I'm a fairly new convert to the dry fly on rivers, having spent 4 years fishing nymphs etc.

Now, I know the textbooks say you should ensure your leader, or at least the last few inches of it, shoud be sunk, otherwise few takes will result.

I fish typical dry fly style: upstream, or 45 degrees, or slightly more across if it's tricky. Usually I cast between 5 and 10 yards.

I've tried various different leaders. Flouro, co-polymers, standard mono, double strength etc etc.

All of these float. At least, By the time my fly has covered the rising fish, which is only a second or two.

And another thought: If the water is a bit boisterous, I suspect the floating leader helps the fly being swamped too quickly.

I'm getting plenty of takes, but I have noticed the odd flash of a fish that's decided something is wrong, as they were about to take. Floating leader? slight drag perhaps? unconvincing fly?

Anyway, is it important, to sink the leader quickly on a river? If so, how do you do this?

My preference for grease is the wee cheap red tub of mucilin, i apply that as i set up my rod etc. Its goes on maybe the last two foot of fly line and all my dry fly leader (to make it all float).

A mixture of Fulling Mill mud and some washing up liquid goes on the tippet (to sink it) and then i use Loon acqusomething(Gink equivalent) to make the fly float.

I try and avoid getting grease or floatant on my tippet.

I am a paranoid degreaser and only add floatant or grease as required.

As for why the fish comes up and then turns away , how knows all the factors you mention may be true, maybe more. If a trout turns away at the last moment i either think its drag or the fly is too big. God knows what the trout think.

Completely agree with Buzz, i grease the leader, sink the tippet and float the fly... as for the trout turning away... thats fishing my friend, they are wiley beasts the trouti have on occasion seen a trout sat on the bottom of the Itchen and put a dozen patterns over it, most get the fish to move but then turn away at the last moment, it could be colour, profile or size, my go to in these situations is a spider fished like a dry, killer ...

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The last few inches of leader may have to be degreased every two or three casts with Mud or a fullers earth/washing-up liquid mix.

As for trout turning away at the last second - only a trout could answer that.

On another post I remarked that I was watching trout at Bakewell taking bread from the day-trippers. Some pieces were eagerly woofed down and others were rejected at the last minute - why?

Perhaps the bread had a crust and looked different?

I recently spent a half a day trying to get trout to take a Bibio (there were Heather Flies about), reducing the size every time I'd missing several takes. It still didn't work. Out of sheer frustration I put on a great bloody thing tied on a No8 lure hook... and started catching!

For some reason those flies didn't look quite right but to find out why you'd have to ask the trout.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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I'm also with Buzz on this one.

All of the above and more. MIcro-drag is the real hidden enemy... try a few slack line casts.

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"A homeward tramp thro' mist wrapped night,
With heart and creel in common light,
Complete content, the day has brought it,
They fished for pleasure - and they caught it"

P F Morgan
taken from the catch record book at Llanthony Hotel, Honddu Valley, Aug 1942

www.monnowlogue.com
www.monnow.org.uk

Agree with Buzz and 'Tigger'. First operation, degrease tippet; second, grease rest of leader plus a couple of yards of fly line; third op., treat the fly with floatant; fourth op., degrease the fingers, using one part stiff mud mixed with one part degreaser paste -- I roll my own.
A greased line tip and leader allow more responsive strikes (awful word, that), also allow less obtrusive casts, as they pick up less water, so they put out less spray. Finally, if you really care about presentation, you will hold your greasy pork pie or bacon sandwiches using a tissue. Or you will at least rub your hands in the grass after 'Bait time.' TC
PS Don't be conned by fluoro, fine fluoro tippets will float, unless treated with sinkant. I know they have an SG higher than that of water -- so has a sewing needle, and I can make one of them float on clean water. All you have to do is prevent the needle from breaking the surface tension. Wink, wink!