The thrill of a fish breaking the surface to eat a fly is one of the most exciting things in fly fishing. Whether it’s blue winged olives in the spring, or caddis, stoneflies or hoppers in the summer, it’s hard to pass up any of these opportunities to catch fish on dries.
One of the nice things about dry fly fishing is that it can be simple. After enough time fishing nymph rigs, tying on a dry fly is a welcome change of pace. You could easily strike out with just a handful of flies, a spool of tippet, bottle of dry shake and some nippers in your pocket.
While dry fly fishing can be relatively straightforward, there are some tools and strategies that will make life a lot easier – and your dry fly fishing more productive. For some advice on the subject, we sat down with Anglers All General Manager, Jimmy Juliana. He had some great suggestions for more productive dry fly days…
Why Fish Dry Flies?
Nobody would argue that most of a trout’s meals are taken below the surface. So why is it worth the effort to fish dry flies?
“It’s the visual,” Jimmy said without hesitation. “Completely, one hundred percent, watching a trout come up, follow your fly for a moment, and then making the decision to take it, there’s nothing else like that.
“Then when you get into fishing hoppers and things like that, the hits can be aggressive and fish will even come out of the water to take it,” Jimmy continued. “But no matter if the take is subtle or aggressive, once the fish commits and eats that fly – then I’ve won that battle. I’ve made a successful presentation, fed a fish and I got to watch it eat. You don’t get that with nymphing.”
Dry Fly Rods
One of the great things about dry fly fishing is that it doesn’t require a lot of specialized equipment. When it comes to dry fly fishing, pretty much any rod will get the job done. However, anglers who enjoy dry fly fishing may want to add a dry fly specific rod or two to their quiver.
According to Jimmy, there isn’t one style of rod that’s best for dry fly fishing. There are a number of great options depending on the flies, the water and even the angler’s personal preference.
“If it’s specifically going to be a dry fly rod, a slightly softer, medium-fast action rod is going to lay down that fly delicately,” Jimmy began to explain. “In many dry fly fishing scenarios, like when fishing Blue Winged Olives for example, a delicate presentation is required. In those situations, that medium-fast rod has an advantage.
“But it depends on the bugs too,” Jimmy added. “For example, when fishing hoppers, you’re not looking for a delicate presentation. A fast action rod will to allow you to smack that hopper down. And that stiffer, faster-action fly rod is arguably better for delivering heavier hopper-dropper rigs.”
In the end, Jimmy suggests that if you’re looking for a specific dry fly rod, try out some of those medium-fast action rods like the Sage Trout LL, Scott G Series, Orvis Helios 3F or the Winston Pure. But if you’re looking for a rod that can do a little bit of everything, err toward the fast-action fly rods, which tend to be more versatile.
“From there, the specific rod you choose is going to be a matter of personal preference,” Jimmy suggested. “There are a number of rods in that medium-fast category. Come cast several of them and see which one feels the most comfortable to you. In large part, that decision comes down to your personal casting style and discovering which one works best for you.”
Dry Fly Lines
According to Jimmy, it’s best to pair a line with a rod. Start with the rod, and then let us help you pick the line that is going to match it best.
“It’s not just hype to say that a fly line can really improve a rod’s functionality,” Jimmy said. “Fly lines are so huge, it’s ridiculous what a line can do for a rod. It’s true of any rod, and it’s definitely true when talking about dry fly rods when accuracy and presentation matter”.
“When we’re talking about those medium-fast dry fly rods, a true-to-weight fly line is ideal,” Jimmy told us. “It’s not going to overload the rod and it’s going to lay down softer.”
Some fly lines that can fit the bill include Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout, Rio Elite Technical Trout and Airflo Ridge 2.0 Tactical Taper. These lines are going to excel at delivering dry fly flies and delicate presentations.
When fishing fast-action rods, Jimmy suggested taking a look at fly lines like the Rio Gold, Airflo Ridge 2.0 Universal Taper and Scientific Anglers Infinity Taper. But again, he stressed the importance of starting with a fly rod and then letting us help you match a line specifically to that rod.
“Cleaning your fly line is also a very important step before going dry fly fishing,” Jimmy added. “You want to make sure that tip is floating and that the line is nice and clean for the best performance when fishing dries.”
Leaders and Tippet for Dry Fly Fishing
“Well, there’s the age old question, do you use nylon or fluorocarbon when fishing dries?” Jimmy laughed. “When dry fly fishing, I always start with nylon. I typically start with a nine-foot leader, matching the size of the leader to the fly. I’ll go with a longer leader if the fish are spookier. Or, I’ll go shorter if I’m throwing hoppers, making it easier to turn over those bigger flies, and assuming the fish aren’t as spooky.
