Dry fly fishing: The agony and ecstasy Matching the hatch one key

Of the many styles of fly fishing, none is more challenging or rewarding than properly casting a dry fly. This particular method of angling requires the ability to select the correct size and type of dry fly to match the surface insects trout are feeding on, before a cast is even attempted.

Once a pattern is selected and tied on, the angler must make a precision cast and allow the presentation to alight on the water surface like a down feather. A proper float and natural drift must be accomplished with exacting line and rod control, such that nary a ripple gives the imitation an unnatural look. And even when it’s all done correctly, a trout will often ignore your flawless, delicate offering to slurp down a natural insect floating right alongside.

I’ve spent more than 30 years casting dry flies to fish from Maine to Colorado and from Quebec to Alaska. I learn something new every time I go fishing, but most of all I understand how much more I really need to learn about dry flying. Take an outing I enjoyed last summer, for example. It was one of those sweltering dog days of August when you’d swear even your eyeballs were sweating.

An Evening Outing

During supper I pondered the two hours of yard work that lay ahead of me, but couldn’t seem to master much enthusiasm. My mind’s eye kept fast forwarding to a nearby brook and school of trout feeding ravenously on surface bugs. Being weak-willed where outdoor sports are concerned, I made the executive decision that if I was going to keel over from heat stroke, it was going to be with a fly rod in my hand, not a garden rake.

Twenty minutes later I was standing well back from a spot where a small cold water creek dumps into one of my favorite streams. In a spot the size of a small car there were so many trout feeding that the water surface almost seemed to boil. As I watched for a few minutes, every once in awhile the water would erupt in a huge splash as a large trout displayed great gusto in devouring a particularly tasty winged tidbit. Staying well back, so as not to spook the fish in the clear, shallow holding pool, fingers trembling with anticipation, I tied on a mosquito dry fly.

I made a very delicate cast, gently dropping the fly along the outer edge of the pod of trout, and watched in utter amazement as it was completely ignored while fish rose all around it. I burned up several inches of leader trying Cahills, Slim Jims, Adamses, Hendricksons and half a dozen other proven favorites in various sizes. There were lots of finned spectators, but no players.

Leaning my rod against a bush, I walked 10 yards downstream through the brush and then waded out to check the water for bugs. No noticeable insects where floating on the surface, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there, only that they were too small to see in the dusk. I slipped a small net of cheese cloth type material from my vest and dipped into the flow, held it in place for a minute and retrieved it to inspect the contents. A multitude of tiny black midges lined the net, smaller than a match head, so I would need a size 20 or smaller dry fly to match them. Back at the fishing hole I spent nearly five minutes filled with colorful euphemisms for thin leaders, tiny flies, aging eyes and encroaching darkness. Finally I got the diminutive fly knotted in place.

On six consecutive casts with the miniscule black midge I hooked six trout. Two pulled free during the fight, three were landed and released, including a fat 11-incher. The sixth fish was the largest of the night, and its vicious strike separated the fly from the leader, possibly due to my inability to see well in the dark and offer a proper hook set. A minute later the surface was calm and not a fish moved. The hatch was over, which was just as well since I would have needed a seeing eye dog to tie on another fly. On the drive home I alternatively grumbled about losing what was surely a pound trout, and patted myself on the back for finally matching the hatch, and for awhile there I didn’t even notice how hot and muggy it was. That’s the agony and the ecstasy of dry fly fishing.

Why Drys?

Any angler who hasn’t gotten into dry fly fishing at all or just casts drys occasionally needs to reevaluate, because during July and August there’s no more consistent and reliable style of trout fishing. Once warm weather settles in, Maine waterways begin to drop in level and rise in temperature, and trout, just like humans, seek out more comfortable locations to spend their summer vacation. Soon the fish are schooled up in certain spots rather than spread out randomly as they are in high water conditions. Once located, an angler can visit these sites week after week and year after year unless the stream bed changes drastically.

Aside from the chance to cast a fly to dozens of fish in one small spot, summer also brings forth a multitude of fly hatches. Throughout the next two months, mayfly, stonefly and caddis fly hatches abound, and the variety of terrestrials floating on local waterways seems limitless. Being on the right pond or stream at just the right time, with just the right dry fly pattern can produce the type of surface action lifelong memories are made of. It’s possible to catch and release 20 trout from one pod during a hatch without even changing position or changing a fly. It’s happened to me a number of times and I can relive each one vividly in my memory and look forward longingly for the next fiasco. This is what creates and nurtures a dry fly addict.

