Question:

Though I should be an expert at jig tieing …… Are there books on tieing jigs. Thier are many to be found for fly fishing (I just cant understand the appeal). John Jay Wirth Jay Wirth Renaissance Ink Member GPA

Response:

Though I should be an expert at jig tieing …… Are there books on tieing jigs. Thier are many to be found for fly fishing (I just cant understand the appeal).

        Jay-         You ever tie into a 2 lb. largemouth on a flyrod? AWESOME!!! And smallies are even better!         Bob– Robert E. Longshore

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Question:

…  got real sick.  bad stomach ache.  threw up a lot.  a real clear, slightly amber viscous vomitus.  bad gas pains. real cramping belly wrenchers.

That water probably wouldn’t be so bad without the absinthe. — Ken Fortenberry

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You know, if I ever have the big one….I hope I’m around you guys…..I mean I wouldn’t have to worry about extended efforts to prolong my life without regard to the quality of it….taint no mercy here!     john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Personally, I like to use a died marabou I get at the local hobby shop. Yea: go with the died marabou. The live ones are ugly bastards and they’ve got bloody great sharp beaks! Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

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Personally, I like to use a died marabou I get at the local hobby shop.

Yea: go with the died marabou. The live ones are ugly bastards and they’ve got bloody great sharp beaks! Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

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_____  One of these days, I should probably reveal the greatest secret known to man regarding the deadliest WOOLLY BUGGER Pattern known.  I should probably do it for Flies of the World because that is where everyone will find it, but this is a moral dilemma!  Who does Catch & Release and how many (in secret and behind our backs) really are Catch & Killers!??  Ahhhhh, the question boggles the mind. I have been told by a friend that if I reveal this pattern (MickeyMouse-a code word known to only a few) I would probably be assassinated, ground up into flake food and used in all the aquariums owned by ROFFIANS!  (Who would chuckle in glee dispensing me even way past midnight!) I will instruct in my will to reveal this pattern if I don’t change my mind before hand.  This pattern will triple the tonnage for all the fly fishing killers in ROFF . . . thereby, making me immortal in the eyes of mine gill-sayers. Oh!  The price of glory and it is so fleeing!  The fish and the fly is gone leaving us once again with only tippet in hand. Isn’t life a bitch?! — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

Personally, I like to use a died marabou I get at the local hobby shop.  The dark green tends to fade after you fish it for a while – giving it a streaked appearance like what would be on the carapace of a crawdad (crayfish) when twitched along the bottom. Pearl chenille works great for spring fishing, add a dash of flashabou in the white marabou tail for an extra attention getter. I almost always tie with a bead head, and sometimes a silver works better than a brass and visa versified. Sometimes I’ll make the body out of two colors of chenille…black and brown or perhaps use a contrasting hackle color. Often I’ll tie in a few bright red wispy hanging down strands of marabou in the tail, with maybe one or two coming off the body to give an impression of a minnow with his guts hanging out.  Called up Erie way a ‘bleeding minnow.’ If I’m planning on fishing it along the bottom, I’ll use a shorter hackle but for ripping it through the water I like a real long hackle to give plenty of pulsation. I use basically one size of hook but vary the length of the body and where I begin the tail. Having contrast helps avoid changing light conditions, and having to change colors so often Personally, I have to rank a wooly bugger right up there at the top of the list. john p.s. went steelhead fishing.  the water was real cold. before the sun came up the air was real cold.  shoulda had a net.  steelhead have teeth…..up around lake erie, they get their drinking water from the lake.   put a lotta chlorine in it.  got real sick.  bad stomach ache.  threw up a lot.  a real clear, slightly amber viscous vomitus.  bad gas pains. real cramping belly wrenchers.

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Question:

Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. Bill

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Bill Smith" asks: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above.

Get a 1" long section of clear hose, slice it, place it on the rail or whatever and mount the 1" stainless flagpole atop it. -Bruce

Response:

Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above.