“As far as fluorocarbon versus nylon, there are times when fluoro can give you an advantage when dry fly fishing,” Jimmy continued. “And as long as you’re using the right size for the flies you’re fishing, it’s not going to drag your flies down very noticeably.”
Jimmy said that when he’s fishing to spooky brook trout or cutthroats in very clear water, he will often tie on a section of fluorocarbon tippet.
“Sometimes just that little bit of extra stealth can help. In situations when the fish are very spooky or finicky, the invisibility of fluorocarbon in the water can be a real difference maker. But again, I’ll usually start with nylon most days when dry fly fishing – and then make the switch to fluoro when it’s needed.”
Dry Fly Floatant
When dry fly fishing, floatants are one of the few “must-have” accessories. There are many different varieties of floatants and each angler will have their own favorite system.
“I like to use a liquid floatant as a pre-treatment before I before I put the fly in the water,” Jimmy said. “After that, I’ll use a dry shake to dry off the fly after it’s been wet.”
Jimmy added that there are some really good gel floatants available as well. But he warned anglers to be careful when using gel on certain flies and materials. “If you put the wrong gel on a CDC fly for example, you’re going to ruin that fly. Many gels will cause the CDC to become matted and it won’t work at all. On many other materials however, gel floatants work extremely well.”
In our experience, it’s best to carry a liquid, a powered desiccant and a gel whenever possible. Having all three bases covered will help you keep your flies on the surface no matter which flies you end up fishing.
Another worthwhile accessory that Jimmy says can be helpful is an amadou patch. Taking a saturated fly and giving it a gentle squeeze with an amadou patch will suck the excess water right out. While it can be used as a standalone solution, the patch makes a great combo along with dry shake to restore a fly’s buoyancy.
Rigging and Flies
When it comes to rigging, dry fly fishing is pretty straightforward and certainly less complicated that most nymph rigs. Although Jimmy suggests that dry fly anglers can help themselves out by practicing their low-profile knots.
“Work on knots like the Davy knot, that won’t take away from the slim profile of your dry flies,” he suggested. “That will be especially important on those little BWOs, tricos and other small dry flies.”
And while there is something refreshingly simple about fishing a single dry fly, there are situations when tandem rigs can be extremely effective with dry flies.
“Anytime you’re fishing mayflies like BWOs or PMDs, fishing an emerger behind the adult imitation can be extremely effective,” Jimmy explained. “Chances are, they will take one or the other. Remember, if you see fish rising but you don’t see their noses coming out of the water, if they are just porpoising, there’s a different bug for that. They are likely hitting emergers just under the surface. That’s where that tandem rig comes in handy.”
Another dynamite tandem rig is the hopper-dropper combo. Throughout the summer, this should be a go-to tactic for anglers.
“The hopper-dropper rig is the way to fish all summer long if you ask me,” Jimmy told us. “Not only do you have that top water fly, but you’re also down in the water column where most of the eating is being done. It’s a super effective and a really fun way to fish. Keep in mind that Perdigon-style flies make great droppers because they sink quickly and get right down in the fish’s face.”
On the subject of patterns and fly selection, Jimmy also reminded us to venture outside our comfort zones.
“Don’t be afraid to try different bugs,” he said. “Elk Hair Caddis are great, but there’s a lot more out there. Ants and beetles really get overlooked and they are so effective. Fish a hopper and then trail a beetle behind it. Then don’t be afraid to let that beetle sink. Ants are a really effective pattern, and it’s ok to let them sink as well. They are heavy bugs and tons of them end up in the water where trout eat them.
“That said, don’t forget about your classic dry flies either,” Jimmy added. “Flies like Trudes, Humpys and Wulffs are all still in our bins here at the fly shop for good reasons. It’s because they catch fish. Some of those old classic flies are still really effective. And now we enjoy fishing new versions of those classic flies – Dorsey’s Cherry Limeade is a great example.”
Where & When to Fish Dries
While hatch charts can be helpful and there are some general rules regarding when and where to find a dry fly hatch, bug activity will also depend on things like elevation, weather and recent moisture. Jimmy reminds us that if you’re unsure – just ask.
“Sure, it’s helpful to remember that BWO’s often hatch on cool, overcast days in the spring and fall – and that hoppers become prolific in July and August,” Jimmy said. “But we are here to help with all of those questions. If you’re going on a trip or heading out for a day of fishing, you can always ask us for recommendations.”
Thanks to Jimmy for taking time to share some of his dry fly fishing tips. If you have follow up questions or if you need help getting started, please don’t hesitate to ask. You can visit us at the fly shop in Littleton. Or give us a call at 303-794-1104. We’d love to help you feel prepared for a great day of dry fly fishing.
