Fly Fishing for Salmon on the Dry: A Guide to Unspoiled Rivers

There is something about a unspoiled river following through the middle of nowhere, blanketed with early morning mist and tightly knit with white spruce, ultimate is one adjective that might just be a understatement.

 Imagine You arm yourself with a dry fly, dawn your waders and slowly make your way down to the river. Gazing the slack areas while you descend the bank your stomach twisting with anxiety, waiting and watching to see that first big jack take flight. upon entering the water the interaction with your environment can be no more intimate as the river tailors to your shape and your fly line animates the air coming to life flowing in long elegant loops.

 The fishing begins antecedent to a fly touching the water. It begins with a astute read of the waters surface promptly leading to the decision  of where to land the first cast. previous selection of the choice dry fly affixed with it's final destination then becomes a presentation and imitation of a insect emerging for first flight or terrestrial concluding it's final exertion.

Presentation is often times more important than selection. A insects entry to or exit from the river is a gentle process not to be taken lightly. A thousand patterns in the box does not mean fish in the net it's merely step one of the process.

 At the end of the cast your fly flutters down pitching ever so slightly in the perfect spot beginning it's drag free drift toward what inevitably awaits it at the bottom of the hole. Salmo Salar the Atlantic salmon begins to rise, his interest now sparked you give him a rest casting stray of what it is your after.

 Anxiety builds again, seconds seem like hours while your mind fills with questions while you briskly providing yourself answers. How long should I wait? Can I wait? Should I change my fly? Did he move on? Have I missed my chance?

You forget it, block it all out and focus on the presentation,  another gentle flutter is needed. The fly lands perfectly quickly gaining a salmons attention, he rises and you see his head. A jack appears as your fly vanishes, the line goes tight and your drag echos with screams.

The fight is on and you soon discover how strong a fish can be. Your hands cramp and the arm burns but you wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Multiple jumps and runs this fish seems to have no end to it's strength but over time he calms presenting him self to your net. Time to remove the fly and pose for photos before quickly turning him loose.


 For me there is no other, Atlantic salmon the king of game fish coupled with a dry fly is defiantly the ultimate form of fishing. Tight lines...FishinDan