BEST Fly Fishing Methods | Swinging Wet Flies

#flyfishing #troutfishing #fishing

[titleted]

Swinging soft hackles is my favorite fly fishing technique! But I think you are missing a lot of fish. I dead drift my soft hackles for about 20 feet and then I let the current straighten them out. The current will swing them up, imitating an emerging fly (I get a lot of aggressive takes just before the fly reaches the surface). I let them dangle in the current at the end of the swing for a good 5-10 seconds (also get some aggressive takes here). Finally, I strip the line in so I can cast again (sometimes the trout love the strip and hit the fly as it's being stripped). Now the fish can take your fly in four different parts of the cast: 1) the dead drift 2) the swing 3) the dangle 4) the strip

Also, I have seen good spots where there are plenty of fish and they don't hit the fly on the first cast. That's why I always cast to the same spot at least 3 times before moving down a bit. A lot of times instead of moving, I will add 2-3 feet of line to my drift and cast again 3-6 times to the same spot. Then add another 2-3 feet of line and repeat. I will continue this as long as the line is manageable.

One last tip: When swinging soft hackles, I keep my rod tip up. It keeps the fly line out of the current(s) nearest me so it can maintain the desired, drag free dead drift. Also, when a strike happens, the rod absorbs the strike. This cuts down on tippet breaking from the initial shock of the strike.

Tight lines!

[MrSofthackle]

I swing softhackles a lot especially when there is a hatch going on. I’ve found that during a hatch more often than not the fish are taking emergers rather than the adults and a softhackle does a nice job of imitating an emerging insect.

[sirmegallot]

I cast in close, working my way out. I also tend to cast more directly across from me (perpendicular with the river), lay out a couple mends to get the fly just a little lower, then let the line tighten so I get a big 90 degree swing. The takes are VIOLENT, in the swifter water the fish has to make a decision to chase it down and at that point you are on a tight line and the fish usually hooks itself. At the end of the drift when the fly is nearly below you try slowly lifting the rod tip (Lisenring Lift? I think) and it will imitate the fly attempting to emerge. I get a lot of takes here at the end of the drift this way. Tight lines!

[jimjobes]

The tug is the drug always fun swinging don't forget to leave it in the dangle a few extra seconds at end of the swing 😉

[dtrout]

Someone above mentioned fishing closer to yourself and then extending line and working a longer arc with each cast and that’s good advice. Trout are easily frightened and swim to their preferred place of safety and they stop feeding. Sights and sounds that are not normal spook the trout. Walking and splashing in the stream will do this in relatively slow moving streams….. if the stream bed is rocky, boots grinding the stones together will act like security alarm for a pretty good distance. Sounds above the stream are muffled but sounds originating under the water are easily heard by the trout. So move slowly and as softly as possible, avoid making any sounds that don’t blend in with natural sounds. Casting the line over the water will also spook trout if they see it, so avoid false casting as shown in this video. It helps to bring a chair and sit in one spot for 5-10 minutes very still…. you will be less visible by staying low and the trout will believe the danger has passed and start feeding again. And remember that when you spook small trout near your position, they flee downstream (to move more quickly) and will alert other trout to the danger …. and those other trout will also spook and run for cover. Stealth is something like 80 pct of success. You can have a great fly on the line but unless there is a mega-hatch going on, the trout will be spooked when they see or hear you and will go into fear mode, hide and not feed. If you keep moving and making noise, the trout will stay in fear mode even longer…. Perhaps 10-20 minutes. Bigger trout might stop feeding much longer….. and they tend to only feed after dark where I fish, unless there are big bugs on the water.

[stevenpfotzer]

I too, like to swing wet flies; I've caught some big trout swinging wet, especially soft hackles.

[thomasgallo]

I fish a march brown softshoe pattern that works as a dry and wet fly. I fish it as a dry from 45deg upstream to 45deg downstream, then give it a strip to submerge it and let it swing.

[castbyjohnflytying]

An advise, when fly is swinging do slow figure of 8 while fly is swinging, you’ll see you get more hits 😊 here in Europe is how we swing the wets and works great, great video 😊💯🎣

[mpjszep]

Fishing my favorite river vicariously through your video! Thanks

[wanderingghost]

Im going to give this a shot, Im still kind of new to fly fishing and have been relying on dry flies only.

[mikelundrigan]

An excellent way to cover the water and catch trout! I also occasionally move the rod with my wrist in small movements as I swing to create a pulse motion to make the flys seem alive! Tight lines and good luck!

[angelocorrea-denoncourt]

Skagit casting is a great option here as well.. 150 grain line or head works. Rio and opst are lines that i have used

[joshuabennett]

I have my grandfathers fly tying tools and based off the materials and hooks and the era he grew up in he only soft hackles and streamers no one ever talks about how they fished them back then

[timothydalton]

Personally, I love swinging wet flies down with the current. I do use a slow sink leader with a long tippett attached. I think if I were to introduce a new angler to fly fishing, this is the way I'd go. Nice video!

[whatsthatguydoin]

Not my type of fishing, but it is fun to watch. Great job.

[louied]

Swinging and dead drifting sunken spinners around dark can be a blast.

[SlayermikeFishingandMORE]

I learned something new looks like something I might try eventually 🙂

[paulmckearney]

In fast flowing water like that if you make an upstream mend then the flies will drift in a more controlled manner and present more naturally to the fish. Two or three upstream mends on water like that. As a more experienced (ie older) fisherman I tend to fish wet flies upstream these days as I think it helps to target the bigger fish. However if that is not possible I will still use the downstream wet fly technique.

[Reyes.od_g]

What are some wet flies you recommend? I’m going to my local fly shop getting some

[austinmack]

Had far do you cast down and how do you keep the slack or know if there’s a bite when there is slack?