Get a Drift

As mist burns off, giving way to the sun’s radiation, the mountains rise in adoration, bringing a new crisp day to the heart of the Rockies. The sound of water lapping on the sides of the boat and the gurgling noise of each oar stroke is rhythmic, a melody on the waters. Then, one last stronghold of fog yields its grasp. Like a crown jewel, the Grand Teton bursts up, up, and out, revealing jaw-dropping grandeur. The day’s drift is underway, and the familiar addiction is in the air…what will this day bring? What stories will emerge? What adventure is around the next bend?

With a chill in the air, we don puffy jackets and fleece shirts, knowing that in a few short hours, we’ll be able to take off some layers and enjoy the early summer’s warmth. For now, we drift quietly down the Snake River, expectantly carried by its icy waters. We drift for a mile or so, drop anchor, and begin to rig rods, tweak leaders, and tie on flies we’re sure irresistible.

The two gentlemen fishing with me on this day are on opposite ends of the fly-fishing spectrum. One is a 50-year flyflinging veteran. The other, his brother, just wants to get out and spend some time on the water. We had preliminary discussions at the lodge the night before, and it was made clear that Jim, the seasoned angler, wanted nothing to do with any fly that sinks.

His brother, Glenn, the novice, was an open book, ready to learn and amenable to “alternative” fly-fishing methods. As part of the discussion, it was highlighted that this particular time of the year was not favorable toward dry-fly fishing but that we’d do our best to find some water to make it happen.

As we plied the water, the strategy was simple, hit everything first with the dry fly and then follow up with the nymph-reaper. The plan was solid. Hope in the bow and reliability in the stern. After a brief tutorial with Glenn on how not to turn a double-nymph rig into a gaucho bola, we were off and rowing, working our way down the river, perfecting our presentation and drift with each new opportunity.

Back-rowing into riffles likely to produce nice trout, it

by Jay Allen, Jay Allen’s Guided Fly Fishing

didn’t take long for the nymph rig to go into production mode. Undaunted, Jim continued to deliver light and airy casts with nearperfect dead drifts on the surface of the turbid waters, yet no takers.

Several fishless hours went by on the dry-or-die rod, and as Glenn landed his next fish in a long line of predecessors, he muttered, “have Jay tie on one of these nymphs.” The answer was, “no thanks; I’ll stick to dries.” Another hour went by, and while the body count slowed, the nymphs still represented well. As another entreaty went out, “you need to swallow your pride and put on a nymph,” Jim decided to shut his brother up and asked for me to rig him up. And then…

It wasn’t Jim wielding his flyrod, immediately slaying cutthroat after cutthroat with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana playing in the background. No strikes, no twitches, no signs of life, no DRIFT. Glenn, on the other hand, continued catching, applying all he had learned throughout the day about how to get a great drift. On the other hand, Jim thought nymph fishing was easy and underestimated the importance of drift.

Drift is the essential aspect of fly-fishing, whether fishing in Wyoming or Michigan. If that is grasped, success will follow. Whether throwing dries, nymphs, wets, or streamers, drift will take an angler farther than any other technique. Despite this, anglers are too quick to thumb through fly boxes like crazed animals looking for the “hot fly” when things get tough instead of focusing on the drift.

A well-presented Adams with a perfect drift will outfish a perfect Baetis pattern fished sloppily any day. A pheasant tail nymph will fish circles around an exact replica of a Sulphur nymph when fished correctly. A generic streamer fished with the right strip rhythm will call in the bombers. Drift is simple in principle but has no end in its learning and application. While setup and fly selection are important aspects of the game, really focusing on the drift is a sure way to fool more fish and find success on the water.