General Practitioner fly pattern
Thrilled to share that I’ve finally gathered all the materials for the ‘General Practitioner’ fly pattern and started tying it! It’s been a journey to find all the materials here in my small town of Chilliwack, but I did it! Excited to see the results and share this accomplishment with you all.
Swing flies for winter steelhead vedder river
This season, I had the incredible experience of catching five fish using the swing technique, all during the dangle phase. The dangle, often overlooked by many fly anglers, proved to be an essential moment where fish committed to the fly.
Three of these fish were caught when my fly, leader, and line had come to a complete stop in the water—no movement, no retrieval, just a perfect stillness at the end of the swing. This reinforces the idea that fish often strike when the fly remains suspended naturally, giving them a final chance to attack before it leaves their zone.
The other two fish struck just after the dangle, as I began to retrieve my line. This suggests that even the slightest movement after a long pause can trigger a reaction from waiting fish.
To achieve these catches, I used different sink tips to match the water conditions and fish depth. Two fish were caught using T-8 tips, which allowed for a slower sink rate and more subtle presentation. Two others were landed using T-11 tips, giving a slightly deeper presentation. Finally, one fish took the fly while I was using a T-14 tip, which allowed the fly to reach even deeper in the water column before stopping at the dangle.
These experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of the dangle phase. Rather than rushing to retrieve the line after a swing, allowing the fly to sit motionless, even for a few extra moments, can make all the difference in hooking fish. Understanding how different sink tips influence presentation at this stage has also been a game-changer in my approach.
General Practitioner fly pattern Thrilled to share that I’ve finally gathered all the materials for the ‘General Practitioner’ fly pattern ...
