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
Category: Flies and fly tying
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
Fish Small Pheasant Tails
Orvis publishes a very helpful hatch chart here. In particular, there is a suggested pattern for each bug’s life stage. I’m struck by how often the old reliable, the Pheasant Tail, comes up as a pattern. I don’t know who invented this pattern centuries ago, but that person deserves a medal. My suggestion is to