Until mid to late 1800's there were no such things as dry flies. Changes were made to wet flies by British anglers such as, the addition of tails to make the hook position proper. They added more flotation to the wet fly they would wind them with collars of stiff hackles. The famous angler Frederic M. Halford recorded these changes in the many books he wrote in the late 1800's - 1900's. Dry-fly fishing came to America on February 22, 1890, when three-dozen English dry flies where sent from Frederic Halford to, American angler Theodore Gordon of New York.
Theodore Gordon, knew that the insects in Britain, were not quite like the insects in American waters so, using the English flies he modeled his American flies -with the appropriate changes- after them. Mr. Theodore Gordon gave us the legendary "Quill Gordon" and the "Light Cahill" as well as many others.
A lot of fishermen withdraw from trying dry-fly fishing fearing that it may be too difficult to master. Dry-fly fishing can be quite challenging, however it doesn't have to be. It has been said that, "the art of dry-fly fishing is the ultimate method of angling". I agree, for fishing the dry fly requires a exceedingly close imitation of the actual insect in hatch, a meticulous presentation and delicate tackle to be successful.
Mayflies are the most important of all species of water born flies to the dry-fly angler. Once the Mayfly emerges it is called a dun, as the wings are dun-colored -a dull grayish brown. The duns will spend hours or even days-perched in bushes or low tree limbs over the water prior to their final transformation. During this transformation they molt, becoming spinners, more brightly colored and to some extent, different in size and shape, with three long tails. The spinners -as they are known at this stage- often times in dense multitudes, plunge quickly downward and glide more slowly upward in a dancing flight while they mate. The females then skimming the water lay their eggs. Seemingly exhausted, their wings spread becoming uncontrollable and they fall to die as spentwings.
Sometime in May, June, or July, most often just before dark is when this happens and the trout indulge with a passion, gorging themselves darting about eating all they can. At this time trout will hit any reasonable facsimile in dry flies. The angler should try to imitate not only these three stages of the mayflies life, but also, the many colors and sizes of the assorted subspecies which hatch from time to time during the season. This presents an amazing complexity in fly patterns. Fly-fishing purist will go to no end to try and match a particular hatch, while the less fastidious anglers feel that a few representations are adequate.
Go To Page: 1 2
