Swinging soft hackles is my favorite fly fishing technique! But I think you are missing a lot of fish. I dead drift my soft hackles for about 20 feet and then I let the current straighten them out. The current will swing them up, imitating an emerging fly (I get a lot of aggressive takes just before the fly reaches the surface). I let them dangle in the current at the end of the swing for a good 5-10 seconds (also get some aggressive takes here). Finally, I strip the line in so I can cast again (sometimes the trout love the strip and hit the fly as it's being stripped). Now the fish can take your fly in four different parts of the cast: 1) the dead drift 2) the swing 3) the dangle 4) the strip Also, I have seen good spots where there are plenty of fish and they don't hit the fly on the first cast. That's why I always cast to the same spot at least 3 times before moving down a bit. A lot of times instead of moving, I will add 2-3 feet of line to my drift and cast again 3-6 times to the same spot. Then add another 2-3 feet of line and repeat. I will continue this as long as the line is manageable. One last tip: When swinging soft hackles, I keep my rod tip up. It keeps the fly line out of the current(s) nearest me so it can maintain the desired, drag free dead drift. Also, when a strike happens, the rod absorbs the strike. This cuts down on tippet breaking from the initial shock of the strike. Tight lines!
Love swinging flies. Try swinging nymphs. Put tip of your fly rod right next to the water when following fly line. Just strip your line. Save reeling for steelhead or salmon. Adds to the fun! Great video.
I fish a march brown softshoe pattern that works as a dry and wet fly. I fish it as a dry from 45deg upstream to 45deg downstream, then give it a strip to submerge it and let it swing.
Someone above mentioned fishing closer to yourself and then extending line and working a longer arc with each cast and that’s good advice. Trout are easily frightened and swim to their preferred place of safety and they stop feeding. Sights and sounds that are not normal spook the trout. Walking and splashing in the stream will do this in relatively slow moving streams….. if the stream bed is rocky, boots grinding the stones together will act like security alarm for a pretty good distance. Sounds above the stream are muffled but sounds originating under the water are easily heard by the trout. So move slowly and as softly as possible, avoid making any sounds that don’t blend in with natural sounds. Casting the line over the water will also spook trout if they see it, so avoid false casting as shown in this video. It helps to bring a chair and sit in one spot for 5-10 minutes very still…. you will be less visible by staying low and the trout will believe the danger has passed and start feeding again. And remember that when you spook small trout near your position, they flee downstream (to move more quickly) and will alert other trout to the danger …. and those other trout will also spook and run for cover. Stealth is something like 80 pct of success. You can have a great fly on the line but unless there is a mega-hatch going on, the trout will be spooked when they see or hear you and will go into fear mode, hide and not feed. If you keep moving and making noise, the trout will stay in fear mode even longer…. Perhaps 10-20 minutes. Bigger trout might stop feeding much longer….. and they tend to only feed after dark where I fish, unless there are big bugs on the water.
Good video I leave the flies in the water longer and retrieve them slowly a few feet and move them to one side, then the other letting the current do the work.
I swing softhackles a lot especially when there is a hatch going on. I’ve found that during a hatch more often than not the fish are taking emergers rather than the adults and a softhackle does a nice job of imitating an emerging insect.
you can always do well on the typical tradition soft hackles....orange yellow and green body all work great. i would also look at some wet fly variants of a pheasant tail! but yah you cant go wrong with traditional soft hackles. fish them on the swing you can use multiple at one time!
I cast in close, working my way out. I also tend to cast more directly across from me (perpendicular with the river), lay out a couple mends to get the fly just a little lower, then let the line tighten so I get a big 90 degree swing. The takes are VIOLENT, in the swifter water the fish has to make a decision to chase it down and at that point you are on a tight line and the fish usually hooks itself. At the end of the drift when the fly is nearly below you try slowly lifting the rod tip (Lisenring Lift? I think) and it will imitate the fly attempting to emerge. I get a lot of takes here at the end of the drift this way. Tight lines!
