dog days of summer fast approaching

[corlay]

Hello All!

Great forum.
Just a newbie here, making his first post.

I'm an intermediate, old-skool trained fly fisherman;
mentored by my father - an (almost) exclusive wet-fly fisherman.

I have excellent sucess early in the season (April 01-June 01) "swinging wets"; but as warmer, and lower (and slower) water conditions start to prevail; I often get "skunked" and start to loose loose interest. Also, I typically can only fish in the mid-afternoons, admittedly not the ideal time to encounter feeding trout. But like I said, the formula works well for me, at least early in the season...

Anyway, my (2) questions:

1. Was wondering if trying to fish drys might improve my chances in the warmer conditions of mid-summer? I have concerns about fishing drys being more "finicky"; with trying to match hatch species/size/etc. And also being an intermediate caster, I have (mild) concerns that presentation becomes more important with drys, no?

2. also, as the temp creeps up, I always find myself researching chest-packs as an alternative to a vest. I kindof like the William Joseph "Mini Pack II" or "Access". They seem like they'd be *much* cooler. Anyone have one, or similar? Like them for NYS stream fishing? To keep cool, especially when the water is down, I'll forgo my chest waders; and just wear my felt-bottomed boots with a cordorura pant. A chest-pack seems like the next logical "lightening of the load".

Any advice would be appreciated...