Parachute Antics

I guess I'm lucky in that the first Trout I caught on a fly rod I caught on a Dryfly. Most novice anglers might take their first fish with a nymph on an indicator rig or by stripping a black Wooly Bugger but not me, I was blessed with a slow and deliberate rise. Unfortunately however, I can't say I was drifting Duns over furiously feeding fish in the middle of an epic hatch of Sulphurs on a famed eastern Spring Creek. It wasn't such a legendary event. I was fishing with my Father on Morgan Run in Carroll County Md. one Fall afternoon. Anyone familiar with this stream knows there are several pools conveniently located near the parking areas that get absolutely hammered. I was fishing one such spot with little hope of catching anything. No rises anywhere or even fish so it seemed but I kept fishing if only for the "on the water" practice. After trying all the old favorites like Adams and Elk Hair Caddis I tied on a Parachute Ant and cast it above a drowned tree. I followed the bright green post on that fly like a hawk as it approached the submerged timber and as it passed over a log it happened! A silvery head appeared and grabbed the fly, I waited until I felt the fish and set the hook! A minute later I had my first Fly caught Trout in the net and a smile on my face. Since then I always carry a few Parachute Ants with me. I've caught trout practically every month of the year on them regardless if their "in season" or not. Also, the next time your having trouble "Matching the Hatch" try "Un-Matching" it with an Ant pattern and you might be surprised. Furthermore don't be afraid to try larger sizes. There's just something about Ants that Trout love. 

Hook: Tiemco 100 sz. 12-22

Thread: Black Uni 8/0

Body Segments: Black Superfine Dubbing

Post: Hi-Viz Poly Yarn

Hackle: Black

The Fly Fisherman's Senko Worm

It could be argued that Fly Fisherman are at a disadvantage to Spin Fisherman when it comes to lure selection for Bass fishing. Fly anglers fishing for Bass might feel like they only have a few options on the water as opposed to a gear angler who has a tackle box full of them. Fly Fisherman can either fish a popper or surface slider and if that fails to produce we're left with fishing streamers and that's pretty much it right? Wrong! Unlike conventional anglers who are limited to what's on the shelves at the tackle shop Fly Fisherman and tiers are limited only by their materials which can be used to create all manner of effective flies. For a very long time the plastic worm or "Senko" worm has been one of if not the most effective lures a conventional angler could throw. This fly is the Fly Anglers version of this timeless bait. There are several other incarnations of the plastic worm for Fly Fisherman such as the "Gulley Worm" and "Foam Tail Super Worm." So the next time your at the pond or on the lake don't get jealous of the Spin Fishers. Figure out how you can replicate or in some cases improve upon the lures they are using. There is a definite satisfaction in this aside from catching more Bass, and that is beating the "Bass Pro's" at their own game!

Hook: Gamakatsu Offset Shank EWG Worm Hook sz. 2/0

Thread: Black UTC 140

Eyes: Red Lead Dumbell

"Wing"/Tail: Black Rabbit Zonker

Body: UV Black Estaz

Legs: Brown Round Rubber

Collar: Black Schlappen

The Result:

Heptageniidae Nymph Pattern

This pattern is about as realistic as I care to tie. It's a generic Heptageniidae or "Flat Headed" Mayfly Nymph I put together. These nymphs are common in practically every stream I've sampled and with 500 or so species they are no doubt an important food source for Trout. They are purpose built for crawling around rocks along the stream bottom. However, unlike other species of Mayfly Nymphs such as Baetidae they are poor swimmers and one misstep while crawling around in the current means a helpless snack for a hungry fish (That's not to say plenty Baetis don't get gobbled up!)  I had bought some extra small mono eyes last year for some Caddis Pupa I was tying and figured I could come up with some Mayfly Nymphs that could use them as well. I usually use this pattern as a dropper in tandem with a heavier more generalized nymph. I normally don't worry too much about details like eyes and such when developing my flies but it's fun to experiment at the vise. You may buy something at the flyshop and have only a vague idea ,or none at all, of what to use it for but once you start tying you'll be surprised what you can come up with. Have fun and experiment, therein lies the beauty of Fly Tying!

