How to Choose and Fish Your Flies
While understanding the different types of flies is the first step, the true magic of fly fishing lies in the presentation. Knowing whether to use a dry fly or a nymph is only half the battle; knowing why and how to fish it determines your success on the water. Here is how to turn your fly box into a toolkit for success.
Reading the Water: Surface vs. Subsurface
The most fundamental decision an angler makes is where in the water column to fish.
- Look for the "Rise": If you see concentric circles or splashes on the surface, fish are likely feeding on a hatch. This is your cue to reach for Dry Flies.
- The 90% Rule: Keep in mind that trout do about 90% of their feeding underwater. If the surface is calm, Nymphs or Wet Flies bounced along the bottom or drifted mid-water are statistically your best bet.
Matching the Hatch: Size, Shape, and Color
"Matching the hatch" is the golden rule of fly fishing. To do this effectively, observe your surroundings:
- Check the Vegetation: Shake a few branches near the bank to see what insects fall out.
- Turn Over Stones: Lift a rock from the riverbed to see what Larvae or Nymphs are clinging to it.
- The Priority Order: Always match the Size first, the Shape second, and the Color last. A fish will often overlook the wrong shade of green, but it will rarely strike a fly that is twice the size of the natural insects.
Varying Your Retrieval Strategy
Each fly type requires a specific "action" to look lifelike:
- The Dead Drift: For Dry Flies and Nymphs, your goal is usually to have the fly drift at the exact speed of the current. Any "drag" (the fly moving faster than the water) will often spook the fish.
- The Swing: Wet Flies are often fished on a "swing," letting the current carry the line across the stream until it straightens out, mimicking an insect swimming to the surface to hatch.
- The Strip: Streamers require active movement. Use short, jerky "strips" of the line to mimic a panicked minnow or a swimming leech.
Conclusion: Trial and Error
The most successful anglers are those who aren't afraid to change their fly often. If you’ve drifted a perfect nymph through a deep pool ten times without a hit, it’s time to swap for a different size or a flashier streamer. Fly fishing is a constant conversation between you, the fish, and the environment—stay observant, and the water will tell you what to do.
