Any Wet Fly Experts Out There

[mic]

I tried out the Meramec this weekend for the first time and was using a wet fly swing. My question is on big water like that should one complete the wet fly swing with floating or sinking line. I've been reading up, but really haven't read anything one way or another.

Thanks In Advance

[flytyer57]

I tried out the Meramec this weekend for the first time and was using a wet fly swing. My question is on big water like that should one complete the wet fly swing with floating or sinking line. I've been reading up, but really haven't read anything one way or another.

Thanks In Advance

Most wet flies are used to imitate the pupae/larva rising to the surface to hatch. I normally use a floating line and maybe a small split shot about 18" above the flies. At the end of the swing, slowly raise the rod tip to bring the flies to the surface aka the Leisering Lift.

[Flyflinger]

Mic,

Did you catch anything....I have a feeling you didn't. If you're chaseing trout, the Meramec is a humbling river to say the least. What part of the river did you hit?

[Zach Bearden]

Just saying, the down and across swing doesn't effectively imitate crap. But it will indeed catch trout.

I would try both, I have a floating and a type 3 rigged for fishing wets and streamers in big water.

There are many variables in angling, depending on the water type, level, color and fish activity I could change my fly, tippet size, line type and fishing method 1800 different ways. Maybe you could tell us some more info on what was going on.

[Justin Spencer]

Floating line, like flytyer said a splitshot and try dead drifting it and then let it swing at the end of the drift. Sink tip is great for streamers, but will wear you out casting it all day, not needed for smaller stuff. Instead of splitshot, replace with heavier fly and drop the wet fly (soft hackle?) right off the bigger fly's hook 10 inches down or so.

[mic]

Mic,

Did you catch anything....I have a feeling you didn't. If you're chaseing trout, the Meramec is a humbling river to say the least. What part of the river did you hit?

Well let's just say that I did more learning then catching. Which isn't all bad. I've never fished water that big before.

I noticed that the fish I could see were sipping or jumping clear out of the water and figured that they were chasing risers. So I tried swinging a wet fly I read about from the upper Missouri and had some really good hits. However, everytime I got a hit my line would snap. I don't know why. The breaks were not at the knots and the line is new. I did learn my leaders were not constructed correctly (didn't have a butt end thick enough). I guess I never noticed because I fished Blue Springs all winter and the casts were short. So, maybe my line had got tangled up without me knowing it during casting (that I was struggling with). So this month, I'm going to learn how to correctly make leaders and a varity of wet flies. I wish I lived closer to the trout water so I didn't have to go so long between lessons.

FYI...the Missouri river special is size 12 - 16 with a gold beadhead, red or green holographic body, silver wire wrap, peacock thorax, and dry fly hackle instead of partridge (don't ask me why but it works). I started fishing it in December and my best hits of the year of come off it. All hits have been in colored or turbulent water and none in clear/calm water. I've lost all three fish...one to a rock at BSC and the two on the Meramec.

[Gavin]

The Meramec is a fickle river to begin with, and it was up pretty high last weekend... (600cfs at Steelville)... When its up high (450 cfs or more)...I usually break out the 7-8wt...and fish a big zonker under a big bobber with a flashy nymph as a dropper. Bring lots of big split shot. Sometimes it takes several SSG shot to get down deep enough where the fish hold at high water. Cheers.

[drath]

Another option, aside from the split shot method, is a furled fluorocarbon leader. That stuff sinks pretty fast. I started using one last year and was pretty pleased. It won’t get the fly down as fast as lead shots will but it’s a good “in between” option. The one I have casts fairly easily too.

-D

[Justin Spencer]

In colored or turbulent water beef up your tippet a little bit. Here on NFoW if you can get a 4X tippet through the hook eye we rarely go smaller. Even in the clearest water you rarely need to go smaller than a 5X. That should stop the line snapping problems.

[mic]

In colored or turbulent water beef up your tippet a little bit. Here on NFoW if you can get a 4X tippet through the hook eye we rarely go smaller. Even in the clearest water you rarely need to go smaller than a 5X. That should stop the line snapping problems.

Thanks...I'll try that approach. How long of leaders are you using with that setup?