Featured Fly - The Double Squirrel

Finally had the chance (and motivation) to edit a short video of the Double Squirrel nymph. This has become a staple in my box as well as many of the other guides in the area. It is a simple and easy fly to tie that will look like many different bugs. I will tie them in black with Chartreuse hot spots, and dark browns with a pink hot spot. These bugs can be tied as small or as large as you would like. My favorite sizes are 16 and 14, however I do tie them up to a size 8 for a heavy anchor fly and down to 18 when the water is low and clear.

Featured Fly - Thread Body Olive Nymph

Winter time around a tailwater means it's time to fill the fly boxes with BWO Nymphs and Midge Larvae. This little wonder would fall under the BWO category. It is a very simple fly that only takes a couple materials. I have fished it on local small streams around the shop and the little wild trout love it.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 102Y sz. 18 - 22

Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead - Black

Thread: 8/0 UNI Thread - Olive Dun 

Rib: Ultra Wire sz. Small - Black 

Tail: CDL Feathers 

Body: UNI Thread - Olive Dun

Thorax: Ice Dub - UV Dark Olive 

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

Step 2: Make a tight thread base all the way to the bend of the hook. Tie in the ultra wire as you go.

Step 3: Grab about ten CDL fibers and tie in.

Step 4: Wrap the thread forward over top the CDL fibers. This helps as a little bulk to the body.

Step 5: Wrap back towards the bend of the hook, stop short and bring the thread forward, repeat this step a few times. This will make a slight tapered body out of the thread.

Step 6: Wrap the Ultra Wire forward, making a nice even rib.

Step 7: Dub the thorax, making about 3 wraps of Ice Dub.

Step 8: Whip finish and cut thread.

Finished Fly:

Tully Report - It's Spring

Judging by the weather yesterday, mixed with the 10 day forecast, I'd say we about skipped spring and went right to summer. They are calling for high 70's to mid 80s over the next few days, the only good thing I can come up with is, Caddis and warmer water. Fishing yesterday in cold, muddy, and high water, was relatively productive.

Shane (the new guy), Rob and I hit the Tully for a couple hours before work, the water was still high, but wadable, and the water was a bit on the muddy side. Despite all that, fish were rising in the soft water along the banks, and in slower seams where two currents came together. There were tan and grey caddis flying around, and I even saw a couple dropping eggs. So with this HOT not warm weather coming, this should be the perfect jumpstart to an awesome caddis hatch!

HOT FLIES: Caddis Larva, Z Wing Caddis, San Juans, and White Streamers

Featured Fly - BWO Nymph

Here is another great fly from the latest issue of Fly Tyer, I saw it and immediately grabbed all the materials to tie it. I have fished it a few times this winter, and it has performed will. Whether there is a full on olive hatch, or you know know that there is olives in the system, make this one of your first picks this winter.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 2488 - 16-20

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Olive 

Tail: Senyo's Shaggy Dub 

Abdomen: Turkey Biot - Olive

Thorax: Superfine Dubbing  - Olive 

Wing Case: Scud Back - Black

Legs: Senyo's Shaggy Bug

Step 1: Make a thread base.

Step 2: Tie in a single strand of  shaggy dub, making a V for the tails.

Step 3: Tie in the Biot, then wrap your thread half way back to the hook eye.

Step 4: Wrap the Biot forward.

Step 5: Tie in the Scud back, for the shell case.

Step 6: Tie in one strand of shaggy dub on each side of the fly.

Step 7: Dub the thorax.

Step 8: Pull the scud back forward, and tie off.

Step 9: Whip finish and cut off.

Finished Fly:

 

Featured Fly - Biot Body Nymph

Here is a little pattern that I came up with a while back, while looking online at a bunch of attractor nymphs. It is very simple, and fast to tie, and after a few years of guiding I've realized the fast and simpler the fly is, the less pissed I get when they get hung up in a tree or on the bottom. Ok pissed might be an exaggeration, but you get the idea. Simple and Fast is my new motto.

Materials

Hook: TMC 2488 sz. 14-18

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 Fl. Orange 

Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead

Tail: CDL Feathers 

Body: Goose Biot - Brown, Black, Amber, Olive 

Rib: Ultra Wire - Gold, Black, Olive

Thorax: Hare's Ice Dub - Peacock, Brown, Black

Step 1: Make a thread base just past the bend in the shank.

Step 2: Tie in the Ultra Wire.

Step 3: Tie in about 5 CDL Fibers.

Step 4: Tie in the Goose Biot.

Step 5: Wrap the biot forward leaving about a hook eye gap behind the bead.

Step 6: Wrap the Ultra Wire, using the biot edges as a guide.

Step 7: Dud the Thorax.

Step 8: Whip Finish, or add hot collar then whip finish.

Featured Fly - Tooth Decay

This is a fly that was featured in Fly Tyer magazine this past summer. This fly has been very effective for me during high and off colored water. The hot orange butt gives something "extra" for trout to look at. I tie this fly in 3 different body colors: Olive Yellow, Brown, and Black. The olive and brown bodied ones work very well when BWOs are present.

Materials

Hook: TMC 3761 - sz. 14-18

Bead: Copper - to match hook size 

Thread: Olive Yellow

Tail:  Wood duck or Coq de Leon
Body: Tying Thread
Thorax: SLF Red Fox Squirrel Nymph Thorax
Wing Case: Med Holo. Tinsel - Black
Rib: Ultra Wire - Copper 
Hot Spot:  6/0 UNI Thread - Fire Orange

Step 1:  Start by making a small thread base. Tie in a 6 - 8 lemon barred wood duck fibers.

Step 2: Tie in Ultra wire to the start of the "Hot Spot", Wrap thread forward making a tapered body 

Step 3: Wrap the wire forward making a rib.

Step 4: Tie in the Holo flashe for the shell back.

Step 5: Dub the thorax.

Step 6: Pull shell back forward and tie off behind the bead.

Step 7:  Whip finish.

Finished Fly 

This fish fell to the Tooth Decay after flows well over 3,000cfs.