Whilst not the most experienced fly fisherman, I have noticed that in the 18 months I have been fishing, no one seems to be using wet flies on the small stillwaters that I fish in the Surrey/Hampshire area. Just curious as to why, is it unfashionable, do other methods work better or has it been totally surpassed by pulling lures? If you do use them, what are they and in what circumstances do you use them?

All the best
OTT

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'If you didn't waste your youth, you never had one!'. Bloke in the public bar circa 1970

Any list has to have something in last place within in it. I would say that for us Southern softies, traditional wet flies are simply below imitative nymphs, semi-imitative patterns like impressionistic damsels and montanas, dry flies, stalking bugs and small lures in our personal pecking order.

Also, many small southern stillwaters only allow one fly to be used on the leader, which rather cuts down the time honoured use of these patterns in teams of two or three.

But give some a swim, see what happens and let us know; on a breezy day some of the old favourites might do well, specially ones that vaguely suggest food, such as Black Pennel, Mallard and Claret, Bibio, Greenwells, Coachman and so on. While not a true traditional wet, a size 10 or 12 Black & Peacock Spider has turned up some nice surprises on small waters for me this year.

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton