Jump to content
Fly Tying
kevin24018

How do you get a foam fly to land correctly?

Recommended Posts

My searches have not come up with anything. Maybe too broad a topic. When you cast a foam type fly, grasshopper type for example, how do you get them to land right instead of upside down or something? Just luck?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Place most of the foam on the side of the hook shank you want to float up and it will float to that side.
In addition trim spikey material from the bottom like hackle points, or excessive dubbing.

Lastly check your design in a pan of water.

Post what you finally tye if you still have questions, and someone here can help.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My theory is it looks crippled or in trouble if it's on its side, so a fish might hit it better. Just a theory. I don't think the fish cares which way it lands. Charlie Brooks did what he called "tying in the round" where the fly was about the same on every side, the theory basically being that a fish can only see one half of the fly at once if it is roundish, so you can make each side the same and it doesn't matter. That was aimed more towards nymphs but also works with dries. So I would say that often times it does not matter.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
As fshng2 said, as much foam as possible on the "up" side. But the hook bend and point is the "keel". If it hangs down, it's the weight. I've found, often, that my foam flies tend to twist line while casting. No matter what side it lands on, it will roll over a few times as I twitch the line. If there's not TOO much twist, it will finish hook point down. If there's too MUCH twist, it just keeps rolling. I get a lot of hits when the fly is rolling like that, so I too, don't think the fish care much which way the fly lands.


Foam Spider SBS.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

 

I've found, often, that my foam flies tend to twist line while casting. No matter what side it lands on, it will roll over a few times as I twitch the line. If there's not TOO much twist, it will finish hook point down.

 

 

If it lands upside down, pop it and it will usually right itself.

 

In my experience, this is it in a nutshell. One quick pop and it flips over, then it's time to let my line unwind.

 

Also, when tying, make sure your non-buoyant and water absorbing material is on or below the plane of the hook, or at least blow the foam sections. .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think everyone has covered it.. Usually if one lands on it's back, a pop or two will right it. One thing that I find helps is to use a heavier hook. I'll use a straight eye streamer hook, rather than a dry fly hook for some of my foam bugs..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sometimes, just giving your line a short tug at the end of your cast, before the fly hits the water, will help as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I try to tie them a little undersized for the hook and use a hook style that will help keel them better. I had bought a couple of big foam adult stoneflies tied on size 2 or 4 long shank streamer hooks. They looked great, but I ended up cutting most of the wing off so they would land with the hook point down, or roll over if they did land on the back side.

 

They were top heavy the way they were tied and probably could have been better on a larger size and heavier hook. I was using them for bass too, so a hook with a wider gap would have been fine.

 

Even the heavier leader & tippet I was using with my 8 wt didn't help. They still landed on the backs 9 times out of 10.

 

I don't have too any problems with the small foam flies, like beetles, only the big ones.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...