Successful Dry Fly Fishing is partly down to getting the correct Fly Pattern on your leader but mainly down to correct Presentation of the Fly. Presenting a fly is about making it behave in the same way as the natural insect would.
When Nymph fishing we need to put a natural movement into the nymph. When Dry Fly Fishing we usually need to take movement, or drag, out of the equation, although there are times when it is required.
It goes without saying that a Dry Fly should Float but should it float High or Low? Look at the flies on the water that the fish are taking to get the answer.
Your Leader & Line will usually need to Float, but the tip of the leader needs to be sunk to give a more natural appearance to your Fly.
It’s a lesson in working with nature to make your fly look as real as possible, but you will need a bit of technology to help you get there. A Tapered Leader is a must; Line Floatant on the leader & Sinkant on the last two feet or so to make the Leader & Fly to appear not to be attached.
You can read up about all of this stuff but the best way to learn is by doing it.
You won’t always get it right, but its fun trying.
There are a lot of good floatants & sinkants on the market and you are going to need some of them if you want to present your fly well so don’t be frightened to ask which ones are best for the job & how to use them.
The Peak District Rivers & Still Waters offer some tremendous Fly fishing and the Mayfly puts in an appearance on many of the waters. If the Mayfly are up then you know which fly to use. All you have to do is make it look as real as possible!
As always I wish you tight lines!