Dry fly fishing is the pinnacle of fly fishing for trout. Watching a trout rise to your dry fly is why many of us anglers got into the sport. Dry fly fishing is my favorite way to target trout, though it is not always the easiest.
Over the last few years, I have improved my dry fly fishing skills through time on the water and many failures. From spooking trout with my first cast to breaking the fly off on the hookset, I have made and will continue to make many mistakes when dry fly fishing. Through these failures, I picked up a few techniques that helped me be more successful on the water. A few changes in my approach and technique have led to more fish and bigger fish caught on the dry fly in the last few years.
Here are a few tips I learned along the way that improved my dry fly fishing experience. As we go into summer dry fly fishing I hope you can take one of these tips and apply it in your adventures.
1. Learn The Reach Cast
The biggest and most important improvement I’ve made in my dry fly fishing is learning the reach cast. The reach cast allows you to mend your fly line in the air and lands your leader with enough slack for a drag-free drift. You are mending the line and setting up the drift in the air so you don’t have to when your fly lands. While I will not go into detail on how to perform the cast, it is done by reaching the rod rip upstream of your fly after an abrupt stop on your forward cast. This allows the belly of the fly line to land above your fly and a natural drift to occur with little line maneuvering during the drift.
Why is a reach cast so important? I could write a full article on the many benefits I’ve seen on the water. The fish will see the fly first, before the fly line or tippet. This drastically improves your chances of fooling a spooky fish. Your flies (especially the small ones) have a greater chance of floating as a mid-drift mend usually pulls them underwater. You can fish over conflicting current seams and keep a drag-free drift for longer distances. It also allows you to make more accurate casts tight to structure.
I learned the reach cast through trial and error. More out of necessity rather than intent. I had many unsuccessful days of dry fly fishing and figured there had to be a better way. After watching other anglers make this cast, I realized it was the difference between a successful and unsuccessful day of dry fly fishing. Learning the reach cast is the key differentiator between the angler I used to be and the angler I am today.
2. Lengthen Your Leader
Lengthening my leader is often the first change I make when casting at a rising trout. The greater the distance between your fly and fly line, the less likely the fish spooks due to your fly line landing on the water. A longer leader that goes down to a fine tippet (often 5x in this part of the world) allows your fly to land softly on the surface. The longer tippet section also gives your fly a natural movement and dampens the drag your leader and line give the presentation.
So how long of a leader do I fish? Like many things in fly fishing, it depends. I often start with a 9ft 3x leader. This is great for many circumstances, often when prospecting for fish with big bugs. As you size down your fly, you are often fishing in slower currents and pickier fish. Talking in extremes, the slowest water and pickiest fish will evoke me to fish a leader in the 13ft to 15ft range. Much of my small dry fly fishing (size 12 through 20 flies) I do with a 12ft leader. This extra length in your leader is often more important than changing your fly, so give it a go next time you’re having trouble dry fly fishing.
3. Prioritize Your First Cast
The importance of your first cast over a rising fish should be talked about more often. This was first brought to my attention through the blog at Headhunters Fly Shop. Living on one of the greatest dry fly fisheries in the world, these guys know a thing or two. Prioritizing my first cast is a tip I continue to struggle with, though I know it will take my dry fly fishing skills to the next level.
Why is the first cast so important? Two reasons come to mind. The first being the more casts you put over a rising fish, the more suspicious it will become. Inevitably the fish will suspect your trickery. With each subsequent cast, you are more likely to make a mistake and put the fish down from feeding. Your first cast should always be your best cast.
The second reason the first cast is so important is that your first cast is the most likely cast the fish is going to eat your fly. The trout has no reason to suspect the next bug he goes to eat is fake. Every bug that has floated over him thus far has been a natural. If he likes what he sees and it’s in rhythm with his feeding patterns, there is a good chance he eats it. This is why your first cast is so critical. You make a great cast with a proper imitation, you should be fully ready to set the hook.
I have been one to downplay the importance of the first cast only to miss the hookset as I was not ready for the take. Do not be me, it hurts doing everything right only botch the hookset. Make your first cast count.
4. Match Tippet To Bug Size
Having the proper tippet size for the size of the fly is key to a drag-free drift. Current speed and water clarity play a critical role in this equation. In general, the smaller the fly, the smaller the tippet. Here is my basis for matching tippet size to fly size with corresponding hatches.
Hook size 6 through 10 – 2 or 3x tippet – Hatches include stoneflies, hoppers, and any other big foam flies.
Hook size 12 through 14 – 4x tippet – Hatches include drakes and other mayflies, terrestrials, and caddis.
Hook size 16 through 20 – 5x tippet- Hatches include PMDs, BWOs, caddis, tricos, terrestrials, and midges.
While I may stray from these formulas depending on how slow and clear the water is, this is where I will almost always start. It is not as important with larger bugs, but when it gets down to the smaller flies I believe it is pivotal to have the proper tippet diameter.
5. Be Patient
In dry fly fishing, oftentimes the angler with the most patience has the greatest success on the water. Whether that be waiting for the hatch, taking time to identify the bugs the fish are feeding on, or allowing time for the conditions to line up for the perfect scenario. It can be the difference between a good day and a great day on the water.
I have put myself into trouble many times when rushing through a dry fly scenario. It’s hard not to when you see a big brown sipping mayflies against the bank. It’s what I go to bed thinking about every night, so when it happens in real life I want to run across the river and make a cast.
This only leads to fewer fish in the net. A few things I’ve learned to do is approach the fish slowly. Get into the best position to make the cast and see your fly. Watch the trout feed for a few minutes not only to key in on what the fish is eating but to also be present and grateful for the moment. Be patient with your hookset. Oftentimes all you need is a solid tightening of the line to set the hook. I recently had many missed fish due to a hookset that was too quick, pulling the fly from the slow-feeding trout before his head was turned.
Wait to fish the prime water until the peak of the hatch. Fishing the best dry fly water before or after the hatch is a bummer as there are often not as many fish rising. There are many ways to incorporate patience in your dry fly fishing, so find out what that looks like to you next time on the water.
6. Target The Proper Water For The Hatch
Understanding the water type fish will be rising in for different hatches is key to finding trout eating on the surface. I’ve spent a lot of time hunting for heads the last few years, and feel I have a much better grasp on where to look depending on what hatch is coming off.
In general, the colder the water temperature and the smaller the bug will lead to fish rising in the slowest current. Think midges and blue wings for the most part when targeting slow, cold water. When the bigger bugs come off, fish will be willing to come to the surface in faster currents. It is worth the trout’s energy during these hatches. Stoneflies, drakes, and hoppers are good examples.
The stage of the hatch is important to understand as well. Trout will often feed on mayfly cripples or spinners in slow water close to the bank while eating the duns in faster riffles. This understanding comes with experience, witnessing the hatches, and searching for trout rising. I recommend spending time this summer looking for rising trout exclusively. It will help you understand where to look depending on the time of year.
Here are a few of my favorite dry fly fish over the years. Unfortunately many of my older photos have been transferred over a few phones and lost their clarity.
There you have it. A few ways I have improved my dry fly fishing over the last few years. These tips and techniques have been pivotal in my angling ability, but they may not work for you. Stay curious and explore your own ways to catch more fish on a dry fly. Thanks for reading and fish hard.
