Dear Colin,



Although water levels are holding up surprisingly well, due to a leak in the far dam, we are closing the furthest stretch of Meon Beat.





This week, we are continuing our Getting Started Series by adding a write up about fishing Dry Flies.






Unlike Lures and Nymphs, fishing dry flies requires a whole different approach.


The main difference with fishing dry flies is that you are fishing them on the surface.



This calls for some fundamental changes, both in your equipment and your technique.



Equipment
When you strike a fish on the surface, you will put a huge and sudden strain on your line and leader and tippet. So - ideally use a softer rod - mid flex or thru (full) flex, and lighter tippet.



If you only have a tip-flex rod, you must use a heavier leader - 6Lbs minimum. Any less than this and it will break on striking.



In either case, when fishing the dry, you will need a longish leader, preferably tapered, with two to three feet of tippet.



The other essentials are "sinkant" and "floatant".



If your leader is laying on the surface - Mr Trout can see it and if he sees it, he will become quite suspicious that it is not something natural in his environment. A little dab of sinkant, will cut it through the surface tension and be hidden from his view.



The problem you now have is by sinking your leader, you will sink your fly. To get round this, apply a little dab of "floatant" to the hackles and tail of your dry fly to keep it sweetly swimming on the surface and highly attractive to Mr Trout.



The only other things you need are some highly effective dry flies....



Take a close look at the water and see what is coming off.



Before fishing a dry, a good friend of mine, with the initials CJ, will get down on his hands and knees and take a really good look at what is happening with the natural life on the water, before even considering tackling up.



Now, if I was a tackle shop, I would sell you zillions of dries, along with a story about "matching the hatch". However, what I do know is that you only need around a dozen broad spectrum ones to achieve good catches in most conditions.



My advice is to purchase a #12 and #16 of the following colours: Grey,brown, green, red, yellow and black and then simply select to the closest size and colour of the natural hatch.



Technique

Lets assume that we are fishing a stillwater.



Having just spotted a rising fish, you want to make a cast.



Generally Mr Trout will rise two to three times, so track which way he is moving and cast about two to three feet ahead of him.



Gather up any loose line, without moving the fly and wait with your heart in your mouth.



When he bites - STRIKE GENTLY and firmly and say to yourself Gotcha....



Certain conditions will make dry flying easier - take a look and see if they are feeding on the surface. This is an obvious time to have a go, however with more experience you will be able to attract your quarry to the dry in much more challenging conditions.



In essence that is all there is to fishing the dry...



So pack your rod, get out to the water and have a go.



Best Wishes

Keith



Meon Springs, Whitewool Farm, East Meon, Petersfield, Hampshire GU321HW, UNITED KINGDOM

Interesting read Colin, and it is always great to get some dry fly action in for sure.

I think it best if I don't get into the debate over trout and "bites" but that is another story

The only thing I have to add and not to cause a stir or rise in the wild brown lovers on here is the delicate presentation that so many people think is necessary when fishing small rivers.

I will totally admit to being a stalking addict, be that on stocked lakes or wild rivers but I have never had much problem with getting wild browns to take anything. A few months ago I was down at the Arundell Arms for a weekend with sea trout tackle, so about 8lb leader etc, and the hatch started. I had no other gear so threw on a smallish dry cdc klink and all hell broke loose with a plethora of perfect 8" wild browns.

I am really not saying that it is not a magnificent art to be able to match the hatch but simply that sometimes I think we as an intelligent species think too deeply about the science of fishing. It is certainly not to say some wary browns would have not swum a mile if they had seen me of course

I agree we do have the habbit of bestowing human like traits of deliberate cunning and intelligence on to whatever we pursue. I still aspire to cast a line and lay down a fly anything like some of the great anglers i have seen.
Regards Colin.