Hook: Tiemco 3761 sz.14

Thread: Dark Brown Uni 8/0

Tails: Moose Body Hair

Abdomen: Brown Scud Back ( I usually trim the 1/8 strip in half when wrapping bodies)

Rib: Brown UTC Ultra Wire sz. small

Wing Case/Head: Mottled Oak ThinSkin  (Underside colored with Brown permanent marker)

Thorax/Head: Brown SLF Squirrel

Legs: Brown Speckled Hen Saddle ( Tied over the thorax style)

Eyes: Spirit River Black X-Small Mono Eyes

Hackle Stacker Damselfly

My well earned vacation starts this coming Monday and I'll be kicking it off with a float trip down one of Maryland's famed Smallmouth Rivers, The Monocacy Scenic River. Aside from getting my gear in order and getting the boat setup I've also been tying lots of flies. I've tied a few dozen poppers, divers, and surface sliders as well as meaty streamers and plenty of crayfish to round out the standard Smallie menu. However I've also come up with a few new patterns to test out and this adult Damselfly is one I can't wait to try. It's nothing groundbreaking as far as fly design goes but I figured it deserved a post if only because Damselflies don't get the same respect from Fly Fisherman that other winged insects do. At any rate I'll let everyone know how it works out. It reminds me of when I started tying flies by fashioning a pair of vise-grip pliers into a makeshift vise and wrapping all manner of craft store feathers to whatever hook I could find with sewing thread. I had just finished tying what I thought were some great flies. I showed them to another angler while we waited out a rain shower under a bridge. "What do you think of these?" I asked him. He replied in monotone "Well, they're bound to catch something." Tight Lines!

Hook: Gamakatsu B10s sz. 6

Thread: Uni 6/0 in Doctor Blue

Abdomen: Light Blue 2mm Craft Foam (Feel free to use pre-made Damselfly bodies if you prefer not to make your own)

Wing: White Sparkle Organza 

Post/Loop: Strip of Light Blue 2mm Craft Foam

Hackle: Grizzly tied "Para-Loop" style

Thorax: Wapsi Life Cycle Nymph Dubbing in Peacock ( The best synthetic Peacock dubbing as far as I'm concerned)

Eyes: Large Black Plastic Bead-Chain

Easy Cricket For Trout and Bluegill

In keeping with the easy to tie terrestrial theme I started with my Beetle pattern a few posts back here's a Cricket I came up with many seasons ago. I ran across it this week while digging out my summer box. For as simple and unobtrusive as it is it's profile is realistic enough to fool plenty of fish. With a few minor modifications it can also be made into an adjustable strike indicator! I promise it will catch more fish than your Thingamabobber!

Hook: Tiemco 100 sz.12

Thread: UTC 70 in Black

Tails: Black Goose Biots

Body: Black Hare's Ear or Synthetic Peacock Dubbing.

Overbody/Head: Black 2mm Craft Foam

Wing: Black Deer Hair (Sparse)

Legs: Brown Round Rubber

Sighter: Bright Colored McFly Foam

Parachute Sulphur Emerger

Two emerger patterns I absolutely love are the "Shucked Up" emerger from Rich Strolis and the "Half & Half" emerger by Henry Ramsay. I took what I like about each pattern and came up with this simple parachute pattern shown here in a Sulphur configuration. However, the tier need only vary the size and color to imitate any Mayfly species. Also, I have tied this pattern on a heavy wire scud hook instead of a light wire version. People automatically assume since the fly is meant to float they must use the lightest hook possible. Although this may be true for some patterns this pattern benefits greatly from a slightly heavier hook which acts as a keel. This insures that the hook rides properly with the wing and hackle on the surface and the abdomen and shuck dangling below. I've also added a small black wire rib (hard to see in the photo) which adds segmentation, durability, and a little extra weight. 

Hook: Grip 14731

Thread: Uni 8/0 in Yellow

Shuck: Brown Zelon

Body: Brown Zelon

Rib: Black UTC Ultra Wire size Extra Small

Thorax: Fly Rite Poly Dubbing #38 Pale Watery Yellow

Wing Post: Gray Poly Yarn (I prefer CDC for smaller patterns)

Hackle: Light Dun

Bullethead Snowshoe Caddis

This is a style of fly I've been toying around with for the past couple weeks. A few issues back Fly Tyer magazine had ran an article about a new way of hackling your dry flies. This method involves winding the hackle in the usual "Catskill" style then separating the fibers top and bottom with strips of foam. So I came up with this adult Caddis borrowing bits and pieces from other patterns I've tied. The hackle is CDC separated on top with the bullethead style wing and the bottom with a strip of tan Razor Foam. It's been a great pattern for slower glides especially in smaller sizes when everyone else insists on fishing an Elk Hair or Henryville.

Hook: TMC 100 sz.14-20

Thread: UTC 70 in Tan

Abdomen: Tan Turkey Biot

Hackle: WoodDuck dyed CDC

Wing: Tan Snowshoe Rabbit

Bottom "Thorax Cover": Tan Razor Foam