That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bill

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie Bill

Hmmmm. Maybe I need a stars and stripes fishing kite… — Harry Krause – - – - – - – - – - – - I’d love to, but I’m teaching my parrot to yodel.

Response:

Hi, A different way to get those strippers! Eh! — Regards and God Speed, Gary Gary W. Sandvik 309-676-0224 (fax)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie Bill Hmmmm. Maybe I need a stars and stripes fishing kite… — Harry Krause – - – - – - – - – - – - I’d love to, but I’m teaching my parrot to yodel.

Response:

Stripers! Eh! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, A different way to get those strippers! Eh! — Regards and God Speed, Gary Gary W. Sandvik 309-676-0224 (fax) Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie Bill Hmmmm. Maybe I need a stars and stripes fishing kite… — Harry Krause – - – - – - – - – - – - I’d love to, but I’m teaching my parrot to yodel.

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Hi, A different way to get those strippers! Eh! — Regards and God Speed, Gary

Strippers are easy to get; stripers are more difficult.

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Question:

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi again Actually I have a very nice picture of a longhaired blond girl fishing for salmon in nothing but boots, but I will have to get some permissions first. I will see what I can do.

        you sure as hell have *my* permission, torben, ol’ chum!                 wayno the lustful – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –       Torben Meldgaard have to check with the better half, eh? also….although this is a text ng, you have my ok to post the jpg here Happy Holidays, –Wataugan Walt

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Hi again        Torben

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi again Actually I have a very nice picture of a longhaired blond girl fishing for salmon in nothing but boots, but I will have to get some permissions first. I will see what I can do.       Torben Meldgaard

have to check with the better half, eh? also….although this is a text ng, you have my ok to post the jpg here Happy Holidays, –Wataugan Walt

Response:

Hi again Actually I have a very nice picture of a longhaired blond girl fishing for salmon in nothing but boots, but I will have to get some permissions first. I will see what I can do.        Torben Meldgaard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Torben, A very nice site. To generate interest and flow with the popular perception of Scandinavia, try posting pictures of tall, beautiful, blonde Scandinavian women rushing from the sauna to plunge in the cold trout and salmon infested waters. Even consider posing one of these young ladies with fly vest and rod while exploring the depths of the river with her streamer. Wayne Hart To Fish is Human….To Release Divine

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Response:

Torben, A very nice site. To generate interest and flow with the popular perception of Scandinavia, try posting pictures of tall, beautiful, blonde Scandinavian women rushing from the sauna to plunge in the cold trout and salmon infested waters. Even consider posing one of these young ladies with fly vest and rod while exploring the depths of the river with her streamer. Wayne Hart

I must say Wayne you are perfectly right. A couple of really good tall beautiful naked Scandnavian blondes always compensates me for catching nothing on Scandinavian rivers.  My wife is of the opinion that the Salmon are in fact secondary, ridiculous idea of course. But I bet you know just exactly what I mean ! Tight lines ! Mike Connor

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Hi there I just want to tell you the address of my new home page about fly fishing in Scandinavia. Please take a look at it and give me some constructive criticism, I promise You I won’t cry.   Here goes:               http://www.imf.au.dk/~tmm/flyfish.html     Yours truly    Torben Meldgaard

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Response:

Torben, A very nice site. To generate interest and flow with the popular perception of Scandinavia, try posting pictures of tall, beautiful, blonde Scandinavian women rushing from the sauna to plunge in the cold trout and salmon infested waters. Even consider posing one of these young ladies with fly vest and rod while exploring the depths of the river with her streamer. Wayne Hart To Fish is Human….To Release Divine – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there I just want to tell you the address of my new home page about fly fishing in Scandinavia. Please take a look at it and give me some constructive criticism, I promise You I won’t cry.   Here goes:               http://www.imf.au.dk/~tmm/flyfish.html     Yours truly    Torben Meldgaard Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Torben Meldgaard Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf" begin:          vcard fn:             Torben Meldgaard n:              Meldgaard;Torben org:            Institute of Biology, Aarhus, Denmark title:          Stud.Scient x-mozilla-cpt:  ;14432 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version:        2.1 end:            vcard

