How I started fly fishing on a small stream, quickly learned not to let the current to take control, difficult technique to learn properly but if you can find someone to actually show you, as I was lucky enough to, it will all make sense.

 

If you watch or read any Oliver Edwards stuff of this subject, you'll see he isn't an advocate of 'swinging' wet flies, as the swing itself is an unnatural drift.

I have found myself, that if you let a weighted nymph cast 'swing', the takes will tend to come as the flies reach the end of the swing, and start to rise in the water- this will be imitating an ascending nymph, which is a natural behaviour.

If I fish downstream, I try and have about 3 rod lengths from the point to rod tip, and when making the cast it will be more downstream than across - say 45 degrees downstream. I'll stop the rod high on the forward cast, or, as they are straightening out on the forward cast, I'll raise the rod tip as they come to land. Then follow the flies downstream by swinging the rod tip downstream while lowering the rod tip. The idea being to try and let the nymphs come downstream at the same pace as the water, it's easy enough to gauge the pace against foam.
You can also pause the rod momentarily, this will give the nymphs a lift, as mentioned earlier.

It can be very effective, I remember a time a couple of seasons ago where I picked up several fish by going downstream - in water I had just fished through upstream that I'd caught several fish through.

 

It can be very effective, I remember a time a couple of seasons ago where I picked up several fish by going downstream - in water I had just fished through upstream that I'd caught several fish through.

True. But weren't they all grayling? Definitely agree that the lift entices them. I think lifting deliberately (induced take) for trout is very effective upstream but not so much down and across or at least I haven't found that to be the case anyway.

 

That's as good an explanation of the technique as I've ever heard Luke.:thumbs:

 

Ant, yes, for the most when I have caught DS through already fished water, it's mostly grayling. Thinking on though, even fishing it the way I do ( and I don't do it that often ) anything that comes to the fly as soon or soon after they hit the water- when there might be some swinging going on tend to be trout. I'd imagine this is partly due to the way they respond to a plop, are a bit more aggressive and inclined to chase, and they'll by vurtue if where I'm positioned, be a bit further away, so unlikely spooked from the initial upstream approach.
I suppose also, with the grayling, if you have just come through upstream, you'll have chummed the water.

Hobo - there is no slack line, if there is in your mind you are imaging the method incorrectly
There will be a slow arc of line from the rod tip, all the way down to your indicator or line tip, from there to the point fly there will be tension all through the tippet. The only time there won't be is if you are following down to fast.
As for detecting takes, you don't need to be hawk eyes to see them. The tip wil jab or you'll see or feel it in the arc of line.

DS isn't really my thing, I'll be interested myself in other people's take on it.

 

Hobo - there is no slack line, if there is in your mind you are imaging the method incorrectly
There will be a slow arc of line from the rod tip, all the way down to your indicator or line tip, from there to the point fly there will be tension all through the tippet. The only time there won't be is if you are following down to fast.
As for detecting takes, you don't need to be hawk eyes to see them. The tip wil jab or you'll see or feel it in the arc of line.

DS isn't really my thing, I'll be interested myself in other people's take on it.

OK, so what you are saying is that you have contact and lowering the rod as the flies are drifted downstream to prevent drag and therefore should see the fly line dart forward or feel the take?

---------- Post added at 10:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 PM ----------

Swinging downstream wet flies/spiders, is a very relaxing mode of fishing.
You do not need any detection systems such as an indicator, as you will feel the tug on the line.

Unfortunately, you will not achieve as many hook ups as you are pulling the fly from the trout's mouth.

In the main (in my experience) the size of fish caught using this method is generally smaller, than using other 'dead drift' techniques.

Not a method that I ,personally, use anymore.

Douglas

Douglas, that is exactly why I was wanting a little more feed back. After a tough wander upstream, I was hoping to go back down the river to my car whilst casting down stream in a more relaxed fashion. I guess I can also dry fly fish with slack line but if there are no rises then it would be a waste of time trying.

 

Swinging downstream wet flies/spiders, is a very relaxing mode of fishing.
You do not need any detection systems such as an indicator, as you will feel the tug on the line.

Unfortunately, you will not achieve as many hook ups as you are pulling the fly from the trout's mouth.

In the main (in my experience) the size of fish caught using this method is generally smaller, than using other 'dead drift' techniques.

Not a method that I ,personally, use anymore.



Douglas

 

When the flies are on the hang start a slow figure of 8 retrieve to produce and induced take :thumbs:

 

Not a method I employ very often but Mike has given a very good description of how it can be done.
On a separate note if however you are relying on a tug to tell you that you have a take then you will be missing a high percentage of fish. You should be watching your line and leader for any giveaways (think swingtip).

 

First "trick" if there is one is picking your water. A steady riffle, or the head and tail of a pool is good. Avoid areas where you see lots of slow and fast lanes in the river when your starting as this makes it more difficult to control the line. In the days when I used down and across regularly it was mainly in uniform riffles, pocket water and areas with differing speed lanes I would use up and across.

Cast at about 45 degrees then two an upstream mend, as the belly of the line straightens throw more upstream mends until the line is pretty much hanging down below you. For the "hang" a combination of a slow single pull of the fly line hen a slow raising of the rod tip before a pause and a flick of the line back out pretty much covers it.

Once you get more practice you can start adding mends to keep the flies moving more slowly over likely fish holding areas and short retrieves in these areas can induce a take, as can letting out a foot or so of line to let the flies drop into these areas in a more dead drift fashion.

Steve

 

Not so much as "swinging wets" but swinging a dry & a wet works well during the evening on low summer flows. A "sedgie" type dropper & a conventional wet on the point has produced some terrific sport for me. A short line cast square across the river & raising the rod s-l-o-w-l-y just as the lures start their drift & following the drift round with the rod. Also a good method for the "shoalie" sea trout from the middle/end of July.

 

Hmmm, it is now more difficult than I had imagined with its own technique

 

It's not, honestly. It really is just upstream nymphing in reverse with a couple of tweaks.

 

Maybe it has been mentioned already, but I seen something in YouTube where they talked of downstream mends. I suppose it makes a bit of sense when fishing across and down to eke a bit more drift from the flies before drag? A bit like feeding out line as mentioned earlier.
It's all about when and where to do it as I am sure if I tried it the flies would be jet skiing across the top of the water!!
However, reading this thread, and occasionally fishing this way myself (pretty much like the OP as an end to the fishing day or to fish back downstream to where I started), I realise I am probably not putting enough thought into this. I can catch a lot of fish.......but mostly small ones!