Squeeky’s Dry FLy Observations Missouri RIver Montana
A few things I saw this past couple months on the water. This is for the angler who strives to improve, is looking for a challenge and to improve his or her skill sets. For those who like headhunting, trying to fool bank feeders, searching foe the impossible fish to hook, and finding the fun in the ridiculous pursuit of tiny flies and large rising trout.
Most, 99% or more, casters finish with the rod tip down. With the rod parallel to the water when finished with the casting stroke. The part that is not all that great in the physical equation of rod tip travel including but not exclusive to loading energy into the rod, releasing the energy out of the rod, and accuracy are all compromised by this round rainbow like deceleration move that most, 99% or more, casters make every single cast. P.S. That move does not work. It is not the casting stroke that will propel you into greatness. Or, even mediocrity. That stroke will keep you, trap you, where you are currently at for the remainder of your casting life. You will never progress if you do not change the most common stroke in fly fishing. The round and fast 180 degree arc’d deceleration wand waving path of…
Most, meaning 99% or more, cannot cast 25 feet and land the fly within a Hula-Hoop 1 of 10 casts. Most, meaning 99% or more, cannot achieve this task. If you want to dry fly fish Montana’s Missouri River with a dry fly, chasing big brown trout, you might want to get a Hula-Hoop and spend some time int he backyard. This as you read this rant seems easy. Go try it. And then try it again. And the 10% achievement rate will climb.
Those who shoot the fly line, every cast, have no business claiming they are a dry fly fisherman. This is apparently, from my 30+ years of observation here on the MO, 90% of casters. 99% of male casters. How can one be accurate if you shoot line every cast? I do ask that very question in the boat when confronted by this impossible to catch many trout on a dry fly situation in the boat. Still waiting for an answer. If you cannot stand to dry fly fish without shooting line, with becoming far more accurate just simply holding the line in your other hand, so it will not shoot out there wildly, and landing near, not beyond the rising trout, then cast faster. Meaning put more out there so the randomizer of your guessing game will happen sooner? I think? Still have not see the shooting line every cast style or system work often. It’s kinda like Pin the tail on the donkey. You may as well cast blindfolded after I spin you around 7 times. Certainly more entertaining for the other passengers in the boat than landing long on every cast. And again, and again, and again, and again…
It’s OK to catch a bundle.
If you like to catch trout on a dry fly fishing Montana’s Missouri River you “Must cast at the trout making a 3’-5’ drift. Then repeat.”
If you don’t like to catch trout on a dry fly fishing Montana’s Missouri River continue to cast 12’-20’ above the trout and try to make a miraculous 12’-20’ drift to the feeding trout. I have never seen a 12’ drift wrok, continuously. Often. Repeatedly. With a known outcome. Consistently. If you like to waste time drifting all that way to the fish only to continually drag the fly over his head…it’s your day man.
I often say to anglers that my goal, is different than the goal of many anglers. My goal is to catch the rising trout. Most anglers goal is not to catch the rising trout. If the gaol was to catch the trout, then the angler should certainly cast at them. At the trout. How many shots around the deer do you make before you make the kill shot? Or, how far away from the deer to you aim, to drop that animal? The trout view when they are eating Trico Spinners can often be less than 12”. Most of the time, far less of a window. So, when you choose to drive t the fly 10’ to the rising trout, the first 9’ is a waste of time. Then you drift the fly 10’+ beyond the fish. 18” beyond the trout is often enough to strip in 5’ and cast again. Holding the fly line with your other hand as to not shoot beyond the trout, again.
As stated above in a few of the paragraphs, efficiency is a model you want to get comfortable with.
Spend a couple minutes making a plan before you attack the rising trout. The Hail Mary Approach, still does not work often. Old Bull, Young Bull. A parable. Look it up. You want to be the Old Bull. An Aesop fable…
It’s not all bad out there at all. Just airing out some Gremlins in my fishing brain. Find a mentor to gain knowledge. Find an Old Bull and listen. Then cast later. Listen first.
The paragraphs above pertain to the dry fly angler that likes to hunt heads. Although the casting stroke issue is rampant, dangerous for the continuation of the art of the sport off fly fishing. ROUND fly casts are not pretty, attractive, effective, or anything. If you are a recreational nymph angler you may be stuck here forever. Because the goal of any nymph cast, with any split shot, with any sub-surface sinky type fly pattern, with any beaded fly…is to sink the fly to the trout. So get it there quickly. Round and fast 180 arced fly casts deliver the fly to the water, every cast. Gravity assist afforded by…a Perdigon, split shot, lead…
See lots of anglers out there having fun. Laughing and such. See some anglers upset they did not catch as many trout as they had wished. Some days you catch ‘em and some days you don’t. Fishing. Tough to figure out all the time.
Love seeing young anglers out there with dads, uncle’s, mom’s, friends. Bring them outside. In the outdoors you can learn lots of life lessons.
Summer and grasshoppers abound. Afternoon thunderstorms through the month of August. Trico anglers out early for a sometimes shortened dry fly experience. Some days longer.
August is a quieter month on the Mo. Water temps look like they will hold below the Hoot Owl threshold. Open daily at 6am.