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Question:

Thanks to All for their input. I’ve gained some new ideas from you so good luck and HAPPY HOLIDAYS  To All – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to flyfishing and would like some help getting ideas for a project I have in mind. I am a disabled vet, and on a very limited budget. I would like to try and make as much of my own fly tying equiptment as I can.(Like a vise! Could I use tweezers with a rubberband around it? I’ve tried it and the hook slips a lot) Any ideas will be appreciated . Thanks !!

Response:

Rookie, send me your address if you want, And any older or extra stuff I have I will send to you. Gotta help a bro!

Response:

I am new to flyfishing and would like some help getting ideas for a project I have in mind. I am a disabled vet, and on a very limited budget. I would like to try and make as much of my own fly tying equiptment as I can.(Like a vise! Could I use tweezers with a rubberband around it? I’ve tried it and the hook slips a lot) Any ideas will be appreciated . Thanks !!

Response:

I am new to flyfishing and would like some help getting ideas for a project I have in mind. I am a disabled vet, and on a very limited budget. I would like to try and make as much of my own fly tying equiptment as I can.(Like a vise! Could I use tweezers with a rubberband around it? I’ve tried it and the hook slips a lot) Any ideas will be appreciated . Thanks !!

  I don’t fly tie, but I would suggest a hemostat as they clamp and lock. Cheap, most auto parts stores carry them as well as fishing and medical shops.  Seems like there are fly tying kits that are very cheap, that have basic stuff, like a basic vise and thread holder tensioner. Bill

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Question:

There is a new product out on the market which allows spinning and spincast anglers to attach a length of fly line to mono and fly fish…has any one tried this product or done this themselves?  Any advice on how to fish doing this? — Pierre                     There can be only one!!!!                             |    

There goes the neighbourhood!   <g Peter

Response:

There goes the neighbourhood!   <g Peter

Uh huh.  I just hope it’s not legal to use food stamps to buy them. Bob

Response:

Have you ever considered the possibility of using a fly rod to cast flys?

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uneloquently put it: Uh huh.  I just hope it’s not legal to use food stamps to buy them. Bob Sorry buddy, I don’t usually flame people but that was a total dick response, even if you were just kidding.  Get a life. Kristina Go UT Lady Vols!!!

Response:

uneloquently put it: Uh huh.  I just hope it’s not legal to use food stamps to buy them. Bob Sorry buddy, I don’t usually flame people but that was a total dick response, even if you were just kidding.  Get a life. Kristina

So what do you mean… that I offended you, and that’s wrong, so you wrote an offensive message to me, and that’s right?  What interesting "standards" you have. Bob Scott

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So what do you mean… that I offended you, and that’s wrong, so you wrote an offensive message to me, and that’s right?  What interesting "standards" you have. Bob Scott

Yes he’s right. Balance has now been restored you dick.

Response:

There is a new product out on the market which allows spinning and spincast anglers to attach a length of fly line to mono and fly fish…has any one tried this product or done this themselves?  Any advice on how to fish doing this? — Pierre                          There can be only one!!!!                              |    

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Question:

I plan on flying into Bozeman, Montana on June 28th for 5 days but I may not have the capacity to travel longer distances to more well known fishing spots such as The Big Horn, etc. Can anyone assist me in finding a good couple of spots close to the Bozeman Area for some good flyfishing for trout?    Help!!!  

Is the Big Horn more reknown for flyfishing than the Madison, Gallatin, Yellowstone? All these are very close to Bozeman.  There are also the spring creeks over at Livingston.  For specifics, I encourage you to call the Montana Troutfitters Orvis Shop- (406) 587-4707.  The guys in there are very nice, very helpful, and can give you specifics on smaller areas, hatches, guides if you want them, shuttles, etc.  Good luck!

