Jack Arnot, Team USA angler and dry fly competition tactician, is here to break down what it really takes to fish on the surface when the pressure is high and the fish are picky.
We get into everything from rod setup to leader length, hook casts, and how to fish when nothing’s rising. Jack also shares why the Euro approach to dries might just out-fish your favorite chubby.
If you’ve ever struggled with 7x or 8x tippet or wondered how pros read the water with zero surface action, this one’s for you.
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Show Notes with Jack Arnot on Dry Fly Competition Tactics
This episode is presented by Yellowstone Teton Territory – host of this year’s Youth and Women’s World Championships and next year’s Senior World Championships. Check them out to get connected with some of the best waters and events in the world.
About our Guest
Jack Arnot grew up in Eagle, Colorado, right in the Vail Valley. He didn’t start with fly fishing right away. His first fish was caught with power bait, sitting on the bank with his grandpa. But when he got a fly rod around age 12, everything changed. After school, he’d run down to the creek (still in his school clothes) and fish until dark. He said that’s when the obsession really kicked in.
Jack started competing around age 14. He is now a member of Team USA’s Senior squad, together with Cody Burgdorff, Mike Komara, Devin Olsen, Michael Bradley, and Austin Shoemaker.
Jack’s journey to Team USA started by total accident. He was just out fishing when someone from the youth team noticed his cast. It turned out to be the mom of world champ Gabriel Wittosch.
Competition Fishing
Most people hear “Team USA” and immediately think Euro nymphing. But that’s just one tool in the box. Competition anglers need to be way more well-rounded. You’ve got to know:
- Loch-style lake fishing
- Bank fishing techniques
- How to fish streamers on a Euro rig
- And of course, dry flies under pressure
Jack Arnot’s Dry Fly Competition Gameplan
Jack says it’s not about grabbing that 9-ft fast-action rod and a beefy 5-wt line from your local shop. Jack’s box is full of flies you won’t even find in U.S. fly shops. Most of his techniques came from learning the ropes in Spain and France, where dry fly fishing is on a whole different level. Jack picked up a lot by fishing with David Arcay.
Here’s a quick look at his setup:
- Rod: 10 ft 3 wt Diamondback Aero Flex
(One of Jack’s mentors is Joe Goodspeed, who revamped Diamondback after his time at Thomas & Thomas.) Jack sticks with Diamondback rods across all setups (lake, river, dry) to keep things consistent. - Line: Often a 2-weight line for extra finesse
- Flies: Euro-style dries inspired by top Spanish and French anglers (think tiny, sparse, and not your usual shop patterns)
Jack’s Line and Leader Setup
Jack says a lot of fly lines these days are heavier than you think. That 5wt you grabbed off the shelf might actually cast more like a six or even heavier. So instead of over-weighting, he’s under-weighting his lines to match his softer, longer rods, especially when dry fly fishing under pressure.
He’s mostly using a 10 ft 3 wt or 4 wt rod, and pairing it with something like a 2 wt line, max. That gives him better control and presentation, especially in technical water.
Here’s his recommendations:
- Airflo 2 wt
- Cortland 444 Silk (2 wt or 3 wt)
Why Dry Flies Matter — Even When Nothing’s Rising
Jack doesn’t wait around hoping to see fish rising. In fact, he’s often casting dries when there’s zero surface action. For him, dry fly fishing is more of a probe — a way to test a new river quickly. He’ll usually spend the first 15–30 minutes tossing dries to see what’s up.
Sometimes, just trying a dry fly first tells him everything he needs to know. And sometimes, it lands him more fish than any nymph rig ever could!
How Jack Finds Fish When Nothing’s Rising
Jack doesn’t wait for a hatch or rising fish. Instead, he targets weird water. He described this as places most people walk right through. He calls them A, B, and C zones, and it’s often the “C water” where fish are hiding. This could be slack water, shallow spots, or inside edges, most folks ignore. He works the water like a grid. If he catches a fish in ankle-deep water with big rocks, he looks for more water that matches that setup.
The key is knowing which waters are “dry fly water” and which aren’t. Jack skips the fast, choppy stuff where a dry would just get sucked under too quickly. That’s nymph water. But if the water is soft and slow near the bank, he’s all in.
Jack doesn’t stick to the usual “match the hatch” rule when he’s dry fly fishing. Instead, he likes to throw stuff that fish don’t see every day. Sometimes, even colors that don’t show up in nature. His top flies aren’t always about being realistic. They just catch fish.
He breaks his flies into two groups:
- Searching patterns – These help him find fish when nothing’s rising. A go-to is his version of the Red Baron, a bright red dry fly tied with Fulling Mill materials and a bit of glow thread for visibility.
- Match-the-hatch patterns – These come out when there’s an actual hatch. If he sees BWOs coming down, he’s not reaching for a caddis or something flashy. He keeps it true to what’s on the water.
What’s Inside Jack Arnot’s Fly Box
Jack ties all his own flies and works with brands like Fulling Mill to bring some of his patterns to life. One of his favorites? The Silver Surfer, a slick Drake pattern that crushes during summer hatches in Colorado. It’s one of his go-to searching flies.
He also uses a competition-style CDC Caddis made of synthetic materials. It’s durable, holds up when nymphed under, and still fishes great solo. Like most of Jack’s flies, it’s built from years of picking up little tips from other anglers and tying them into something that just works.
Jack also has a go-to caddis pattern he calls the “New Age Caddis.” You can find one version through Fulling Mill, or tie your own using just three materials.
How Jack Arnot Lands Fish Fast
In a competition fishing, landing fish fast is the name of the game even when you’re hooked into something big! Jack says all about rod control and timing.
Here’s Jack’s quick landing strategy:
- Let the fish take its first big run. Don’t fight it too early.
- Use rod angles to control the fish and bring it to the surface.
- Once the fish’s head turns, that’s your window. Move quickly and net it.
- Always keep the fish above you; never let it drop downstream.
- Keep your rod tip low, turn the fish toward the bank, and scoop.
Dry Fly Tips from Jack Arnot
- Throw your program out the window and start from square one.
- What Jack does might not work for you, and that’s okay. Everyone in the world team fishes differently.
- Use a little bit of what Jack said, and then try your own little thing.
- The biggest thing is eliminating drag and lengthening your leader.
Follow Jack on:
Instagram: @jackarnot
Facebook: Jack Arnot
Check out New Age Fly Fishing
