When talking to other anglers or watching fishing videos there seems to be a remarkable variation in when people strike after a fish has taken their dry fly. I know the old maxim is 'God save the queen', however I personally find this to be too slow and that often the trout will have spat the fly by then or that it doesn't hook up properly. My technique for dry fly fishing is to say the word 'Bum' once the fish has taken the fly, and then strike (although by now I no longer say the word bum, it is simply instinctual). This seems to work extremely well for me as I hook 90% of all fish that take my dries. However I know that many other people will use different techniques to similar, or perhaps better, effect. So I'm asking people to write down a short description of their dry fly setting technique, why they use this technique and in what situations they might change their technique.

Yeah thought that was the case, however I've done very little dry fly fishing on slower waters so I couldn't personally vouch for the technique. On even the slowest pool in a river I tend to strike relatively quickly, and yet the trout almost without exception are hooked, it is only when I think to myself 'I'll try the slower technique' that I lose fish. Still, its interesting to hear different peoples opinions on the matter

I'm only a beginner fly-angler but when I was using a dry beetly imitation [ humpy or a cochybondhu] I struck almost immediatly after the fish took the fly, this was in still water, and I lost 2 fish by doing that so yeah I would tend to agree with 'Oncecast'

If you wanna get into indicator nymphing I'd recommend buying some C&F 'Air Cell' Indicators in a small or super small size. They're incredibly good floaters and are sufficiently small as to not spook fish. Sounds like its more the speed of what you say than what you actually say

Before using any type of indicator make sure

TheBadger wrote: If it works then use it for sure. These ones are yarn Bazza. http://www.manictackleproject.com/index.cfm/pageid/73/ViewPage/Indicators . Absolutely beautiful little indicators, float through anything and easy as anything to see. Plus their small design means they don't inhibit casting. I'm predicting them to revolutionise indicator nymphing. Only problem is the cost...they ain't cheap... However, they do last for a long time and because of their mode of attachment they can be reused time and time again. If you've got a spare few bucks lying around and your local store stocks them then I'd highly recommend giving them a go...you won't go back

Striking on the dry fly is a simple matter once you understand the why  of the steps involved but often the reasons why we strike a certain way are not explained.

Over the last few seasons I've thought alot more about what I'm doing while hooking up on a dry fly, judging water speed and assessing the fish movement etc.
I felt at this stage I was getting pretty comfortable with my timing and completely disregarded the "God save the queen" method to continue with my new found more educated approach............. so I thought.............
Today was my first chance to fish with Cicadas this season and everything I thought I could do right, went wrong when trying to set these Cicada imitations.
Small blowfly patterns were hooking up perfect all morning,  but once the cicadas came out, I changed to Clark's classic Deer Hair Cicada. The fly was of course being constently taken however using the same strike technique as my blowflys the hook would not stick. I thought possibly the larger, thicker hook needed more of a positive strike to set, but I still couldn't get a true hook up.
I swapped to a size 12 olive crystal stimulator which looks Cicada-ish and with what I thought to be perfect timing and tightening I could still not stick a hook.
I came to a nice fish which took a Deer Hair Cicada and with once again (what I thought was perefect timing and tightenting) no stick. Luckily the fish appeared to not be spooked and returned to the same feeding spot very quickly. However the Cicada would not be sniffed at again. I returned to using the Blowfly pattern (in a similar size hook as the Cicada I had just used). The trout came and took the Blowfly and using near enough the same strike timing/speed/force etc as with the Cicada the same trout previously took, it finally stuck.
So now i'm completely confused, it seems from my frustrating day (I call it an experimental day) that Trout slurp down Cicadas different to other insects. I often hear anglers describe the trout as "Smashing" the dryfly when talking about Cicada fishing. And it seemed to me today I needed to be alot more "smashful" with my strikes. Still awaiting the trout to turn down after the take but then apply more of a Nymphing type strike and quicker than what I'd normally do with any other dry fly.
This would turn "God save the queen" followed by a slow smooth rod lift ........................to a gibberish "GODSAVETHEQUE..!!!" STRIKE!!!!

I may be completely wrong about this, but it seemed very coincidental that today I only struggled to Stick the hook when the trout were taking a Cicada imitation.

So...... My question is do trout take Cicadas off the surface different to other Insects??
Has anyone else noticed anything like this when using Cicada patterns??? Having to adjust the strike techniques you'd use with any other dryfly ???
Clark you pretty much pioneered the pattern any thoughts????

Anyhow, clearly I spent alot of time thinking about this today, it kind of overshaddowed the fact that it was still a great days fishing.

Snap T wrote: So...... My question is do trout take Cicadas off the surface different to other Insects?? Has anyone else noticed anything like this when using Cicada patterns??? Having to adjust the strike techniques you'd use with any other dryfly ??? Clark you pretty much pioneered the pattern any thoughts???? Anyhow, clearly I spent alot of time thinking about this today, it kind of overshaddowed the fact that it was still a great days fishing.

I have even heard if it being slapped on the surfcace of the water on purpose to attract attention.