Where and When

Wherever a cold water creek inlets into a larger stream trout will group up. Deep holes, especially those shaded by lush overhead foliage, will also draw fish. Cold springs and seeps are spots where crystal clear, chilled water bubbles from the stream bed under water or near a river’s edge. Often difficult to locate the first time, these sites draw tons of trout. Ledges and bank undercuts are two more likely spots that offer shade, cool conditions and protection from overhead predators.

All of these summer holding spots can be found by walking water edges when the sun is high and spotting the schools of laid up trout, and then returning later to actually present dry flies to the fish once they have settled down. Wading a brook in the evening and watching for pods of fish feeding on the surface is another method of scouting. Exploring an unfamiliar waterway by moving about and blind casting is another method of pinpointing holding pools, but this technique can often spook the fish. Once located, however, it’s likely these cool-water runs will reward you day after day, season after season.

The most productive times to dry fly fish holding pools is just after dawn and a couple of hours before dark. This is fortuitous since a short pre- or post-work dry fly outing will generally fit into most every sport’s schedule. Even on the brightest, hottest days trout have to feed, and the times are usually early and late in the day, which coincidentally is generally when the major hatches occur too. Overcast days with plenty of cloud cover will also produce regular action.

Prolonged rain showers will induce fish activity by raising and cooling the stream water and adding much needed oxygen. Thunderstorms and downpours add water, but generally the deluge of rain flushes debris and field dirt into the stream, making it too dirty and muddy to fly fish for a day or two. Occasionally if there’s a drastic temperature drop for a couple of days and nights dry fly fishing will pick up, even during mid-day at times. My belief is that productive dry fly fishing conditions are limited, so a sport should get out there at every opportunity because you can’t catch fish weeding the garden or pruning the hedge.

Equipment and Flies

Gear for the novice or mediocre dry fly enthusiast is fairly straightforward. For fishing small, narrow brooks select a 7- or 71/2- foot rod, while for rivers or ponds, an 81/2- or 9-foot length will provide longer casting ability. While expert dry fliers with years of experience delicately casting, hooking and playing trout, and the desire to enjoy a better battle, opt for very lightweight two-, three- or four-weight rods. The average angler should go a bit heavier when selecting everyday dry fly gear. For trout averaging 8- to 12-inches and even the rare 2-pounder, a six-weight rod and reel will meet all needs. A weight forward, floating line and a 71/2- to 9-foot leader with at least a four-pound tippet is a good middle of the road choice, and I have a personal habit of putting at least 100 yards of 20 pound backing on every reel I own. Eventually the outfit may be used to fish for 6- to 8-pound rainbow trout in Alaska, and the backing will be much appreciated.

Purchase and carry a net to decrease the handling of large trout during hook removal and release, and purchase a long hemostat or hook disgorger. A good set of clippers, fly floatant and a floating fly box are also wise buys. Carry at least three spools of leader material in various sizes for changing tippets.

Neophyte dry fly casters should initially settle for a dozen patterns in hook sizes 14, 16 and 18. Add 12s and 20s, and more shapes and styles as time and experience progress. Without hesitation, I recommend an Adams, light Cahill, quill Gordan, grey hackle, royal Wulff and an olive dun as a premiere half dozen choices. The second team would include a Henryville special, mosquito, gray slim Jim, gold ribbed hare’s ear, grasshopper and Hendrickson. This diverse dozen will generally take all but the most discerning and selective feeders.

Proper dry fly presentation takes lots of practice, precision and patience. No other style of trout fishing requires more finesse for consistent success. Entire books are available on casting and fishing a dry fly, but a few basics will get you started. Stand as far away from the feeding fish as you’re to reach with a reliable cast. Cast to the edges of the school first, since laying a line across the fish or hauling struggling trout from the center of the school will quickly spook the rest of the trout. Float the fly onto the surface without line or fly splash. Ensure a free float with no drift ripples from the fly or leader with careful line manipulation. Use just the rod tip and a slight wrist action to set the hook immediately when the fly disappears during a rise. Practice, Practice and then Practice some more.

Dry fly casting is THE standard for dependable warm weather trout fishing. Above and beyond the regular success rate, it is a wicked challenging style of enticing and hooking fish, and the tiny flies make playing a good-sized trout very exciting. Above all else, warm weather anglers must remember that a rod in the hand is always better than two on the rake!

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached at graves@umpi.maine.edu