Drifting steadily across a reservoir flicking a team of dries to an unsuspecting Trout is about as good as stillwater fly fishing gets especially when using a Hardy Swift MK11 rod! But many anglers struggle with this technique opting for sub surface tactics that may well not be so effective. Happily Dry Fly fishing is actually a simple tactic that can be mastered rapidly. My perfect dry fly day is overcast, warm and calm. There are a number of advantages to fishing in these conditions. The Trout do not have eyelids and so feeding at the surface can be awkward in bright sunlight, overcast days often spark decent rises. Warmth means there is likely to be a steady hatch of fly and when the surface is calm the insects will find it difficult to break the surface film effectively leaving them half in and half out of the water. Trout nonchalantly mop the helpless morsels up. This behaviour often means that if our presentation is reasonable a hook up will be forthcoming.
A standard dry fly leader should be around 15' and made up of three sections of leader material. Start with five feet of 10lb test tied to the fly line using a Blood Knot. To this splice in a further section of monofilament, five feet in length but with a breaking strain of 8lb. Finally complete the leader with five feet of 6lb using a Water Knot to tie each segment together. Leave 10 inch droppers hanging away from the fly line at the junction of each water knot. Tapering a leader in this manner will assist turnover which is paramount to dry fly success. The fly line is tapered to assist energy transfer during the cast so why not continue this progression?
Flies need not be complicated; a collection should include Hoppers, Bobs Bits and Carrot Flies. All should be tied using seals fur as man made substitutes do not work with modern floatants such as Gherkes Gink. At the fly tying vice pick the fibres out to produce a nice straggly appearance and a mouth watering silhouette that the Trout will find difficult to resist. While enjoying a session it is wise to carry a section of Velcro to further rough up the body, this aids buoyancy and adds life to the artificial. Setting up a team is down to personal preference although I would recommend a #10 Carrot Fly on the top dropper to aid detection of the flies once cast. The middle dropper could be a # 10 Hopper or Bits and the same goes for the point fly position. Vary colour a little although it is wise to stick with Black, Red and Amber in most circumstances. Chuck a few Daddy Long Legs and Sedge imitations in the box but expect to fish more often with the Hoppers and Bits that accurately imitate the moment a Midge (Adult Buzzer) hatches.
The terminal tackle sorted its time to thread up a standard 9' to 10' rod for a five to seven line depending on conditions. A Floating line is the obvious choice and make sure it is as buoyant as possible applying a little grease such as mucillin if the tip has a tendency to sink. My preference is for one of the Greys platinum range or a Hardy Mach line. Other than the usual boat kit such as a long net my only other essentials are a drogue (check out the rugged product now available from Greys), some decent sunglasses and a cap with a decent peak. Concentrating on flies for long periods of time places strain on the eyes so reducing glare will make the day more comfortable. Pack your gear away in a decent carryall, the new Greys Platinum luggage has been designed for anglers, by anglers and will cope with mountains of tackle.
Scan the chosen venue carefully while cruising to the first drift. Be vigilant as there are several signs to look out for including birds as they often reveal the presence of insects; the Trout will not be far behind. The birds may well be flying above a wind lane, an area of flat calm that our quarry miraculously locates even in a lake of several thousand acres. Find a lane and sport can be brisk as the oily surface traps hatching Buzzer Pupa that are mopped up at the Trouts leisure. On a good day the fish belie their presence in the form of nervous water, essentially ripples that move unnaturally. Cast at this disturbance and anything else that looks remotely suspicious remembering that fish do not necessarily have to be rising to accept a surface pattern. Set up a drift in a manner that allows a three fly team to be presented in the rippled water, on the edge of the wind lane and within it. This is a perfect trap and will cover fish that are moving through all three areas. In many stillwater situations I rarely cast straight down the boat, instead let the fish see a profile of the leader to improve catch rate. Open water can provide excellent fishing but don't ignore the shoreline especially in windy conditions. Trout often cruise these areas looking for anything that may have fallen from a nearby tree or shrub.
The key to dry fly success when fishing from a boat is to maintain control at all times. Ensure a drogue is employed to slow the drift to a crawl as anchoring does not allow a great deal of water to be covered. Dry Fly will often pull fish from nowhere, especially in clear water conditions but if the boat is stationary the odds are greatly reduced. Casts should be made so that the rod stops high, puffing air through the flies to ensure buoyancy while also placing them gently upon the waters surface. Most important of all; cast short! So many anglers fling their patterns way out of sight and then struggle to see them or strike when required. A long dry fly cast is just 10 yards. Flick the flies out (preferably at an angle as described above) and then steadily retrieve just enough line to eradicate slack. The retrieve should be perfectly in time with the drifting boat so that the flies exude a realistic behaviour. Leave the flies for between ten to twenty seconds when casting blind, then pick up and recast at a different angle. A great way to cover water is by fan casting regularly thus increasing the chance of the fly suddenly falling within a Trouts window.
If you are lucky and a Buzzer hatch or similar has attracted the fish to the surface then expect some fantastic visual sport. Look for a rising fish that has a purposeful manner about its feeding. Try to determine which way it is moving by watching for signs such as a fin, back or snout protruding from the surface. Make a cast to ensure the fish is given lead, positioning the flies a few feet ahead of the last rise. We now have just enough time to prepare for a take while allowing the fish a moment to locate and accept the offering. With the heart pounding watch spell bound as a Trout porpoises over the fly and then LIFT .... It really doesn't get much better!
