Dry Flies

Fly Fishing Japaneese Style: Tenkara

Posted Sun, 01/17/2010 - 18:23 by jmaslar
Your rating: None

Tenkara is the traditional simplified Japanese method of fly-fishing developed over centuries in the small mountain streams of Japan. In this method, only a telescoping rod, line and fly are used; there is no need for a reel. Without the complexity of the added gear, you are free to focus on your casting and fishing techniques.  

Tenkara is especially effective for fishing the pocket water in the fast flowing streams such as are found in the Great Smoky Mountains. The obvious advantages are the simplicity, the ability to make delicate and precise presentations, the ability to keep the line off the water and the ability to reach small overgrown challenging streams. The Tenkara method also gives perfect control over the fly at all times.
 
All that is needed is a telescoping rod that is 11 to 13 feet in length when fully extended. To the end of the rod, tie a length of small diameter fish line that is approximately one foot longer than the extended rod. To the end of the line attach the fly; simple! And since the rod collapses down to 20 inches Tenkara is great for the SmokeyMountains backpacking and camping trips.
 
The fly is propelled by the line as done in the West, but the fly casting technique is shorter and slower. The Tenkara rig will also be perfect for dry fly fishing in the small mountain streams using the Great Smoky Mountaineer developed method of "caneing" using cane poles as well as the "slingshotting" or "bow and arrow"method of fishing. Also, the Tenkara method can be employed for high-sticking nymphs or for the Czech method of nymph fishing.
 
Landing a fish is very intuitive and similar to any type of fishing with a rod. All the angler must do is to simply raise the rod high, and reach for the fish.
 
For much more information on the subject refer to Tenkara USA. 

Fly Fishing The Slingslotting Technique

Posted Mon, 01/04/2010 - 13:12 by jmaslar
Your rating: None

Recently we at Troutu had a question about a method of fly fishing called the “Bow and Arrow” or “Slingshotting” technique. This is a fly fishing technique that is often employed here in the Smokies to reach trout that are otherwise not able to be reached by the traditional fly casting methods. The “Bow and Arrow” method has been used by many old time anglers in the Appalachians and still is effective today.  

However, we have taken the technique one small step further by applying it to both the standing position and the kneeling position as well. Kneeling is often required in some streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These streams are indeed very small, often overgrown with rhododendrons and more often than not overlooked by anglers as well. The rhododendrons were designed by God to have branches the exact size for catching fly fishing hooks. Anglers must use special patience and skill in avoiding getting the line tangled in them.
 
As a result of the questions, we have included Class 217 Fly Fishing Slingshotting Style in the curriculum.
 
 

Fly Fishing the Little Black Caddisflies Adults

Posted Thu, 12/10/2009 - 18:19 by jmaslar

Adult Caddisflies General Information:

As a rule the trout will eat more little black caddisflies as pupae than they will eat as adults on the surface. However, it is still worthwhile to fish the little black caddisfly adult imitations. In fact many good anglers will prefer to fish the dry fly during this important hatch.
 
The body of the little black caddisfly is dark charcoal brown and the wings are gray with tiny black veins. The males approximate a #18 hook but the larger females will approximate an #18 hook size. We prefer and sell only the #18 since the females are the ones laying the eggs on the surface and as such are our main target.
 
Since the hatch takes place in the spring, the water is usually about 50 degrees F when the hatch commences. Sometimes they will float in the water for 20 feet or more before they fly off to the banks. In the earlier part of the hatch while it is still cold some of the adults are lethargic and not eager to fly off, preferring to sit on the rocks protruding out of the water. On the colder days, the adults will start flying more aggressively by the mid afternoon.
 
Presentation Information:
The female little black caddisfly will deposit her eggs on the surface of the water or she may dive and deposit her eggs. If she dives to deposit her eggs, she will return to the surface for a short time before flying away. Either way they become a source of food for the trout.
 
When the hatch starts, the best fly will be the pupa, but after the hatch is mostly over, it will be time to switch to the dry adult imitation fly. Start fishing the dry fly allowing it to dead drift where you see the action on the water. As the day progresses, there will be collections of spent caddisflies, forming in the eddies and in the slower pockets of water along the banks. This is where you will want to use the adult pattern. Sometimes the trout will hit it as it circles the eddies or as it floats below the riffles and runs.
 
