Any Wet Fly Experts Out There

[Ted Calcaterra]

I have been fishing both soft hackles and traditional wets hard core since I got my first bamboo rod last fall. There is something fun about catching both wild trout (which I prefer) and stockers on traditional patterns. A great book by the master is The Soft Hackled Fly by Slyvester Nemes. I learned a ton about the history, styles, and methods for using soft hackles. Just google it somewhere or order it from our local shops. Well worth the read and a great addition to ones library.

The Meramec is tough. Not many good reports coming from there but...... that river goes in cycles. Who knows, it could bust open this year and some lucky angler will have many miles to themselves.

[mic]

I have been fishing both soft hackles and traditional wets hard core since I got my first bamboo rod last fall. There is something fun about catching both wild trout (which I prefer) and stockers on traditional patterns. A great book by the master is The Soft Hackled Fly by Slyvester Nemes. I learned a ton about the history, styles, and methods for using soft hackles. Just google it somewhere or order it from our local shops. Well worth the read and a great addition to ones library.

The Meramec is tough. Not many good reports coming from there but...... that river goes in cycles. Who knows, it could bust open this year and some lucky angler will have many miles to themselves.

I was all alone below the park which was good...no one to laugh at my bad casting and bad language.

[Zach Bearden]

When you go down and across you already have a lot of tension. So a fish hitting your fly then you suddenly setting the hook will break it every time. The fish hooks itself man, especially down/across. Try fishing upstream with the first 10ft of your line greased. Watch the tip and respond to anything different. I don't break fish off with this as often as down/across.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[mic]

When you go down and across you already have a lot of tension. So a fish hitting your fly then you suddenly setting the hook will break it every time. The fish hooks itself man, especially down/across. Try fishing upstream with the first 10ft of your line greased. Watch the tip and respond to anything different. I don't break fish off with this as often as down/across.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

This is exactly what I was doing, but was getting nothing on the dead drift...only the swing and lift.

[mic]

I was looking a wet fly patterns last night. Does anyone have any favorites without wings?

[Justin Spencer]

I usually start with a 7 1/2 foot 2X or 3X leader which I then tie the smaller X tippet to with a surgeons knot. I put my split shot above the knot which keeps it from sliding down to my fly. Usually my breakoffs occur in the smaller tippet which leaves your original leader, and often your leader will last for months.

[drath]

For wingless wets, I really like soft hackle flies. I think there is something about the soft hackle movement that excels on the swing. I’ll put a partridge feather on just about anything (Only a bit of an exaggeration here).

Hears ear=soft hackle right behind the head

Pheasant tail=don’t fold back the wing case, trim it off at the head and tie in a soft hackle

Copper John=no legs/wings, just tie in a soft hackle right behind the bead

Those are just a few examples of flies I've added soft hackles to in the past.

And oh yeah, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the classic Partridge and Olive/Yellow/Orange and spider patterns.

-D

[Ted Calcaterra]

When swinging wet flies, have about 6-8 inches of fly line under your index finger of your rod hand. This way when you get a strike you have a small "cushion" to protect the tippet. Works well and increases hook ups.

I like to use partridge & orange with rabbit dubbing for thorax. I also use a march brown wet which is really a gold ribbed hareds ear with a partridge hackle. Those two work well in our ozark waters.

Hope this helps.

[Sherwood Flycaster]

On the Swing

Some light reading on wetting.

[mic]

When swinging wet flies, have about 6-8 inches of fly line under your index finger of your rod hand. This way when you get a strike you have a small "cushion" to protect the tippet. Works well and increases hook ups.

I like to use partridge & orange with rabbit dubbing for thorax. I also use a march brown wet which is really a gold ribbed hareds ear with a partridge hackle. Those two work well in our ozark waters.

Hope this helps.

Now that you say that, I remember reading that somewhere. I forgot all about it. I'll keep that in mind next time.