Thanks to Dan Trela, I was able to find some size 30 “big eye” Gamakatsu hooks. These hooks have been sold out nationally, and Dan was kind enough to sell some to me. The larger eyes make it easier to tie on tippet. As we head into colder weather, the most reliable insect hatch will
Category: Flies and fly tying
Birthday Trout
It’s my birthday week, and I took an official vacation day to fish. I resolved to fish dries until I found success. So, I headed to the Swift with my 000-wt. fly rod, long leader, and small flies. I was incredibly happy to land five trout in the morning on dry flies. I’ve been working
A Killer Pheasant Tail Fly Pattern
If fishing sub-surface, it’s tough to beat the good ol’ Pheasant Tail nymph. That’s because it mimics many bugs. You sometimes have to go super-small, but it’s a go-to pattern. Color contrast, moreover, is a strike trigger for trout. I usually put a “hot spot”‘ of ice dub or fluorescent thread on my nymphs, with
The Two Walts
I’m always on the hunt for effective flies that also are easy to tie. I tied up some Walt’s Worms and Sexy Walt’s and have found that they work well. During a recent 80-trout long weekend, the Sexy Walt was particularly effective. I think the pattern looks buggy, has some ribbing, and offers a thread