F'ing Orange Stimulators!

Clean Willy said:
Am I doing something wrong or are these flies just a devious plot designed and sold by fly shops to sell more tippet? I can't seem to get more than one or two drifts before my tippet is a twisted mess. Can't say I've ever really caught a fish on one either. Just me?
Click to expand...
I've caught a lot of fish on my own Stimulator ties, even big orange stimmies, and I have, in the past, encountered spinny twisty issues before, too. It's usually from all the palmered hackle. There's a few things that can help.

1) if you tie the fly yourself, wrap the abdomen hackle and thorax hackle in different directions.
2) trim the bottom hackle of the fly flat. I think it fishes better this way anyway.
3) if you're still spinning, beef up your tippet. For a size 6 or 8 stimmy I'd be using 3x if I can, 4x if I must.
 
Maybe less false casts to limit the fly from spinning, or let it dangle and "unspin" before the next cast.

Larger tippet should help too.
 
Never experienced any twisting , but fishing those flies I'm on no less than 4x or even 3x . Apparently from the replies thats the secret to no twisting .
 
Was using 4x and honestly I was just kind of venting. Switched to a similar orangy elk hair thingy and did well. Fortunately those Idaho cutthroat weren't too picky. Would send a small handful of stimulators in the mail to anyone who wants them.
 
I’ve found these to be helpful with patterns that spin a lot

redsflyfishing.com

Micro Swivels | Scientific Anglers

SA's Micro Swivels Prevent Line Twist Micro Swivels will help prevent line twist when throwing streamers and other large flies. Prevents twist with large, air resistant flies like poppers and streamers Available in two sizes: X-Small (25lb test) Small (40lb test) and Large (80lb test) Black...
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Tippet is the most misunderstood thing in all of fly fishing

1. Most people use too light of tippet

Steelhead minimum 8lb maxima. No 8lb mono or fluorescent is not the same

Articulated streamers 0x
Big streamers size 2. 1x
Streamers 4-6 2× also big toppers and stoned
Normal stones and hoppers including the stimulator above 3,x
Dry flies and nymph 12,14,16 4x
Small flies to size18- 22. 5x
Smaller flies? Not needed in the pacific northwest
So, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana?
Throw away your 6x.... almost never need 5x
Almost always use 3 or 4x unless youre streamer fishing or are into hoppers or stones

It is not ok to use lighter tippet just to get your flies deeper faster...... gain some skill
 
Rob Allen said:
Tippet is the most misunderstood thing in all of fly fishing

1. Most people use too light of tippet

Steelhead minimum 8lb maxima. No 8lb mono or fluorescent is not the same

Articulated streamers 0x
Big streamers size 2. 1x
Streamers 4-6 2× also big toppers and stoned
Normal stones and hoppers including the stimulator above 3,x
Dry flies and nymph 12,14,16 4x
Small flies to size18- 22. 5x
Smaller flies? Not needed in the pacific northwest
So, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana?
Throw away your 6x.... almost never need 5x
Almost always use 3 or 4x unless youre streamer fishing or are into hoppers or stones

It is not ok to use lighter tippet just to get your flies deeper faster...... gain some skill
Click to expand...
damn Rob…you’re a wealth of information.

thanx
 
It’s the hackle. If it’s tied in a neat spiral it turns the fly into a spinner. Denny Rickards gave me a fly once that was so neatly tied that it turned my leader into a slinky. Maybe that’s his secret to catch more fish that everyone else ;) Be a worse fly tier and the problem goes away.
 
Matt B said:
I've caught a lot of fish on my own Stimulator ties, even big orange stimmies, and I have, in the past, encountered spinny twisty issues before, too. It's usually from all the palmered hackle. There's a few things that can help.

1) if you tie the fly yourself, wrap the abdomen hackle and thorax hackle in different directions.
2) trim the bottom hackle of the fly flat. I think it fishes better this way anyway.
3) if you're still spinning, beef up your tippet. For a size 6 or 8 stimmy I'd be using 3x if I can, 4x if I must.
Click to expand...
Rob Allen said:
Tippet is the most misunderstood thing in all of fly fishing

1. Most people use too light of tippet

Steelhead minimum 8lb maxima. No 8lb mono or fluorescent is not the same

Articulated streamers 0x
Big streamers size 2. 1x
Streamers 4-6 2× also big toppers and stoned
Normal stones and hoppers including the stimulator above 3,x
Dry flies and nymph 12,14,16 4x
Small flies to size18- 22. 5x
Smaller flies? Not needed in the pacific northwest
So, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana?
Throw away your 6x.... almost never need 5x
Almost always use 3 or 4x unless youre streamer fishing or are into hoppers or stones

It is not ok to use lighter tippet just to get your flies deeper faster...... gain some skill
Click to expand...
That’s why I like AK…3 feet of 15 lb test…
 
Hey Scott, I trim the hackle off the bottom of the fly so it sits lower/flat on the surface. I’ve had them spin too, but I found I was using too long of light tippets. I don’t fish traditional hackled dry flies much, I prefer parachutes or emergers, but that’s just me.
 
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Bambooflyguy said:
Hey Scott, I trim the hackle off the bottom of the fly so it sits lower/flat on the surface. I’ve had them spin too, but I found I was using too long of light tippets. I don’t fish traditional hackled dry fliesmuch, I prefer parachutes or emergers, but that’s just me.
Click to expand...
Nice tip Steve thank you. I’ll try that if I ever tie one of these on again.
 
I mainly fish lakes with bamboo Hotrodz. In lakes, especially calm, clear and spooky fish, I feel they can see heavier tippet. Plus with bamboo you want to make sure the tippet breaks before the bamboo! I haven’t had many issues landing trout in a timely manner and really only break off flies with my semi tuna hookset! Dang adrenaline……
 
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