Sometimes, keeping it simple can be best.  This would apply to fishing a wet fly – as the name would imply, the fly is fished sub-surface.  The wet fly will represent a swimming or emerging aquatic insect – which allows the fly to be presented through out water column from just sub-surface to the stream bottom.

An effective wet fly presentation (using a floating fly line) is to cast the fly down-and-across the current.  As the fly line started to drift downstream incorporate an upstream mend.  The mend will straighten the alignment of the “fly line + leader + fly” (placing the fly line upstream of the slower drifting fly) – this provides a drift free presentation of the fly, a better opportunity to detect the strike, and increases the odds of hooking a striking fish.  Allow the fly to drift in the current until it swings straight downstream from you.  Allow the fly hang there momentarily and then twitch the rod tip a few times – this sometimes will entice a reluctant fish to strike.  The twitch of the rod tip should only move the fly a couple inches.

A simple and effective variation of this technique is to impart small twitches (using a three-count pause) through the entire drift of the fly – Twitch, Pause, Pause, Pause, Twitch.

For wet fly patterns, I favor the Hare’s Ear Soft Hackle and Wet Royal Coachman – in size 12 and 14.  I’m usually using a 9 to 10 foot leader with a 4X fluorocarbon tippet.  When I need to get the fly deeper, I will attach a split shot about 8 inches above the fly.

  Hare’s Ear Soft Hackle (size 12 shown)
Hook – Standard nymph / Sizes – 10 to 16
Thread – Light brown
Weight - .010 lead-free wire
Rib – Gold wire, fine
Body – Hare’s ear dubbing
Hackle – Furnace or light brown

  Wet Royal Coachman (size 12 shown)
Hook – Standard wet / Sizes – 8 to 14
Thread – Black
Tail – Golden pheasant tippet fibers
Body – Peacock herl, red floss, peacock herl
Hackle – Brown hen
Wing – White mallard (2)

Good Angling and Tight Lines,
Andy