The Wet
Fly Swing
By Cameron
Larsen
The wet fly swing sounds like something one
does at the square dance all. Instead the wet fly swing is one
of the oldest fly fishing
techniques. It is used for all types of fish, where ever
there is a current. Winter steelhead, salmon, big trout
in big rivers, and even striped bass, are all prey that
often require the use of the’ wet-fly
swing’.
When To Use It
The wet fly swing is designed to get the
fly down deep quickly and swing it in front of the
desired fish. Trout anglers use it when fish are holding
deep, and not rising for any particular hatch. Winter
steelheaders use it when steelhead loathe to move in the
cold water and sit in between the feeding lanes or lie in
the pocket water. Striped bass anglers find the wet fly
swing works the baitfish imitations in the current, to
give them a lifelike presentation, that fools fish again
and again.
The wet fly swing is most often used with
streamers, like the Woolly Bugger or Muddler Minnow and
sometimes wet flies, like soft hackles or nymphs. It is
used whenever the fly fisher wants his presentation to
appear to be swimming freely in the current. Preferably
broadside to the current, while the fish will be waiting
either in pocket water behind big rocks, or in a seam
where the current changes speed. It can also be used in
tailouts below pools.
Rigging
Most fly fishing anglers will use the wet
fly swing with a sinking tip line. The weight will depend
on the species of fish and the size of the water.
Steelheaders and salmon anglers will be using 8 or above,
and it goes on down for the other game fish. The point is
you will want to rig fairly big, as you will not only be
fighting the fish, but the current as well, and often
times current that is deep. The leaders tend to be
shorter than average, as you want the fly to follow
sinking tip line, and not rise up in the current. As the
take will be deep, you don’t want to have to set the hook
with a lot of slack leader.
Depth is of importance, as generally this
technique is used for fish lying deep. If you aren’t
getting the depth you want, than try adding more weight,
a larger fly, or switching lines. I try to avoid a
sinking line, as I like the line to lie on the water, for
ease of control, casting, and of course, setting that
hook.
The Technique
The wet fly swing at
its simplest is this. Find the water you want, and
cast across stream, to slightly downstream. Mend your
line immediately, usually upstream. This allows the fly
to sink. Then follow your line with your rod tip
downstream. Lowering your rod tip as the fly swings
across the current, so the fly will not have any drag.
Some anglers like to impart action on their presentation
with their rod tip, but if fishing in current the action
is often done all by itself.
When the fly has reached the end of its
swing. Lift the line up, by doing a small roll cast, and
then cast it out again. For deeper presentation, cast
further upstream, for shallower presentation cast more
downstream. If floating lines are what you are used to,
casting the sinking tip line or even a shooting head line
can take a little practice. Slowing down the entire
casting stroke will be required, and allow the back cast
to fully extend. But with a little practice, distance can
be greatly improved allowing the fly fisher to reach
water, unreachable by using other fly fishing
techniques.
The wet fly swing is great for extending
the season of fly fishing. When most other techniques
prove to be ineffective, due to high or cold water. One
can still entice those hesitant fish using this time
tested technique.
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About The Author
Cameron Larsen is a retired commercial fly tier
and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly
Company. Http://www.bigyflyco.com. He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. The above article will appear in the Big Y Fly
Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html.
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