 

See the new double sided fly boxes.

 

Fly Fishing the Golden Stonefly Adult Fly

Posted Thu, 12/10/2009 - 16:41 by jmaslar

Golden Stonefly adult General Information:

On occasion, the female Golden Stoneflies can be seen depositing her eggs during the daylight hours, which is contrary to other giant stoneflies. Therefore the angler has an opportunity in the late afternoon to catch the trout feeding on giant egg laying stoneflies. However, you most probably will not find them in large numbers such that they would cover the waters.
 
As with all stoneflies, the golden stoneflies do not get in the water until after the female deposits her eggs. After mating the female will dip down and deposit her eggs on the surface of the water. After depositing her eggs she will fall into the water. The males will hatch, mate and die out of the water, and then fall spent on the banks; never having been in the water at all.
 
If you see the females dipping down to skim the water brushing off the eggs, you may see the trout eating the stoneflies. This activity will usually occur late in the afternoon unless the clouds have covered the sun which would cause them to begin earlier in the day. When you see this activity you should tie on the adult golden stonefly imitation and go for it.
 

 Adult Presentation:
The females will deposit her eggs in the same spot of water where she was hatched and this should be the exact spot where your adult fly imitation should land. Spotting them as they deposit their eggs should not be a problem since the golden stoneflies are large enough to see even in the late afternoon lighting.
 

 

 

 

See the new double sided fly boxes.

Fly Fishing the Little Brown Stonefly Adult

Posted Wed, 12/09/2009 - 15:46 by jmaslar

Little Brown Stonefly Adults General Information:
The Little Brown Adult Stoneflies can live a long time after the hatch but before depositing their eggs and they can be seen along the banks of the streams at these times.  So when you see them on the banks, it does not necessarily mean that they will be depositing their eggs on that day. They will deposit their eggs in the daytime or in the evenings depending on the particular species of stoneflies. Therefore you should fish the adult imitations only when the stoneflies are depositing their eggs. 

Quite often when the egg laying is in progress, the water is cold making the trout metabolism low so they are not active enough to take the flies from the surface film of the water. However, there may be times during the day on any given stream that egg laying will occur. In these instances it is good to have an adult little brown fly imitation in your fly box.
 
Presentation Information:
The adult little brown stonefly will skip around as she deposits her eggs, you can just let your fly drift along in the current especially in the fast or rough waters or in the seams. As a rule, you may not expect a lot of catches when fishing this stage of the hatch. However, on any one afternoon in the winter or early spring, at the right time or the right stream, you may be very successful proving my earlier comments incorrect. Give it a try!

 

 

See the new double sided fly boxes.

Fly Fishing the Little Stonefly Adult

Posted Wed, 12/09/2009 - 15:01 by jmaslar

Little Yellow Stoneflies Adults General Information:
There are several different species of the Little Yellow Stoneflies and they deposit their eggs at different times of the day. The yellow sallies will usually start to deposit their eggs in the late afternoons just prior to dark. You need to watch them depositing their eggs before you start to fly fish with the adult yellow sally. Since they are a relatively large insect they can be easily spotted as they drop down to the surface and bounce along on the surface of the water depositing their eggs. 

The eggs usually will be brushed off as the adult touches the surface but there are times when they will actually lite on the surface of the water. When you see this show progressing, you should fish the imitation of the adult yellow sally. You will notice a wide variation in the size of these flies, and you should try to match the size as nearly as practical.
 
Presentation Information:
As you watch the bouncing of the adults along the surface, you might think that it would be an improvement in your presentation if you were able to match the action. However, should you try that, by jerking the rod up and down, you will most likely spook the trout. Use an up and across cast along the seams in the water. Remember to keep your presentation delicate so as not to spook the trout. 

With the little yellow stoneflies in a good hatching situation during the middle of summer, it is possible to catch and release a dozen. 

 

 

See the new double sided fly boxes.

