Fly Fishing Gear | Wet Flies
Wet flies are amongst some of the first flies ever tied and still fish as good today as they did back then. Fish them in a team or by themselves, on a river or lake, from the bank or boat, their fish pulling ability is second to none and still holds a place in every angler's box!
Here at Tom's Outdoors, we carry a wide selection of Australian favourites and timeless classics that will cover your everyday situations. Check out our curated collection online or in-store here in Tumut.
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WHAT IS A WET FLY?
A wet fly is a type of fishing fly designed to imitate insects and other aquatic creatures in their sub-surface stages. Unlike dry flies, which float on the water’s surface, wet flies are intended to sink and drift below the surface. They often mimic various stages of aquatic insects, including nymphs, pupae, or small fish, and can also represent other food sources like worms or crustaceans. Wet flies are effective for catching fish that are feeding below the surface or in areas where surface insects are not present.
WHEN TO FISH WET FLIES
Wet flies are particularly effective when fish are not actively rising to the surface, such as during low insect activity, or when surface insects are scarce. They are versatile and can be used throughout the year, making them a reliable choice in various conditions. Wet flies are ideal for fishing in both moving and still water, especially in areas where fish are holding near the bottom or in deeper pools. They are also useful in situations with varying water clarity, as they can still attract fish despite reduced visibility.
WHAT IS AN IDEAL WET FLY SETUP?
For an ideal wet fly setup, the rod, line, leader, and tippet all need to be carefully selected to match the specific conditions and fishing techniques.
Rod: A rod suitable for wet fly fishing typically ranges from 3 to 6 weight, with a length of 8 to 10 feet. The rod should have a moderate action to facilitate casting and presentation of the wet flies, allowing for a smooth drift below the surface.
Line: The line used for wet fly fishing is usually a weight-forward floating line or an intermediate sink tip line. The floating line allows for easier casting and a more controlled presentation, while the sink tip line helps the wet fly reach the desired depth more quickly.
Leader: Leaders for wet fly fishing are generally 9 to 12 feet long. A tapered leader helps with turnover and smooth presentation. Depending on the fishing technique and water conditions, a slightly heavier leader may be used to ensure the fly sinks properly and to withstand the potential fight with larger fish.
Tippet: Tippets should be selected based on the size of the wet fly and the target fish. Tippet sizes for wet fly fishing typically range from 3X to 5X, with heavier tippets used for larger flies and fish. A strong, abrasion-resistant tippet is important for maintaining control and ensuring the durability of the setup.
NEED HELP CHOOSING FLIES? CONTACT US TODAYIf you have a particular wet 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 Killer
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This fly is called the killer for a reason If you want to swing it, retrieve it or dead drift it the Killer will get it done as it has done for ye...
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Fulling Mill Black & Peacock
Fulling Mill
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A post-war classic that is making a comeback. The Black & Peacock was designed by Tom Ivens just after the 2nd World War. This fly has seen a s...
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Fulling Mill Dabbler Claret
Fulling Mill
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A true classic Originating from the Lochs of Ireland this wet fly has become as equally popular for rainbow trout as they are for browns. A great ...
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Fulling Mill Jig Bugger Olive Tungsten Bead - Barbless Jig
Fulling Mill
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Get Jiggy with it The Jig Bugger is a versatile variant of the classic woolly-bugger great for lakeds and rivers, naturally drifted like a large n...
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Fulling Mill Booby Fly - Black
Fulling Mill
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Arguably one of the most effective flies of modern fishing. Can be used all year round on any density of flyline , from a floater to a fast sinker....
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Fulling Mill Orange Cruncher
Fulling Mill
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This is a juicy orange An awesome slim 'Cruncher' pattern that fish devour on a slow or fast retrieve on the Snowy Mountains lake systems. Its dul...
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Fulling Mill Booby Fly - Orange
Fulling Mill
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Arguably one of the most effective flies of modern lake fishing. Can be used all year round on any density of fly-line , from a floater to a fast ...
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Fulling Mill Zulu Black Bushy Bob
Fulling Mill
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There are classics, then there's the Zulu Black and red, a slash of silver, a struggling-edible lifeform cast into a world full of hungry predators...
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Fulling Mill Mallard & Claret Fly
Fulling Mill
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Sometimes Classics are the best You could go back in time or into the future with this fly and still catch fish, It's just effective. As a lake pat...
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Fulling Mill Flashback Shrimp
Fulling Mill
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Use the Flashback Shrimp around weed beds where the extra flash makes the fly stand out against the background, fish in both still and running wate...
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Fulling Mill KJ Black & UV Spider
Fulling Mill
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Everything you love about Spiders; plus UV Spiders are one of the great traditional wet flies, swung lightly the perfectly imitate and emerging may...
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Fulling Mill Bibio Bushy Bob
Fulling Mill
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True Classics Never Die The Bibio on top dropper of a three fly lake rig is a stalwart. Fished half-submerged under choppy ice cold water, it's sig...
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Fulling Mill Partridge & Orange
Fulling Mill
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Keep it Simple and Swing them up The best things are life are often simple, and the same goes for trout flies. You cant get much more simple than o...
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Fulling Mill Nemo Holo Red
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Blood in the water... The Nemo Holo in red is a subtle hint, a scent, a blood trail for trout to follow. Tied in the classic 'Cruncher' style it ha...
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Fulling Mill CJ's Controller
Fulling Mill
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Control your presentation CJ's Controller is a wonderfully adaptive little fly, it can be fished as an emerger, a swung soft-hackle, a static drift...
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Fulling Mill Bill Becks Krystal Cat
Fulling Mill
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Bring back wet flies! The Krystal Cat is a wet fly that just plain works. Taking inspiration from flies like the zonker and the red tag, the Krysta...
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Fulling Mill Dunkeld
Fulling Mill
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A classic salmon wet fly, deadly when swung or dead drifted. Due to the flash underbody of this fly, the Dunkeld is a fantastic producer on dark da...
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Fulling Mill Viva Special - Barbless
Fulling Mill
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Viva Forever! Scaled-down barbless Mini Streamer, perfectly fished in conjunction with standard wet flies on either the point, top or middle dro...
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Fulling Mill JT Tungsten Bead Spider Waterhen Bloa
Fulling Mill
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They Don't come more Simple or Deadly than this A hook, a tungsten bead, dubbing and hackle. Just four elements combine to create a trout hooking m...
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Fulling Mill Bill Becks Green Machine
Fulling Mill
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The wet fly you've been waiting for. Just got a new sink tip or floating intermediate line and need a fly to clean up on rivers and lakes? Look no ...
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Fulling Mill Bill Becks Lurex Cat
Fulling Mill
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A mix-match of a royal coachman and a zonker. When the oversized streamers aren't cutting it downsize to Becks Lurex Cat, a wet fly designed for so...
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