Question:
My eye sight is not what it used to be. I do well when I nymph fish under
an indicator. However, top water or dry fly fishing as my fly fisher
buddies want me to call it, is difficult due to the fact that I can not
always see the fly. This is certainly true of those tiny # 24 Trico
Spinners. Is it a visual game regarding dry fly fishing, or is there some
way to compensate that I have not yet discovered? There are times during
which I simply don't have a clue where the fly is after a short drift.
Any technique suggestions?
Answer:
Here are a couple of alternatives to consider when using a dry fly too small
to see, a dark color fly, when when daylight begins to fade or simply to
increase your chance of a rise.
1) an indicator of some type (air contained float, piece of yarn, a feather,
a piece of foam, etc). No need for a philosophical discussion. An indicator,
other then another floating fly, is the same as a small bobber.
2) An easily visible attractor fly attached above (closer to he reel) the
tip fly. I suggest about 2 feet separation between the flies. Attach the tip
fly to the tippet and tie the tippet to the bend of the 'indicator' fly.
Royal Wulffs, Gray Wulffs, White Wulffs and similarly easily seen flies are
good for this purpose.
3) An easily visible impressionistic fly, similarly attached as #2. A
parachute with a bright white or fluorescent upright wing will work, i.e.
adams, stimulator, yellow cricket, cahill, etc.
4) For using wet flies or nymphs as the tip fly you'll have to determine how
deep you want that fly to be separated from the indicator fly. Then make
sure the tippet between the two flies is adequate to allow adequate
separation.
