I live on the middle Rogue, which is a big/medium river, with lots of riffles and medium speed runs where fish can be anywhere - dry fishing to rising fish is hard to do.

Fishing Nemes style soft hackles allow you to cover a lot of water, and fish the medium speed, feature-less runs that are too fast for dries. You can fish the whole river, like you would with a nymph, and search for fish. Learning to tie and fish these flies was one of the best thing I ever did. It opened up new water. I love them.

I fish them the way Oliver Edwards fishes a soft hackle, with my rod held up and I swing it across with one difference; Slowly dip and raise your rod about a foot, and you will get a savage take as you are raising your rod.

For summer/early fall, mayfly hatches I use a size 10 or 12 TMC 100, with a white antron tail, yellow or rust poly yarn body, small holographic tinsel for the rib, and partridge for the wings/legs. In the winter I use a 14 or 16 TMC 100.

If you have not tried these yet, consider it.



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- rriver