Wet Flies

Before dry flies and nymphs became established and popular, the most common fishing flies were what we know today as "Wet Flies". These are mainly fished below the surface, they can be fished like a nymph or fished in the same manner as a small streamer. The series of flies known as "Soft Hackles" are in a class by themselves but I include them in the wet fly category to keep things simple. The most significant difference between the two styles is that wet flies have a wing on top of the fly that is usually laid back toward the body. The soft hackle patterns have a sparce, soft hackle warped around the hook, that easily moves in the current. Both of these styles are wonderfully simple, but very effective patterns that have been responsible for a lot of beautiful trout brought to the net for me over the years.