WHAT IS A DRY FLY?

Anyone who has been fly fishing for a while will tell you all about the art and technique behind it all. There are plenty of methods that you can stick your teeth into when it comes to fly fishing, and there are many pieces of gear and fly fishing flies available.

As a general rule, dry fly fishing is an angling technique where your fly pattern floats exclusively on top of the water and does not sink beneath the surface. Dry flies patterns emulate insects in their adult form. Fish such as trout and bass typically feed on adult dry flies when they land on the water's surface. Many insects hatch, rest, or sometimes become caught on the water, and your dry fly will replicate these instances.

As you can probably guess, wet flies, streamers and nymphs will sit under the water's surface and replicate smaller fish and other aquatic insects. When it comes to success rates for wet flies, nymphs, and streamers, it will be significantly greater as fish feed 90% underwater.

It’s a pretty simple method at its core, but there is a lot to know and to learn about dry flies and dry fly fishing as a whole.

As a beginning, dry fly fishing is likely to be the first taste you'll have of this sport as it's the most common method. It's also the primary method as other kinds of fly fishing have similarities to this one in a particular way or another.

In dry fly fishing, you're looking to simulate the same shape and color as a genuine insect in its adult form. When you enter a fly shop, you might be overwhelmed with the selection you can choose from for dry fly fishing.

As a general rule, there are seven categories that most dry fly patterns fall into:

1. Stoneflies
2. Caddis
3. Mayflies
4. Midges
5. Damselflies or Dragonflies
6. Terrestrials – Such as grasshoppers, beetles, and ants
7. Stimulators or Attractors – That represent numerous categories

Each of these categories has specific species that you can tailor to your fly fishing region. Specifically, there are many different patterns you can buy for your dry fly fishing sessions.

The Stimulator: a fantastic fly that works well for any angler – beginner or experienced. They imitate a few hatches to match the season, and it's able to be customized and versatile.

Adams Fly: this is known as the most-used fly in the industry. It's a style that has been around for nearly 100 years, and they typically imitate mayflies and caddisfly hatches. It is best for beginners, but it works amazingly for those who have been fly fishing for years, too

Wulffs: Wulffs are not designed to imitate a specific creature, and they have plenty of variations. The Royal Wulff is a top-rated product and is used in a variety of situations.

Dry fly fishing is the best for trout simply because they prefer preying on insects that may make their way to the surface of the water. It's also seen as a pure way of fishing for them. For anglers, the feeling of a trout inevitably striking the fly is very satisfying.

As a general rule, the best dry fly for trout is the one that closely matches the current hatch at the time. To be successful at dry fly fishing, you must first match the food source that the trout are eating. After that, the closest pattern that resembles that food source is going to be the pattern of choice.

Click here to find out What Flies Are In Season For Fly Fishing.

Want more? Click here to find out The best times to go dry fly fishing.

Can't Keep your Dry Fly Floating? Learn How to Keep Your Dry Flies Floating Here >

01 What flies do you use for fly fishing?

02 What is the best fly for fly fishing? 

03 What flies are in season for fly fishing?

04 How much do flies cost for fly fishing?

05 What are fishing flies used for?

06 What are Drifthook Fly Fishing Flies?