Fly-Fishing: Swinging Technique

One of my favorite methods of fly-fishing for trout is swinging. Swinging sounds like it is, you swing the fly across the water to present a streamer or larger fly to multiple locations in the stream. In order to create the proper drift, you can follow these steps:

1. Find a decently large section of water.
2. Cast parallel or slightly downstream from your position.
3. Perform small mends to the line depending on the water characteristics (upstream mend for a slight dead drift or downstream mend to create a faster swinging effect of the fly).
4. Let the current take your fly while following the drift with your rod tip. Once you stop your rod the current will create the swing effect.
5. Manage your line to keep slight tension at all points, watching for pauses on a mend and feeling for takes as it swings.
6. At the end of the drift, pick your rod up to create some action on the fly.
7. Strip a few times and restart!
8. At any point of the drift a take is possible so be sure to remain aware.

Here is a good illustration I found online. Image by: outdoorlifestylehobbies.info on Pinterest

As you get more comfortable you can try different variations such as stripping in locations you think may house fish or stepping downstream after every cast to maximize water covered. It’s important to remember that it takes imagination and patience to catch fish on the fly. They think like fish, not like humans, they can be caught in all sorts of locations.

Check out my other blog for some insights on swinging setups or my Instagram @dualwaters for photos of what a successful day looks like.