Small Stream Dry Fly Season

With water temperatures rising into the low 60s, our small streams in MA are in prime condition for dry fly fishing. Here’s a few tips on fishing dries for wild trout.

Don’t worry if you don’t see rises

Unlike trout in large rivers, small stream trout rarely feed selectively. Hatches are usually sparse, so these trout rely on terrestrial insects that fall into the water. While many fly fishers don’t think about terrestrials until late summer, they are effective Spring to Fall, especially in small streams. While trout in large rivers are often too far from the bank to feed on terrestrials, small stream trout are always close enough to grab an unlucky beetle or ant. One study found that terrestrials make up 85% of a trout’s diet in some small streams! 

Because these trout feed on a variety of insects at any given time, they don’t develop a feeding rhythm. This means the trout always have an eye on the surface, even if they aren’t actively feeding there. If you do see a rise, that’s a great sign, but don’t let a lack of rises prevent you from trying dries.

Try dries first

This goes hand in hand with my last point. It’s rare for a small stream trout to refuse a dry, so why fish anything else? Streamers and nymphs have their place, and they catch fish, but I find them difficult to use effectively on small streams. Dead drifting a nymph through the conflicting currents is tough, and casting a nymph or streamer rig in tight quarters is bound to lead to tangles and lost flies. Save yourself some time and frustration and start with a dry.

Go big or go home

Ok, maybe “go big or go home” is a bit of a stretch – you can definitely still catch fish with small flies. But why bother? If small stream trout will take a small dry, they’ll almost always take a big one too. If anything, the trout might be more willing to expend the energy to swim to the surface if the result is a large meal. Big dries are easier to see on the water and float much better than small dries – the only downside is that some small stream trout are too small to fit a big dry in their mouths. Heavily hackled and/or deer hair flies are best – my favorites are:

• Elk Hair Caddis
• Humpy
• Royal Wulff
• Stimulator

This wild brookie took a Yellow Humpy

Make the first cast count

Small stream trout often hit on the first cast, so be ready to set the hook. It’s amazing how quickly a trout can react – sometimes it seems like they hit the fly the instant it touches the water. Your next few casts are important too, but your chances diminish rapidly after that. As I said above, these fish aren’t picky. If you don’t get a hit after a few decent drifts, the trout is probably spooked. You’ll catch more fish if you move on after a few casts in each likely spot. Because your first cast is most important, take time to set up your cast. Here's my protocol for approaching a new pool:

1. Locate the best place from which to cast - ideally I look for a small patch of sand or dirt on which I can kneel comfortably and still make a backcast. This spot should also allow you to present the fly without dragging the fly or lining the fish.
2. Find the best route from your current location to your casting spot - if possible avoid wading, as it can spook fish, and avoid walking on a high bank (trout are most vulnerable to aerial predators, so they are especially wary of movement above).
3. Scan the water from your new spot - Does your new vantage point reveal a deep hole you hadn't seen before? Are there conflicting currents which might mess up your drift? Do you see a fish?
4. Look back to ensure there are no obstructions to your backcast - even if there's only one small branch in the way, your line will find it if you don't take precautions.
5. Cast and be ready for a strike!

Small stream wild brown on the first cast

Screw convention

You often won't be able to make a nice overhead cast. Sidearm, roll, and bow and arrow casts are both effective and necessary on small streams. All you have to do is get your fly in front of the fish without spooking it - it doesn't matter how you get it there. 

Small stream dry fly fishing is a blast - hope this helps some people out!