Wet Fly Fishing : Advanced Methods

The method listed on the previous page is an excellent method for beginner anglers to use when fly fishing with wet flies. However, there are a modifications of this basic method that will improve your fly fishing productivity and are not much more difficult to learn how to do. This page discusses several of these methods.

Wet Fly Fishing : Across & Downstream Method

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This method of wet fly fishing isn’t too terribly different than the basic technique discussed previously. This method simply involves casting the fly above an appealing piece of water, then dead drifting the wet fly through this section at the proper depth. Once the wet fly has drifted though the area, then the basic method takes over. The fly line will sweep the wet fly across the water, landing the fly directly downstream from the angler, where action can be put on the fly by twitching and raising the fly rod.

In essence, this method is the same as the basic wet fly fishing technique – except that the angler is extending the wet flies float by providing a short dead drift through an area that may look appealing. The only real trick to using this method is to be sure to cast your fly well above the piece of water you want your wet fly to “dead drift” though, in order to give the fly time to get to the proper depth. You will also want to take care to make sure that the fly line is not taught during the dead drift section (otherwise the dead drift won’t happen!). A line mend or two may also have to be made, especially in faster waters, to prevent the current from sweeping the fly away before it reaches the prime “dead drift” area you’re shooting for.

Since the wet fly will be making a dead drift for a short section of it’s float, using strike indicators is really required in order to detect strikes during this dead drift section. Attach a strike indicator at the junction of the fly line and fly leader. As the wet fly makes its dead drift, watch the strike indicator closely, looking for any “unnatural” movements or pauses of the indicator (which indicates a strike). If you see the strike indictor move or pause suddenly, set the hook immediately.

Wet Fly Fishing : Other Methods

There are numerous other methods for fly fishing with wet flies. These include the dead drift method and the upstream and across method. However, these methods tend to be rather more demanding – requiring greater skill on the part of the angler. To learn more about these particular types of methods currently used for nymph fishing that can also be adapted for wet fly fishing, simply read our nymph fly fishing guide.

Wet Fly Fishing : Summary

Wet fly fishing use to be the most popular type of fly fishing. Today, it comes in a distant third to dry fly fishing and nymph fishing. Nymph fishing is now often times considered to be “wet fly fishing” today. While the more precise fly imitations and more precision methods used in nymph fly fishing do indeed generally work better for catching larger, more wary trout – anglers should never overlook fly fishing the traditional wet fly. This is especially true for beginner anglers, who by wet fly fishing can be introduced to some of the basic principles used in nymph fishing while actually catching fish while they do it.

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Wet Fly Fishing : Overview Wet Fly Fishing : Gear Used Wet Fly Fishing : Beginner Method

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