2 simple tactics for catching more fish on traditional wet flies

TACKLE NEEDS

Wet flies are simple subsurface patterns, designed to be fished actively. It’s easy for novice anglers to confuse them with nymphs, the other (and more popular) category of subsurface fly. However, wets are quite different in design and use (see next page). Traditional wet flies are generally imitative of something aquatic and edible—with a handful of patterns, mostly in sizes 10 and 12, you’re set for just about anywhere rivers run in this country. Fish them on a floating fly line with a seven- to 10-foot leader, and an outfit sized to the river.