| Fly fishing from a drift boat can be a | | | | your flies through the natural currents. |
| tremendous advantage over wade fishing. It | | | | The undercurrents are not always the same as |
| allows you to cover a lot more water and get | | | | the surface current. You want your flies to |
| amazingly long drifts. I row a drift boat | | | | drift naturally.4. Fish Dry flies downstream |
| about a 180 days a year and have worked hard | | | | from the boat. |
| to perfect my craft. When fly fishing from a | | | | |
| drift boat it is important to remember it is | | | | An easy way to do this is turn the boat |
| different from wade fishing. I watch a | | | | sideways and cast straight downstream. This |
| countless number of drift boats go by trying | | | | can be difficult if the wind is blowing. |
| to fish like they would while wading. Here | | | | If the boat is pointed downstream, cast as |
| are some simple tips to help you catch more | | | | much downstream as possible and still reach |
| fish from a drift boat.1. Row the boat at the | | | | your desired target. A 45 degree angle |
| same speed as your flies. | | | | downstream is a good place to start. Both |
| | | | fishermen should fish parallel to one |
| Most of the time your flies and the boat | | | | another. When fishing the bank avoid the |
| will be moving in different currents. That | | | | temptation to cast straight across. Hit the |
| means the boat and the flies will be | | | | bank as far downstream as possible. A reach |
| traveling at different speeds. The rower | | | | cast works best.5. Things not to do. |
| needs to focus on one of the flies and slow | | | | |
| down or speed up accordingly. It is the job | | | | Don't fish behind the boat. Especially with |
| of the fisherman to mend his/her line as | | | | dry flies. You want the fish to see your fly |
| needed to keep a proper drift. If two people | | | | first, not last. |
| are fishing, fish out the same side of the | | | | |
| boat at a similar distance. It is impossible | | | | Don't anchor in a run or on a flat. It is |
| for the rower to row two different drifts at | | | | rude to block the natural flow of traffic. |
| the same time.2. Fish nymphs perpendicular | | | | |
| to the boat with the boat pointed downstream. | | | | Don't pull anchor and start fishing in front |
| | | | of someone right behind you. |
| | | | |
| If you fish nymphs in front of the boat you | | | | Don't switch sides of the river in front of |
| will miss most of your hits. In fact, the | | | | other boats. |
| majority of your hits won't even move your | | | | |
| indicator. You'll never know if they even | | | | Don't row over other peoples flies. |
| happened. Cast your line straight towards | | | | |
| shore and mend accordingly. You want your | | | | Don't criticize other boats for their |
| flies to trail back on a 45 degree angle from | | | | mistakes.6.Things to do. |
| your indicator. This will increase the | | | | |
| number of hookups.3. Don't overweight your | | | | Have fun and catch fish. |
| nymph rigs. | | | | |
| | | | Give others lots of space. |
| Weight your rigs enough to get the flies to | | | | |
| the bottom without hanging up. It should | | | | Avoid contention on the river. |
| take the flies five to ten seconds to reach | | | | |
| the feeding zone. I can usually float 200 to | | | | We are all out there to have a good time, so |
| 500 feet without hanging up. If you never | | | | lets have a good time.The author is a fly |
| hang up you probably need to add a little | | | | fishing guide on Utah's Green River. He |
| weight. Adding too much weight will not | | | | works with Flaming Gorge Resort and is owner |
| allow the flies to drift naturally with the | | | | and writer of Green River Flyfisher. |
| current. Rather your indicator will pull | | | | |