Outdoors
The BDN outdoors section brings readers into the woods, waters and wild places of Maine. It features stories on hunting, fishing, wildlife, conservation and recreation, told by people who live these experiences. This section emphasizes hands-on knowledge, field reports, issues, trends and the traditions that define life outside in Maine. Read more Outdoors stories here.
While picking up my mail at the post office recently, I ran into a local fly-fishing acquaintance and stopped to chat. Every Aroostook angler understands that spring fishing conditions here lag at least a month behind much of the rest of Maine.
The fellow was frustrated by the poor weather that has plagued early-season outings the last couple of years. Climate changes have certainly altered winter conditions in The County. Less snow and milder temperatures have been a relief for many residents, but when ice-out fishing season arrives, the effects haven’t always been beneficial for anglers.
We both agreed that the persistent rain and heavy winds during late April and early May have been aggravating, keeping waterways high, wading nearly impossible and boat fishing uncomfortable, sometimes even dangerous.
With June at hand, streamer trolling season is winding down and dependable dry-fly action is still weeks away. The man wanted my recommendation for consistent trout fishing.
My advice was the same advice my father taught me more than six decades ago: Try a wet fly.
Just in case you’re wondering, the true definition of a wet fly is not simply a fly that has been cast into the water. Larger and sleeker than dry flies yet smaller and more intricate than many streamers, this style of trout fly comes from a fishing heritage that is centuries old.
The first wet flies were little more than chicken or duck feathers tied to hooks, yet they often took fish when natural bait would not. As trout have become increasingly lure-conscious over the decades, fly tiers and anglers have continued to refine wet-fly patterns and fishing techniques.
Throughout Maine, the tradition of fishing wet flies has taken a backseat to trolling streamers and casting dry flies. A true wet fly pattern is probably found in only one out of every 25 fly boxes today.
Streamers, nymphs, terrestrials, Matukas and Woolly Buggers may all be fished below the surface, but they are not true wet flies. I’m here to tell you that during June, early July and September, a well-presented wet fly can be every bit as productive as any fly in your box.
Many wet flies feature bright reds, blues, yellows and greens that resemble no specific insect or aquatic creature, yet trout strike them readily. Perhaps those colors simply trigger an instinctive reaction. Whatever the reason, they work.
One of the oldest wet-fly patterns is the Trout Fin. More than a century ago, anglers often attached an actual trout fin to a hook and fished it successfully. Eventually, fly tiers developed a pattern that imitated the appearance of that fin.
The Trout Fin remains productive today and deserves a place in any collection of wet flies. The red and white of a Parmachene Belle and Royal Coachman, the yellow and red of a Professor, the green and red of a Grizzly King and the blue, red and yellow of a Silver Doctor are other colorful wet flies that consistently catch fish.
Among the more subdued patterns that should be close at hand are the Hornberg, Hare’s Ear and Montreal.
For local waters, sizes 8, 10 and 12 are the most common wet-fly hook sizes.
Although wet flies will take trout from deep pools and cold spring inlets, they are most effective when fished through moderate-depth riffles and currents. These locations are easy to identify on straight stretches of water, but don’t overlook shaded bends, undercut banks and S-curves where trout often hold.
I prefer to fish these runs from the upstream edge and retrieve the fly against the current. This approach allows the fly to swing naturally and creates a lifelike swimming motion.
Just a week ago, I visited an old haunt on Prestile Stream in Robinson, where I spent the first 17 years of my life. It remains one of Maine’s finest limestone brook trout waters.
As I arrived, another angler was heading back to his truck. He told me he had caught only three small trout in an hour and blamed the water conditions.
I was surprised. This particular stretch of stream has been productive for me since childhood and I seldom encounter another fisherman there.
I noticed the fly tied to his leader and asked what else he had tried. After naming several patterns, I asked whether he had any wet flies.
He assured me he did and opened a fly box filled with small streamers, leeches and muddlers. Nice flies, but not the right sizes, shapes or colors for the conditions.
I opened my own fly box, selected a size 12 Professor and suggested he give it a try.
Although he had planned to head home, he decided instead to work upstream through a few pools. I headed downstream to fish water he had already covered.
About 45 minutes later, I heard him approaching along the shoreline. He was smiling.
The Professor had produced seven trout, five of which he landed, and all were larger than the fish he had caught earlier. I had taken half a dozen trout from water he had already fished.
A true sportsman, he offered to return my fly. I told him to keep it and suggested he buy a few more Professors and several other traditional wet-fly patterns.
During June and September, rivers and brooks often run higher than normal. Rain can stain the water and floating debris is common. Perhaps that reduced visibility is another reason colorful wet flies perform so well.
On narrow stretches of water where backcasts are limited, a wet fly can be roll-cast and retrieved upstream. When possible, however, an angled cast across the current that allows the fly to swing downstream will appear more natural to trout.
Fish also tend to hook themselves more solidly during a cross-current retrieve and are less likely to shake free.
One of the best aspects of wet-fly fishing is that it doesn’t require the precision and finesse associated with dry-fly fishing. Even novice fly casters can present a wet fly effectively enough to attract strikes.
Because wet flies have fallen out of favor with many anglers, you may need to tie your own or find a local fly tier who can supply them. Along with the well-known patterns already mentioned, I’ve discovered a number of lesser-known wet flies that continue to produce fish year after year.
Materials and tying instructions can be found in older fly-tying tomes and on numerous websites.
During bright midday conditions, I prefer colorful patterns such as a Professor, Colonel Fuller or Belgrade. At dawn and dusk, more subdued flies such as a Blue Dun, Ginger Quill or March Brown often produce better action.
There are times each season when wet flies outperform nearly every other trout pattern. Right now is one of those times.
Give wet flies a try. You’ll keep a bit of fly-fishing heritage alive and likely catch more trout in the process.
Just remember: simply because a fly is in the water doesn’t make it a wet fly.
