How To Fish Soft Hackles: Reading The Water - Where To Fish A Soft Hackle

[@aaronclarkt]

Bro, I'm not sure what video it was, but you so sold me on the 2wt, soft hackle spey swing. and you guys sell these amazing looking flys called the Rio King Swetfly. and omg. I'm on the tail water of the big lost in idaho, I wasn't catching much until I switched to this. It became an every other cast situation. but I wasn't landing fish. These flys.... the hook bends!!!!! or rather straightens!!!!! I've landed trout on 6x before. I know how to be soft. my 4 wt spey rod is medium action redington from amazon. super soft. 11'3. even a nice naitive 15 inch trout straightened these hoooks!!!! I couldn't believe it. finally I was here and figured it all out and found the magic sauce and could not get a fish in the net. every time the hook would be bent straight!!!! and I was being soooo soft and letting them fight, and run.... my drag could not have been any lighter. trust me I know how to bring fish in gently and slowly. I can't believe it. any thoughts? is the 4 wt too much for those soft hackles? I was in such a crazy situation becaue that was the fly they wanted!

[@FarBank]

We've tied this fly on the Daiichi 1260 per the designer's recommendations, however we've decided to make an inline change to the Daiichi 1760. The length and shape of the hook remains the same, but the wire diameter increases to give the fly more strength. We're sorry you lost some fish and appreciate you letting us know."

[@FarBank]

Thanks for the message and for the feedback - glad the flies and outfit worked, but really sorry to read about the hooks. We've immediately passed this info on to the fly design team - very odd indeed!!!

[@JohnRitson78]

I had never heard of soft hackles until I realised they are more commonly known as spiders / north country wets up here in the north of Cumbria in the UK.

[@FarBank]

Yup, "spiders" are a better term for the UK angler,