Maybe I fish a different style rod or something I always have slack and it only tightens out at the end of the drift I gues it’s not much but I’m new to fly fishing so idk
Personally, I love swinging wet flies down with the current. I do use a slow sink leader with a long tippett attached. I think if I were to introduce a new angler to fly fishing, this is the way I'd go. Nice video!
An excellent way to cover the water and catch trout! I also occasionally move the rod with my wrist in small movements as I swing to create a pulse motion to make the flys seem alive! Tight lines and good luck!
I have my grandfathers fly tying tools and based off the materials and hooks and the era he grew up in he only soft hackles and streamers no one ever talks about how they fished them back then
An advise, when fly is swinging do slow figure of 8 while fly is swinging, you’ll see you get more hits 😊 here in Europe is how we swing the wets and works great, great video 😊💯🎣
In fast flowing water like that if you make an upstream mend then the flies will drift in a more controlled manner and present more naturally to the fish. Two or three upstream mends on water like that. As a more experienced (ie older) fisherman I tend to fish wet flies upstream these days as I think it helps to target the bigger fish. However if that is not possible I will still use the downstream wet fly technique.
Who’s gonna try this!?!?
I'm going to try this the next time I get out.
One of my favorite ways to fish
Swinging soft hackles is my favorite fly fishing technique! But I think you are missing a lot of fish. I dead drift my soft hackles for about 20 feet and then I let the current straighten them out. The current will swing them up, imitating an emerging fly (I get a lot of aggressive takes just before the fly reaches the surface). I let them dangle in the current at the end of the swing for a good 5-10 seconds (also get some aggressive takes here). Finally, I strip the line in so I can cast again (sometimes the trout love the strip and hit the fly as it's being stripped). Now the fish can take your fly in four different parts of the cast: 1) the dead drift 2) the swing 3) the dangle 4) the strip
Also, I have seen good spots where there are plenty of fish and they don't hit the fly on the first cast. That's why I always cast to the same spot at least 3 times before moving down a bit. A lot of times instead of moving, I will add 2-3 feet of line to my drift and cast again 3-6 times to the same spot. Then add another 2-3 feet of line and repeat. I will continue this as long as the line is manageable.
One last tip: When swinging soft hackles, I keep my rod tip up. It keeps the fly line out of the current(s) nearest me so it can maintain the desired, drag free dead drift. Also, when a strike happens, the rod absorbs the strike. This cuts down on tippet breaking from the initial shock of the strike.
Tight lines!
Agree.
Started swinging a few weeks ago on a very hard fished stream...my success rate has far exceeded all expectations!
@@tombobaggins that’s awesome!!!! Very good in autumn
Love swinging flies. Try swinging nymphs. Put tip of your fly rod right next to the water when following fly line. Just strip your line. Save reeling for steelhead or salmon. Adds to the fun! Great video.
Thanks. This is an effective method which is under-utilised.
I fish a march brown softshoe pattern that works as a dry and wet fly. I fish it as a dry from 45deg upstream to 45deg downstream, then give it a strip to submerge it and let it swing.
That sounds deadly!!
Someone above mentioned fishing closer to yourself and then extending line and working a longer arc with each cast and that’s good advice. Trout are easily frightened and swim to their preferred place of safety and they stop feeding. Sights and sounds that are not normal spook the trout. Walking and splashing in the stream will do this in relatively slow moving streams….. if the stream bed is rocky, boots grinding the stones together will act like security alarm for a pretty good distance. Sounds above the stream are muffled but sounds originating under the water are easily heard by the trout. So move slowly and as softly as possible, avoid making any sounds that don’t blend in with natural sounds. Casting the line over the water will also spook trout if they see it, so avoid false casting as shown in this video. It helps to bring a chair and sit in one spot for 5-10 minutes very still…. you will be less visible by staying low and the trout will believe the danger has passed and start feeding again. And remember that when you spook small trout near your position, they flee downstream (to move more quickly) and will alert other trout to the danger …. and those other trout will also spook and run for cover. Stealth is something like 80 pct of success. You can have a great fly on the line but unless there is a mega-hatch going on, the trout will be spooked when they see or hear you and will go into fear mode, hide and not feed. If you keep moving and making noise, the trout will stay in fear mode even longer…. Perhaps 10-20 minutes. Bigger trout might stop feeding much longer….. and they tend to only feed after dark where I fish, unless there are big bugs on the water.
