I carry with me many emerger patterns. I think those flies look like sitting ducks to trout. They mimic vulnerable bugs that attempt to rise to the water’s surface. They’re high-percentage snacks. Most of the takes I’ve had this summer have been on emergers: flies with shucks, materials suggesting air bubbles on their backs, and/or
Category: Flies and fly tying
New Fly: The Pink Lady
It could be by imagination, but I’ve noticed trout at times notice a particular color: hot pink. It’s a color I use for SJWs, the JT Special streamer, and my favorite egg pattern. Since the Swift is so shallow and clear, it’s very easy to see how trout react to various flies. I’ve noticed that when
Tying Small Soft Hackles for the Swift River
(Soft-Hackled Frenchies) For me, small soft-hackled flies have been key at the Swift River. On my last outing there, I had good luck with a #22 soft hackle. When I fished the Swift last winter, it continued to fish well until January. A great tandem rig was a soft-hackled fly paired with the WD-40, and
Small Flies for the Swift River
With the Upper Swift now fully stocked, I tonight tied some midge mergers in sizes #28 to #32. I love the WD-40 fly and think it’s a killer fly for the Swift. After a lot of frustration, I feel I’m now starting to get a hang for making them. I use tweezers to