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A Dry fly take on dusk

Fly Fishing Gear | Dry Flies

Dun's, Caddis, midge, Hoppers and anything else that float on the water trout eat! There are fe better experiences then watching a proper fish commit to coming to the surface to suck down your floating presentation. We have handpicked a selection of dry flies from quality brands like Fulling Mill, Category 3 and RIO Flies.

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WHAT IS A DRY FLY?

A dry fly is a type of fly designed to float on the water's surface, mimicking insects or terrestrials that naturally land on or hover above the water. Unlike wet flies or nymphs, which sink beneath the surface, dry flies are intended to be seen by fish that are feeding on the top. This makes them particularly effective in situations where fish are actively looking for surface food.

WHEN TO FISH DRY FLIES

Dry fly fishing is most effective during certain times of the year and under specific water conditions. Spring and summer are ideal seasons for using dry flies due to the increased insect activity during these warmer months. This period often features hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, and hoppers, which make the surface of the water a prime feeding zone for fish. Autumn can also be a good time for dry fly fishing, particularly when targeting species that feed on midges or blue-winged olives.

In terms of water conditions, dry flies are best used in clear or lightly stained water. Such conditions allow fish to easily spot the fly on the surface. Additionally, dry flies perform well in slow-moving or still water, where the fly can drift naturally and attract fish without being influenced by strong currents.

WHAT IS AN IDEAL DRY FLY SETUP?

For an ideal dry fly setup, the rod, line, leader, and tippet all play crucial roles. A rod designed for dry fly fishing is typically lightweight, with a weight range from 3 to 5. This helps achieve the delicate presentations required for effective dry fly fishing. Rod lengths usually range from 7.5 to 9 feet. Longer rods provide better casting distance and accuracy, while shorter rods offer improved control in tighter spaces.

The line used should be a weight-forward floating line. This type of line supports the delicate presentation of the fly and helps keep it afloat. Leaders for dry fly fishing are generally longer than those used for other types of fly fishing, ranging from 7.5 to 12 feet. A tapered leader helps with turnover and reduces drag on the surface, which is crucial for a natural presentation.

Tippets are used to connect the leader to the fly and are typically lighter than the leader itself. For dry fly fishing, tippet sizes commonly range from 4X to 6X, depending on the size of the fly and the fish being targeted. The lighter tippet ensures that the dry fly drifts naturally on the water, enhancing its effectiveness in attracting fish.

NEED HELP CHOOSING FLIES? CONTACT US TODAY

If you have a particular dry fly setup in mind but would appreciate some additional advice. Simply get in touch with our friendly sales team – they’re always up for a chat. You can contact us by calling our Tumut store on (02) 6947 4062 or by email.


Fulling Mill Hare's Ear (GRHE)

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A delicate up-wing dry fly with a sensational following right across the world. An excellent generalist mayfly imitation. Here at Tom's Outdoors, w...

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Fulling Mill Hi-Float Ant

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Summer-time-sippers call for the perfect snack! When an ant fall is on, trout can become incredibly annoying, especially on glassed out high countr...

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Fulling Mill Red Tag

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Any fly with a tag immediatey catches more fish! The Red Tag has proved itself over many years as a fantasic dry and wet fly. This Fulling Mill ver...

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Fulling Mill Ronan's Willow Grub

Fulling Mill
Original price $2.75 - Original price $2.75
Original price
$2.75
$2.75 - $2.75
Current price $2.75

Where there are willows, there are grubs, where there are willow grubs, there are trout. Willows are an unfortunate invasive species along or water...

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Fulling Mill OE Mohican March Brown Barbless

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A Kosciuszko Dun patter par-excellence. This is the ultimate evolution of the famous Mohican from Fulling Mill. We order them in fast before the ma...

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Fulling Mill Muddler Mini Claret Bumble

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

This fly is a true all-rounder for your loch-style (lake) fishing. One moment it's a hopper struggling for life, the next it transforms into a mud-...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Shaving Brush Hares Ear/Possum

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A must-have Australian mayfly emerger pattern. The Shaving Brush Hares Ear/Possum is the textbook Kosi-Dun emerger. Tied with hares ear and possum ...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Shaving Brush Claret

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The perfect emerging mayfly silhouette Bassano's Shaving Brush Claret is a staple for evening risers and lakes. The emerging mayfly shape with the ...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Zulu Tag

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The famous red tag just got better. A variation of the popular red tag, Christopher Bassano's Zulu Tag is a fantastic dry fly for rivers and lakes ...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Hares Ear Klinkhammer

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The Hares Ear Klinkhammer is a versatile necessity in any Angler's arsenal. Highly buoyant, highly visible emerger dry-fly pattern perfect for a dr...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Para Adams Fluoro Post

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The Parachute Adams speaks for itself as being one of the most popular dry flies ever created. When mayflies are about, this fly more often than no...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Black Spinner

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A prolific hatch, particularly in Tasmania, the Black Spinner is hard to resist for rising trout. A very delicate and realistic presentation, perfe...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Orange Spinner

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A fantastic orange spinner pattern perfect for late evenings when trout are feeding. Abundant in Tasmania and other parts of Australia, the orange ...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Carrot Fly

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

This highly visible, highly effective fly designed for rainbow trout in England works surprisingly well for wild browns in Australia. Not designed ...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Claret Carrot Fly

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A successor to Bassano's Carrot Fly the Claret Carrot is a great Australian version as claret is a popular colour for our streams. A somewhat more ...

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Fulling Mill Christopher Bassano's Palmered Orange Tag

Fulling Mill AU
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

A slight variation on the popular red tag, a go-to trout fly in Australia and abroad. The Palmered Orange Tag floats high and is a great attractor ...

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Fulling Mill Humpy Red - Premium Dry Fly

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Not your average Humpy. A heavily dressed pattern offering maximum floatability, the Fulling Mill Humpy Red is highly visible for both the fish and...

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Fulling Mill Red Wulff - Premium Dry Fly

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The Fulling Mill Red Wulff is a fly that has been bulked up with hair rather than feathers. Initially designed by Lee Wulff to ensure floatability ...

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Fulling Mill Stimulator Orange - Dry Fly

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The Stimulator Orange by Fulling Mill is a bushy, highly buoyant dry fly designed to resemble a stonefly, grasshopper or large adult sedge. Perfect...

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Fulling Mill Klink Rust

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Klinkhammer patterns have become a staple Fly pattern, the world over. First tied as an emerging Caddis pattern by Hans Van Klinken, a Dutch fly fi...

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Fulling Mill Foam Bodied Yellow May Dun Barbless

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

This Mayfly Dun pattern from Fulling mills consists of a yellow foam body for added buoyancy and easy sighting in low light conditions . A perfect ...

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Fulling Mill OE Mohican Yellow May Dun Barbless

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

The Yellow OE Mohican May Dun from Fulling Mills has Poly-Yarn and CdC legs tied into the pattern for a realistic look. The high parachute on the b...

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Fulling Mill OE Pinkhammer

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

Pretty in pink The Klinkhammer has to one of the greats, an absolute classic that is awesome on its own, as a team, skated or dead-drifted, it's po...

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Fulling Mill CJ's Sparkle Gnat

Fulling Mill
Original price $4.20 - Original price $4.20
Original price
$4.20
$4.20 - $4.20
Current price $4.20

No Idea what they're eating? The good old gnat has been reborn as the Sparkle Gnat. Perfect for imitating a swarm of balling midge that fish gorge ...

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