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 

Brew N Bugs - Boiling Springs

Many of you have asked about it, so here are the dates. We started Brew N Bugs at the new spot in August, and we will be continuing them through the winter. Five dollars gets you in the door starting at 6pm every other Thursday. All materials an beer are included, all you need is your vice, tools, and a few spools of thread (Black, Brown, Tan).

Please stop in and hang out, the shop stays open until everyone leaves. We will be offering a discount of 10% off of your purchase each night.

September 29th - Spring Creek Bug

October 13th - Fall Trout Streamers 

October 27th - Steelhead/Salmon Streamers

November 10th - Steelhead Nymphs 

November 24th - Thanksgiving - No Bugs 

December 8th - Steelhead Stoneflies 

December 22nd - Winter Stoneflies - Trout

January 5th - Winter Midges 

January 19th - Winter Trout Flies 

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 - The Roaming Sculpin

The Roaming Sculpin is a bottom crawling sculpin that has a lot of movement. There are a few different materials that make this fly up, however there isn't too much of any one material. This helps with profile and movement in the water. Can't wait to try it out of some warmwater predators.

Materials:

Hook: B10S stinger hook sz. 1 

Thread: Uni Thread 6/0 - olive 

Tail: Rabbit Zonker - Sculpin Olive

Body: UV Polar Chenille - olive and brown 

Collar 1: Rooster Saddle - Olive 

Collar 2: Mallard Flank - Natural 

Legs or Fins: Sili Legs - Barred Olive 

Collar 3: Dubbing Loop of Rabbit - Sculpin Olive 

Head: Sculpin Helmet - Olive

Step 1: Make a thread base to the bend if the hook.

Step 2: Punch the hook through the rabbit zonked and secure it with one thread wrap.

Step 3: Make 2 wraps on the zonker, tie and cut off extra.

Step 4: Tie in 2 contrasting colors if UV Polar Chenille.

Step 5: Wrap 3 or 4 time, palmering forward.

Step 6: Tie in a saddle hackle from the tip.

Step 7: Make about 6 wraps.

Step 8: Tie in the mallard flank feather.

Step 9: Wrap the mallard 4 times.

Step 10: Tie in 3 strands of rubber legs on each side.

Step 11: Make a dubbing loop of rabbit. This should be the same color as the tail.

Step 12: Wrap the loop forward, pulling the fibers back as your wrap.

Step 13: Put a drop of super glue down whip finish and slide the helmet on.

Finished Sculpin Fly

Finished Fly:

Brew n' Bugs - Recap

Last nights tying session was a great success. Thank you to all who came out to share some beers, and learn a couple new patterns. We will be focusing on smallmouth bass flies the next three sessions. Bottom Crawling Bass Bugs, Streamers for Everything, and Bass on Top. Check the schedule at the shop for dates. Remember $5.00 at the door gets you all the materials to tie, and our featured local micro brew of the night.

 

Brew n' Bugs 2.0

Thank you to everyone that came out and tied with us the past three moths. Brew n' Bugs was a huge success, so much that we are going to have another session. We have a full schedule through the end of August. The cost is still $5.00 to participate and they will continue to start at 6:00pm every other Tuesday. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

April 28th – Hendrickson – Lancaster Brew

May 12th – Dry Flies or Die – Old Forge

May 26th – Sulphur – Snitz Creek Brew

June 9th – Mayfly Nymphs – Troegs

June 23rd – Sculpins – Ballast Point

July 7th – Bottom Crawling Bass Bugs – Sly Fox

July 21st – Streamers for everything – Erie Brewing Company

Aug 4th – Bass on Top – Yards

Aug 18th – Terrestrials – Rivertown Brewery 

Barbless Hooks - Nymph

I have decided that this year everything is barbless. I am not saying its because I no longer believe in barbs, but these hooks just look mean, and really stick. Not having a barb really allows the hook to penetrate the fish's mouth with little resistance when taking it out. They are also all black or black nickel finishes and I think that makes a huge difference in clear water.  They are not new to the industry or to the shop, however more and more companies are producing their own variations. The top three companies that I really like are Orvis, Umpqua, and Partridge. Orvis makes one of my favorite hooks the Tactical Wide Gape, it is a 3x short hook with a very aggressive point, and really digs in when you set the hook. Umpqua makes an awesome variety of hooks, from jig style hooks to big Czech style hooks. All Umpqua hooks are quality. The other company is Partridge, they make some very nice hooks and the smallest out of them all, you can now get a sz 18 or 20 Czech nymph hook and a sz 18 jig hook. Orvis also makes a beautiful curved shank hook that goes down to a true 16, and that is my favorite for all my caddis pupa and larva flies.