How many times have you been flyfishing in knee to ankle deep water and wished you had a fly that would not collect grass and objects from the bottom? After many months of searching and trying many different flies, this is what I came up with. The "Rat" allows you to fish the shallow. You can see where it is so you can intercept the fish and then pull it beneath the surface to his depth.

Cast fairly close to the fish and start a steady retrieve for about three feet so the fly will dive two to three inches depending on how wet or saturated it is. The wetter the better for it to dive. When the fish takes the fly on a steady retrieve you can feel the strike and then you can set the hook. This will keep you from taking it away before he has it. Most of the time he will hook himself.

While looking for reds or trout (I stress easing along slowly) I will wade with my fly in the water. Make a good long cast in the direction you are wading and just let it lay. Or you may be in a place where the fish are cruising by, while none are in sight cast to a part of the water that you can't see into. This is an excellent place to let the fly lay while you are looking for another prospect. You will be surprised how many fish you will catch by doing this. Most times it will be a stronger hit and he will fight much harder. How I came across this, I was stringing a fish and wanted to get my fly and line out of the way. Before I had strung the fish, I had another one to go on the stringer. This one almost took my rod with him.

If the fish follow and doesn't take the fly, keep on retrieving. Do not stop the retrieve. If you stop, he will more than likely stop. If you have several follow and not take the fly, slow it down a little. This will help when they are picky.