A Couple Good Days

This weekend was a great time to be out on the water. The storms that were supposed to show up, never did, so the fishing never slowed. Sunday, Steve, Elizabeth and I fished the Tully, caddis were coming off, but fish seemed to be eating better underneath. Caddis Larva, Pt's, Split Backs, and Migdes, all did the trick. So then this morning, I decided to rig the 3wt up and head out for some wild browns. Sulphurs and Frenies did the trick. It was a nice morning out on the creek.

Featured Fly - Split Back Nymph

Here is a fly, that I first heard about last year on the Delaware while asking George what he had been fishing all morning. Then again in Montana when our guide gave us a couple "go to" flies for the season. So I decided to tie a couple up a few weeks ago, and give them a try once the Sulphurs started, yup best decision Ive made this year. Anyway, it is an awesome fly, and really isn't that hard to tie.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 3761 sz. 12 - 18

Bead: Size to match Hook - Black or Copper 

Tail: CDL Tail

Rib: Ultra Wire - Small

Abdomen:  Pheasant Tail - Natural 

Wing Case: Scud Back - Black

Under Wing: Thin Fly Foam - Yellow

Thorax: SLF - Nymph Thorax

Legs: Partridge Feathers 

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

 Step 2: Tie in about 8 CDL Fibers for the tail. Cut off extra, leaving the thread a the hook bend.

 Step 3: Tie in 4 pheasant tail fibers.

 Step 4: Wrap pheasant tail forward, leaving about a third of the hook empty.

 Step 5: Wrap the wire forward, securing the pheasant tail.

 Step 6: Cut a diamond out of the scud back.

Step 7:  Tie in the scud back, tying it right to the start of the diamond.

Step 8: Tie in the foam.

Step 9: Dub the thorax.

Step 10: Pull the foam forward, pull it tight, trying not to break the foam.

 Step 11: Pull the scud back forward, centering the split over the foam.

Step 12: Once you have it tied off, take a partridge feather, and split to make legs. 

Step 13:  Whip Finish and Cut off.

Tully Report

Its been a good week on the Tully. Sulphurs, Cahills, BWOs, Caddis both Green and Tan. Finding a spot some days is harder than others, but no matter where you end up , there will be fish will to eat. Water is now at a perfect level for dry flies, if they aren't coming up quite the way you like, they will always eat under an indicator. Here are a few pictures from the river the past week, and a sneak peak at the next featured fly, a must have on any stream that has sulphurs coming off.

 

Wild Trout

There is something to be said about an animal that is born and raised in the wild, their outlook on life, their predatory instinct, survival instincts, it just amazes me every time I get to experience it. Trout have to be one of the coolest creatures swimming, when you hold a wild fish, being from a small mountain stream only pushing 4" long or the 20" plus from Montana, each fish holds a story, no fish looking the same.

This past week I mad another trip up to the Delaware river with my lady friend, conditions where tough,   Wind gusts of 30 plus mph, high sun and low water, but the fish were still ready to eat. Mid day between the gusts of wind we found fish rising to just about everything, drakes, hendros, olives, sulphurs, and caddis. We watched fish rise waiting for the chance to make one cast, half the time our flies would just get blown all over the river. We managed a couple fish, and it ended up a good day. 

Then mid week Casey and I headed to a small stream outside of Reading, where yet again, I was amazed at these wild fish, and the size of a couple of them. They are just relentless, a 6 inch fish with the heart of a 20 inched, it will give any 3wt rod a run for its money.