Double Squirrel Nymph

Double Squirrel Nymph

The double squirrel nymph has become a staple in my trout and steelhead boxes over the past few years. This little nymph is simple, and not groundbreaking by any means, but it works and its fun to tie. I started off tying this fly about 5 years ago because I was tired of my hare’s ear nymphs not being as buggy as I wanted them to be. So, I switched over to using SLF Squirrel dubbing instead of the traditional hare’s ear dubbing. After I reached the bugginess I wanted I decided to make it simpler and tie it without a wing case and change the collar color to dark brown to give it some contrast. This tying style is also referred to as “tying in the round”, no wing cases or legs, just a simple nymph profile. The I got a little wild and added two hot spots, yup TWO, and that is ultimately how this bug got its name. Double Hot spots and tied out of squirrel dubbing, the “Double Squirrel”. 

It is a great prospecting nymph if there isn’t much going on, it’s simple design and profile can mimic most mayfly nymphs just by changing the hook size. 

The main sizes that I fish are 14s and 16s, but if the water is higher or off color, I will jump up to a size 12, I hopes that it will show up better and get a trout’s attention. On the other side of that, if the water is low and clear, I will drop down to a size 18 if needed.

Last year I started fishing them for great lakes and south east Alaskan steelhead, they definitely didn’t stick their noses up at them. For steelhead the pink hot spot variation has seemed to get the most interest. I will tie them up to a size 10 for steelhead and typically not go much smaller than a 14. 

It is a great year-round fly and has caught fish from Maine to South America.

Double Squirrel:

Hook: TMC C200BL 12-16

Thread: Veevus 8/0 – Fl. Fire Orange 

Bead: Tungsten – Black Nickle 

Tail: CDL Fibers – Black Speckled Corzuno

Rib: Tinsel sz. Small – Opal 

Body: SLF Squirrel Dubbing – Natural Fox 

Collar: SLF Squirrel Dubbing – Dark Brown 

Hook Variations:

Hook: TMC C450BL 12-16

Hook: Partridge SLJ 12-18

Hook: Ahrex FW551 14-10

Bead: Slotted Tungsten Bead – Black Nickel

 Color Variations:

Thread Color: Fl. Chartreuse, Fl. Orange, Fl. Pink 

Fishing Report - Boiling Springs

March is almost over and I have only written once this month. Life is a bit crazy with the new shop opening. We are fully stocked and ready for the season, from camping gear to flies. The fishing is really starting to pick up around here, Grannoms and Hendricksons have started coming off in good numbers. The water is still a bit cold, so you won't see much surface activity until later in the day. Start off the morning with nymphs and emergers, then change to dries mid day. Most of the spring creeks are still getting midges and olives, but it won't be long until we see some caddis and then sulphurs. Caddis pupa and hare's ears have been my top two flies so far this season for most of the limestone creeks with sow bugs and caddis pupa on the spring creeks.  Stop in the shop and check it out, grab a few flies and head out to the creek.

I Lovermont - Not Just Fishing

That's what the sugar packets said at the Bed and Breakfast where Elizabeth and I stayed. I couldn't agree more, Vermont has to be one of my favorite states. Its not just the scenery, and the maple syrup, its the fishing, friends, and all around outdoor activities the state has to offer. It also helps when your buddies own and run an outdoor store, that has everything you need from fishing equipment to camping and hiking equipment (Middlebury Mountaineer ). Anyway, back to it, the fishing was pretty good, had an awesome fall day chasing pike, and a nice cool morning fishing for browns. It was fall, so the warm water fishing was starting to slow, but the trout fishing was picking back up. However this was the first vacation I have taken in a long time, that wasn't formed around fishing. Elizabeth got to pick many of the activities, and hiking was on the top of her list. We hiked Mt. Abraham one of Vermont's four peaks of 4000 feet. It was a beautiful day for a hike, cooler temps and over cast skies, made for an awesome time hiking to the summit. Take a look at the photos from the trip. Thanks again Jesse, Steve, and Dave for showing us a great time yet again!!!

It Happened Again - The Little J

The faces changed, but the story stayed the same. The Little J was on fire again. We fished it all over with great success, it defiantly helped that the bugs were all over the place. There were Drakes, Sulphurs, Caddis, and even a few Golden Stones. The whiskey was tasty and the potatoes with cheese and beacon started the day off right. I am going to let the photos tell the story. If you have not gotten the chance to fish the Little J, I would highly recommend getting out there ASAP! 

Hot Flies: Golden Stones, Pheasant Tails, Sulphur Nymphs, and Trigger Nymphs