Fishing high water is the name of the game now, with the few exceptions of lower water levels. COE predictions and increasing climatic temperatures demanding more power for AC, dictate that we will see max generations for both rivers. Catching fish is still possible; but will be mainly confined to going afloat and wade fishing the limited zones available.
Dead drift nymph fishing and streamer fishing are for the best part the mainstay of fly fishing the rivers at this time; however, there are other options to catching trophies: Dry Fly Fishing. Now we are not talking about fishing midges and small may fly patterns, although they may well work if you locate fish in a slow back water seam feeding in and of the surface. Instead we are looking at fishing large dry fly patterns that will draw a fish up to the surface from depth, or promote an instant strike from a trophy Brown resting close in to the shore and around structure.
Remember at this time of the year terrestrial bugs are in great abundance out there and trout will eat those in a hurry. Terrestrials, with the few exceptions of an ant fall, are not found in numbers on the water surface at any one time. Therefore they present trout an opportunity when they are. Brown trout dislike fighting serious current flows, and will rest up in zones in which many would believe a fish would not be found. This past week, while Dave Whitlock was here to undertake the Dry Run Creek habitat project, we had time for a couple of hours to fish the edges of banks with streamers. This was where we hooked our fish, including a very large trophy Brown, which managed to throw the hook. The other trophy fish we did land was a 22 inch Cut. All those fish were within two feet of the banks.
I recall many years ago fishing with some friends a large reservoir in the UK, on a day when not a breath of wind was present, a glass like water surface, and a true blue sky. We anticipated the evening rise to chironomids, which as a rule would take place as usual. Time out for fishing. While we sat and chatted, l happened to notice a field Brown, which is a butterfly, coast across the lake and settle on the water. No sooner had it landed, when there was a splash and the butterfly was gone.
That immediately promoted me to set up with a large dry fly, which in that case was a Danica mayfly imitation of about 1 inch in size. The cast was made onto the lake surface. The mayfly sat in all its glory awaiting the presence of a trout, which happened within a short time. I had the fly rod laid down on the grass beside me, ready for action when a fish decided to take the fly. I can further recall other times since that day that the use of larger dries saved the day when fishing was dour due to climatic conditions.
For those of you used to fishing bugs for panfish and bass into brush and around structure, dry fly fishing with larger flies should present no problem. For those of you unskilled in accuracy and precise presentations, that will be a learning lesson possibly resulting in lost flies. That's the way it goes when fly fishing.
Here are a few tips so far as fishing large dries for trout. Forget using fine tippets for you will very likely get smash takes and all will be lost. 4x is often good enough and at times, may be more. Fluorocarbon is not needed, as we are fishing surface flies. Regular mono and copolymer which have the highest ability to float high are best used.
Floating Agents: Foam bodied flies will float well, without floatant addition. Others with hackles only may well require addition of floating agents.
As a rule l do not fish leaders that exceed 9ft, in many cases l may well reduce that to 6 feet, as it is often easier to work in and around thick overhanging vegetation with shorter leader systems. When selecting rods, l prefer a softer action, because more mid flex actions allow for a slower casting stroke and better accuracy. Line weights may be 4/5/6.
Fishing tips: Try to avoid instant drag when your fly lands on the surface. As much as possible, try to allow for the fly to remain static; or at least drift with the natural speed of the river. A dragged fly will many times spook a good fish lying in calm seams and slow back water eddies.
Early mornings and late afternoon to dark can be the most productive times to fish, particularly on days of heat and clear blue skies.
Flies of choice:
Hoppers in different sizes and colors.
Damsel fly imitations.
Crane flies
Large caddis flies.
Stoneflies It's about that time of the year for emergence. Large hackled mayfly patterns, such as Wulf wings, can be killer at times.
Tight lines guys.
Davy.
