The Essential Fly - Fly Fishing Flies Shop

Trout Wet Flies

Trout Wet Flies - Larva, pupa, drowned adults and Lures

The trout finds most of its food beneath the surface of the water, sometimes by grubbing around the weed-beds, at other times by rising in water to take nymphs and pupae on their way to the surface 

The wet flies  fall into various categories: larval and pupal forms of various aquatic insects; drowned adults or even swamped stillborn flies; and drowned terrestrials such as beetles. Many do not represent anything in nature, but are classed as attractor flies or lures, designed to tempt the fish to take out of curiosity. A number of the silver-bodied flies can emulate small fry or minnows. Most of the dry flies have a wet-fly equivalents. The use of heavier hooks, softer hen hackles instead of cock, and in the case of winged flies a backward-sloping wing, changes the dry fly into a wet one which sinks below the sufrace of the water. Cock hackles are used for these patterns but they are taken from the very young bird where the individual fibres are very soft.

There are two main areas of wet-fly fishing. Firstly, there are the wild rain-fed rivers and streams where it is difficult to see a fish rise let alone see a minute dry fly on the surface. On such waters, wet flies are used almost exclusively upstream and down, as necessity or terrain dictates. The second main area of wet-fly fishing is on atill waters like lakes, lochs and reservoirs, where the angler uses a team of wet flies just below the surface. 

On wild streams while searching for the natural Brownie, soft-hackled wet flies like the Partridge and Orange, the Snipe and Purple, the Black Spider, a wet Coch-y-Bonddu, and many others are used.

'When do you fish a wet fly, and when a dry?' 

Always fish a dry-fly pattern when you see a trout rising during a hatch of natural insects. However, when the trout refuses to rise to a dry fly, fishing just below the surface with a wet fly can often work. When no activity is obvious, it is a case for the wet fly, pure and simple.

The soft, game-bird hackles of many wet flies have the necessary mobility in the water. They pulsate and 'kick' in the current, attracting the fish by their very movement. They look alive and edible; the two key properties for a successful fly

Invicta - Irish Bumble£0.49   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 10, 12, 14.			Iron Blue Dun£0.40   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 12, 14.			Kate McLaren£0.40   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 10, 12, 14.
Ke-He-Black£0.40   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 10, 12, 14.			Kingfisher Butcher£0.40   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 10, 12, 14.			Mallard & Claret£0.40   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 8, 10, 12, 14.
March Brown£0.40   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 10, 12, 14.			Mega Collection Wandering Nomads 12 Flies£7.00   £5.00 Nomad Selection 12 flies			Mega Collection - Czech Nymphs 15 flies£7.55   £5.50 15 Czech Nymphs
Mega Collection Fancy Dancers 16 Flies Stillwater Streamer / Lure Collection£7.60   £5.50 Bead Head and Regular Dancers - 16 flies			Mega Collection Fancy Dancers 16 Flies Stillwater Streamer / Lure Collection With Aluminium Fly Box£43.03   £23.99 Bead Head and Regular Dancers - 16 flies			Olive - Irish Bumble£0.49   £0.25 Available in Fly Size(s) 10, 12, 14.