fly fishing in the rain?

anyone try fly fishing in the rain before, and how is it?
it's been raining all day today and hard rain nonstop. from i think around 4am and still is raining even now at 11pm. i dont think it's going to stop. water will be high and im not sure if it will be easy to cast with rain and wind. but i want to try since i know there wont be much fisherman at all on the rivers.
so it should be a nice chance for me to go out and fish. but fly wise prob no dry flies, i should try nymphs and scuds?

will be my first time ever fishing in the rain.
dont know who i will do or how it will go, but my waders should be good for my legs and chest. but will have to get something for the top to stay dry.

when it's raining are fish still hiding in the same spots as before or are they more moving around since we can't really see them and it's alittle safer for them?

the river i fish has a nice flow at top, to a good run with two big broken bridge pieces, then a little pool on the side of the broken bridge, to a nice run down stream that splits up. one side fast run, the other side rift lots of rocks lots of bugs, bubbles, and about maybe lower than 8inch but with the rain i wont be sure.

so any info if you anglers try fishing in the rain will help.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/...3888d34d_o.jpg
here's where i do most of my fishing on the river, right after the broken bridge where it's deep and have plenty of food from the riffle about 40-50feet above.

biggest i cought here was a 13inch rainbow 4days ago on a nymph.

Fresno,

Fish don't care if it's raining, they're already wet. The bite might actually turn on in the rain.

Fishing in the rain is fine and dandy. When there's lightening about, put down the rod and go home. In or near the water waving a lightening rod in your hand is not the place to be during a thunderstorm.

REE

Dries will still work, too. I've had a lot of success fishing small streams for little browns in downpours. The hardest part is drying them after you catch a fish. A direct hit from a raindrop will sink them too, but its a surprisingly rare occurence.

If they're sinking too much, try a more buoyant fly, like one that incorporates foam. :-)

A very smart former guide in Wisconsin's Driftless Area once offered the following piece of information:

"Every farm boy knows to fish worms after a rain."

Take this to the bank. If nothing is hatching, and the water has some visibility to it, dead drift a San Juan worm.

If there's no visibility, you might want to try a muddler. The theory is that the big deer head sends out some pressure waves that the trout can pick up on.

Fresno,

Fishing in the rain can be some of your best times.

First off there are usually fewer people out fishing, always a plus.

Then there is the fresh water that is filled with oxygen, the rain, and it is being scattered across the water, the fish like that.

If it is raining it is usually cloudy, and fish will approach the surface more readily when it is cloudy because they feel safer and there is food in the water that got blown in by the rain.

Also, the rain and slight wind ?worry? the top of the water, and fish like that because there is less chance of being seen by a predator.

Many nymphs like to hatch during cloudy days, and a little rain doesn?t usually stop them.

The rain is often cooler than the water the fish are in and some fish prefer cool water.

So, don?t worry about the rain. If you are consistently coming up short for strikes, then maybe you need to reevaluate the flies you have and or how you fish them.

You should consider joining a fly fishing club and Fresno has one. Joining a club is the number one best way of expanding your fly fishing knowledge and skills as well as meeting many more fly fishers, most of whom will be more than happy to give you some helpful hints.

Fly Fishers for Conservation
Fresno, California
www.fresnoflyfishers.org

Larry ---sagefisher---

Barring some fairweather hatches, the worse the weather, the better the fishing can be. I have had some incredible days in rain and snow. The light is lower, fish seem to be more active, and there are fewer people around, usually. Go for it.

terrestrials after a rain. think about it.

In the rain? Absolutely. SJ worms, soft hackles and wolley buggers.

Had my best day ever streamer fishing during a hard rain at my favorite spring. My normal methods didn't work due to the driving rain and gale-force winds, so I changed tactics and started throwing streamers and knocked 'em dead. Now I know that when it's dark, overcast and spitting wet stuff it's time to hit the spring with my favorite streamer patterns - I'll even take the day off work for some of that action!:tieone:

Kelly.

Living in western Oregon, I have to fish in the rain.

Cloudy days with light rain produce some of the heaviest, longest lasting BWO hatches. High water after downpours, I'd fish nymphs close to the bank.

I really have nothing new to add except to endorse what the others have said. The nastier the better...within reason of course.
Grassman

I got nothin' to add............so I'm gonna chime in anyway:)
Fishin in the rain can be the best!! Usually less folks out on the water also. I've had some great days out in the rain, but, like REE said.........Beware Lightning !!!!!!
Bein an Oregon boy...I gotta fish in the rain...or worse................ModocDan

Tend to agree with others. For personal reasons I don't like fishing during a heavy down pour. A steady rain or gentle rain is okay.

I've had some of my best days fishing in the rain. I've tried everything, and everything worked. Also, I've experienced bigger fish becoming more aggressive once the water turns murky - and at this point I switch to a streamer like a muddler minnow (with a tinge of black fur).

Like noted already - be aware of rising water, holes, and especially lightning. If you hear thunder, GO HOME.

I agree with everything said prior. Get a decent breathable raincoat big enough to close over you vest & go for it.. I've had a Hodgesman for quite a few years & it has almost as many pockets as my vest. I just transfer the stuff over to it if it.s raining when I start, If it's not raining when I start I roll it up & put it in the rear pouch of the vest. Unless there's lightning in the area a little downpour won't stop me. My rule is if it's raining too hard to see my rod tip I go wait it out. Some of the biggest fish I ever caught were caught in bad weather. One more thing about raingear .. Get a jacket with neoprene or closable cuffs. Water has a way of wicking up your shirtsleeves

I just got back from fishing in the rain and not just any rain but a nice cold rain. I dressed up in a nice warm gore-tex outfit and was pretty comfy except for that water that ended up getting up my sleeves. I have a Kokotat dry top for kayaking that would have taken care of that problem.
I even caught a few bluegills for my efforts.

