to right.JB

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http://www.fishleven.co.uk/
http://www.edenangling.co.uk/

Imagine a stool ( the kind you sit on) on top of your target and aim to put your fly on that.
Tk

Good idea.........why not put a real stool (the kind you sit on) there and aim to drop the fly on it..............birdsnest

__________________
Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton