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Thread: How long does a dry fly need to float?

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  1. #1
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    Default How long does a dry fly need to float?

    Hi,

    I was fooling around with a pattern by Gary LaFontaine and tied this variation. It sure floats with the little foam "buds".

    It got me thinking. How long, on average, does a fly need to float before the next cast (at which time the cast will again "dry" the fly)?

    I know, when you are fishing to a rising fish, it seems like forever that you need the fly to float into the trout's window. But, I would guess that it is less than 10 seconds in most cases!!!

    What do you think?




    In the water bowl:


    Last edited by Byron haugh; 02-18-2012 at 08:52 PM.

  2. #2
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    Just long enough to figure out you will catch more fish with a nymph.

    Sorry, couldnt resist

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    Default

    Good one!! Lot of truth there.

  4. #4

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    If you can land the fly just to the right of "A", you might get a one second drift on the soft water before the hard current in the foreground drags the flyline and rips the fly away. A couple times that was just long enough to hook up an October caddis with a 17" cutthroat.





    Usually the drifts are somewhat longer than that.

    John
    The fish are always right.

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    Nice looking stretch of water. Nice trout too!!

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    From where it lands to the fish! In reality, as far as we can keep it drag free.
    I can think of few acts more selfish than refusing a vaccination.

  7. #7

    Arrow Actually ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Byron haugh View Post
    ...How long, on average, does a fly need to float before the next cast (at which time the cast will again "dry" the fly)?

    I know, when you are fishing to a rising fish, it seems like forever that you need the fly to float into the trout's window. But, I would guess that it is less than 10 seconds in most cases!!!

    What do you think?...
    ... if you do the math, given a 3 mph* current speed, 10 seconds would result in an approximate 44 foot drift and given a 4 mph** current speed, 10 seconds would result in an approximate 58 foot drift.

    That would suggest that your guess above is a good one, at least for the vast majority of fly anglers in the vast majority of situations.

    John

    *3 mph = 5280' x 3 = 15840' / ( 60 seconds x 60 minutes = 3600 ) = 4.4 fps x 10 seconds = 44'

    **4 mph = 5280' x 4 = 21120' / ( 60 seconds x 60 minutes = 3600 ) = 5.8 fps x 10 seconds = 58'
    The fish are always right.

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    Quote Originally Posted by JohnScott View Post
    ... if you do the math, given a 3 mph* current speed, 10 seconds would result in an approximate 44 foot drift and given a 4 mph** current speed, 10 seconds would result in an approximate 58 foot drift.

    That would suggest that your guess above is a good one, at least for the vast majority of fly anglers in the vast majority of situations.

    John

    *3 mph = 5280' x 3 = 15840' / ( 60 seconds x 60 minutes = 3600 ) = 4.4 fps x 10 seconds = 44'

    **4 mph = 5280' x 4 = 21120' / ( 60 seconds x 60 minutes = 3600 ) = 5.8 fps x 10 seconds = 58'

    John, you show your work beautifully and get full marks.
    For those of us who want to cut to the chase, 1 mph = 1.46666666 ft/sec. or a little under 1 and a half fps.

    Next math problem: If the fish ignoring Ed's fly is 21 inches long and the stream is flowing 1.3 mph, how long will the fly take to pass down the length of the offending fish?




    Ed

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    Quote Originally Posted by EdD View Post
    Next math problem: If the fish ignoring Ed's fly is 21 inches long and the stream is flowing 1.3 mph, how long will the fly take to pass down the length of the offending fish?Ed
    The answer is: Just long enough.
    Want to hear God laugh? Tell him Your plans!!!

  10. #10
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    Depends on where I'm fishing. If I'm on my home water, or a few mountain streams around YNP that come to mind, I'm probably going to find smaller (although not always) less selective trout; in that case, I like to use a high floating general attractor like a foam-backed Convertible that is good for more than one fish before I have to swap it out. If I'm fishing a tailwater or any other stream with larger (although not always) more selective trout, I'm willing to use a more realistic fly that may only float long enough for that one nice fish.

    Regards,
    Scott

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