I'm wet, the fish are wet. I figure it just levels the playing field a little bit. As mentioned a few times above, all the folks smart enough to come in out of the rain have so I get more water to myself. Until I hear the first roll of thunder or see lightning, then it's game over.

man i went out today, right after the rain. i thought i was going to rain today or still be raining, but it stop. alot of flood spots and WoW! I couldn't believe it....... no body out fishing, it's either they are at the fair since fair is in town or they dont like the after the rain weather. but man it was a beautiful day and the fish are crazy... i threw in a prince nymph and wow cought one, move around kept on catching trouts. cought some rainbow and a few cutthrout... then i change over to a black wooly bogger size 10 and i had the best time of my life... first time i ever cought so many big fish. then i move up river and tell you the truth i thought i cought a rock.... i was like man my fly got stuck in seaweed or a rock. but What The? it's moving and it's so heavy.... my rod is bending like crazy.... holy snap.... it's a big fish... i was so happy i was just stripping the line unstead of reeling it in.
took me 5mins to reel it near me, it jump out of the water and the first thing i said to myself was " holy cow it's huge" it was about a good 18-20inch rainbow trout. biggest trought i ever hook in my life. but man i need skills on
fighting bigger fish, it came all the way to 4feet away from me then i grab my net and about to net it while moving my rod back to get it. then it some how got unhook i dont know how, but i reel it in to check my bogger and wow my hook is bent.... how big and how strong is that fish to bend my hook...
now im really hook on trout fishing...

i always had bad luck when i use bogger, but now im loving it...
it will have to be one of my new favor fly. im going to go back on my day off and try to catch that big one that got away...



you guys are right, bigger fly bigger fish.

oh yea, how do you anglers reel in or pull in your big fish? because i still kind of suck at pulling in the big fish... should i hold the rod up high and hold the line tight, or pull back and reel in when i can? i notice my rod was moving back and forth because i was afraid i might loose the fish and i did lose the fish when i got it to come up so close.

i guess it's a learning process, but i want to catch that big one or get it in my net...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fresnoflyman

oh yea, how do you anglers reel in or pull in your big fish? because i still kind of suck at pulling in the big fish... should i hold the rod up high and hold the line tight, or pull back and reel in when i can? i notice my rod was moving back and forth because i was afraid i might loose the fish and i did lose the fish when i got it to come up so close.

i guess it's a learning process, but i want to catch that big one or get it in my net...

---

You don't reel in or pull in a BIG fish. You play it. The idea is to get it tired, but not to the point that it's so exhausted that it goes belly up (dies). You do this by throwing it off balance. You throw it off balance by moving it's head so that it's always fighting against the current to regain it's balance. For instance, if it swims behind a rock, you tug on the line to get it's head back out into the main current where it'll need to fight that current to find another quiet slot or eddy.

Also when you have your rod pointed straight up, it acts like a giant spring, and will give the fish little resistance or feel. When you bring the rod down then the spring action gives way to a more direct connection with the line.

So when the fish is somewhat settled down into a hole or a pocket or whatever, you bring down your rod, tug on the line to throw it off balance. As it fights back you lift the rod up so that it acts as a spring. You've got to be very careful that you time everything by feel, if you don't the fish can break off easily if it catches you with your rod held down and pointed directly at it.

As you get good at riding the bull, you'll find all sorts of rod positions that basically do what I've described above.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Silverexpress

You don't reel in or pull in a BIG fish. You play it. The idea is to get it somewhat tired, but not to the point that it's totally exhausted that it dies. You do this by throwing it off balance. You throw it off balance by moving it's head so that it's always fighting against the current to regain it's balance. For instance, if it swims behind a rock, you tug on the line to get it's head back out into the main current where it'll need to fight to find another quiet slot or eddy.

Also when you have your rod pointed straight up, it acts like a giant spring, and will give the fish little resistance or feel. When you bring the rod down then the spring action gives way to a more direct connection with the line.

So when the fish is somewhat settled down into a hole or a pocket or whatever, you bring down your rod, tug on the line to throw it off balance. As it fights back you lift the rod up so that it acts as a spring. You've got to be very careful that you time everything by feel, if you don't the fish can break off easily if it catches you with your rod held down and pointed directly at it.

As you get good at riding the bull, you'll find all sorts of rod positions that basically do what I've described above.

---

aww thank you, that made it more clear and easier to do. because it sure is different than from a smaller fish. it just fight and fight and fight.... i kind of thought i should pull it in, so i was stripping the line in too much... i will play it out and hope it turns out me actually catching a big one.
yea because i seen many people turn or hold their rod differently... but always aking the fish fight or try to tire it out sounds good and should be fun.
thanks again... very helpfull...

if i do and when i do i'll show a picture of it... will have to be my first big catch...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fresnoflyman

aww thank you, that made it more clear and easier to do. because it sure is different than from a smaller fish. it just fight and fight and fight.... i kind of thought i should pull it in, so i was stripping the line in too much... i will play it out and hope it turns out me actually catching a big one.
yea because i seen many people turn or hold their rod differently... but always aking the fish fight or try to tire it out sounds good and should be fun.
thanks again... very helpfull...

if i do and when i do i'll show a picture of it... will have to be my first big catch...

---

If you can get away with using a stronger leader, tippet, and a bigger hook, then you can probably horse the fish in quicker.

Successively catching small fish can be a pain because you get train to handle the next fish you catch as another small fish, but what if that next fish was a BIG fish??? SNAP!

Cool thing about fishing in the rain is that the fish have a harder time seeing you. Trust me, that's important.

Bob