Wade Fly Fishing

There are small to medium size streams in my regular rotation where sliding into my waders and wading into the stream is the best approach. Some streams are just meant for wading to position yourself effectively for a cast to feeding trout. And then, there are streams where you don't dare step into them or you will spook every trout within fifty feet of your wet Simm's. For those streams, stalking trout is done from the bank, and if possible, out of site from the trout swimming there. I enjoy using both of these approaches as appropriate for given stream environments.

Another approach? Drift boats. There are many anglers who only take guided fishing trips in a drift boat on big rivers. While other anglers will only wade large rivers to fly fish for trophy trout. Both of these fly fishing preferences are anglers who are usually motivated by big trout and many use five or six line weight rods to land those lunkers. What's common with these two approaches is their joy of casting out to long distances. And I would bet a hot dog that's why they fish these trout environments the way they do...to shoot line out to distant targets. They love casting and the river environments they are fishing often requires a long cast. Good for them. Fishing should be enjoyable regardless of one's preference with the various kinds of fly fishing.

Like most fly fishers, I've been on guided trips in a drift boat and find it fun and at the same time frustrating. Truth be known, I prefer wade fishing or bank fishing a small stream to the drift boat on a large river. Zinging down the river and casting from a moving boat is a fast and furious adventure. Too much excitement for me.

Yup, I prefer a more relaxed pace in my fly fishing and that's why I enjoy wade fishing. Time to more thoroughly work the stream and appreciate the beautiful surroundings. My absolute favorite kind of wade fishing is when I'm on a stream up in high country. Without doubt. Fishing trout streams up at high altitude is the best and most memorable adventures for me. I expect this year will include some very memorable adventures as well...and, I'll be sharing a few of them on the blog.

OF NOTE: I almost always wear hip waders when wading is called for. Most streams I fish don't require chest or pant waders, although I do own them and use them on occasion in larger and deeper streams. Now days, I tend to select streams where I don't need anything more than hip waders. Much more comfortable and they are so much easier to put on and take off for us older guys. To take it further, I often pull on knee high rubber boots to wade through my tiny Rio's.