Embarrassing Beginner's Question - Fishing In The Rain

Sorry for the litany of basic questions recently (I've fished for a while but for a variety of reasons, I am trying to focus a lot more on the sport). Hopefully soon I will be more of a contributor and less of an asker.
Anyway, I have a scheduled trip for tomorrow morning at a local spring creek here in NY and the weather is reporting steady rain.
I am assuming that fish still eat in the rain and can be caught on a fly. My question is how does your strategy change when fishing in the morning rain?
For purposes of this question I am fishing a small spring-fed creek in south-eastern NY (name of river is the Nissequoge) with fairly normal hatches/bug life for the area.

Don't think the fish will mind .... they're already wet. Just GET OUT if there is even the slightest sound of thunder or flash of lightning!

You'll hear from others, but I would use my "regular" flies.

Because when it rains here in the summer it typically comes with lightning I leave, but I would think if there are trees along the banks a drowned ant pattern might become a better pattern, along with inch worms and bettles. A little wind might improve the effectiveness of grasshopper patterns. More than a foot under the water I doubt anyone much notices the rain other than a loss of light.

Rawfish, you are giving folks here great pleasure by asking questions!

In my experience, fishing in the rain is very productive. The fish tend to become less spooky. If I'm fishing on top this time of year, I like to use terresatrials big enough for them to see. If I'm nymphing, it is business as usual.

I like to have a towel and a dry sweatshirt waiting in my car for the end of the day --along with the ritual cold beer.

Thanks all, now the only remaining question is how to light my cigar in the rain :)

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Originally Posted by rawfish

Thanks all, now the only remaining question is how to light my cigar in the rain :)

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Switch to a pipe and turn it upside down.

Unless there is lightning involved, it isn't a question of whether or not go go but rather a question of what to wear. I'm not sure if fish are more or less apt to take the fly in the rain but I know there are fewer people out whipping up the water. The increased disturbance in the surface has to make us less visible (at least the part of us above the water). I personally go with wet flies and nymphs in the rain on the unsubstantiated idea that a dry fly on the surface in the rain is less visible due to the chaotic surface disturbance the rain creates.

At any rate, I know I've caught fish in the rain, so it's always worth going. Watch for rising water if the rains get heavy at times.

And a very broad brimmed hat can help with that cigar. ;)

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Originally Posted by Uncle Jesse

Because when it rains here in the summer it typically comes with lightning I leave, but I would think if there are trees along the banks a drowned ant pattern might become a better pattern, along with inch worms and bettles. A little wind might improve the effectiveness of grasshopper patterns. More than a foot under the water I doubt anyone much notices the rain other than a loss of light.

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+1 with Jesse.

Beetle downstream from overhanging trees or a floating beetle with a sunken ant.

Also agree that a rain makes surface flies much easier to fish. I took a beginner to fish a difficult river. It was raining and the fish were push overs. They seemed oblivious to sloppy casting and drag. He didn't know how fortunate he was that it was raining.

Fishing in the rain can be dynamite! Lightning and thunder, get out fast.

Don't know much about fishing in NY but up here in NW WA if you don't fish in the rain you won't fish much. I usually go sub-surface when its raining which is almost all the time.

At one time it was presumed that fishing in the rain, especially after hot, dry weather, was the best time to be fishing, unless, of course, there was a thunder storm. The prevailing theory was that the rain put oxygen into the water and also brought down the temperature. I don't know if any of that is true but I have had some great fishing when it was raining.

The answers have been about trying to catch fish when it is raining (and staying safe if there is thunder). I would add that I have found it VERY important to have a rain jacket with tight (velcro or elastic strap) cuffs. If you don't have same, you can use 1/2 of the neoprene ankle braces on each wrist. When using the proper casting stroke, rain will run down your rod, hand, and wrist, and soon you will be wet to the elbow of your casting arm. It sure takes the shine off an otherwise quiet and enjoyable time. And yes, have dry clothes in the car - even if it is not raining, you still might slip and get damp. Good luck, Greg

This may be heresy to some, but San Juan Worms and other worm patterns.

A former Southwest Wisconsin guide once gave me this advice, "Generations of Wisconsin farm boys have fished worms after it rains. So should you."

I'd think the advice still holds when it's raining.

If the water gets to look like coffee with cream, the biggest nymph you can cast might be the way to go. Or swing a muddler-type streamer with a big head that pushes water.

I have had some of my best days either while it is raining, or just after. No better time to chuck streamers in my opinion. I typically don't cast dries, although I might try what others have suggested and cast ants and beetles along the bank, and near fallen trees - that makes a lot of sense.

Rain is good lightening is BAAAD
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Originally Posted by Goduster

Rain is good lightening is BAAAD
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I was looking in my files for this very picture! That's what happens when a graphite rod is used as a weathervane! The pic was taken in a neighboring town from me!!

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Originally Posted by Uncle Jesse

Switch to a pipe and turn it upside down.

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And pack it tightly.
Or get one of those German pipes with a lid on it.

BTW, "cool drizzle" often equals "blue wing olive hatch". That means fun.
BTW, I've had a lot of fun finding a tributary to the stream I was on and fishing something well weighted along the seam where the two colors of water meet.
Good luck.

Ed