On
the Scottish lochs, wet fly fishing from a drifting boat is the most
commonly used method although recent years have seen a greater appreciation
in the use of dry flies and dapping. The boat is set to drift broadside
to the wind along a chosen "drift", an area of suitable depth and character
for feeding trout. Usually two (or even three) anglers share a boat,
casting their flies down or across the wind and working them with a
combination of rod movement and line retrieval to represent living insects.
The terminology used for a three-fly cast is point fly, dropper (or
middle) and bob fly (the dropper nearest to the rod). The bob fly is
so called because it is closest to the surface and as the line is retrieved
and it can be made to skate and bob along the waves to represent a hatching
or egg laying insect. Bushy flies that cause an attractive wake are
often used for this purpose in the belief that they bring the trout
up and if they don´t accept the bob fly they may take one of the others.
Popular wet fly patterns include Kate McLaren, Bibio, Black Zulu, Blue
Zulu, Soldier Palmer, Clan Chief, Kingfisher Butcher, Silver Butcher,
Yellow Tail Greenwell, Black Pennel, Ke-He, Claret Pennel, Grouse and
Claret, Teal and Green, Invicta, Silver Invicta, Green Peter, Dunkeld
and a few dark coloured buzzers for occasions when the wind drops. Sizes
10 to 14 cover most conditions. Fairly light tackle is best. A fly rod
suitable for a number 5 or 6 line, coupled with floating and intermediate
lines will satisfy the requirements on most days. Travel rods are ideal
where reaching the loch requires a long walk.
Traditionally rods of 10 feet or more were used. This length makes the
control of a team of flies much easier than is possible with a short
rod. Typically
a cast of flies is around nine or ten feet long with a point fly and
two droppers approximately three feet apart. Normal strength is between
4 and 6 pounds BS. Any of the traditional loch fly patterns are useful
with dark colours favourite.If conditions are flat calm it becomes difficult
to deceive trout. Fishing a single fly on a light leader is then more
likely to be effective than a team of three. Dry flies and emerger patterns
are recommended in such conditions. Hoppers are the most popular dry
fly patterns for loch fishing but any representative pattern is worth
trying. Dapping is an exciting method that involves a very light & bulky
floss line sometimes called "blow line". This material blows with the
wind and the dry fly is attached by a short length of leader that need
not be particularly fine because it need never touch the water. Using
a long rod held high the angler maneuvers the fly to skip and dance
along the waves like a live insect. Takes are usually dramatic splashy
affairs as the trout attack the escaping prey. A good steady wind and
nerves of steel are required for this most exciting method. Favourite
dapping flies are various Daddy-Long-Legs patterns and bushy dapping
flies such as the Loch Ordy.
On
the Scottish lochs, wet fly fishing from a drifting boat is the most
commonly used method although recent years have seen a greater appreciation
in the use of dry flies and dapping. The boat is set to drift broadside
to the wind along a chosen "drift", an area of suitable depth and character
for feeding trout. Usually two (or even three) anglers share a boat,
casting their flies down or across the wind and working them with a
combination of rod movement and line retrieval to represent living insects.
The terminology used for a three-fly cast is point fly, dropper (or
middle) and bob fly (the dropper nearest to the rod). The bob fly is
so called because it is closest to the surface and as the line is retrieved
and it can be made to skate and bob along the waves to represent a hatching
or egg laying insect. Bushy flies that cause an attractive wake are
often used for this purpose in the belief that they bring the trout
up and if they don´t accept the bob fly they may take one of the others.
Popular wet fly patterns include Kate McLaren, Bibio, Black Zulu, Blue
Zulu, Soldier Palmer, Clan Chief, Kingfisher Butcher, Silver Butcher,
Yellow Tail Greenwell, Black Pennel, Ke-He, Claret Pennel, Grouse and
Claret, Teal and Green, Invicta, Silver Invicta, Green Peter, Dunkeld
and a few dark coloured buzzers for occasions when the wind drops. Sizes
10 to 14 cover most conditions. Fairly light tackle is best. A fly rod
suitable for a number 5 or 6 line, coupled with floating and intermediate
lines will satisfy the requirements on most days. Travel rods are ideal
where reaching the loch requires a long walk. 
Typically
a cast of flies is around nine or ten feet long with a point fly and
two droppers approximately three feet apart. Normal strength is between
4 and 6 pounds BS. Any of the traditional loch fly patterns are useful
with dark colours favourite.If conditions are flat calm it becomes difficult
to deceive trout. Fishing a single fly on a light leader is then more
likely to be effective than a team of three. Dry flies and emerger patterns
are recommended in such conditions. Hoppers are the most popular dry
fly patterns for loch fishing but any representative pattern is worth
trying. Dapping is an exciting method that involves a very light & bulky
floss line sometimes called "blow line". This material blows with the
wind and the dry fly is attached by a short length of leader that need
not be particularly fine because it need never touch the water. Using
a long rod held high the angler maneuvers the fly to skip and dance
along the waves like a live insect. Takes are usually dramatic splashy
affairs as the trout attack the escaping prey. A good steady wind and
nerves of steel are required for this most exciting method. Favourite
dapping flies are various Daddy-Long-Legs patterns and bushy dapping
flies such as the Loch Ordy.