Re: Forgotten Wet Fly Tyer
I will have Torrey get that book for me. Also, why do you think that wet flies have come to the forefront lately? Do you think its a trend and will fade? I know that they are effective. Do you think that they weren't popular such a long time because of other more effective techniques? I for one think that the technique will catch fish that have seen it all. I think that they will catch you some fish that you can't catch using other techniques. I also wonder if you think that wet flies can catch fish under any condition(given optimal water temps), or do you think that there are certain times that wet flies won't work and are forced to fish by other means? I mean we all know that during caddis time we could really give the trout a beating on wet flies. However, would one do well during a Hendrickson hatch while employing the same technique?
Re: Forgotten Wet Fly Tyer
Aaron, talk to Jerry Jahns, he loves to fish wets during Hendrickson hatches on the Housy & Farmington. I believe he likes to impart motion to them too. As far as catching during various conditions & times of the year, a sinking line would take you down to the trout when they aren't willing to come up near the surface. Hopefully DavyFly will chime in on this thread. I think I might have one copy of the Helen Shaw book at the store- it's out of print, but we get copies in from time to time.
Re: Forgotten Wet Fly Tyer
Andy,
More so tying references, but l would add certainly these two Trout and Salmon flies of Ireland by E.Malone. Flies of Wales by Moc Morgan.
John Veniard was a good friend of mine, as was Donald Downs who did the illustrations in the Veniard books.
I know those two guys did visit a fly fishing club in NY many years ago, but l cannot rememeber which one.
I do have many other publications that either have wet fly references for the dressings and in some cases tying procedures.
Regarding the matter of wet fly fishing. There are very few conditions if any to be honest that wet flies will not catch fish, provided you use the right flies and fly line to present them. I would argue that if wet flies would not work then you would have a problem with any other method, all be it l accept there may be a more productive way to fish at that time.
One example may be fishing very deep pocket water that demands a fly to sink very fast for that short section of productive water.
I did in fact post some time back my choice of fly lines. In extreme conditions a fast sinking line with 3 large wets can be deadly, its not my favourite way to fish wets but it works, and l have caught many Atlantic Salmon, Sea trout and other species by this means.
It is very effective means to fish lakes and reservoirs.
The two essential lines are a dry line and a intermediate.
Such flies as Peter Ross, Dunkeld, Watsons Fancy, Silver Invicta, Alexandra and Butchers.
In some cases classic wet flies are often scaled down versions of full dressed traditional Atlantic Salmon flies.
Davy.
