Brian Chan was the creator of this pattern. Created for adult chironomids on B.C. lakes, I have enjoyed consistent success with this pattern (size 14) on B.C. lakes, as well as Central Oregon lakes. I tie it as depicted and have never changed the components of the pattern. I think I am going to work toward a size reduction for this pattern. I am going to spend this season reducing down the fly’s size and perfecting a cleanly tied fly.
http://www.westcoastflyfishers.com/fly_patterns/lady_mcconnell/lady_mcconnell.html
By Robin Pike
‘”he Lady McConnell was originated by Brian Chan, well known fly fishing author and Fisheries Biologist of the Kamloops region. The fly has experienced an ever growing following since it’s inception in the early 80’s. The Lady McConnell was originally designed to represent an emerging adult chironomid. When used as an emerger pattern, the grizzly hackle in the tail is meant to represent the trailing shuck of the emerging adult buzzer.”
Fishing this Pattern
“When fishing in conditions where trout riseforms indicate surface feeding, casting a Lady McConnell ahead of the vicinity of where trout might be headed is often a very productive method of using the fly. If one finds trout feeding on emergers, often letting the fly sit in the surface film is all that it takes to induce a strike. Sometimes, however, fish key in on adult chironomids returning to the water to lay their eggs. During this scenario, casting the Lady McConnell and giving it 1-2 small strips effectively imitates the egg laying process of the adult chironomid.”
“Other times letting the fly sit on the surface and sporadically twitching it will also draw attention and entice a strike. Because the Lady McConnell can be tied in virtually any colour, it can be used as a dry fly that imitates much more than just chironomids. In particular, I have had great success with larger sizes of the Lady McConnell during mayfly hatches. Overall, I find the pattern particularly useful one- two hours before dusk when trout tend to become active in the summer and feed in the calmer, surface waters of the impeding night.”
This excerpt is identical to my experiences with this fly…a very efficient pattern. Even as the deer hair becomes tattered from trout teeth, it stays productive.
