Following on from the 'Klinkhamer Special' thread, I thought I would start up another thread to get us thinking about fishing traditional flies.

While doing research for another book on wet flies I started to wonder why we don't fish the old wet fly style (as distinct from nymphing, streamers and spider styles) any more.

To me there are three are 5 styles that I use on rivers. Each has it's own style, flies and tactics - Dry Fly, Spiders, Wet Flies, Streamers and Nymphs (which includes Czech Nymphing).

So what about wet flies? Why have they gone out of favour over the years? They certainly work and early in the season can account for the larger fish.

Do you use them? What are your thoughts? Would you try it? etc. etc.

I would be interested to see what you think.

__________________
"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

Occasionally! A wet fly on the point (Butcher, Invicta, March Brown) two spiders on the droppers -or- one spider and a dry fly on the top dropper fished up stream, covers all the base's; but I prefer Dry-fly or a team of spiders!

Early season doesn't count, fish would eat a pot noodle.

Is the whole thing not about what you enjoy doing?
Apparently line and fly are not the most effective way to catch fish, worming or some other devil like activity is.

Surly it comes down to what you enjoy doing and doing it well?

If we can establish this then we can have a debate about skill and the merits of each fly fishing tactic?

Yes, I can understand that and we all have our preferences. In fact we are probably pretty catholic in how we fish.

Judging from what I hear and read, most people jump from technique to technique, fly pattern to fly pattern rod action to newer rod actions, lines etc. in the hope that the change will produce better results.

I do admire those, such as Buzz on this forum, who try and maintain a single technique. It requires patience and dedication but at times I cannot help that they may be missing out on so much other fishing.

I maintain that there are these 5 practices on rivers which have evolved over the centuries yet the majority of us have gravitated to just 2 or three of them.

So why? The old traditional wet flies do work and the techniques used are somewhat more than just plain downstream.

Good on you Mostyn, I hope that by the end of this thread (presuming that people think it worth debating and discussing) you and others may just have a crinkle in your armour about using them.

We'll see. Thanks for being the first to reply.

__________________
"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

I tend to use the old fashioned winged wets very rarely. I used to do OK with a wet Greenwells Glory as a kid and no doubt, it would still do well during an olive hatch. I prefer to use a nymph on the point and spiders on the droppers and find that the nymph is a more effective point fly than the old winged wet. My uncle swears by a wet March Brown on the point and seems to catch fish throughout the season on them.

One evening in July 08, I fished a single wet Black Gnat (size 10) across the tail of a pool in the fading light and caught a 5lb+ wild brownie on about my 3rd cast - amazing. In the few times that I've been on the river when it's getting dark, I've tried it again and have had a couple of fish on that fly, but nowhere in the same league. They're certainly worth carrying in your box.

i sometimes use the kingfisher butcher, but mostly i go for the hackled wets(pennell and spiders)

Sorry im a dry man

I think there is a place for all styles of fishing on rivers, i prefer dry fly but if there is no fish rising then why not fish nymphs, spiders or wet flies?
Spiders is something I'm going to learn for next season plus the bugs will be coming out of there box just shorty for the Grayling
Cheers Robert

In the spirit of debate thought i should stick my neck out.

For me there is one style and four other methods.

I really consider putting a nymph on for trout as cheating,as well you know thats not some n bred home counties thinking its independent choice.

I am sure i could catch more fish using alternative methods but i choose not to . Plus if the honest truth be told i hate messing about with the differet leader set ups required to do these things well.

Catching fish is pretty easy to be honest, yeah we all have barren days but do the miles and read the water and there are always fish to be had.

I can only comment for myself on this but my rational for fishing the dry fly pretty much exclusively is its hard but in the main it can be very rewarding.

Whats a better ? Climbing a mountain or getting a helicopter to the top? The result is the same but who achieves more?

Fishing with spiders or nymphs can simply be to easy, its lazy IMO and doesn't give me the visual thrill that a fish taking off the top does.

This is my opinion only, not preaching, just expressing my views and why i am a dry fly man for trout.

Buzz,
You're right. perhaps a thread on the merits of wet/damp versus floating flies is worthy of consideration.
Alwyn,
What makes you bring out the old wet's. Is it because of water conditions, time of the season, boredom or not catching fish. What I am trying to understand is why don't we use them? If we do, what brings them out of the box? Are they more effective at certain times? or they just do not work?
Seoint,
You seem content with them, why? Do you use them consistently throughout the season? Are they really effective against other patterns?
Rookstorm,
I know you are in the Buzz camp and that it okay. It is much about preference but why did we go away from wets? In your neck of the woods the Clyde style dominated (and still survives) for decades. Surely it must have been successful because it was developed when dry flies were available.
Bigbadtroutfisher,
Good on you, you are expanding your fishing capability.

I guess for some of us it is about the finesse of fly fishing. hence we get people who are avid supporters of only a single method. Like dry flies or spiders. For others it is about optimising fishing time, so they use all sorts of techniques.
It is much about choice, but what I am endeavouring to get going is a thread that discusses the merits (or not) of wet flies. Why did they disappear? Was it preference? Was it effectiveness? was it because (and I suspect a large proportion of fly fishermen fist into this category) we are always looking for a 'silver bullet' pattern that will make us better fly fishermen rather than becoming proficient in technique and then looking at the flies?
I find this sort of debate entertaining, rewarding and something we should encourage on the forum.
Up to you chaps (and lasses).

__________________
"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.