Upstream Wet Fly

[Greenwell]

Upstream Wetfly Diagram.jpg (324.47 KiB) Viewed 23796 times

Fishing wet flies upstream seems almost impossible to many anglers but it's not really if one knows the basics of it.
I was looking through some books searching another topic and came across this diagram and brief description. As simple as the text and line drawing seem to be, here is the technique presented as well as I have seen it anywhere.

The book is River Fly-Fishing Theory and Technique by L. Baverstock. It is one of a series of small angling handbooks from the "How to Catch Them" series that was published in the 1950's and 60's. Some very good writers contributed to the series including Oliver Kite and C.F. Walker. These have become highly sought after and while only a few are devoted to fly fishing, most being about coarse or sea angling, they are interesting, and in some cases rare, little gems and collecting the entire series is quite a feat.

[Theroe]

Ollie Edward’s has an excellent dvd on fishing the upstream wet fly - I haven’t seen it in quite a while, but I believe it’s one of his “essential skills” series.....One hi light I do remember is that he uses the hand twist retrieve.

Theroe

[Greenwell]

Yes, Oliver does have a great DVD showing the technique very cleary. I have watched him fish the method on the Ure in Yorkshire and he does use the hand-twist retrieve. The length of line that he uses past the rod tip is barely longer than the rod. It takes a small leap of faith for most American anglers to embrace fishing so close to themselves.

[joaniebo]

Ollie Edward’s has an excellent dvd on fishing the upstream wet fly - I haven’t seen it in quite a while, but I believe it’s one of his “essential skills” series.....One hi light I do remember is that he uses the hand twist retrieve.

Theroe

At the beginning of this video, Oliver Edwards fishes a team of North Country Spiders with the "upstream method" PLUS, shows how to tie several spiders. The entire DVD is worth getting and watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI8PctDqfUA

[ronr]

this definitely would work on the Crooked River in Oregon.. slightly stained water, lots of boulder gardens, can get close to the fish..... looks like Euro nymphing with wet flies to me..

[Boris]

Edwards: "....... Upstream, you hooking the fish, is so much more fun, give it a go!"

I agree with him whole heartedly.

[PhilA]

I spend more time fishing upstream nymphs and wingless wets in Wisconsin's Driftless Area than any other method. Probably 3/4 of the time onstream. I love it, and the methods are very effective. G.E.M. Skues eloquently captured the delights of upstream wet fly and nymph fishing in Minor Tactics of the Chalk Stream (1910):

“The indications which tell your dry-fly angler when to strike are clear and unmistakable, but those which bid a wet-fly man raise his rod-point and draw in the steel are frequently so subtle, so evanescent and impalpable to the senses, that, when the bending rod assures him he has divined aright, he feels an ecstasy as though he had performed a miracle each time.”

[daringduffer]

I spend more time fishing upstream nymphs and wingless wets in Wisconsin's Driftless Area than any other method. Probably 3/4 of the time onstream. I love it, and the methods are very effective. G.E.M. Skues eloquently captured the delights of upstream wet fly and nymph fishing in Minor Tactics of the Chalk Stream (1910):

“The indications which tell your dry-fly angler when to strike are clear and unmistakable, but those which bid a wet-fly man raise his rod-point and draw in the steel are frequently so subtle, so evanescent and impalpable to the senses, that, when the bending rod assures him he has divined aright, he feels an ecstasy as though he had performed a miracle each time.”

He really knew how to put his sentences together!

Another author from that time with a language to enjoy was Harold Russell. His 'Chalkstream and Moorland' is a good read from an openminded fisherman.

dd

[letumgo]

John - Seeing the parabolic arc of the fly line in the diagram reminded me of several photos I'd take when fishing with some of our flymph brethren. One of the thing that had caught my attention, was seeing how carefully the line was controlled during their drift...a skill I am still learning to emulate.

Here is a picture of Chris Stewart (tenkarabum) fishing:


William Anderson presenting wingless wets:


Ruard Janssen:


Eric Kelly (smuggler):


Unfortunately I do not seem to have any pictures of you, Bill or Lance during the drift. It seems like all the photos I had you guys was while you were catching fish.

[Greenwell]

De Puys Early '80's0001.jpg (246.75 KiB) Viewed 21030 times

Here's one of me casting in 1986 on De Puy's Spring Creek, fishing a PT nymph upstream. Whatever happened to that handsome young guy?