Early Season Go-Tos

The weather is warming up and the fish are starting to get hungry. The number one question that we get in the shop right now is, "what are the hitting on today?". So Im going to answer that question for you all, so you don't have to come into the shop and ask. With the Tully and the Breeches both being stocked streams, its not surprise that then Sexy Walts Worm is a must have. They are both caddis filled systems, so the RT Tube Steak Caddis Larva is another must have, the last one is Kevin Compton's Hot Butt Caddis Jig.

Sexy Walt's Worm 
Hook: Partridge Jig
Bead: Tungsten Bead
Rib: Pearl Tinsel - Sm.
Body: Hares Ear Plus #1
Collar: UNI 6/0 Fl. Fire Orangee

RT Tube Steak 
Hook: Partridge Straight Eye Grub
Bead: Tungsten Bead
Rib: Stretch Tubbing - Micro
Body: SLF Bug Dub
Collar: SLF Bug Dub

Compton's Peaking Caddis
Hook: Partridge Jig
Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead
Rib: Ultra Wire - Copper
Hotspot: Chart. Floss
Body: Jack's English Hares Ear 

These all mimic some sort of natural food, but I want to be honest with you all... They also look like food pellets :).

This is why I have lots of each of these in my boxes to start the season off.

Winter Trout Fly Videos

So all of these videos have been posted before, and can also be found on my YouTube channel. However each of these are great flies to have ready for the winter months ahead of us. Winter is a great time to get out and fish your local tailwaters and spring creeks. Midges, caddis larva, and sow bugs are my top fly choices for this time of year. Enjoy each video and get those boxes filled!

Some Trout Flies

As much as I want to be floating down the Juanita River throwing a popper for smallmouth, it is still trout season.  I have been trying to get out a few days a week down by the new shop, the fishing has only improved over the past couple weeks. I have spent a good bit of time behind the vise stocking the boxes. I have no more room in my nymph boxes, and I should be good on dries, now its onto the smallmouth candy. Here are a few macro shots of the nymphs I have been tying.

Modified Trigger Nymph - Sulphur 

Caddis Larva

Rubber Z Caddis Pupa 

General Mayfly Nymph 

RT Tube Steak Caddis Larva - Video

This is an awesome caddis larva fly. My buddy Rob Thrash came up with a similar fly, so I commandeered some of his ideas and added them to my blended caddis. The rib is made out of stretch tubbing so it is very durable. Check it out.

The Caddis Hatch - Top 10 Fly Patterns

The caddis have finally showed up in good numbers, and the fish have taken notice. I thought this would be a perfect time to give you a look at my favorite caddis flies. Below are 10 flies that you will find in my boxes at all times.


1. J:Son Caddis Larva: This is a new fly in the shop this year. It has life-like features that trout just can't resist.

2. Blended Caddis Larva: This is my all time favorite caddis larva. It is relatively simple to tie, but when it gets wet it looks like the real thing.

3. GD's Cat Nip:  This little gem is a great caddis imitation for cloudy or muddy water. The uv polar chenille really moves in the water.

4. Z-Wing Caddis Pupa:  This is probably my favorite pupa imitation. I often times drop this below an adult caddis as my dropper.

5. Rubber Z Caddis Pupa: A design that I came up with last year. It has a lot of the features from Henry's caddis pupa from his book "Matching Major Eastern Hatches". A great one to throw when the trout are keyed in on emergers.

6. Bird of Prey Caddis: The number one selling caddis pupa in the shop. It just has it all, a bit of flash, some soft hackle for movement, and a bead to help get it down.

7. CDC Caddis: I would say that if I was only allowed one fly durning a caddis hatch, this would be it. It floats like a cork with most of the body in the water.

8. Mooser's Cripple: Just ask Moose about it, his excitement will make you want to go home and tie them.

9. Troop's CDC and Elk: Another classic that should be in your box at all times. This fly can be a cripple, emerger, or adult. It also floats like a cork.

10. J:Son Adult Caddis: Another new one in the shop this spring. A great adult caddis pattern, with an amazing realistic look on the water.

Real Time Bugs:

Interested in any of my flies? Check out my selection of custom tied flies: Relentless 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: 

Spring Time in PA

Its been a great spring so far. Guide season is picking up, and the fish are really active. I am not going to bore you with all the details of my last few outing. So how about I just share the pictures from the stream.

Photos from the Tully:

Photos from State College:

Photos from undisclosed PA streams :)