What's in your vise?
- Thread starter Billy
- Start date
A couple similar to what I had success with this weekend.
SF
SF
This has become a go to dropper for hopper/dropper rigs. Stupid quick to tie and fish eat em. It’s basically a rainbow warrior/perdigon tied on a size 18 firehole 633 with a 2.3mm silver bead. It gets down quick but a stimmy/anything with foam can still hold it up, 
Is that estaz or chenille trimmed short Brian?
I've been refilling the box with things that worked well in the last couple of weeks on SRC and coho in BC.
Variations of California Neil, Delia Ghost, Crazy Charlie'd Ferguson Green and Silver, and various shrimp patterns. As usual, no two are the same!
Variations of California Neil, Delia Ghost, Crazy Charlie'd Ferguson Green and Silver, and various shrimp patterns. As usual, no two are the same!
I struggle with this concept (personally). Because it's inevitable that the only fly that worked for me that day is currently snagged up in the tree.
The counter is, I have dozens of the same patterns that haven't caught any fish and I have zero confidence in but I was afraid to be caught flat footed with only 1 fly so i decided to tie a dozen
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I've tried and failed to tie perfect reproductions of each pattern every time. Luckily, I've found through experience that fish will still hammer totally shredded flies that are missing eyes, hackle, or even hook tips (oops) so I've gotten less finicky at the vise. I still want them to look decent but I really don't think the fish care all that much.I struggle with this concept (personally). Because it's inevitable that the only fly that worked for me that day is currently snagged up in the tree.
The counter is, I have dozens of the same patterns that haven't caught any fish and I have zero confidence in but I was afraid to be caught flat footed with only 1 fly so i decided to tie a dozen
The last couple weeks of solid action also taught me that color and retrieve style seemed to be more important than pattern. For instance, there were days that I threw everything at them and nothing but when I switched to the magic color it was on! Then I'd lose that first fly and have no direct replacement, but as long as I stayed with roughly the same color/size/retrieve I was good.
But that was the last couple weeks. Who knows what tomorrow's fish are going to want!?
I totally understand this in my head. But for me, it’s still a confidence thing. Or should I say, lack of confidence. But then again, I do a lot of fishing on a finicky spring creek.
This philosophy works for me on my local creek too! I literally fished the legs off the same Chubby Chernobyl all summer long, and my dropper nymph was down to thread and bead head before I lost it.
Green Drake Dry
Hook - Mustad 9671 or equivalent, size 10
Thread - Yellow
Tail - Moose mane/body hairs
Over body - Brown or natural deer hair
Ribbing - Brown thread or uni stretch
Abdomen - Light yellow or olive poly dubbing
Legs - Sili-legs, speckled
Wing - Dark or Yellow deer hair
flyillusions.com| Green Drake Dry Fly
Soft Hackle Streamer Variations
Prepping for a 3-week trip to Tampa in Nov/Dec and a lot of days chasing specks, ladyfish, pompano, jacks and mackerel, I’ve been stocking up on all manner of saltwater patterns. Despite heavy tippets on the sink tip, a lot of flies get damaged or lost with these toothy fish. Since I don’t tie while away from home, having a lot of backup flies is the norm.
This summer the Soft Hackle streamer did yeoman’s work on SW Montana trout streams for me, so it's going to the salt this year. The basic fly is so easy and quick to tie, I felt compelled to tie up a few variations on the basic pattern for inshore Saltwater targets.
#1 - Add a tail. Any sort of synthetic or natural fiber/feather can be used to add length and movement to a soft hackle streamer. Craft fur, Finn Raccoon, zonked Pine Squirrel or hackles tied Deceiver style all blend well with the basic pattern.
Nothing catches fish like Fire Tiger
Maybe a Pinfish
#2 - Use contrasting clumps of Marabou tied on the top and bottom of the hook instead winding a single Marabou feather.
A good Finger Mullet imitation!
#3 - Use red zonked Pine Squirrel to create bloody gills just behind the Mallard flank at the head of the fly.
All three variations in one--Deceiver tail, Bi-colored Marabou and Red Pine Squirrel gills.
Prepping for a 3-week trip to Tampa in Nov/Dec and a lot of days chasing specks, ladyfish, pompano, jacks and mackerel, I’ve been stocking up on all manner of saltwater patterns. Despite heavy tippets on the sink tip, a lot of flies get damaged or lost with these toothy fish. Since I don’t tie while away from home, having a lot of backup flies is the norm.
