| Several methods can be used to fish a dry fly. | | | | you'll encounter on the stream. This can be |
| Dead drifting, skating, and twitching are probably | | | | imitated by presenting your fly in such a manner |
| the more popular methods employed when | | | | that it is skating across the surface. To do this, |
| manipulating dries. | | | | position yourself upstream of the fish so that you |
| Casting upstream and using the current to drift | | | | are able to cast downstream towards him. Cast |
| the fly downstream is called dead drifting. This | | | | on a slight downstream angle towards the far |
| means that the fly is floating at the same speed | | | | bank to measure your line and allow the fly to |
| as the water and anything else that happens to | | | | drift downstream while the current pulls it |
| be drifting down the stream on the surface. This | | | | towards you. Once the line is directly downstream |
| is a very effective method to deliver spinner and | | | | of you, gently pick up the line and repeat the |
| dun patterns to unsuspecting trout cautiously | | | | cast. This time, as the fly touches down on the |
| sipping flies from the surface, and it appears most | | | | water, simultaneously lift your rod tip high in the |
| natural to the fish when drifted in this manner. To | | | | air to prevent most of your leader and all of your |
| keep the fly drifting at the appropriate speed, | | | | fly line from hitting the water. Now, as the fly |
| you'll probably have to mend the line a little. To do | | | | begins its drift downstream, follow it with your |
| this, gently 'flick' your line upstream, to halt any | | | | rod tip held high, keeping a gentle sort of tension |
| drag created by the current grabbing the line and | | | | on the fly. The effect you are seeking here is to |
| pulling it downstream faster than the current is | | | | have your fly bounce and skate across the |
| moving. This will be necessary particularly when | | | | surface of the water as it is pulled downstream |
| fishing with long casts over several areas where | | | | and towards you, eventually ending at a point |
| the current may be travelling at an inconsistent | | | | directly downstream of where you are standing. |
| speed from one point of the river to the other. | | | | Once the fly has reached the point where it is |
| You may also want to try twitching the fly as it | | | | downstream of you, DON'T be too quick in lifting |
| drifts downstream. This will often result in strikes | | | | your line and casting again. Keep the fly in this |
| from otherwise lazy fish that may not notice | | | | position bouncing and twitching for several |
| your fly as it drifts downstream motionless. In | | | | seconds or more before repeating the cast. |
| performing long casts with tiny flies, it will become | | | | Always raise your line gently as it will be sitting |
| increasingly harder to see your fly as it drifts. Try | | | | right above suspected fish, and the loud splash or |
| to notice where the fly is, based on where the | | | | pop that is created by lifting your fly too quickly |
| end of your fly line is and where you expect your | | | | will spook them and put them down for a while. |
| fly to be. Use the foam or other debris floating | | | | The Perfect Skater ~ The Elk Hair Caddis - |
| with the current to judge the speed at which | | | | Originator ~ Al Toth |
| your offering is drifting at and try to match that | | | | Elk Hair Caddis patterns are high floating, high |
| speed. | | | | visibility patterns. Great for novice fly folk |
| During your time on the water, you'll probably | | | | because they are so easily seen on the surface, |
| come to notice flies skittering and bouncing on the | | | | even at great distances. Tie these flies in the |
| surface of the water. This can be a result of | | | | colours and sizes that reflect their natural |
| different habits of the different species of fly | | | | counterparts. |