The choice of the fly when fishing for Atlantic salmon is very important, because here, it is not a question of having a fly that resembles as closely as possible the food of the fish, but to have a fly that will make the fish react, by annoyance or food reflex. It is very complicated to predict in advance which fly will be effective, but a few criteria, depending on the season, seem to be approved and will help you to target the fly of the moment more quickly.
The beginning of the season
The beginning of the season is always an uncertain time, given the water levels of the rivers which often change from one year to the next. When the waters are high and tinted, large dark colored flies, such as black, green or red are to be prioritized. As the water gets lighter, decrease the size of the flies and move to lighter colors, such as yellow or blue.
The summer period
The summer period is clearly the time to favor dry flies, bombers in the lead, for their efficiency and also the pleasure of seeing a salmon rise to the surface to take it. White, pink and blue colors work well, as well as orange at the end of the summer season.
It is quite possible to fish with drowned flies during the summer, but you should favor small flies with colors like blue and yellow.
The end of the season
The end of the season, i.e. the month of September, coincides with a change in the behavior of the males which become more aggressive, as the spawning season approaches. The larger flies become effective again and orange is a color that comes back very often at this period, without neglecting black and pink.
This little overview of salmon flies is very brief, considering the multitude of flies that exist. It should help you to see more clearly when preparing a trip. Apart from the color and size of a fly, criteria such as the shape and the materials used also influence the choice. It remains above all a question of feeling between the fisherman and his fly!
