| Although its true that most trout feed below the | | | | much foliage to have a long leader. I try to have |
| surface most of the time, my favorite kind of fly | | | | at least 9 feet of leader and more if possible. |
| fishing is dry fly fishing. This is where you present | | | | Longer leader is harder to manipulate, so practice, |
| an imitation of an adult insect that has reached | | | | practice, practice. |
| maturity and is floating on the surface film of the | | | | 3) Match the hatch: Take notice of the bugs flying |
| water. The excitement I receive from seeing a | | | | around you. Give the bushes next to the water a |
| large trout come from below and take the fly is | | | | little shake a get a good look at what flies off. It |
| how I got hooked onto fly fishing in the first | | | | is good to know the color of the naturals around |
| place. Most fly fishermen will have success | | | | you, but it is imperative that you have the right |
| catching trout, but at the expense of watching a | | | | size. The right color fly that is too large will leave |
| strike indicator all day. If you're like me, the sight | | | | you empty handed where as the fly that is close |
| of a rising trout will make your heart skip a beat. | | | | in color and is the right size will still be very |
| Know in advance that if you only fish dry flies, | | | | effective. |
| you will probably catch less fish than your friends | | | | 4) Cast upstream: Stealth is on your side if you |
| that are nymph fishing. However, these 5 tips will | | | | take this approach. As I've already mentioned, if a |
| greatly increase your productivity and help you | | | | trout sees your fly line, it wont take your fly. |
| catch more trout on dry flies. | | | | That goes the same for you. If you step into it's |
| 1) Read the water: Often, beginners are guilty of | | | | view you will have a very frustrating experience. |
| walking right up to the water and casting. To be | | | | Cast your dry fly upstream. Now, any trout that |
| effective as a fly fisherman you will need to take | | | | you may be trying to catch are facing away |
| the time to learn how trout live and feed. | | | | from you and should be in direct line with your fly |
| Subsequently, you will then understand where | | | | that is now traveling downstream towards you |
| likely trout lies are in the water. When you | | | | and the fish on the current. As the fly makes its |
| approach the water look for places where fish | | | | way back towards you strip in the loose line so |
| can hold without expending much energy and | | | | that when trout takes the fly you can set the |
| where they have protection from predators. Now, | | | | hook. Avoid casting directly upstream from where |
| hopefully you are wearing the requisite polarized | | | | you are. This causes your fly to directly follow |
| glasses so you can learn to identify a holding trout | | | | the fly line and will also make trout wary. |
| under the water. Focus on those spots where | | | | 5) Limit false casting: Trout can be very shy and |
| they should be and wait for any shadows to | | | | easily put down. The less false casting you do, the |
| move. Those moving shadows are feeding trout. | | | | more opportunity you will have to catch trout. |
| the biggest clue to where a trout is holding is | | | | You should only be false casting to dry your fly. If |
| when they are feeding on the surface. Look for | | | | you are false casting because you lack accuracy, |
| small ripples that accompany the small splash of a | | | | then move closer and perform shorter casts. |
| surface feeding trout. Now keep watching and | | | | Move slowly to keep your stealth advantage. |
| you will see that trout come to the surface. | | | | when you do false cast, try to change the |
| 2) Use as long a leader as you can: When trout | | | | direction of the cast so the line doesn't fly over |
| feed on the surface, they are obviously looking up | | | | the water you are fishing. Practice your casting. |
| to see their meals coming to them. Because of | | | | Eventually, you should be able to pick up your line |
| this, if your fly line is too close to your leader the | | | | and cast it with accuracy the first time. |
| trout will see it and will not take the fly. Make | | | | Put these tips to use and I know your dry fly |
| sure to have on as long a leader as you are | | | | fishing will improve. Now, go practice and catch |
| comfortable fishing to prevent unnecessary | | | | some fish. |
| spooking of the trout. Sometimes there is too | | | | |