Response:

You’ll only be an hour and 45 minutes from Yellowstone. Call Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone for suggestions that may be a little closer to Bozeman.

Response:

I plan on flying into Bozeman, Montana on June 28th for 5 days but I may not have the capacity to travel longer distances to more well known fishing spots such as The Big Horn, etc. Can anyone assist me in finding a good couple of spots close to the Bozeman Area for some good flyfishing for trout?    Help!!!  

Response:

writes: I plan on flying into Bozeman, Montana on June 28th for 5 days but I may not have the capacity to travel longer distances to more well known fishing spots such as The Big Horn, etc. Can anyone assist me in finding a good couple of spots close to the Bozeman Area for some good flyfishing for trout?    Help!!!  

Try the Gallatin River.

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I heard that flyfishing equipment is less expensive in Canada due to currency devaluation.  I live in Washington and sales tax is 8.2%.  Is there any good deals across the border say in Vancouver or by mail order? Thanks in Advance, The Canadian "dollar" is now worth around US$.70. Check out Smallman’s in Cochrane, Alberta.  Among other things, they sell Hardy equipment for less than anywhere I’ve been able to find (e.g. a Hardy Princess for CAN$151.00, which currently is about US$115).  You may be able to skip the GST if they ship it to you – ask them about it.  There’s no provincial sales tax in Alberta. Their number is         +1 800 667 4753 Tim

Response:

Looking for information for the Kings, San Joaquin and Kaweah rivers in central CA.  I have lived here for a few years and have fished all three, but would like some specifics.  I can give lots of advise and specifics on the High Sierra and Kins Canyon National Park.  Enjoyed a great trip last summer for Golden Trout, I have great advise for this area.  Thanks in advance!

I am a native of Merced and am currently living in the Bay Area.  I am a relative novice to fly fishing but I try hard and I love it.  I would appreciate any suggestions you have, including float tubing.  Thanks in advance.                                  Dave W.

Response:

I heard that flyfishing equipment is less expensive in Canada due to currency devaluation.  I live in Washington and sales tax is 8.2%.  Is there any good deals across the border say in Vancouver or by mail order? Thanks in Advance, Wayne

In BC we have 7% GST (federal goods & services tax) and 7% PST (provincial sales tax. Despite that, the 1.42cdn==1us$ exchange rate is working in your favour…. I’m not sure about fishing equipment, as I’ve never bought any from the US, but computer stuff tends to suffer an extra 10-20% (or more sometimes!!!) cost just for being in Canada. — Pat Dowler UVic Astronomy

Response:

Looking for information for the Kings, San Joaquin and Kaweah rivers in central CA.  I have lived here for a few years and have fished all three, but would like some specifics.  I can give lots of advise and specifics on the High Sierra and Kins Canyon National Park.  Enjoyed a great trip last summer for Golden Trout, I have great advise for this area.  Thanks in advance!

Response:

I heard that flyfishing equipment is less expensive in Canada due to currency devaluation.  I live in Washington and sales tax is 8.2%.  Is there any good deals across the border say in Vancouver or by mail order? Thanks in Advance,

The Canadian "dollar" is now worth around US$.70. Check out Smallman’s in Cochrane, Alberta.  Among other things, they sell Hardy equipment for less than anywhere I’ve been able to find (e.g. a Hardy Princess for CAN$151.00, which currently is about US$115).  You may be able to skip the GST if they ship it to you – ask them about it.  There’s no provincial sales tax in Alberta. Their number is          +1 800 667 4753 Tim

Response:

I heard that flyfishing equipment is less expensive in Canada due to currency devaluation.  I live in Washington and sales tax is 8.2%.  Is there any good deals across the border say in Vancouver or by mail order?

