Look What I Found!! (h/t: Bob @ Rosboro)
Planet Trout really analyzes the necessary components of a fly pattern to best match nature. Impressionistic is fine, but the pattern has to have certain indicators that match the real insects.
PT has reminded me before about the dark wingcase on Baetis patterns…an obvious reality marker for the trout. Check out his Split/Wingcase Baetis.
Always excellent insights and valuable suggestions!
I have been researching an area of fly fishing/tying that I admittedly don’t utilize enough…streamers on rivers (a staple in many areas of the country). I do fish them for Browns on Oregon stillwaters. But, otherwise they are rarely considered. So, I recently remarked upon seeing Sculpins darting about in a river. More research suggested Sculpins might be a reasonable Winter pattern to swing and dart along the bottom to entice those sulky Rainbows.
While researching Sculpin patterns I came across a style of hook that, when weighted, allows for a Hook Eye Up (HPU) presentation. Heavy lead eyes tied on the top of the hook shank are known to cause the hook to flip over and ride hook point up. But, the piece here uses a different hook..an off set worm hook.
The HPU presentation provides many options in tying (freshwater/saltwater). Fox Statler of Willow Ford, Ark. offers up pattern suggestions and kits for preparing HPU Streamers/Shiners.
