Anybody fis the wet fly with regularity? I'm trying to work on my expertise with this method and looking for pointers. I always seem to resort to nymphing. I've read HUghes and Nemes, and I want to get better at fishing the wet fly. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Give us a try!
Welcome back to the new NEFF. Take a break from Twitter and Facebook. You don't go to Dicks for your fly fishing gear, you go to your local fly fishing store. Enjoy!
Wet flies
- Thread starter rckrego
- Start date
troutbum20
New member
how are you fishing them? i sometimes search for trout with them and/or use them when the water is lower and temps are right
McAwful
Get some..
I have always been a big fan of the old "down and across" or "across and down methods."
Down and Across-Put on two or three wet flies or a nymph with a wet fly trailer then cast 45 degrees down stream. If the current is right you will get a nice downstream bow in your line. This will cause the flies to swing first across the current second up the water column like an emerger. This technique works best for moderate flows and medium depths. If you are not getting the downstream bow in your line put it there with a mend.
Across and Down-The same principle but works better for faster and deeper runs or when you just want your fly to get deeper. Cast straight across and throw a quick upstream mend in your line. This will allow the fly to sink a little. When it reaches the 45 degree downstream mark, throw in the downstream mend mentioned above to get the flies to swing.
Weight-You could use a bead head or weighted nymph above the wet fly. You can also put some shot on your line or do both. I have no preference and do what the trout like. I generally go to this technique in water above 50 degrees that has emerging activity in it. It does work outside of those criteria, I just like to figure out what the bugs and trout are actually doing and not throw stuff at them attractor style.
Good Luck
MCA
Down and Across-Put on two or three wet flies or a nymph with a wet fly trailer then cast 45 degrees down stream. If the current is right you will get a nice downstream bow in your line. This will cause the flies to swing first across the current second up the water column like an emerger. This technique works best for moderate flows and medium depths. If you are not getting the downstream bow in your line put it there with a mend.
Across and Down-The same principle but works better for faster and deeper runs or when you just want your fly to get deeper. Cast straight across and throw a quick upstream mend in your line. This will allow the fly to sink a little. When it reaches the 45 degree downstream mark, throw in the downstream mend mentioned above to get the flies to swing.
Weight-You could use a bead head or weighted nymph above the wet fly. You can also put some shot on your line or do both. I have no preference and do what the trout like. I generally go to this technique in water above 50 degrees that has emerging activity in it. It does work outside of those criteria, I just like to figure out what the bugs and trout are actually doing and not throw stuff at them attractor style.
Good Luck
MCA
The suggestions are all good. You can fish wets upstream, high sticking, fast or slow strip or practically any way you fish any other fly. Experiment, and don't feel guilty putting a weight or beadhead on to get the flies to where the fish are. However, it's not all weight. Learn to mend to control the speed and depth of your flies.
My one suggestion when using multiple wet flies is to use heavy tippets and droppers - like 3X or 4X. Everyone is all hung up about going to those tiny 5x and 6x tippets. But they will tangle up very easy on a multiple wet fly set up and the fish don't generally mind the heavier tippet.
I guess another suggestion is to keep as little of your fly line on the water as possible to maintain control of your line. Wet fly fishing is like nymph fishing in that keeping a balance of a little slack for a natural drift and a tight enough line to notice the hit and strike is a key to success.
My one suggestion when using multiple wet flies is to use heavy tippets and droppers - like 3X or 4X. Everyone is all hung up about going to those tiny 5x and 6x tippets. But they will tangle up very easy on a multiple wet fly set up and the fish don't generally mind the heavier tippet.
I guess another suggestion is to keep as little of your fly line on the water as possible to maintain control of your line. Wet fly fishing is like nymph fishing in that keeping a balance of a little slack for a natural drift and a tight enough line to notice the hit and strike is a key to success.
NJFred
Trout Hunter
I'm just getting into this technique as well. A couple of thoughts although by no means am I even OK at this technique
You can target likely holding spots by letting a line out/mending as the wet rig moves through the water or alternatively pulling a little line in.
You can put a streamer on as the terminal fly instead of a wet. Looks like a small bait fish chasing nymphs. This is supposed to get the fish really jazzed and result in more hits.
Keep a loose grip on the line. Takes can be incredibly hard and can result in a break off. A loose grip lets line slip through your fingers at the take which can mean the difference between a fish or a broken tippet.
You can target likely holding spots by letting a line out/mending as the wet rig moves through the water or alternatively pulling a little line in.
You can put a streamer on as the terminal fly instead of a wet. Looks like a small bait fish chasing nymphs. This is supposed to get the fish really jazzed and result in more hits.
Keep a loose grip on the line. Takes can be incredibly hard and can result in a break off. A loose grip lets line slip through your fingers at the take which can mean the difference between a fish or a broken tippet.