Check out Wallace W. Doak & Sons Ltd. P.O. Box 95, 331 Main Street, Doaktown, New Brunswick, Canada. E0C 1G0 Tel: 506-365-7828 Fax: 506-365-7762 Doak’s prices for many items are comparable to what I have seen in some American catalogues (e.g. Cabela, Orvis), but the prices are in Canadian ($0.71) dollars. More importantly, they epitomize friendly, efficient service.  The only shortcoming is that they are hardcore Miramichi-ites, so their selection is somewhat salmon-centric. I have never dealt with Smallman’s, but it has been recommended on the net. Smallman’s Fly Shop 220 First Street, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. T0L 0W0 Tel: 403-932-2122 Fax: 403-932-7107 1-800-667-4753 — Keep your stick on the ice.

Response:

 Wayne we have 2 taxes,provincial 7% and G.S.T. 7%.Your stuck with the provincial but I believe you can get all of the G.S.T. rebated at the border on your way home if you keep the receipts.

If you mail order from outside the province, you do not pay provincial sales tax.  I sometimes have stuff mail ordered from Doak’s in New Brunswick to my home in Ottawa because postage is less than sales tax. The GST does not apply to exports, so our southern confreres are spared that indignity. — Keep your stick on the ice.

Response:

I heard that flyfishing equipment is less expensive in Canada due to currency devaluation.  I live in Washington and sales tax is 8.2%.  Is there any good deals across the border say in Vancouver or by mail order? Thanks in Advance, Wayne

Response:

is less expensive in Canada due to : currency devaluation.  I live in Washington and sales tax is 8.2%.  Is : there any good deals across the border say in Vancouver or by mail order?  Wayne we have 2 taxes,provincial 7% and G.S.T. 7%.Your stuck with the provincial but I believe you can get all of the G.S.T. rebated at the border on your way home if you keep the receipts.As far as saving money with the exchange rate you probably can do quite well,I know its rarely worth it for me to shop down south anymore.Give me an example of exactly what you want and I will find out the local cost for you. —                  *              Doug Cook                *                  *            Abbotsford,B.C.            *                  *                Canada                 *

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Question:

I’ve read that nylon pantyhose makes a great shuck imitation.   -Clyde

Response:

I’ve read that nylon pantyhose makes a great shuck imitation.  

And, its great fun to watch them get taken off!

Response:

I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a

Check Gary LaFoine’s book "The Dry Fly", in it he has a pattern called the Buzz Ball that is suppose to imitated a midge cluster on the surface like one would see on some back water on the San Juan or similar river. good luck Mark Powers Boston

Response:

I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface (shuck may be in the film). Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type?

I am wondering if a double tippet could be made to the midge a few inches from the shuck?   Put a hook in both if the trout cannot make up its mind.  Be interesting to see if the shuck or the midge get hit on most often. here a change to come up with a new pattern.  And we wonder where did they all come from.  :-)   Happy new year!

Response:

The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those

 few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck… I use your typical Griffith’s Gnat tied w/ a small plume of grey CDC feathers as a tail to imitate the trailing shuck.

Yours virtually, Gary W. Godden Denver, Colorado

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface (shuck may be in the film). Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type? I am wondering if a double tippet could be made to the midge a few inches from the shuck?   Put a hook in both if the trout cannot make up its mind.  Be interesting to see if the shuck or the midge get hit on most often. here a change to come up with a new pattern.  And we wonder where did they all come from.  :-)   Happy new year!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Out here in Colorado we use something called a Stuck-In -Shuck midge.  It’s a good slow-water fly on the South Platte where winter trout seem to sometimes prefer emerging midges over full adults. The dressing is simple.  The tail, or "shuck" is a few strands of brown antron, or Z-lon. the body is thread, or peacock.  A few strands of white antron, Z-lon, or poly are tied in at the butt, and pulled over the body. This should be a little on the loose side, creating a kind of bubble.  Some people put a couple wraps of grizzly hackle, trimmed top, and bottom in front for better floatation.  This fly should be dressed to let the fly float in the film. I don’t know who dreamt this fly up, but I think it’s a pretty good one! Chaz — Chaz Clover Fly Tier, Fly Design, Riverkeeper.

