Trout wet flies are particularly useful for a common behavior of the fish: finding food beneath the surface of the water. This can be done by grubbing around weed beds or by rising in the water to take nymphs and pupae.
Wet flies come in various categories. These include larval and pupal forms of aquatic insects, swamped still-born flies, drowned adults, drowned terrestrials like beetles, and "fancy" or attractor flies. The latter do not represent anything in nature, but are designed to stimulate the trout and tempt it to take the bait. Another type of fly has a silvery body and can emulate small fry.
Knowing how to rig up and fly fish with wet flies (aka soft hackles or spiders) is a versatile skill to have while on the river. It is the oldest and arguably easiest method of fly fishing, and it can help you avoid a tough day and getting skunked. Wet fly fishing is an efficient way to cover water when there is little surface activity, no hatch, or when you're unsure of what the trout are feeding on. Wet flies imitate a range of trout food, such as aquatic insects, baitfish, sculpin, and small crayfish. They're also great for targeting the front side of boulders, where some of the larger trout hang out in pocket water.
As a general rule-of-thumb a standard 9-foot fly rod works, and I prefer to use a five weight or smaller when fishing with wet flies. A 10-11 foot rod, 2-4 weight, can be better at times. The longer length helps manage the fly line and leader, improving drifts/swings and imparting more subtle action into the wet flies. For most situations, a floating line will do, but an intermediate line might be necessary on larger rivers to get the flies deeper into the water column.⻥
Many wet flies have their dry fly counterparts. However, by using heavier hooks, softer hen hackles instead of cock hackles, and a backward-sloping wing for winged flies, a dry fly can be transformed into a wet one.
Some fishermen will tell you that nymph patterns are rarely successful on wild streams, although they can be effective on chalk-streams. It is still worth trying traditional, soft-hackled wet flies in such conditions. Alternatively, you may decide to challenge conventional wisdom and test your own abilities with a variety of different flies.
<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar-month_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar-month_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Fly Patterns Organized by Season
</aside>
<aside> <img src="/icons/fish_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/fish_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> Midges | Midges are ubiquitous and can be found in large numbers in many bodies of water. However, one of the biggest reasons they are so important for fly fishing is that they are one of the few insects that can hatch year-round. This makes midges one of the most effective flies to use.
</aside>
<aside> <img src="/icons/downward_red.svg" alt="/icons/downward_red.svg" width="40px" /> Check out my Top-5 patterns or Use the Tabs / Tab dropdown ▾ below to toggle between types of flies
</aside>
<aside> <img src="/icons/fish_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/fish_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> Mayflies | Mayflies offer year-round nymphing and dry fly fishing opportunities and can be found across the world. They are known for some of the most prolific hatches, with stories of snow plows unburying bridges swarmed with mayflies. Baetis, a common mayfly species, hatches year-round, making mayfly dry flies a necessary addition to your fly box whenever you're on the water.
In the spring and summer, dozens of different mayfly species hatch, adding complexity to entomology. Mayflies hatch at different times of the year, and nymphs can vary greatly in appearance and size between species. To determine the flies currently hatching in your area, refer to local hatch charts and talk to fly shops near the rivers you plan to fish. However, with this knowledge and a seine, it is possible to select the right fly without consulting others as long as your box is stocked appropriately.
</aside>
<aside> <img src="/icons/fish_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/fish_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> General Attractors | An attractor fly is a pattern designed to catch the attention of nearby fish. Typically, anglers use this term when referring to large, highly-visible dry flies. However, any fly with bright or flashy characteristics, including nymphs and streamers, can be considered an attractor.
</aside>