Wet fly setup..

[Redfin]

Looking to set up a dedicated rig for fishing wet flys.
Give me your advice on what you would choose? I’m not talking specific rod brand really. You can. But I’m looking for action, wt, length that info.
I’m wanting to set up a rod pretty much dedicated to wet flys. I only fish 1 or 2 flys. I don’t do 3..
I was really into wet fly fishing and some things in life hit me and I have not been at it for a bit..

But Im ready to get back at it. And I want a rig setup for it. Cause I have been down all the roads except euro nymphing and I just have a soft spot in my heart for fishing wet fly. Just loved it!
I told myself when I can get back fly fishing again i want to get a new setup just for it.
I will even take any leader formulas of specific fly lines you like also. I never fished anything but a floating line for them. I’m in south central Pa. Thanks men!

 

[DO_inthewoods]

I have seriously looked into trout spey for swinging wet flies and nymphs. Have not bitten the bullet yet, but could work nicely on some of our bigger streams. A fun path to consider!

 

[turkey]

Wet Fly Magic

Dave Allbaugh, a professional guide in Pennsylvania, has spent the last 30 years both on the stream and at his vise perfecting his wet fly fishing techniques and flies. His methods are effective throughout the year and he takes great pride in teaching his clients this lost art of fly fishing...

www.askaboutflyfishing.com

I didn't listen to this one yet but Dave Allbaugh is an expert on all things wet fly. He's a member here under with the handle @Wetfly01. I've learned a lot from him.

 

[Redfin]

Ohh thank you. Sounds perfect!

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Like everything else, depends on what and where. You don't need a dedicated setup, the only place that might even matter is if you're fishing all three flies down and across where slower rods are better because the loops are open and won't tangle and the slow line speed keeps you from drying the flies out. 4 or 5 or 6 weight. Whatever. Doesn't matter.

If you're only fishing a single fly, you don't need a special leader, either. That only comes into play if you start to do multiple flies, again mostly to minimize tangles. If I do 3 I use the george harvey wet fly leader. If I use two I just don't put on a third dropper. If I use one, well, no special leader needed so it's whatever.

Same floating line as always, sometimes I grease the leader and sometimes I don't. What and where, right?

Sorry for lack of exciting speciality stuff, but like... it's just not that complicated.

 

[Tups]

I like a ten foot rod in 4 or 5 wt, the kind they use for Euro nymphing. The length really helps keeping line off the water when fishing the flies at a distance, or just avoiding the intervening currents. I also use a George Harvey style leader. I typically fish two flies, occasionally three in high water.

 

[DomR]

If you're going to swing wets I'd opt for a more medium action rod, like older graphite (i.e. 80's vintage), glass, or bamboo. They're more forgiving on the tippet as the strikes can be hard, fast action rods will cause more snap offs of your tippet.

 

[AndyP]

If you're going to swing wets I'd opt for a more medium action rod, like older graphite (i.e. 80's vintage), glass, or bamboo. They're more forgiving on the tippet as the strikes can be hard, fast action rods will cause more snap offs of your tippet.

I use some 80's era Fenwicks for the days I want to swing wet flies all day. Also had an old Browning glass flyrod but the dog thought it was a twig and chomped it into pieces one day I wasn't paying attention while taking my waders off ....

 

[teedee]

I use a two-hand trout Spey on larger water. Lots of fun and something different to do.

 

[Gibbon]

I also started trout Spey 2 years ago. It is fun on larger rivers especially if the water is high and wading is difficult. For smaller water as other have soft rods, fast rocket launchers will not work well.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

The problem with your super soft rod, and I own several extremely slow ones I bought when I thought it was best for this sort of thing, is that when you turn around and decide to fish *up*stream it becomes a massive hindrance.

Just open your loop for all the same benefits.

 

[just_jon]

On larger water like Pine Creek and Penns, I fish my 11’ 3 weight euro rod. Soft tip protects tippets and allows for long reach for mending. I’ve considered a 2 handed trout spey setup, but don’t fish big water often enough to justify the purchase. I use my 8’4” Dreamcatcher for everything else.

 

[Gibbon]

Spey rods are also fun for smallies.