I fish the tiny spring creeks in WI and the best surface/film pattern that I have tried is nothing radical: Griffith’s Gnat. I tie it on a size 22 wide gap 1XF hook. Peacock Body (short flue, taken from near the butt rather than the eye) and Top Quality (Hoffman) Grizzly also short (no longer than to point). Fished on 6X tippet with silicon paste applied on 3 inches about 6 inches from the fly. this: a. keeps it on top, b. if you position yourself just right it acts a an indicator, and c. allows the fly to move naturally. I don’t apply floatant to the fly as it makes it ride too high causing for short hits. Quarter it upstream and dead drift. Good Luck.

Response:

: I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my : pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even : semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a : pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry : on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment : of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface : (shuck may be in the film). : Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type? I do quite a bit of midge fishing, especially late in the season as it gets colder.  I’ve found that a #26 or 28 works very well for the large (but oh so rare) browns here in VT.  I don’t use a trailing shuck pattern, however.  I use a simple black or red thread body (no tail) with a grizzly, black, or cream hackle.  The red body is easy to spot, and it seems to work!  I rarely get refused with this pattern, and it’s very simple to tie.  In addition, it feeds my growing opinion that the presentation is (slightly?) more important than the fly choice (please, no flame wars on this one, both are important!)   I don’t usually fish this one blind, and not at long distances (usually about 20-25′).  I find that 7 or 8X tippets make sense, as well as a challenge for a big fish. Hans

Response:

I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface (shuck may be in the film). Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type?

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Out here in Colorado we use something called a Stuck-In -Shuck midge.  It’s a good slow-water fly on the South Platte where winter trout seem to sometimes prefer emerging midges over full adults. The dressing is simple.  The tail, or "shuck" is a few strands of brown antron, or Z-lon. the body is thread, or peacock.  A few strands of white antron, Z-lon, or poly are tied in at the butt, and pulled over the body. This should be a little on the loose side, creating a kind of bubble.  Some people put a couple wraps of grizzly hackle, trimmed top, and bottom in front for better floatation.  This fly should be dressed to let the fly float in the film. I don’t know who dreamt this fly up, but I think it’s a pretty good one! Chaz — Chaz Clover Fly Tier, Fly Design, Riverkeeper.

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Question:

I am a begining fly fisherman and I am going to be working in canon city, co for the summer. I will be there from May 15- August 15. I would appreciate any suggestions on good places to fish, shops for flys, and approximate times of good hatches. In other words any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance. Paul

You’ll be living right by the headwaters of the Arkansas River, which has some decent trout (so I’ve heard, haven’t gotten down there yet). Also, you won’t be too far from the South Platte, which is pretty famous for awesome catch & release only, artificial flies & lures (barbless hooks) only fishing. The South Platte will be about 1.5 to 2 hours drive from Canon City, either north into Colorado Springs and then West on route 24 to Woodland Park, and north on route 67 to Deckers, or continue through Woodland Park to Lake George, and go up Elevenmile Canyon road (3 dollar access fee you pay at a self-serve station), to the river. I’m still new at the insect hatches, so can’t give you anything of value in that area. Pick up a copy of the Colorado Angling Guide when you get here, or before if you can find it. It’s got a nice collection of Forest Service maps of the areas. As for shops, I know the Angler’s Covey on 8th and West Colorado Ave in Colorado Springs is a great place for fly fishing supplies and advice, although you should be able to find something in Canon City as well, use the yellow pages. — Scott Ferguson                               My views are not necessarily Cray Computer Corporation                    those of Cray Computer Corp.

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I am a begining fly fisherman and I am going to be working in canon city, co for the summer. I will be there from May 15- August 15. I would appreciate any suggestions on good places to fish, shops for flys, and approximate times of good hatches. In other words any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance. Paul

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