Having issues with dry fly hook set

[John Killinger]

As much as I hate to admit it publicly I am having issues with getting hook sets when I dry fly fish. I'm  not sure what I am doing wrong, but I want to fix this because it really agitates me. Stopped by the South Holston a few days ago for a few hours and could hook a fish to save my life. Did manage 1 on a dry and 1 on a nymph. Now granted I only fished it for 2.5 hours and just showed up and fished it, plus I knew I had a 8 hour drive yet so that could have played a big mental factor. The fish seemed to do a alot of refusing and I don't know what was up with that. Maybe I should have had a dry fly leader on? I was using a leader with a colored sighter on it, not sure if that made a difference on refusals. Had a 16 comaradun on and the fish were feeding on active hatching 14 or so sulphurs. Missed at least 5.

I never was good at dry fly fishing, that's why I took up nymph fishing.  It makes me so frustrated. Matter of fact, a long time ago, I took up fly fishing after getting back home from active navy. I set out to fish a local stream and tied on a white irresistible because there was something light hatching. Well, needless to say I came off the creek so mad and I pretty much gave it up for a few years. Wasn't all due to the fact of the trout getting the best of me, I had small kids at that time and really didn't have the money to support this expensive habit, all the different fly patterns, sizes, etc.

So, if anyone has any suggestions to help, I would appreciate it. also some days are better than others for hook sets, however I always seem to miss alot of easy hook sets.

[Jason Hearle]

John,
Could you describe your presentation?  If you could explain exact scenarios, it will be easier to help you.  Were the presentations upstream or down?  Did you have a lot of slack line on the water?  How far did you have to move the rod to set the hook?  How do you set the hook? 

[Matt Michel]

South Holston fish are always finicky so depending on the day its hard to tell how many refusals you will get, that being said I would definitely switch over to a smaller, less visible leader. Ever since I started using a 12-15ft. 7x fluro leader on the soho I have gotten alot more takes. On days where the fish are hitting really fast I also tend to shorten up my cast to 15 feet or less, helps with a speedy hookset. I dont know if this is the best way to fish it but so far it has worked for me =)

[John Killinger]

I was fishing upstream and across, had the rod tip very to give me more time for hook-set. Also had alot of slack in leader. I thought you had to wait to set the hook until the fish was below the surface, the 2 second rule. Anyone else hear of this.

[Jason Hearle]

I try and stick them as soon as I see a take.  If I can watch the fish swim up and take it, I wait just a bit longer to keep from pulling the fly out of it's mouth.  When you set the hook, do you ever feel like you have too much slack?

[Josh McFadden]

When fishing the South Holston as a general rule you should fish across and down. Sweep down stream with your hook set. Make sure you employ an upstream reach. Never cast upstream on a fish. You'll line 15 to get to 1 casting upstream.  They were probably not eating the fly because of drag. They will come up and nose a fly if it doesn't look right. It looks like a take when they do this. Always set yourself up for casting across and down to rising fish.  I wouldn't steer you wrong. Six years of guiding on the river has taught me well.

[John Killinger]

I'll remember that for next time, thanks! Do you use the 2 second rule, or just set?

[Josh McFadden]

It really depends on your reaction time. As soon as that head disapears it should be.... Sip... Head down... And a swift but not hard full set into a back cast with a downstream angle.