Top Winter Dry Fly – Parachute Midge Emerger
Posted on November 12th, 2021 in Fishing Tips, Fly Tying Videos
Here’s a blast from the past that still works well. The Parachute Midge Emerger, along with something like a #18 Purple Hazy Cripple, should be your go-to dry fly when you see midges hatching on late fall and winter afternoons. This is my top winter dry fly just about everywhere: spring creeks, tailwaters, and the mighty Yellowstone itself. Hang an unweighted thread midge or WD-40 nymph under the emerger.
Recipe
Hook: Standard or short-shank dry fly, #14-22.
Thread: 8/0 or smaller black, or to match the fly body color.
Wing: White Widow’s Web or similar synthetic.
Rib: Pearl Midge Krystal Flash.
Hackle: Grizzly saddle.
May-Midge Cripple Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021 in Fly Tying Videos
We tied the May-Midge as something of an experiment prior to the 2019, intending it to combine attributes of midge patterns like the Griffith’s Gnat while maintaining the overall silhouette of tiny, sparse mayflies. Our goal with this fly was to come up with something that would fool the spooky, lazily-rising fish we often see in the morning in flat water in late summer and early fall. These fish seldom eat any one thing in particular, but are feeding on a mixture of midges and the duns of three or four species of mayflies, as well as the occasional odd ant, mayfly spinner, and other “schmutz.” The May-Midge proved extremely effective in this role this season, particularly in the Lamar Drainage, where it turned out several very large fish on lower Slough Creek that were turned off by larger and/or more heavily-dressed flies.
Note: This fly is intended for use in slow water, particularly big eddy lines or places with many complicated micro-currents. It should not be used in choppy water, as it won’t float well in chop.
Recipe
Hook: #16-22 1x short, 1x fine emerger hook.
Thread #1 and Abdomen: Claret Veevus Body Quill (I called it wine in the video).
Tail/Shuck: Gray Sparkle Emerger Yarn or similar.
Thread #2: 8/0 or 10/0 wine.
Wing: White Widow’s Web or similar synthetic yarn.
Hackle: Grizzly saddle, tied sparse.
Thorax: UV Brown Ice Dub.
Other Colors: Light olive, black, copper, gray (use alternate abdomen material on gray, as there is no gray Body Quill). Change threads and dubbing to match desired fly color. Tail, wing, and hackle do not change.
Fuzz Bastard Prince Nymph Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021 in Fly Tying Videos
I developed this nymph on and mostly for the Gibbon, but it’s a good choice anytime you’re looking for a changeup from a conventional Prince. Fish it either under a big bushy dry or in a bobber or Euro-nymphing rig.
Note that it was originally called a Hula Princess and this is the name given in the video. The pattern also works well tied in traditional Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, olive, tan, and other colors.
Hook: Any standard-length jig nymph hook, #12-18. Here, #16.
Bead: Gold slotted tungsten to match hook. Here 3/32″.
Thread: 8/0 black.
Shuck: Short tuft of crinkled ginger synthetic yarn.
Rib: Small to medium gold Ultra Wire, here Brassie.
Abdomen: 2-4 strands of peacock herl, depending on hook size and herl quality. Here 3 strands are used.
Wing: Tuft of cream or white crinkled synthetic yarn, clipped Serendipity-style.
“Hackle:” Brown dubbing blend of your choice, tied loop-style and if necessary trimmed to length. Here brown acrylic and pheasant tail Ice Dub are used, but squirrel, hare’s ear, or other nymph dubbings would also work.
Caddis Cripple Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021 in Fly Tying Videos
Caddis Cripple
New tying vid: Caddis Cripple
While this color is intended for use on the Firehole River, where it matches the crucial June and September White Miller or Nectopsyche caddis, a few color tweaks makes this pattern match any caddis you wish, and it also makes a good low-riding attractor dry for summer. Tie them in olive-brown for the upcoming Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch, imminent on the Yellowstone & Madison!
Recipe
Hook: Short shank dry, #12-20 (especially #14-16). Here, #16.
Thread: 8/0 to match or contrast overall color tones of the fly. Here, cream.
Body: Dubbing of your choice. Here, golden Arizona Synthetic Peacock. Keep the body sparse and rather scraggly.
Wing and Head: Widow’s Web or similar hydrophobic synthetic. Here, beige. Typical “realistic” colors are caddis tan and light tan. Typical “attractor” colors are white, polar bear, and beige.
Hackle: 4-5 turns of saddle hackle, trimmed under the hook. Here, barred light ginger.
Delektable Spanker Nymph Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021 in Fly Tying Videos
Delektable Spanker Nymph: Introduction
Dan Delekta’s Lil Spanker and Big Spanker are red hot “guide flies” in southwest Montana. In essence, the Delektable Spanker Nymph series consists of Pheasant Tail and Lightning Bug variations tied with long flash legs and CDC collars. This particular color variant tied jig-style was my top-producing nymph on guided trips on the Yellowstone and Stillwater Rivers from the middle of August through about September 20 during the 2020 season. To learn more about Dan Delekta’s flies, visit this page and peruse his catalog.
I am now accepting bookings for the 2021 season. In fact I am already about 1/3 booked during the month of July, so if you’re looking to book a guided trip, it makes sense to get on the phone soon.
Video
Delektable Spanker Nymph: Recipe
Hook: 60-degree barbless standard jig, #12-18.
Bead: Slotted tungsten, here gold.
Thread: 8/0 To match or slightly contrast with body, here 8/0 light brown.
Tail: Speckled game bird or hackle, here medium pardo cod-de-leon.
Abdomen: Pheasant Tail fibers, Flashabou, or tinsel. Here holographic gold Flashabou.
Rib: Copper wire, here brown in Brassies size.
Wing Case: Tinsel, here medium opal Mirage.
Thorax: Peacock herl or flashy dubbing, here brown stone SLF dub.
Legs: Krystal Flash or Midge Krystal Flash, here tan Midge Krystal Flash.
Collar: CDC, here brown.
Pink AMEX Czech Nymph Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021 in Fly Tying Videos
The pink AMEX Czech is one of the most popular nymph patterns in winter and early spring on the Missouri River, and a good bet on any tailwater stream. It suggests both eggs and dead/dying scuds, and as such is a good “junk bug” attractor pattern on tailwaters.
While normally tied on a scud hook, I prefer to tie larger versions (#12-14) on jig hooks with tungsten beads, to cut down on hangups. Pair these with some smaller fly, such as a Pink Lightning Bug.
In addition to the AMEX Czech, it’s also worth checking out the “Rainbow Czech,” which is generally similar except with the dubbing colors reversed and a full scud-style shellback. Both patterns bear some similarity to the Pink Squirrel nymph popular in the Driftless region of the upper Midwest.
Hook: Lightning Strike Jig, #12-18, or #10-16 Umpqua C450BL (note: the Lightning Strikes tend to run a touch big).
Bead: Nickel slotted tungsten, 5/32″ to 3/32″
Thread: 6/0 or 8/0 fl. fire orange.
Rib: Black Hareline Midge or Micro tubing. Here a sub for the midge tubing called Crystal String is used.
Abdomen: Bighorn pink Wapsi sow-scud dubbing, or comparable dubbing blend.
Wing Case: Large or medium opal tinsel depending on fly size.
Thorax: Rainbow Wapsi sow-scud dubbing.