Flies on Spinning Gear

Two well-tested techniques for catching trout

- Scott Turo

American fishing culture is diverse, and anglers have tweaked many of the traditional fishing techniques, improving them to suit their local conditions. Simple “do it like this” adjustments can keep you in the strike zone. Some of this knowledge is available at the local fly or tackle shop, but there’s always an on-the-water adjustment made by observant anglers that makes all the difference.

Using light tackle spinning gear to fish flies for trout in rivers and streams is one of those presentations I’ve tweaked over the years. Adapted from well-known techniques; these adjustments have opened opportunities for trout I would have never had with any traditional approach.

The Deschutes River in Oregon has been my testing ground for developing both surface and subsurface fly rigs for my light tackle spinning gear. Funky regulations stating that “all anglers must be grounded and cannot fish from moving or anchored boats” create a perfect situation to find large trout that rarely see flies or lures. For some reason, I took this as a challenge and invested a couple of decades of trial and error to arrive at the point where I now confidently fish these presentations on many popular Western trout rivers.

Fishing with my fly rod over the years, I caught trout on most of the popular techniques, but my innovative side always said, “wait a second.” Now, I can present a large stonefly or grasshopper under that overhanging tree-lined bank with my spinning rod better than I can with my fly rod, and that deep seam 30 feet from the bank is open for business with a drop shot nymph rig gently cast on my spinning rod.