Gearing Up for Dry Flies with Patrick Weaver

The water was 43°, still too cold for heavy feeding.  The sun was out and it was still a good day to be on the water.  This time of year, I like to get out on rivers and keep an eye out for early spring hatches.   The cold nights are keeping the insects from hatching in mass and driving the trout into a feeding frenzy.   

After checking a few spots, I finally saw a rise.  Then another rise.  It was near the head of a run under a tree leaning so far it was desperate not to fall in the water.  I moved into position and made some casts with a brown stone fly.  I caught some fish last week on the fly.  Nothing rose.  I saw a bug on the water.  It wasn’t a stonefly, but a mayfly…a blue quill.  I switched flies and on the second cast, a trout took.  It wasn’t a banner day but I landed three rainbows on a dry fly.  

Dry fly season is just around the corner and it is a good time to get ready.  Although most anglers have a rod or two, it’s not a bad idea to get a rod that is “good with dries”.  Dry fly rods are a little different, a little slower than some, have a softer feel, yet come alive with a fish on.  The rod doesn’t need power to cast the most common-sized dry flies.  In fact, too much power can be a bad thing.  You want the fly to land light, not slap the water hard.  One should also consider the hook set.  With the fly on the surface, too much power can rip the fly out of the mouth of the trout or snap the tippet on the hook set.  A good medium action rod in a 3, 4, or 5wt can be just the ticket.  Glass rods are popular for dry fly fishing as well.  The flexible rod protects light tippets from breaking, even when the big fish run.  

Thomas and Thomas make some excellent dry fly rods.  The Lotic is a glass rod that would be an excellent choice for fishing small to medium-sized rivers with dries.  My favorite T&T rod is the Paradigm.  I use the 8’2” 3wt but the 8’6” 4wt is also a fine choice.  For those wanting a rod that can cast and fish longer distances, the T&T Avantt is an excellent choice.  Hardy makes a great rod called the Ultralight.  This rod throws tight loops and has great control.  Not to mention it is so light you can cast all day for the all-day hatches in April.  Another good glass option is the Reddington Butterstick.  It’s a smooth casting rod that shines at protecting light tippets.  

If you have been wanting to expand your tactics at fly fishing and start dry fly fishing, now is the time.  Get a new rod and take a class.  Headwaters offers classes in Reading the Water, Selecting a Fly and Angler Entomology to get you started.  You can even get a rod here too.  

Patrick Weaver
patrick@headwatersoutfitters.com