Here we are at the part of the season where we address everybody’s favorite question — what fly are you using?

We’ve argued for years that the leader is the most consequential element in the system — much more important than the fly. That said, the fly must be reasonable.

Most anglers are so focused on the flies because it’s the easiest thing to change. We’re quick to blame the pattern. And it’s a lot easier to clip off one fly and tie on another than to really break down your approach, your cast and your dead drift.

The better approach is to perfect those elements and then . . . maybe change the fly.

I carry a box of dry flies, just like I carry a box of streamers and a box of nymphs and wets. The flies matter. But more than anything, it’s about matching the moment, the water type, the lifecycle of the bug - and even the wind conditions. For us, those conditions -- those situations -- dictate our next fly choice. We don't guess on patterns. Instead, we think about things, develop a theory and test it with the next fly choice and (hopefully) a great presentation.

My friend, Matt Grobe, joins me for this discussion.


Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Category | Dry Fly Fishing
VIDEO: Troutbitten | The Perfect Parachute Ant
READ: Troutbitten | When Should You Change the Fly?

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Our discussion here is about casting dry flies, and that’s where all good fly casting starts. With a dry fly, there’s no weight at the end of the line to help us out. No split shot, no tungsten bead, conehead or bobber. Refining the dry fly stroke truly teaches us what the fly rod is built to do.

Ten and two. Acceleration and crisp stops between two points. Pause and allow turnover to happen. Feel the rod load and watch it all happen with the fly line in the air. Once you have that timing, your baseline is set, and you can take that same stroke to any rod angle, punching the fly around and laying things out just how you want them with a few adjustments.

Good mending is setup by good casting. Put the two together, and you can feed slack to a dry fly for perfect drag free drifts.

Having command over all of that . . . is a lot of fun.

My friend, Matt Grobe, joins me to for a great discussion on casting and mending dry flies.


Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Category | Dry Fly Fishing
READ: Troutbitten | Ten and Two
READ: Troutbitten | Put More Juice in the Cast
READ: Troutbitten | Five Tips for Better Mending

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Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

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Thank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:

Skwala

and

Orvis

Thank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:

Skwala

and

Orvis

For our Season 12 Intermission, my wife, Becky, joins me for a lighthearted look at what's going on in the Troutbitten world. We talk about the upcoming leader sale in the Troutbitten Shop (August 21). We talk about the New Trail Troutbitten beer, the event and the video. And we talk about the Fish and Film series on YouTube.

Becky and I also answer a bunch of fun questions from listeners.

Resources

VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - One Morning For Versatility
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Beer and Friends -- Good Times and Good Stories with New Trail and Troutbitten
SHOP: Troutbitten | Category | Leaders

Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook

Thank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:

Skwala

and

Orvis

Thank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:

Skwala

and

Orvis