February tying contest thread-and January's winner is:

[Billy]

Thank you to everyone that participated in an awesome January contest:

January tying contest thread - and December's winner is:

First off thank you to all that participated in last months Sculpin contest found here: https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/december-tying-contest-and-novembers-winner-is.3613/ A lot of great knowledge sharing and patterns shown off. That is what this contest is about! @G_Smolt...

pnwflyfishing.com

Now to the fun part

The winner of our subsurface bass contest is... @Kfish and his sexy versions of the Murdich Minnow:

Kfish has selected lake emerger. Time to get tying. Post your flies and discussion below!

If you didn't check out last months winner @James St. Clair article on his Congo Hair Sculpin I recommend giving that a view as well:

Congo Hair Sculpin Streamer Fly

Awesome tie by @James St. Clair Appreciate the share! Enjoy:coffee: Here is an article and SBS for the Sculpin from the December Tying Contest, which I also call "Congo Hair Sculpin". Again, a similar article will be published in the American...

pnwflyfishing.com

Thanks everyone. These have been a lot of fun!
Billy

 

[Scudley Do Right]

Don't know if this is what you're looking for. Copied one the flies my dad tied. His was buzzer style but not feeling that fancy tonight. The midge flash is supposed to be the bubble trail as they ascend.

 

[_WW_]

Don't know if this is what you're looking for. Copied one the flies my dad tied. His was buzzer style but not feeling that fancy tonight. The midge flash is supposed to be the bubble trail as they ascend.View attachment 52550

What hook is that?

 

[Scudley Do Right]

What hook is that?

 

[Kfish]

Trying out a parasol type emerger here, I'm not sure about proportions though.. how big how tall..I added a piece of foam to make sure it floats.

 

[mcswny]

Trying out a parasol type emerger here, I'm not sure about proportions though.. how big how tall..I added a piece of foam to make sure it floats.

View attachment 52608

Do you have any weight built in to help anchor it?

 

[Kfish]

Do you have any weight built in to help anchor it?

No, I figured the metal wire is good enough. It didn't float as high as I thought so I added more foam per @jasmillo suggestion.
Floats better now but I'm not sure fish will eat it

 

[Irafly]

Both flies are designed to have the top and bottom part of the fly stick out of the water. When midges hatch, they stick their abdomens and their heads out of the water and their thorax bends down a bit while they split out. This phase is often when trout will target the flies, because this is when they are most vulnerable. I also tie these in chrome, because this is also when the midges are still gassed up.

 

[Wayne Kohan]

Both flies are designed to have the top and bottom part of the fly stick out of the water. When midges hatch, they stick their abdomens and their heads out of the water and their thorax bends down a bit while they split out. This phase is often when trout will target the flies, because this is when they are most vulnerable. I also tie these in chrome, because this is also when the midges are still gassed up.

Why not use a swimming nymph hook for your top fly then, that should put the thorax down some?

1770 Swimming Nymph Hook

This Daiichi fly fishing hook has a sproat bend, straight eye, 1X fine wire, 3X long curved shank. Uses: swimming nymphs, leeches, san juan worms.25 per pack

www.google.com

 

[Kfish]

Both flies are designed to have the top and bottom part of the fly stick out of the water. When midges hatch, they stick their abdomens and their heads out of the water and their thorax bends down a bit while they split out. This phase is often when trout will target the flies, because this is when they are most vulnerable. I also tie these in chrome, because this is also when the midges are still gassed up.

View attachment 52791View attachment 52790

That's cool Ira, going to have to copy that!

 

[Irafly]

Why not use a swimming nymph hook for your top fly then, that should put the thorax down some?

1770 Swimming Nymph Hook

This Daiichi fly fishing hook has a sproat bend, straight eye, 1X fine wire, 3X long curved shank. Uses: swimming nymphs, leeches, san juan worms.25 per pack

www.google.com

They don’t float well enough.

 

[Irafly]

That's cool Ira, going to have to copy that!

I’ll tie a few more when I find my CDC. CDC works well, but it is harder to dry off after a fish takes the fly.

 

[clarkman]

I could only manage this early Triassic 6/0 midge emerger...

 

[Buzzy]

So far I'm seeing chironomids as entries (?) into the lake emerger category, why not mayfly emergers? A few of you have no doubt fished some of the Kamloops area lakes and when lucky, have been there when mayflies have started emerging. One such lake, which may or may not bear my name, can be very frustrating when there's no emergence (probably because I'm doing something wrong) but when the mayflies start up, this lake can really turn on. My all time favorite patterns, depending on mayfly size, are:


Callibaetis cripple - I believe this fly is supposed to imitate a mayfly that's stuck its shuck (I've been there too). I dress the forward hair and hackle only so the tail sinks.

 

[mcswny]

So far I'm seeing chironomids as entries (?) into the lake emerger category, why not mayfly emergers? A few of you have no doubt fished some of the Kamloops area lakes and when lucky, have been there when mayflies have started emerging. One such lake, which may or may not bear my name, can be very frustrating when there's no emergence (probably because I'm doing something wrong) but when the mayflies start up, this lake can really turn on. My all time favorite patterns, depending on mayfly size, are:
View attachment 52906

Callibaetis cripple - I believe this fly is supposed to imitate a mayfly that's stuck its shuck (I've been there too). I dress the forward hair and hackle only so the tail sinks.

Buzzy, I really love that bottom right one

 

[tkww]

Callibaetis cripple - I believe this fly is supposed to imitate a mayfly that's stuck its shuck (I've been there too). I dress the forward hair and hackle only so the tail sinks.

The quigley cripple is a great pattern, and useful in moving water too. Mine usually end up vertical--wish I could get more of a 45° hang.

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

So far I'm seeing chironomids as entries (?) into the lake emerger category, why not mayfly emergers? A few of you have no doubt fished some of the Kamloops area lakes and when lucky, have been there when mayflies have started emerging. One such lake, which may or may not bear my name, can be very frustrating when there's no emergence (probably because I'm doing something wrong) but when the mayflies start up, this lake can really turn on. My all time favorite patterns, depending on mayfly size, are:
View attachment 52906

Callibaetis cripple - I believe this fly is supposed to imitate a mayfly that's stuck its shuck (I've been there too). I dress the forward hair and hackle only so the tail sinks.

That lake (in Kamloops): I really prefer the next one down the road...

 

[Matt B]

The quigley cripple is a great pattern, and useful in moving water too. Mine usually end up vertical--wish I could get more of a 45° hang.

Klinkhammer style works for me for a less vertical hang.

 

[Chucker]

CDC emergers, a few different styles. 18s and 20s. First two are supposed to be chironomids, next two caddisflies, last one just a thing in the surface film. They all work. They also all work for one fish only, and then are useless as emergers until they dry out. I don’t use these very often, basically only if a parachute Adams is not getting it done and I really want to catch a fish. These particular flies have been in my box for close to 20 years!

 

[mcswny]

CDC emergers, a few different styles. 18s and 20s. First two are supposed to be chironomids, next two caddisflies, last one just a thing in the surface film. They all work. They also all work for one fish only, and then are useless as emergers until they dry out. I don’t use these very often, basically only if a parachute Adams is not getting it done and I really want to catch a fish. These particular flies have been in my box for close to 20 years!
View attachment 53187View attachment 53188View attachment 53189View attachment 53190View attachment 53191

So god damn buggy. but yeah, i agree. i hate fishing cdc flies because theyre a PIA after one fishing.