Last edited:
Thank you all. Great info. I've been trying to work a fuzzy nymph/ traditional wet/ small streamer combo for a while. Guess I will keep that up. The mending info is very helpful thank. Any line preferences for the wets? Do you think 2x fluoro on the droppers is too heavy?
sstasiak
Super Pupa
I'd go with the lightest tippet you think you can get away with. 2x sounds a little overkill for nymphing. I like 4x/5x fluoro.
theartoflee
Anadromous Angler
If you have netflix their is a DVD available for rent that has instruction on fishing teams of wet flys. The video is from Fly Fish TV and is called Steelhead Ways. They disscuss the upstream presentation of wetflys.
As for line suggestions I have heard all that is needed is an older DT line.
As for line suggestions I have heard all that is needed is an older DT line.
jack1266
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
I encountered a gentleman last month who was catching fish with wets. When he showed me his setup I was surprised to see that he had five flies attached to the leader with some shot about a foot above the first fly to get it down deep. There were no droppers on the leader. The flies were tied right to the leader about a foot apart from each other. I guess you can't use that leader for anything else once you knot all those flies in a line. Anyone tried this technique?
I tried the wet flies on my 7 foot 3 wt fiberglass, but the wet fly dropper rig was just too cumbersome for that outfit. I've had more success on my 10 foot 4 wt. overlined with 5 wt rio nymph line. Its my nymphing rod and makes mending so much easier. I think I might try a tandem wet fly set up with the three weight or drop one off a dry, but that little rod just can't handle the brace of flies. Next going to try my 9 foot 4 wt., but I think I'll end up sticking with the 10 footer.
McAwful summed it up well 
I would like to add a couple more bits of info some may find useful.
Another technique I have found that is rather deadly is the Leisenring lift. When caddis are hatching, try and postion urself above and across the actively feeding fish. You can use a weighted fly as a point fly or add a small spitshot if u like. If i can get away with not using any weight I am much happier. I like to grease my leader with floatant to about 15 inches above the fly. This way the fly sits in film a couple of inches below the surface. I cast either directly across or at a angle downstream several feet above the fish. Periodically like mentioned above I will put some mends in the line so the fly is acting as natural as possible. Its not always necessary to do this because caddis do emerge at mach speed hence why the trout are spashy trying to get them before they come off. While the fly is swinging from one side of the current to the ur side, u ever so slightly lift ur rod up pully the fly to the surface. Make sure u keep a loose grip on ur line because the strikes will be vicious! Sometimes I even get strikes by letting the fly dangle at the end of the drift even though I usually miss the hookset.
I have also had alot of success fishing to active fish during mayfly hatches the same way you would fish a dryfly/emerger. Dead drift style.
Sometimes you can incorporate a twitch now and then and have luck.
Unfortanetly I cannot comment on using this for Sulfur hatches because I have lived and did most of my fly fishing out west. It does work well for PMD's and baetis and when the fish are onto emergers.
Have had many 20+fish days on the firehole in YNP using Peacock+starling and Pheasant tail soft hackles in unison. Such a blast using a 3 weight and just working the water. I like hares ear softhackles and orange or green silk with patridge hackle as well.
Hope it helps I will be home in a little more then a week and cant wait to fish my home waters!
Tightlines
I would like to add a couple more bits of info some may find useful.Another technique I have found that is rather deadly is the Leisenring lift. When caddis are hatching, try and postion urself above and across the actively feeding fish. You can use a weighted fly as a point fly or add a small spitshot if u like. If i can get away with not using any weight I am much happier. I like to grease my leader with floatant to about 15 inches above the fly. This way the fly sits in film a couple of inches below the surface. I cast either directly across or at a angle downstream several feet above the fish. Periodically like mentioned above I will put some mends in the line so the fly is acting as natural as possible. Its not always necessary to do this because caddis do emerge at mach speed hence why the trout are spashy trying to get them before they come off. While the fly is swinging from one side of the current to the ur side, u ever so slightly lift ur rod up pully the fly to the surface. Make sure u keep a loose grip on ur line because the strikes will be vicious! Sometimes I even get strikes by letting the fly dangle at the end of the drift even though I usually miss the hookset.
I have also had alot of success fishing to active fish during mayfly hatches the same way you would fish a dryfly/emerger. Dead drift style.
Sometimes you can incorporate a twitch now and then and have luck.
Unfortanetly I cannot comment on using this for Sulfur hatches because I have lived and did most of my fly fishing out west. It does work well for PMD's and baetis and when the fish are onto emergers.
Have had many 20+fish days on the firehole in YNP using Peacock+starling and Pheasant tail soft hackles in unison. Such a blast using a 3 weight and just working the water. I like hares ear softhackles and orange or green silk with patridge hackle as well.
Hope it helps I will be home in a little more then a week and cant wait to fish my home waters!
Tightlines
