Swinging flies is a fun and very effective method of fishing flies. Swinging flies is a presentation all by itself. Casting your fly or flies slightly up river and across then mending your line so your flies are in the lead. At this point you follow your flies down and across the river all the way to the bank if you are on shore, or below you if you are in the water. The strike zone is about a 60 degree angle directly below you, with you being the vertex of the angle. After you make two swings take two steps down river and cast again 2 swings - 2 steps ( sounds like a dance with the trout the western swing ). Set up is simple 9 foot leader add one or two flies 16 to 24 inches apart and that is it. This method of fishing always puts the fly in front ,the first thing the trout see. NO indicators needed with straight line fishing you will feel the strike, an indicator will actually mess up your drift. Weight may be necessary to get your flies down and that depends on the water current and water depth. Start with none and add weight as needed unless you know the water. Using this method of fly fishing you will present your fly to more trout because your fly is covering more water. Swinging flies also covers two of the trout's instincts HUNGER and PREDATION . Hunger is when the trout are actually feeding certain times of the day . Predation is when the trout strikes as a response to your fly moving in front of them and then moving away ( trying to escape ) they will jump on it. Types of flies are numerous but needs to imitate what is happening on the water at that time. Stone fly nymphs, wet fly patterns, caddis pupa, caddis adult, may fly nymphs, and emergers are all good flies to swing. The Arkansas River is perfect for swinging flies, riffles, edges of runs, head and tail of pools, and edges of pocket water will all produce trout. I have even fished a section of water dead drift the hunger instinct with no takes. Then turned around and swung the same water predator instinct and landed some nice trout they weren't hungry but they did not want anything trying to get away from them. Give it a try have some fun and be a swinger.
James PushchakI have been fly fishing and tying flies for over forty five years now and still learning, that's the beauty of this great pastime you can never know it all. I hope through this blog I can share some of the things I have picked up along the way. And through your comments learn even more. Archives
April 2017
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