With ice creeping onto many river banks, it’s a great time to reload the fly boxes. In particular, I’m already thinking about what flies to make for a Montana trip that fellow blogger Joel Watson and I will be making this July. We’ll be based in the Livingston area and taking our chances at the spring creeks for the most part.
With some luck, we’ll catch the PMDs. Last August, I caught the very tail end of that hatch, and the fish were super-selective by that point.
I have started a list of flies to bring, including nymphs, emergers, duns, cripples, and spinners. Many of the patterns will incorporate CDC feathers. Those fibers really add “life” to a fly and trap tiny air bubbles.
Long ago, I fell in love with CDC: the flies that used them tended to work really well, whether they were nymphs or dries. A recent Orvis podcast that featured Tim Flagler goes into a lot of detail on CDC, and it’s worth a listen.
Any suggestions for PMD patterns? For dries and emergers, I’m thinking: Quigley’s Cripple, the Mole Fly, the F Fly, and CDC loop-wing emergers. For dropper-nymphs, I’m thinking of Sawyer’s Pheasant Tail and some parasol-style ones.
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I suggest either a PMD Parachute or similar colored RS2.
Thanks, Darrell! Size 14, 16, and 18?
A size 16 is pretty common for the Ephemerella dorothea infrequens, a.k.a., the Pale Morning Dun. For an RS2 I might go one size smaller.
Many thanks!
Like you lll be in Montana early august after fishing the wind snake and green in wy. I’ve got comparaduns, emergers cripples tied. Also split back nymphs but I think the sawyers will be just as good. Maybe see you there but not likely going to Livingston. Surf blue ribbon flies and Flyfish food for nice recipes. I don’t think I can post shots if my patterns
Jack, thank you!
I have fished the spring creeks Armstrong, De Puy and Nelson three times in my life. Besides the PMD/ Sulfur and Baetis I always have done well with micro midges. Size 30 wicked pissah cdc dun, wicked pissah cdc floating nymph tied on a Gamagatshu C12BM hook and a fly I call a stick midge size 22-24 which is like a fly called a smoke jumper , a pattern from the Big Horn river.
What underbody thread would you use?
That pattern of yours works everywhere!
Black
Quick tip–you can use Loon Outdoors grease on CDC. Works great.
Thanks!