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I think there is a little more skill involved in using drys on rivers. Certainly presentation is a big factor. However, like you all my most memorable days have been on the dry. It could be that I just enjoy using drys more or maybe I'm actually not as good at using wets. Interesting point!

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I'll back that up. when using an emerger you want the pattern to be still, much like the natural, so you really do need a drag free drift. but when nymphing, drag matters less, because nymphs do swim and move about, so it doesnt look un-natural to a trout. plus 90% of fish feed under the surface...... as long as you cover fish you should have a good success rate. the only problem is detecting the take!!!

No bother at all, fished in the banbridge area for about 10 years. Miss it!

I don't think I would agree with you there, dries are sometimes more pleasurable, but you can see them, with nymphs and wets to be used effectively you have to present them naturally under water, where they cannot be seen. Presentation is just as important, and where you are trying to get nymphs to look natural on a river bed where the river flows sligtly slower than at the surface, it can sometimes be very diffcult. With nymphs the same factors as dries some into play, but you also have a lot more to think about too, so I would have to say that dry fishing would be the less skillful option, not always easy, but just a bit simpler.

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I agree. With dry fly fishing, you're often fishing to fish that reveal their location, you don't have to worry about water depth, yes you have to worry about drag, and hooking is easier because you clearly see the take and can time your strike accordingly. A lot of wet fly and nymph fishing requires more watercraft to be able to locate your fish, drag and presentation are still important, you have to pitch your flies in such a way as to present them at the right depth, and the take is usally more difficult to detect. Don't get me wrong, I get as big a thrill as the next man when I catch fish on dries and to do it consistently well of course requires a lot of skill, but generally I think that it is easier than nymph fishing and many wet fly tactics.

When I'm on the river I like to use whatever method suits the prevailing conditions as I think that immitating what the fish are actually feeding on at the time is the esssence of fly fishing. As enjoyable and spectacular as dry fly fishing is, I do get a little irked when I hear anglers proudly proclaim themselves to be a "dry fly man" - not because I'm in the slightest bit concerned about how others prefer to fish, but because the underlying message is often that dry fly fishing is a higher art than other methods.

whatching a dry all day isn't the easiest of things. Where nymph you can do it by feel so you dont always have to stare at one thing.
This is a good debate,
Maybe a poll???

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What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch.

On a river dry fly fishing is harder to do propoerly than wets.
If you take a novice onto water you can put a rod in their hand and let them swing downstream wets, they will by accident if nothing else catch small fish. I dont feel the same with drys, its all about pin point acuracy , matching the hatch (sometimes) , good casting and avoiding drag.

On Lochs, Loughs or Ressies i am not as sure.Some one with more experience can comment.

My answer is therefore Drys on running water.

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