The wet fly is a representation of the underwater stages of many numbers of insects. The savvy angler will take the time to explore this aquatic world of insect life so as to understand what pattern to use at a given time. The finest standard of the winged mayfly for duplicating would be the, March Brown or Stenonema vicarium, customarily molts just under the surface, and the Gordon Quill or, Epeorus pleuralis, which shucks its nymphal case, -frequently close to the bottom- and develops into a enthusiastic surface-seeking dun. The pupae stage of the caddis family is also winged, as are some female adults, which go underwater seeking aquatic flora for ovipositing.
Quite capable of maneuvering in strong currents, underwater insects are remarkably agile. Making use of their tails, legs, fringed gills and in some cases their antennae they have astonishing mobility. Keep this in mind when choosing hackle, wing and tail fibers. What you are looking for is a live appearance that results from the amalgamation of wings that tremor and legs -hackle- and tails that appear to pulsate when the fly is twitched through the water. If you buy your flies rather than tie them yourself, you will do well to keep this in mind and not fall prey to the overdressed, awkward, miserable, lifeless mass that some dealers try to pass off as a wet fly.
Late winter or early spring -depending upon where in the world you live- when the water is running high and cold, the wet fly can be your best friend when trout fishing. During this time of year there is very little surface action and the fish will be foraging larval insect forms which a variety of wet-fly patterns mimic. The wet fly -unlike the dry fly- may be fished down stream, upstream or crossways and with little or no action imparted by the rod. However, as a rule the cast should be made diagonally across stream and the fly allowed to drift down stream with the current, only when the line starts to drag should the rod tip be used to bring life to the fly. At this time you must start the retrieve with short pulls. You may need to experiment, as at times the slow retrieve will draw a strike while at others a quicker retrieve will be the ticket.
The speed of the current and the depth of the body of water you are fishing requires that you modify your cast accordingly. For example, if you are fishing a peaceful pool it may be best to cast directly across stream allowing your line to drift below your position and bumping the fly along the bottom. Conversely, if fishing a hurried deep riffle you will most likely have to cast upstream in order to get the fly down.
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