This summer the Soft Hackle streamer did yeoman’s work on SW Montana trout streams for me, so it's going to the salt this year. The basic fly is so easy and quick to tie, I felt compelled to tie up a few variations on the basic pattern for inshore Saltwater targets.
#1 - Add a tail. Any sort of synthetic or natural fiber/feather can be used to add length and movement to a soft hackle streamer. Craft fur, Finn Raccoon, zonked Pine Squirrel or hackles tied Deceiver style all blend well with the basic pattern.
Nothing catches fish like Fire Tiger
Maybe a Pinfish
#2 - Use contrasting clumps of Marabou tied on the top and bottom of the hook instead winding a single Marabou feather.
A good Finger Mullet imitation!
#3 - Use red zonked Pine Squirrel to create bloody gills just behind the Mallard flank at the head of the fly.
All three variations in one--Deceiver tail, Bi-colored Marabou and Red Pine Squirrel gills.
Scottp
Legend
Claret & Olive Barn Owl Muddler
hook - WFC Model 6 #10
thread - Uni 8/0 fire orange
tag - Orvis Saltwater thread fluoro orange/resin
rib - same as tag (doubled)
body - Ice Dub claret
body hackle - claret (1 Tbs Rit Wine/1 cup water)
shoulder - pheasant rump dyed olive
collar/head - deer hair dyed olive
Regards,
Scott
hook - WFC Model 6 #10
thread - Uni 8/0 fire orange
tag - Orvis Saltwater thread fluoro orange/resin
rib - same as tag (doubled)
body - Ice Dub claret
body hackle - claret (1 Tbs Rit Wine/1 cup water)
shoulder - pheasant rump dyed olive
collar/head - deer hair dyed olive
Regards,
Scott
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Frank Smith Special
Hook - Mustad 9575, size 6-12
Thread - Black
Body - Flat silver tinsel
Throat - White bucktail or calf tail
Wing - Natural brown calf tail over orange calf tail
The Book of Fly Patterns: Over 1,000 Patterns for the Construction of Artificial Flies – Eric Leiser
EmergingFisher
Life of the Party
100% agree - these are money for some reason the little bling under the hopper gets attentionThis has become a go to dropper for hopper/dropper rigs. Stupid quick to tie and fish eat em. It’s basically a rainbow warrior/perdigon tied on a size 18 firehole 633 with a 2.3mm silver bead. It gets down quick but a stimmy/anything with foam can still hold it up,
View attachment 38047
TicTokCroc
Sunkist and Sudafed
A sparkly orange October caddis skater for coastal Cutts and a Thompson river caddis because of all this talk of dry fly steelhead.
Haven't tied for months, the moose was frustrating to work with. Having the right tools, and quality tools/materials helps a lot.
I tried to do the moose in a dubbing loop and I don't have a dubbing loop spinner, or a hair clip. Any recommendations? Also what threads (brand and size) does everyone use for spinning hair. I have ultra thread in 70 and 140 and broke both multiple times. Time to start investing in the correct stuff.
Also a dedicated tying space would be nice.
Zak
Legend
I like this for a dubbing spinner:
I use Veevus 8/0 for muddler heads.
Scottp
Legend
For small muddlers, Uni 8/0 works fine (Veevus & SemperFli, too, although the SemperFli is a bit flossy for my taste); for larger ones, I usually use Uni 6/0 and UTC 140 (if you’re popping UTC 140, check your bobbin for a nick or burr). I use a Petitjean hair clip and a dubbing loop spinner I made from a baby formula mixer.
Regards,
Scott
Ted's Yesterday
Originated by Ted Gerken of Iliamna, Alaska
Hook - Mustad 36890, 9575, size 3/0 to 6
Thread - Black
Tail - Red hackle fibers
Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel
Body - White wool
Throat - Red calf tail
Wing - White calf tail fibers (to bend), over which two badger saddle hackles
The Book of Fly Patterns: Over 1,000 Patterns for the Construction of Artificial Flies - Eric Leiser
TicTokCroc
Sunkist and Sudafed
Thanks, I saw your SBS on the Thompson River caddis popped up on an internet search for the pattern.
I actually have a nice ceramic tip bobbin, but I'll check it.