The tug is the drug always fun swinging don't forget to leave it in the dangle a few extra seconds at end of the swing 😉
Very true! Great point
ABSOLUTELY. That really seems to catch those " fussy" ones
Good video
I leave the flies in the water longer and retrieve them slowly a few feet and move them to one side, then the other letting the current do the work.
Fishing my favorite river vicariously through your video! Thanks
Hahaha it’s a fun one!
Im going to give this a shot, Im still kind of new to fly fishing and have been relying on dry flies only.
Definitely!!!
I too, like to swing wet flies; I've caught some big trout swinging wet, especially soft hackles.
I swing softhackles a lot especially when there is a hatch going on. I’ve found that during a hatch more often than not the fish are taking emergers rather than the adults and a softhackle does a nice job of imitating an emerging insect.
@@MrSofthackle no doubt about it!!!
What are some wet flies you recommend? I’m going to my local fly shop getting some
you can always do well on the typical tradition soft hackles....orange yellow and green body all work great. i would also look at some wet fly variants of a pheasant tail! but yah you cant go wrong with traditional soft hackles. fish them on the swing you can use multiple at one time!
@@DownstreamDownrange yea I was looking to try something new I used wet flies for the first time and was killing them
I cast in close, working my way out. I also tend to cast more directly across from me (perpendicular with the river), lay out a couple mends to get the fly just a little lower, then let the line tighten so I get a big 90 degree swing. The takes are VIOLENT, in the swifter water the fish has to make a decision to chase it down and at that point you are on a tight line and the fish usually hooks itself. At the end of the drift when the fly is nearly below you try slowly lifting the rod tip (Lisenring Lift? I think) and it will imitate the fly attempting to emerge. I get a lot of takes here at the end of the drift this way. Tight lines!
Had far do you cast down and how do you keep the slack or know if there’s a bite when there is slack?
No slack on a swing….youll know immediately
Maybe I fish a different style rod or something I always have slack and it only tightens out at the end of the drift I gues it’s not much but I’m new to fly fishing so idk
Personally, I love swinging wet flies down with the current. I do use a slow sink leader with a long tippett attached. I think if I were to introduce a new angler to fly fishing, this is the way I'd go. Nice video!
I agree! That leader is definitely an great idea !
Not my type of fishing, but it is fun to watch. Great job.
Fair enough!
An excellent way to cover the water and catch trout! I also occasionally move the rod with my wrist in small movements as I swing to create a pulse motion to make the flys seem alive! Tight lines and good luck!
I completely agree!!!! Tight lines
Nice stuff. Thanks for sharing.
🤝👍
Swinging and dead drifting sunken spinners around dark can be a blast.
Skagit casting is a great option here as well.. 150 grain line or head works. Rio and opst are lines that i have used
That sounds like a good setup
ua-cam.com/video/DbTAwwj4EDw/v-deo.html is a great vid on single hand skagit casting.. Ed is a legend in the PNW.
I learned something new looks like something I might try eventually 🙂
Can fish that way with spinners
@@DownstreamDownrange depends on current and weight
I have my grandfathers fly tying tools and based off the materials and hooks and the era he grew up in he only soft hackles and streamers no one ever talks about how they fished them back then
What reel is that?
Maxcatch
Or no!!!! I’m sorry…. That’s other rod. This is LL Bean Double L reel
An advise, when fly is swinging do slow figure of 8 while fly is swinging, you’ll see you get more hits 😊 here in Europe is how we swing the wets and works great, great video 😊💯🎣
Cool! 👍
In fast flowing water like that if you make an upstream mend then the flies will drift in a more controlled manner and present more naturally to the fish. Two or three upstream mends on water like that. As a more experienced (ie older) fisherman I tend to fish wet flies upstream these days as I think it helps to target the bigger fish. However if that is not possible I will still use the downstream wet fly technique.
word
agree
Nice tease !
Haha whoops
When you learn to single hand spey cast you will be more efficient
This is definitely true!!!!
🙈 not a clue 😅
Truth