Wet Fly Ways

I love fishing wet flys. Its the oldest form of fly fishing but its still one of the most effective ways to take fish consistently. Let me tell you why I like it in case you haven’t given this most classic form of fly fishing a try.

First off, I’m a pretty no-nonsense guy; I want to catch fish. My time is limted and I want to maximize my time on the stream. Wet flys work. Not every time but most of the time.
Second they are a lot of fun to fish. I hate dry flies. Ok, call me lazy but I don’t really like having to constantly dress dries to keep them up top. That leaves me the option of streamers, wets or nymphs. Nymphs are good but you usually have to add some kind of weight to get them down–not the first or most pleasant option for the fly caster. With wets things are different–quite different.
Most of those who fish wets fish them in a “cast” or series of two to three flies. Depth, as with nymphs, can be quite important. I use different size flies at differing points on the leader to control depth. I often favor a larger point fly: a good one is a yellow stone or something in the size 10 to 12 range. This will help sink the cast. I follow with a standard wet in size 14 or so then usually a smaller offering if im searching water and there is no visible hatch going on.

One of my favorite ways to fish a cast of wet flies is the across and down with a “bump”. I cast across or slightly upstream (its important to give things time to sink a bit) then let the line slide by and as is starts to get to about a 45 angle downstream (or when i think its over fish) i start to make a short up and down snap with the rod tip moving the flies about3-4 inches through the water. I immediately follow with as short strip of 4-6 inches and so work the flies through the water and around the bend in the line formed as the current pulls everything downstream. “What about drag fee drift?”, you ask? Forget about it. It doesn’t really apply in wet fly fishing. This in fact makes this a much easier way to fish for most beginners who not only don’t understand the concept of drag free drift but can’t control it very well anyway. I use this technique a lot with beginning anglers on my guided trips.

If you are interested in more info on this as well as some really great patterns, stop by and check out our video by wet fly waterguides from PA. We have some selection boxes from them and they’ve done a great video demonstrating the technique ive just described. Try wet flies. Its a great new (old) way to fish and I’ll bet its also a new challenge for most fly fishermen to take on. Oh, by the way, they catch fish too.
Gordon English