Fly Fishing the Light Cahill Duns

Posted Wed, 12/09/2009 - 14:19 by jmaslar

Light Cahill Duns General Information:
Unlike the March brown duns, the Light Cahill duns do not spend much time on the surface of the water; and as the weather warms up, they spend even less time on the water. Generally, their wings will dry fast enabling them to fly away almost as soon as they hit the surface of the water often within a few seconds. The trout do not waste any time in searching out these mayflies and eating them. As a result the trout are frequently just as happy to take a Light Cahill imitation. 

 Presentation Information:

Present your dun imitation along the current seams of pocket water and the edges of the runs. Use short upstream or slightly upstream and across casts keeping your rod high. Keep as much line as possible up off the water to avoid a faulty drag. Use frequent short casts in order to cover as much water as possible remembering that the duns will not remain on the surface for long periods of time. Be sure to hit the best possible seams of water, and keep moving. Do not expect to see a heavy concentration of duns in any one area since they do fly away fast. 

You might consider using a 2 foot size 4X tippet and keep the leaders around 8 feet in length to give you good control. As with any dry fly the presentation should be delicate. 
 

 

 

See the new double sided fly boxes.

Fly Fishing the March Brown Dun

Posted Wed, 12/09/2009 - 13:12 by jmaslar

March Brown Duns General Information:

How long the duns remain on the surface of the water varies depending on the temperature, the colder the day, the longer they tend to drift before flying away. The duns are an important stage to fly fish with so watch for them especially on the cooler days.
 

Presentation Information:
March browns like other mayflies are normally found in the faster moving waters and the rougher pocket waters but it depends somewhat on the species. In these waters fish the dun imitation in an upstream presentation along the seams of pocket water and the edges of the runs. Use a 2 foot size 4X tippet and keep the leaders around 8 feet in length. As with any dry fly the presentation should be delicate. In the more moderately moving water where there is little drop in elevation, you may consider using a down and across the stream presentation.  If so, a longer leader and a smaller tippet size may be more appropriate. As a rule of thumb, stick to the current seams and make a number of short slightly upstream and across casts. This will keep the fly in the target zone longer.

 

 

 

See the new double sided fly boxes.

Fly Fishing with the Light Cahill Spinner

Posted Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:11 by jmaslar

Spinner General Information:
Spinners are the adult mayflies that fly and mate high above the waters of the streams and you may not notice them. Spinners start to fall very late in the day or in the early evening after the eggs are deposited on the surface film of the water. The spinners fall in the same water where the hatch occurs. When you see the females dipping down to the water in the egg laying process, tie on a spinner pattern.

Presentation Information:
Use the short upstream or the up and across stream presentation same as with any other spinner. It must be drag free, so mend the line if needed and remember to keep your casts as short as possible. Place your fly delicately in the slower pocket water, or eddies or behind rocks; adjacent to the faster moving waters.  Use a light tippet perhaps a 6X with a leader of 10 or 12 feet. Keep the delivery of the fly as delicate presentation

 

 

 

See the new double sided fly boxes.

Fly Fishing the March Brown Spinners

Posted Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:47 by jmaslar

Spinners General Information:

Spinners are the adult mayflies that fly and mate high above the waters of the streams and you may not notice them. The March Brown males are the first to fall to the stream or the bank followed by the females. The females however do not fall until their eggs have been deposited on the surface film on the water. Most of the males will fall on the banks, but the females will mostly fall in the water where they can collect in large numbers. Spinner activity starts in the calm of the evening a very great, and pleasant time for fly fishing.
 
Sometimes, the spinner fall is the most important aspect of the hatch, since the dun hatch occurs over a long period of time while the spinner fall concentrates the mayflies because it occurs in a shorter time frame. The females lay their eggs over the moderately flowing riffles and runs of the trout stream. After laying the eggs, the spinners will fall and the current will cause the spinners to collect in the usual pools and eddies.

Presentation Information:
As the spinners start to fall and be carried by the current into the pocket waters, use an up and across presentation which will usually be the best approach. It must be drag free, so mend the line if needed and remember to keep your casts as short as possible. Slower water may be fished effectively with a down and across presentation using a light tippet perhaps a 6X with a leader of 10 or 12 feet. Keep the delivery of the fly as delicate presentation.
 

 

 

See the new double sided fly boxes.  

Slideshow for this Category

Dry Flies Slideshow
tsliker
30 weeks 5 days ago