"On the Swing"

[redsoxnrock]

I was wondering if anyone could lend some knowledge on this phrase. I'm trying to strenghten my nymphing skills (as limited as they may be :confused:), and I've heard "on the swing" a LOT on this sight.

Thanks!
RSR

[TROUTI]

With reference to "on the swing", often the fish will take a wet fly, soft hackle, or nymph at the end of the drift when the current
takes hold of the line and fly and it ( the fly) starts to swing upwards in the current or swings and straightens out at the end of a drift and the fish takes the fly just at that time. It may repesent an emerger as it shoots through the water on it's way to the surface. This may trigger the trout to take the fly you are presenting.

[The Fisherman]

To add to what TROUTI wrote: the next time you're on the river, face the opposite shore. We'll call that 12 o'clock. Cast out 25 feet of line to 12 o'clock. The current will form a big belly in the line, and the fly will begin to race in an arc toward the 9 o'clock position as the current pulls the line downstream, dragging or "swinging" the fly. That big arc the fly travels is a classic wet fly swing. Fish that hit the fly while moving on that swing are often very aggressive, and the hits can be tremendous.

There are all kinds of mends you can throw to alter the path of the fly and the direction the fly faces. But that's another story. :-)

[Z Fisher]

You can also swing streamers.

As Steve indicates, when swinging that fly you can help control the speed and depth of that swing by how you mend the fly line. Big downstream belly and the fly moves quickly and is relatively shallow. Upstream mend slows down the fly and moves it lower in the water column. Add in different currents and different mends and you can get all manner of presentation.

[Andrew]

To add to what TROUTI wrote: the next time you're on the river, face the opposite shore. We'll call that 12 o'clock. Cast out 25 feet of line to 12 o'clock. The current will form a big belly in the line, and the fly will begin to race in an arc toward the 9 o'clock position as the current pulls the line downstream, dragging or "swinging" the fly. That big arc the fly travels is a classic wet fly swing. Fish that hit the fly while moving on that swing are often very aggressive, and the hits can be tremendous.

There are all kinds of mends you can throw to alter the path of the fly and the direction the fly faces. But that's another story. :-)

I tried this, but my fly went to 3 o'clock instead of 9 o'clock instead. What am I doing wrong???

:-p

[The Fisherman]

Well, for starters, you're wearing your watch upside down...

:-)

[Jon]

There are all kinds of mends you can throw to alter the path of the fly and the direction the fly faces. But that's another story. :-)

This is one of the loveliest things in fishing, and one of my earliest memories. The swing is rather inevitable - cast out and it happens. The fun part is what else one does to vary speed, direction and depth of the fly at each point of the drift, perhaps in preparation for a smutting fish. I love fishing a team of flies for more permutations.

[The Fisherman]

Indeed. Speaking of earlier memories, I started out fishing for trout by casting a worm under a couple split shot and letting the rig bounce along the bottom, then, absent a hit, swing till it came to rest near the surface in the current beneath me. Fine training for a future nymph and wet fly fisher. :-)

[leadwingcoachman]

All good advice... all I can add is at the end of the swing don't be in a hurry to cast again. Let your fly hang below downstream for a bit...

[waterworker]

All good advice... all I can add is at the end of the swing don't be in a hurry to cast again. Let your fly hang below downstream for a bit...Yes sir.I figured that one out many years ago when after casting and swinging for a good stretch of time ,I'd tuck the rod under my arm at the end of the swing to light up a butt.By the time it was
lit,bamb!After a couple of those,I said...hummmm.

[The Fisherman]

Sometimes, to coax a strike, I'll tuck the rod under my arm and clip and light a cigar. Magic often ensues when you're occupied elsewhere. :-)

[DanBou]

I caught my biggest ever Farmington Brown today on a hanging Parachute Hendrickson. I was thinking about leaving for the day. I stayed a while longer. Didn't catch anymore. I think there is some corollary to Murphy's Law happening here. You must not leave the fly hanging on purpose. The fish will not bite. The fish get a kick out of startling the crap out of you when you're daydreaming. They know, I tell you, THEY KNOW. I have to make an emergency visit to my Shrink.

[redsoxnrock]

Thanks for the awesome info guys! I'll definitely be using this "technique" soon.
I totally agree with The Fisherman and DanBou. It seems the fish always like to take my fly when i check the time. I've almost lost my phone to the river several times. Maybe I should wear a watch? But then I won't be distracted and they won't hit...

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to report soon
RSR

[shook2323]

Another vote for the hendrickson parachute on the swing, hooked 3 landed 1 today under a harsh wind and sporadic splashy rises.

[passinthru63]

This is how I fish my buggers most of the time. I'm usually not stripping them much, but letting them swing and the hits are incredible at times. Lots of fun. If I am moving upstream I always leave my fly in the water after a swing and work upstream..it's like trolling and pick up a fish or tow doing this. An old timer taught me that one.

[redsoxnrock]

Hit the local river around 4:15 for 45 minutes today.
Missed a few hits because I was rushing things and guess what happened...
I turned around to see if my dad was on the bridge behind me (signal that we had to head out) while my fly was left hanging in the current. What made me turn back around? A massive splash behind me.
The fish is probably still laughing...

[Z Fisher]

And now you begun to master "the swing".