Choosing the right wet fly doesn't need to be complicated. There are hundreds of traditional patterns available, but a relatively small selection can cover most situations encountered when fishing for trout and grayling on UK rivers.
The best starting point is to observe the natural insects and choose a fly that broadly matches their size, colour and appearance.
When there is no obvious insect activity, a few proven general-purpose wet flies can be extremely effective.
Matching Natural Insects
If insects are hatching or fish appear to be feeding beneath the surface, take a moment to observe what is happening.
Look at:
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Size - are the insects small, medium or relatively large?
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Colour - are they olive, brown, black or another shade?
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Shape - are they slender or more substantial?
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Stage of emergence - are fish feeding on insects moving towards the surface or on fully emerged adults?
You don't need to identify the exact species.
For example, if small olive upwinged flies are hatching, a small olive spider may be a sensible choice.
If darker insects are present, a black or dark-bodied spider might provide a better match.
The aim is to choose something that looks broadly similar to the natural food rather than finding an exact imitation.
Choosing Wet Flies When Nothing Is Hatching
There won't always be obvious insects to imitate.
In these situations, choose a proven general-purpose wet fly and use it to search likely feeding areas.
Some excellent traditional patterns include:
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Partridge and Orange - a versatile spider with an orange body and soft hackle.
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Snipe and Purple - a small, dark spider that can suggest a range of aquatic insects.
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Small Black Spider - a simple, effective general-purpose pattern.
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Hare's Ear Spider - a buggy-looking fly that can suggest various aquatic insects.
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Olive Spider - a useful choice when small olive-coloured insects are likely to be present.
These patterns don't need to represent one particular insect to be effective.
Their simple bodies and soft hackles create a convincing impression of natural food beneath the surface.
Does Wet Fly Size Matter?
Yes. When trying to imitate natural insects, size is often more important than small differences in colour.
For general UK river trout and grayling fishing, wet flies in sizes 12 to 18 cover many common situations.
If fish are feeding on very small insects, choose a smaller pattern.
If larger insects are present, increase the size accordingly.
A small selection of familiar patterns in several sizes is often more useful than a large collection of different flies all tied on the same hook size.
Does Colour Matter?
Colour is another useful consideration, particularly when natural insects are visible.
Olive, brown, black and other subdued shades cover many of the insects encountered on British rivers.
However, exact colour matching isn't always necessary.
A general dark spider may work well even when you cannot identify the insects being eaten.
If your first choice isn't successful, try a different size or colour rather than immediately changing to a completely different style of fly.
Choosing Wet Flies for Stillwaters
The same basic principles apply to lakes and reservoirs.
Observe the insects present and try to match their approximate size, colour and appearance.
When there is no obvious natural food to imitate, traditional searching patterns can be effective.
Stillwater anglers may also use brighter or more heavily dressed wet flies, particularly when fishing traditional teams of flies.
The important thing is to choose patterns appropriate to the conditions rather than changing flies without a clear reason.
Key Takeaways
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Observe the natural insects before choosing a wet fly.
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Try to match their approximate size, colour and shape.
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You don't need to identify the exact insect species.
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Small olive, brown and black spiders cover many common river situations.
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When nothing is hatching, general-purpose patterns such as Partridge and Orange, Snipe and Purple and small Black Spiders are excellent starting points.
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Carry reliable patterns in several sizes rather than collecting countless similar flies.
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If your fly isn't working, consider changing its size or colour before abandoning the pattern.
The simplest approach is often the best: match the natural insects when you can see them, and use proven general-purpose wet flies when you can't.
In the next article, we'll look at Wet Fly Fishing Tackle, including suitable rods, fly lines, leaders and tippet for UK river and stillwater fishing.
