{{+1}}Getting Started – trout dry flies{{-1}}
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See also:
- Getting started - wet trout flies
- Getting started - salt water flies
- Getting started - bass and native fish flies
- Getting started - the gear
There are only really two types of flies dry flies and wet flies.
A dry fly is any fly that is designed to be fished on or in the surface film of the water.
Dry flies can however be divided into a number of logical categories and I have set out a few fly suggestions in each category to get you started:
Mayflies
Mayfly representations are by far the most popular dry fly representations. They come in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes. This selection will fit the form and function of most mayflies.
Non representational dries
These flies represent nothing but everything and are amongst the best dry flies you can carry in your dry fly box.
Caddis
Caddis flies are also known in some cases as sedge because of their habit of clinging to vegetation, particularly sedge type grasses, along the banks of rivers and impoundments. Whilst caddis appear on general inspection to only have one pair of wings they in fact have two pairs of wings but the second pair is only slightly forward of the other. The wings basically present as a V shape fixed by the apex in front of the thorax with the wing getting gradually wider as it laying along the sides of the insect and toward the back of the fly. They don’t have tails but they often have long antenna.
Emergers
As the pupa or sub-imago of Mayflies, Caddis, Midges, Stoneflies, Dobson flies etc. move to and through the surface of the water to hatch they are referred to as emergers and when large numbers go through this process at the same time it is referred to as a hatch. When fish are feeding on emergers it is important to be fast and accurate in your casting and to match the form and function of the natural. When the naturals are large enough in individual size one very successful technique is to fish an emerger pattern on top as both a fly and an indicator and a nymph or midge pupa suspended just below it. Hits are often on the dead drift or on the lift.
If flies fall into just two basic groups, wets and dries then emergers have to be regarded as dries even though the are typically fished in the surface film.
Beetles
Many different types of beetles are fond in the vegetation around Lake Jindabyne and lake Eucumbene. There are those that live in forests, other that live in pastures and yet others peculiar to tussock ridden high country grasslands. Sizes and colour vary significantly as do the patterns that represent them. Because Beetles are blown onto the water rather than intending to be there it is common to find a number of different types of Beetles on the trout’s “shopping list” at the one time.
“Beetles” should be fished in the current with as little line drag as possible or with a very short twitching action. A nondescript well-tied Beetle pattern if presented in the right way at the right time will be taken by the trout more often than and consequently no fly box would be complete without a selection of beetle patterns. Keep in mind also that the same flies can be fished wet to represent drowned beetles or some of the numerous true aquatic beetles.
Hoppers
Whilst there are over 2000 species of Grasshoppers and Locust in Australia there are really only three “hoppers” that are of significance to fly fishers.
Hoppers are normally fished as dry flies but it is worth noting that as some hoppers drown and sink and consequently fishing a hopper pattern wet or drowned can result in some spectacular success.
General form and colour together with presentation and how you fish them will help you fool the fish. Whether fished dry or wet by in large all hopper patterns should be fished in the current with as little line drag as possible or with occasional short jerking strips or twitches.
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Last Updated: September 5, 2011
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