I fished a amall stream the other night and it was up a little and quite coloured. Fish were feeding as indicated by splashes. I managed one fish a a partridge hacked GRH type fly. The water was up to my knees but I could not see the bottom.

What fly is best in this situation?

Novice

Really difficult in coloured water, if its in "red flood" then the only chance is worm............water is a bit coloured if as you describe I would use a wet fly with orange or red or silver - eg a silver butcher or similar.

Small dark colored wooley ****** or leech pattern. I tie them on size 14 and 16 hooks for the smaller streams. On the other hand since you were hearing splashes that sounds like they were taking on the surface. Small stream at this time of the year you should try beetle, ant and grasshopper imitations. On all three you do want to make a noisy presentation as that's the way these insects fall in the water and even twitching them on the drift can provoke an attack. A bushy Elk and CDC sedge in dark colors could also be a good bet.

Take care

Terry

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"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all!"

Hi There

Im a newbie to dry fly on rivers only learnt this season, i was very worried when i fished a wee feeder stream only to find it very coloured could'nt see my feet !

I was going to try a BIG BLACK Klink ................... but tried a size 14 Olive Comparadun .............. "Best day" ive had on that wee stream 15 fish most 10" plus a couple of 13"-14" fish excellant for such a wee stream

I was amazed to watch fish coming out from an under cut bank as the wee fly shot past in the fast current, how the heck do they see it ??

Its the job

Im sure i wouldnt of had as many on the big klink.........................

Ive found this feeder stream is rarely clear and almost always cloudy ?? Now i just fish whatever dry i fancy the fish seem to find them

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Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

Often, although the water can look very coloured to us, from under the surface with the light coming down through the water, clarity is pretty good.

We had a recent deluge of rain and the river coloured but found a beetle pattern was willingly snapped up. The dark silhouette really helps.

Coloured water often really gives the fish confidence to feed and as a result, you can do really well when the river's running high and hot-chocolate-like.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

If there are bigger fish in the stream you're fishing and assuming that casting isn't too restricted, I'd try a bigger streamer pattern. Something like a Snappy Poodle or Wooly B****r in sizes 8 or 6 will often get snaffled by the bigger fish when water is coloured. It's particularly effective during September when trout get more agressive prior to spawning.

It's not exactly purist small stream tactics but it can be very exciting as the fish hit the streamers with real venom.

Not for everyone, but worth considering if you fancy a change.

Cheers

FC