Achieving a Perfect Drift

By Justin Lee

There are many different types of fly-fishing but one of the most effective ways is drifting flies using an indicator.  This technique is effective for beginners and experienced anglers alike.  There are many parts of this technique that can be discussed like a leader, tippet, tippet rings, etc. but for our purposes, we are focusing on presentation.  Specifically, achieving a perfect drift. 

When fly-fishing with an indicator or a dry/dropper rig it is of the utmost importance to present the fly naturally.  Improper presentation gives the fish lockjaw.  Proper presentation mimics the natural movement of nymphs and other creatures as they appear in the stream.  

Drag is when your fly is pulled unnaturally through a current or on the surface of the water. Drifting drag free allows the fly to move naturally through the water.  Trout and other fish recognize unnatural drift and almost always turn their nose up to it.  So, the idea is to present the fly naturally and in the feeding zone to most temp the trout. Trout are not like other fish that will strike to move a lure from their area or stake their territory.  They will simply ignore the fly and let it move on.

So how is a drag-free drift achieved?  Mending your line becomes a necessary skill after the initial cast.  Roll casting is a popular method and is used when space is limited.  But a normal overhead cast is preferred because when perfect timing is executed a slight “S” can be left in the fly line as it lands.  The fly line’s “S” curve helps begin the drag-free drift.  As the fly moves downstream, the line will bow in the faster current, so mending is necessary.  Mend your line by raising the rod tip and flicking the line upstream to recreate the “S”.  Now the fly will continue its journey naturally and unaffected by the current.  Depending on the length of the drift multiple mends may be required.

Mending is simply an adjustment to the fly line during the presentation/drift so the fly continues to appear natural.  Some make mending sound super technical and complex.  But honestly, if the line stays in an “S” or anything similar, then consider it a success. 

The current is moving from left to right for all these diagrams.  Ideally, you want to cast upstream and have a slight “S” in the fly line as it lands like the above Birdseye view. 

The side view shows the indicator upstream of the fly. 

The downstream bow in this line is an example of what you do not want. 

This shows the indicator ahead of the fly which causes the fly to rise and move faster than the current—drag.  Drag is an unnatural presentation and fish avoid it.  If this occurs, mend your line by quickly raising the rod tip and flipping the line back into the classic “S” shape so the fly can continue to drift drag-free. 

After you mend the line the fly is now directly below the indicator and drifting correctly.

The key to drag-free drifting is to keep the indicator above or slightly behind the fly.  Once the indicator gets ahead of the fly, it pulls the fly shallower and faster than the stream current.  However, anyone who has ever indicator fished very long has experienced a strike at the end of a drift when you pull the fly line back to begin a new cast.  What this means is that sometimes the fish will strike a rising nymph because it looks like it is hatching and swimming for the surface.  But strikes on the drift are far more common and ultimately the goal.

A simple way of explaining drag-free drifting is that you don’t want the indicator or dry fly to make a “wake” due to a bow in the fly line. Fly fishing is a “No Wake Zone!”.  If you see a “wake” mend your line or recast.   Sometimes the strike is almost immediate with dry flies. But sometimes they need to drift for a while.   When casting to rising fish worrying about the drag-free drift is not as important because the “strike zone” is smaller and once the fly exits it is time to cast again. 

If you are new to fly-fishing keep at it and don’t get frustrated.  None of us are perfect casters; we all have good and bad habits in our casting.  Focus on having fun and catching fish.  The bottom line is that if you are catching fish then who cares if you are doing it like the textbook?  Just find ways to always improve.  I hope you can find some ways to tweak your style and catch more fish using this article.