Hi new on here and looking for a little help please, i find much of what i read a little confusing, it says up turn hooks for dry flies and down for wet, then hen for wet and cock for dry but then when i look for patterns and what you need to tie them it contradicts itself by telling you to use the opposites are these guidlines correct or is it just a matter of personal preference.

And can anyone tell me if you fish a wet fly any different to a nymph or are they both fished with the same methods.

Thanks rod

Hi rod...

Fly fishing is full of contradiction, the rules are generalisations, they date back to the dark ages and dont really fit any more

the up eye for dry and down for wets is a relic of how flies used to be tied onto gut using a turle knot to make them sit properly on the water, with thin modern mono filaments this is no longer applicable

cock hackles are stiffer than hen, they tend to distribute weight better and aid floatation of flies, whilst softer hen hackles work better on wets as they give more movement.

finally wets are considered suggestive flies, they give the impression of being something good to eat without being imitative, nymphs are the opposite, imitating the larval stages of macroinvertabrates

there are many methods of dishing both wets and nymphs, some are similar (across and down for example may be employed with both wets and nymphs) whilst czech and french style ae exclusivly nymphing methods.. it will become clear with time .

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Good answer Martin.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Hi thanks for your help,it was as i supposed, but i'm sure i will have plenty more questions as i go along so watch this space Thanks Rod

Hi, Although you have had a good reply can I just add for interest that up eyed hooks were used for drys in the early days as gut would have been the norm for leader which did not sink, so the up eyed hook would supposedly keep the first 2 to 3 inches of gut nearest the fly out of the water not to spook the fish.
Cheers