Winged wet flies are fly patterns featuring wings made of hair, quill, or feather, designed to mimic aquatic insects emerging or drowned adults. They're typically fished under the surface, but can also be presented as dry flies in the surface film. A common way to fish them is with a dead drift presentation, letting the fly swing in the current.
Key Characteristics and Techniques:
Presentation:
Winged wet flies are often fished with a swing, allowing the fly to drift naturally with the current.
Techniques:
Dead Drift: Casting across and slightly downstream, letting the fly sink and swing, mimicking a natural rise.
Upstream Drift: Short cast upstream and letting the fly dead-drift back to you.
Twiching: On lakes and ponds, twitching the fly in front of cruising trout can be effective.
Strike Indicators:
Some anglers use strike indicators to help detect bites.
Line Mending:
Proper line mending is crucial for a natural swing, affecting the fly's drift.
Hook Setting:
With wet flies, it's often best to let the fish set the hook themselves, avoiding any jerking of the line.
Why Use Winged Wet Flies:
Mimic Emergent Insects: They effectively imitate aquatic insects during emerging stages.
Versatile: Can be fished in various water conditions and depths.
Popular Choices: "Greenwell's Glory", "Waterhen Bloa", "March Brown" are examples of effective patterns.
When to Use Winged Wet Flies:
Early Season: Effective in mimicking emerging nymphs when they are abundant.
Fast Water: Can be fished in fast-flowing rivers due to their ability to swing and drift.
Deeper Water: Suitable for fishing in deeper areas where fish may be less likely to be spooked by surface disturbance.
