Get In The Swing

Swinging flies through all types of river features, might be the most versatile type of fly presentation. The swing, involves controlling the speed of your fly by the angle at which you cast, and mend your fly to the river current. Depending on which type of fly I am fishing, and the type of presentation I am going for, determines many factors of the swing but the general technique remains the same. For most dry fly and soft hackle presentations I cast at a 45 degree, down stream angle to the current. This is because I am trying to swing the flies as slow as possible. For dry fly and soft hackle presentations it's important to keep your tip down, almost in the water, to remain in contact with the fly. A slight elevation of the rod tip and you will notice the slack created between the rod tip and the water, lower the rod tip and the line draws taught. When fishing light tippits you will need to learn to slip strike the fish. This is done by keeping a small amount of slack line between your index and middle finger or stripping finger. When the fish strikes, drop the slack line as you raise your rod tip. Try a soft hackle when the fish are feeding on emergers or before those epic evening hatches. Dry flies, such as caddis are very effective fished on a swing. I recommend fishing a knotless tapered leader of 10ft or longer. It is also important to add a bit of floatant to the fly and leader. As the caddis swings through the run, lift the rod tip slowly, then lower it back to the water to give the effect of a caddis dapping the water. I love to fish this way when the light fades and it becomes difficult to spot my dry fly. By moving the fly, it is easier to spot and you also will feel the strike, a definite advantage when fishing low light conditions. Nymph fishing is also effective using a variation of the technique mentioned above. Use a weighted nymph, and again cast the fly quartering across the current, add a slack mend to the line to allow the flies to sink, then hold the line tight and slowly elevate the rod tip to give the impression of nymphs releasing their grip from the bottom and coming to the surface. You can do this several times in one drift, effectively covering the water. When fishing a streamer, I cast a little less than 45 degrees to the current and allow the line to belly slightly down stream of your fly. As the belly is pulled out of the line the fly accelerates giving the impression of a bait fish escaping. As the line begins to slow, twitch the fly pumping the line and allowing the current to pull the slack line tight again. Most fish will take in the middle of the swing but not always. When the fly come to rest parallel to the bank hesitate for a moment before recasting, you might just get slammed. Remember the idea is to cover water. By swinging the fly, imagine it sweeping the river. Start with a few short casts then gradually cast further out from a stationary position, after covering an area take a few steps down and start again. Tight lines!