11. How to Fish A Dry Fly on a Lake

The 11th episode of RIO's "How To" series, is presented by RIO brand manager Simon Gawesworth. In this episode, Simon shows how to fish a dry fly on a lake from a boat. The video explains the different techniques needed to successfully fish when anchored, and when drifting, and also shows how to catch a fish on a dry fly when nothing is rising.
Filmed on beautiful Hebgen lake in Montana, this informative film gives anglers a little extra help and knowledge to successfully dry fly fish on a lake.
RIO's "How To" videos are a series of short films that explain all you need to know to learn a particular way to fish, or cast. Where applicable, each film talks through the gear that you need, shows how to rig the gear, how to read the water, and how to fish that particular technique. These educational films are packed with information and top tips designed to improve the knowledge and skill level of all fly fishers. Each one is bought to you by a RIO employee or a RIO brand ambassador.

[@tomm6431]

Simon adds his special tips in all these videos - these are gems.

[@richardlopez4159]

I love fishing creeks and rivers, because I have the knowledge, but with lakes, totally clues, very helpful video, thank you!!!!

[@petekeener8943]

These are turning into Rio sales advertisement videos!!

[@SnowblindOtter]

Is it normal to have your dry fly kind of smack on the surface of the water when you cast, or is that something you want to avoid? I'm still fairly new, and I've noticed that a lot of the time even when I'm trying to use a size 18 or 20 mosquito it'll smack the surface hard enough for me to sometimes see a small splat of water. Not even sure how to prevent that.

[@RIOPRODUCTS]

Generally you want to avoid that, with the only exception being if you fish large terrestrial type patterns like grashoppers, as trout are looking for that kind of splash. The way to get around it is usually use a longer leader, with a finer tippet. A leader of something like 15ft long, tapering down to 6X or 5X (3-5lb) will usually land pretty softly - as long as your cast has the energy to turn it over.

[@SnowblindOtter]

@@RIOPRODUCTS I build my own 20 foot leaders that go down to 7x, and I generally use a 2wt rod. I definitely know that trout like the splash from bigger dries, I keep getting strikes from them, but I consider trout to be a trash fish during the summer. Generally I try to target panfish, and a size 18 or 20 mosquito hitting the water hard enough to create a splash visible from 40 yards away tends to scare the hell out of crappie and bluegill.

[@RIOPRODUCTS]

@@SnowblindOtter Sounds like you are using the right leader design - are you using a fly line with a long front taper, and weight at the back?

[@SnowblindOtter]

@@RIOPRODUCTS I'm using the Piscifun 'Sword' weight-forward line.

[@RIOPRODUCTS]

@@SnowblindOtter no idea what that line is, or the shape of it, but if it has a long fine front taper, and weight at the back of the head, it is ideal for presentation

[@alansarpy]

rio, love your products! just picked a new sage accel, 9ft 5wt... just wondering which line you would pair with it.. I was running the rio grand and it felt over kill... thanks

[@RIOPRODUCTS]

The RIO Grand might feel a touch heavy as it is a full line size above the AFTMA standard. If you want something with a similar head length, and not so much weight, the RIO Perception will certainly be worth a shout. Thanks for your support, Al.