DRY FLY FISHING SECRETS
by
Eugene Macri

Dry fly fishing is getting tougher and tougher because of the lack of hatches and other changing environmental conditions on trout streams. So it pays to understand what the most effective techniques, and methods are to find trout that will rise. Notice I said to find trout that will rise! Too many fly anglers are under the mistaken impression that all trout will rise if they present the fly in the proper manner. Think again! This may have been true at one time on many streams but for the most part those days are over.

I live and fish the limestone spring creeks of South-Central PA and I can tell you at one time these were considered the best dry fly streams in the world and even these streams are no longer in that category. So what's a fly fisherman to do who prefers to catch trout on dry flies?

Here are my secrets of catching trout on dry flies no matter what. They will give you the best chance even on streams where the fish don't rise particularly well:

Become a trout hunter. That's right a hunter. Just don't wade into the stream and hope for rising fish. Look for rising fish. Use a pair of small binoculars to scan the water. I even used this technique out West because it's harder to spot rising trout on larger rivers.
Look for areas of the stream or river that would allow a fish to rise and also give the fish some protection. Too many fly anglers who see a hatch on a stream believe that's the place where trout will be rising. This is not true. Trout will leave their selected stations and haunts during a hatch and move around.
Look carefully against the banks even in shallow water especially under trees and obstructions. Trout love these areas and are seldom disturbed.
Find an area of the stream that has not been disturbed and pounded. I am convinced that heavy fishing pressure puts fish downs and sometimes the fish won't rise even doing a heavy hatch. Sometimes trout will move to areas of a stream that are less than desirable looking because of the pressure. Many fly anglers wade or walk right past these areas of the stream.

Use this strategy to find fish or once you spotted a trout you want to rise. I call it the large-small strategy. Use a large fly such as a Stimulator or Fan Wing Royal Coachman and then a small fly such as a size 18 Blue Winged Olive etc. Actually in most instances use the small fly first. If the trout move or looks at then you can work on your technique or presentation etc. If the trout won't move for it than go for the large pattern to bring him to the surface.

Fish the edges of fast currents. It's often hard to bring a fish up from heavy fast water but look to the edges or slower spots in the flow and drop your fly over these areas. Using these techniques I know fly anglers who continually catch trout on dry flies when no one else can. They are simple but extremely effective on any stream especially when no hatches are providing the stimulus to bring a trout to the surface.