Wet Flies

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Wet Flies for trout fly fishing.

Wet flies are designed to be fished beneath the surface to represent sunken mayfly spinners, emerging caddis pupa, or diving adult caddis, pretty much any insect at all that has found itself trapped beneath the surface, along with spiders, shrimps and even tiny fish. The latter is particularly so when fished downstream with a winged wet fly. 

Typically, “wets” are small flies 

At least #12 or smaller. Streamers are large, feathered lures always fished close to the bottom. Wet flies can be fished close to the bottom and near the surface. Wets are often fished on a floating fly line just beneath the surface. It makes them ideal for prospecting around rocks and close to overhangs in shallow knee-deep water without snagging. 

These little trout flies can be fished across and down in the same action as a lure. They can also be fished upstream. After each cast, take another step upstream and repeat. Novice flyfishers may wonder how trout can even see such tiny imitations, let alone catch them in their mouths in broken fast water or at night, but they do. Trout have excellent eyesight.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, dry fly and nymph fishing in New Zealand was virtually unknown. Fly fishing for trout was done by casting large feathered lures or small wet flies. Nowadays, nymph and dry fly fishing are the norms. Not many anglers fish wet flies these days. However, they are still very effective, especially for anglers who are good at spotting the places where trout could be holding. 

To fish wet flies, wade out into the river or stream. You can fish two wet flies, but in slower-moving water, this will likely appear to the trout to be unnatural. In fast-breaking water, a tandem rig can be deadly.

Quiet water where at dusk and after dark a smaller size 14 "spider" we! fly will rake sub-surface feeding trout on sedges. Little Wet Fly.
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    Wet Fly Fishing. The little wet fly can be fished directly upstream too, just as you would a nymph or dry fly.
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    The Twilight Beauty is a traditional wet fly. Wet Fly Fishing calls for a great touch. It is more demanding than the dry fly.
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    Partridge and orange wet fly - winged version.
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    • Partridge and Orange – An Old English North Country Spider Pattern

    Partridge and Orange Wet Fly The Partridge and Orange is a small soft hackle wet.

    02/04/2020
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