Tip of the Week: Upstream Mend

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By Jason Harwood, Director of Education at Red’s Fly Shop

We are concentrating on mending the month of April here at Red’s and we’re starting with one of the most important ones in fly fishing: the upstream mend. It’s not flashy, but it’s foundational. A good upstream mend helps buy time, reduce drag, and give your fly or indicator a longer, more natural drift.

We need an upstream mend anytime we cast our fly or indicator into slower water than the water between us and that drift. When the current in the middle is moving faster, it grabs the line first and starts pulling on the rig. That’s when your indicator speeds up, your nymphs lift, or your fly starts dragging before it ever gets a real chance.

This is exactly the kind of line-control problem we work on in Red’s classes and on-the-water instruction. If you want help reading current seams, setting up better drifts, and making the right mend at the right time, this is one of those skills that gets a whole lot easier when you practice it with feedback.

The upstream mend fixes that problem by repositioning the line upstream and adding slack where it matters most. The goal is simple: protect the drift. You are trying to slow down the influence of faster current so your fly can move naturally through the lane you’re targeting.

This shows up all the time on rivers like the Yakima. You might be standing near quicker water while casting across to a softer seam, inside bend, or slower bucket. Without a mend, the faster current between you and the fly tightens everything up too quickly. A clean upstream mend helps keep your presentation in the zone longer.

The key is to mend with intention. Lift enough line to reposition it, mending the line and leader all the way to the fly.  Most good mends are not huge. They’re timely, controlled, and just enough to match your line to the speed of the water your fly is drifting in.

A helpful question to ask is: Is the water between me and my fly moving faster than the water my fly is in? If the answer is yes, an upstream mend is probably part of the solution.

Small adjustment, big difference. And if you want to get better at it, stick with us through April—we’re breaking down mending all month long at Red’s Fly Shop.

The Takeaway

An upstream mend is all about buying your fly more time in the right drift lane. When the water between you and your fly is moving faster than the water your fly is in, mend upstream to reduce drag and protect a more natural presentation.

Stay tuned for more fly fishing insights, and get ready for some exciting fall dry-fly fishing days ahead!

We teach these techniques and more through our various courses in our University of Fly Fishing.

UPCOMING COURSES TO HIGHLIGHT 

UPCOMING COURSES TO HIGHLIGHT

• Wednesday, April 8th, Drift Boat Rowing Lessons in the Yakima Canyon, 10:00am
• Thursday, April 9th, Drift Boat Rowing Lessons in the Yakima Canyon, 10:00am 
• Saturday, April 11th, Fly Fishing 101 // Beginner’s Lessons, 9:00am
• Saturday, April 11th, Trout Spey or Full Spey Casting, 2:00pm (Sold Out)
• Sunday, April 12th, Fly Fishing 201 Course, 12:00pm
• Monday, April 13th, Drift Boat Rowing Lessons in the Yakima Canyon, 10:00am (Sold Out)
  
• Tuesday, April 14th, Euro Nymphing // Fishalong Course, 9:00am
• Tuesday, April 14th, Yakima River // Fishalong Course, 1:00pm
  
• Wednesday, April 15th, Trout Spey // Fishalong Course, 9:00am
• Wednesday, April 15th, Drift Boat Rowing Lessons in the Yakima Canyon, 10:00am
• Thursday, April 16th, Euro Nymphing // Fishalong Course, 9:00am (Sold Out)
  
• Friday, April 17th, Trout Taxi, 9:00am
• Saturday, April 18thk, Yakima River Fishalong, 10am
• Sunday, April 19th, Fly Fishing 201 Course, 12:00pm
• Sunday, April 19th, Women’s Intro to Fly Fishing Program, 10:00am

ENTIRE COURSE CALENDAR HERE 

Our University of Fly Fishing is the most unique, comprehensive fly fishing education available.