[dafack01]

I just started to get into fly fishing this past July. I've had great success for stream smallmouth (I love those things), but I just attack Smallies with a fly rod like I do with a spinning rod. I just try to find flies that look like my favorite smallmouth lures (tube jigs, jig 'n pigs, sluggos, grubs of all shapes and sizes, plastic worms and lizards, etc...).

Anywho, back on topic. Trout. I know trout will take wooly buggers and chicago flies readily. As with streamers. However, during times when they're not generating from about late June through most of October, I only have luck with the smaller ones on baitfish patterns (16" and smaller) when they're not generating.

And the river I'm talking about in particular is Cumberland River.

I've recently heard that during the non-generating times, the big ones hit mostly on the small, normal trout stuff. Since the only good fish any of my buddies and I have caught during non-generating times during July-October is an 18" rainbow caught by me on a Copper John, this may have some merit (thought the other time I tried the Copper John, I got goose-egged). As far as I know, the only real aquatic insects in Cumberland River are Blue-Winged Olives, Golden Caddis, Sulphurs, and Midges. Maybe some stoneflies. Most of the time, I'll be fishing out of a boat since my buddies are spinfishermen and like to cover water, so any help with how to fish this stuff out of a boat will be VERY helpful. We'll wade some at the gravel flats, but it's mostly drifting.

What are some good tactics for fishing out of a drifting boat? Unless there's a hatch, would a nymph, wooly bugger, or chicago fly with a midge dropper be good? Just cast out into the downed timber until it starts dragging and then re-cast? Would I do the same if there's a hatch? If I'm fishing a soft hackle or emerger or something, would I be better off casting downstream while drifting?

My rod is a 9' 6 weight Scott V2. Might not be ideal for all trout situations, but i only have the funds currently for 2 fly rods, so that meant a 6 and an 8. Since my 6 is a medium action rod, I can probably get a 5 weight line and have a jerry-rigged med-fast 5 weight for a more delicate presentation. Would getting a second spool with 5 weight line be recommended?


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Joe Hard]

Try a high floating foam hooper with a dropper nymph behind. if nothing hits the hopper right off try retreiving it bacK to the boat like a streamer. Just another option, on top