Featured Fly or Should I say Flies

With the recent snow fall and tomorrows temp drop, I have already found myself thinking about summer time smallmouth. I had finished two videos just as the season wrapped up, one of my Over Easy Sculpin and the other of Brian Shumaker's Shimmering Minnow. Both are great smallmouth flies, that will carry over into many other freshwater situations as well. I am going to try the Shimmering Minnow in Erie this weekend. However, I will always associate both of these flies with warm water and smallmouth bass. Check these videos out and get them tied up and ready for warmer weather.

Dead Ringer Caddis Pupa

This fly got its name from being a very close mimic of a real caddis pupa. I have spent hours on the water trying to find live(or dead) caddis pupa to study. Some would say Im a little obsessed, but thats ok I need something to do in my free time. Anyway back to the fly, it has barred rubber legs to imitate wing pads, long wood duck to add the effect of horns, and a tungsten bead hidden under the shellback for weight. I use a bead one size smaller than usual to keep down on the bulk. This bug floats down the river looking as close to the real thing as it gets. Check out the video and tie some up.

This is a Caddis Pupa fly pattern - Dead Ringer Caddis Pupa 

Featured Fly - Double Squirrel Jig

This pattern is almost identical to the last fly I put up the only difference, its tied on a jig hook. I have had great success with the little double squirrel, so I decided to make it an anchor fly as well. We are getting into the winter months so getting as low as you can and staying in front of the fish longer, will make you more successful. Have fun.

Materials:

Hook: Orvis Tactical Jig - 10-14

Thread: Ultra Thread - Fl Orange 170

Bead: Tungsten Slotted Bead - Black - Match 

Tail: CDL Dark - 12-15 fibers 

Rib: Mirage Tinsel - Med - Opal 

Body: SLF Squirrel - Nat. Fox 

Thorax: SLF Squirrel - Dark Brown

Collar: Ultra Thread - Fl Orange 170

Step 1: Make your thread base while tying in the ribbing.

Step 2: Tie in your CDL Fibers. 

Step 3: Make a small Hot Spot out of your thread.

Step 4: Start your dubbing body right in-front of your hot spot. 

Step 5: Making tight wraps, dub the body.Tight wraps will help push the guard hairs out. 

Step 6: Taking the ribbing under the tail and back over the top, make your rib.

Step 7: Dub the thorax. 

Step 8: Make your Hot Collar and whip finish. 

Step 9: Final Step, take a dubbing brush to it, making it as buggy as you would like. 

Finished: Double Squirrel Nymph tied on Orvis Tactical Jig Hook

Finished Fly Pattern

Brew n' Bugs Round 3

We are starting Brew n' Bugs back up starting this coming Tuesday. The start time will still be 6:00pm.

November 10 - Two Hearted Ale – Oversized Trout Flies for Steelhead 

November 24 – Deschutes Brewery - Erie Steelhead Bugs 

December 8 – Sly Fox – Steelhead Streamers 

December 22 - Great Lakes Brewery – Winter Time in the Great Lakes 

January 5 – Saucony Creek Stonefly IPA – Spring Creek Bugs 2.0

January 19 – Appalachian Brewing Company – Secrets to Midge Flies 

 

Featured Fly: J:Son Caddis Larva

This caddis larva is a spin off of the J:Son realistic flies. We now have these amazing flies in the shop, and will be getting a lot of their materials. This fly is made from using the Realistic Caddis Backs. 

Materials:

Hook: Orvis Tactical sz. 10-16 or TMC 2457 10-18

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Black 

Rib: Ultra Wire - Small - Copper or Gold 

Body: SLF Dug Dub - Tan or Olive 

Head: SLF Bug Dub - Black or Brown 

Shellback: J:Son Caddis Backs 

∫Step 1: Make a thread base, tying in the ultra wire as you go.

Step 2: Dub the body, leaving about a 1/4 inch behind the hook eye.

Step 3: Dub the rest of the hook with brown or black SLF.

Step 4: Take your dubbing brush and pick out the dubbing.

Step 5: Tie on the Caddis Back right behind the hook eye.

Step 6: Use the ultra wire rib to secure the body down while making a segmented body.

Step 7: Cut the extra wire off and Whip finish.

Finished Fly: 

Featured Fly - The Reaper

Here is a little mixed up nymph that is a little out there. Mostly black with a blue hotspot, and Chartreuse ribbing. A great fly for prospecting those little wild trout streams around the state. I have become obsessed with the Orvis Tactical hooks, the short shank wide gape makes for the perfect hook. A lot of my most recent fly designs have been based around what I can tie on these hooks.

Materials:

Hook: Orvis Tactical Hook sz. 12 - 16

Bead: Tungsten Bead - Black sized to match hook 

Rib: Ultra Wire sz. Small - Fl. Chart.

Tail: Saddle Hackel Fibers - Black 

Hot Spot: Uni Thread 6/0 - Silver Doc Blue or Danville 70 - Blue 

Body: Goose Biot - Black 

Thorax: SLF Squirrel mixed with Ice Dub - Black & Peacock Black 

Step 1: Make a small thread base behind the bead.

Step 2: Finish making a thread base while tying in the ultra wire rib.

Step 3: Pull about 10 saddle fibers off and tie in. Tie these in a little down the hook bend.

Step 4: Make a small thread base or hot spot, then trim extra off.

Step 5: Tie a goose biot flush to the hot spot. Then move thread forward.

Step 6: Wrap the biot forward. Tying it off right behind the bead.

Step 7: Taking the ultra wire under the tail first, wrap forward making a rib.

Step 8: Take your blended dubbing and make a thorax.

Step 9: Make a small hot collar with the thread. Whip finish and cut off!

Finished Fly: The Reaper Nymph