Fly Fishing: Tippet (X Size to Pound Size)

A fly fishing technical posting about terminology in leader/tippet sizes. I’m always willing to share most, some…a few of my foibles. Either I am anal retentive or suffering from some degree of ADD or a combination. I have never cared enough to memorize the chart that tells one what approximate pound test matches what X number for leader constuction. Maybe it started when I read the disclaimer that different manufacturers had different diameters hence the charts were approximations. Well, hell, why bother. Well, you have to bother because the industry seems to care about the traditional X numbers for some reason (I was one of the slow ones sitting in the back of the classroom). So, because apparently I need to know more than 8x is cobweb and x1 is for steelhead, I am including a few charts for a Spring refresher. I spend a lot of time in the 4-6# range…no, the 5x-3x range.

The Mirage: diaphanous CDC

“I noticed a…feather resting on the surface…going down with the current. A slight breeze was making it do small movements in the foam and the feather slid lightly on the water so as to make it look like a living thing.” Agostino Roncallo

I recently came upon a simple, enticing concept for a fly pattern at Tom Sutcliffe’s The Spirit of Fly Fishing called The Mirage by Agostino Roncallo. A single, delicate, buoyant CDC feather, the tying thread and the hook comprise the dry fly.

Delicate and may sustain some damage after a fish or two, but given the simplicity of the tie and the reputed effectiveness, who cares. Tie a row or two and dance along the surface. A delicate fly for selective and non-selective fish: trout/grayling

Agostino Roncallo first started tying this simple fly in the 90’s and later wrote about the magic properties of CDC: Cul de Canard

Fly Tying: Jindra Lacko

Sharing this fine blog, Grayling on the Fly, by Jindra Lacko. The flies are small, low riding and visually enticing. Lacko, of the Czech Republic, has many fishy patterns here. The CDC wings, quill bodies and chironomid patterns all look like they should be in our fly boxes.

Specks of Grey Dust by Jindra Lacko

Fly Tying: Pheasant Tail Antennas/Wings

Diving, sinking or tumbling, I am not sure a fish will ever extract the niceties of the barbules of a pheasant tail feather barb. Many synthetics, today, grab the movement or flash that suggest movement/life for an offered replica. But, for a natural material that has just the right color, edginess and durability, Pheasant Tail barbs are a wonder material.

Pheasant Tail Antenna/Wing on BH Caddis Pupa (SwittersB)

Fly Fishing: Drops Indicators & Nymphing

I came across these ‘drops’ indicators at Jan Siman’s site. I haven’t tried the ‘sighter’ setup (although I did freeze some up) and I just saw these ‘drops’ indicator rigs. I would be curious if anyone has tried the drops set up yet and their review of the product.

Siman Ltd Drops Indicators 7 drops/8" & 15 drops/16" (SwittersB)

Fly Tying: Wet’s (Hackle by Tip, by Butt)

This is a good example of tying the Wet Fly or Spider Patterns. With these simple, effective patterns you will see the hackle can be tied in by the tip (McPhail) or by the butt (Christie).

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Fly Tying: Wet’s (Hackle by Tip, by Butt) , posted with vodpod

 

Fly Fishing: Michigan Grayling…Do They Exist Today?

“What caused extinction of the grayling is still something of a mystery. Destruction of the forest may have changed the nature of their streams too greatly. Log drives coincided with the spawning season and did much damage. Introduction of brook trout may have hastened the end though in England the two species live in the same waters. Overfishing had its influence. Because grayling took the hook readily, to the last fish in a pool, the species is considered unsuited to present day fishing pressure.

A few Montana grayling, a closely related fish if not the same species as some believe, are still planted in Michigan waters by the fish division of the Michigan department of conservation for experimental and sentimental reasons. Planting of about 20,000 were made in 1934, 1935 and 1937. There are now 60,000 fingerlings at Wolf Lake hatchery, hatched from eggs furnished by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, which will be planted in the spring of 1940.”    Michigan Grayling Part II @ Fishing for History. Reed Draper re Michigan Grayling

Fliegenbinden an Emerger Pattern

Emerger @ Fliegenfischer Forum

Dieses Muster hat sich als besonders fängig erwiesen, wenn die Äschen kleine Eintagsfliegen von der Oberfläche schlürfen. Wenn zu stark behechelte Muster nicht genommen werden und nur im Oberflächenfilm hängende Nahrung bevorzugt wird, ist dieser Emerger mit seinem schön segmentierten, schlanken Körper meine erste Wahl und hat mir schon so manche schöne Äsche beschert.

Bindeanleitung: 1. Widerhaken andrücken 2. Haken einspannen 3. Grundwicklung mit schwarzem Bindefaden 6/0 anbringen 4. Gelbes Polyyarn als Paraflügel einbinden 5. einige CDC-Fibern Natur als Schwänzchen einbinden 6. den blanken Kiel einer Grizzly-Feder mit der Spitze am Hakenbogen einbinden, Bindefaden bis zum Paraflügel vorwinden. Zur besseren Haltbarkeit des Körpers kann man die Grundwicklung mit Klarlack überziehen und warten, bis der Lack angetrocknet ist, ehe man den Körper bildet.

7. Kiel in eng aneinanderliegenden Windungen bis zum Paraflügel winden, mit dem Bindefaden abfangen
8. Grizzlyfeder für die Parahechel hinter dem Paraflügel einbinden
9. Bindefaden mit CDC-Fibern dubben und lockeren Thorax binden
10. Grizzlyhechel mit der Klemme fassen und mit 3-4 Windungen (immer eine Windung unter die andere legen) Parahechel bilden und mit Bindefaden beim Öhr abfangen, Rest abschneiden.
11. Kopfknoten bilden – fertig.

‘This pattern has proven to be particularly catchability when the grayling sip small mayflies from the surface.’

Instructions basically translated: barb the hook, use 6/0 thread. Tie in CDC fibers for tail. Tie in yellow poly yarn for the parachute post. Construct a quill body from a grizzly feather and coat the segmented quill body with lacquer. Use a grizzly feather to wrap around the poly parachute body. And, dub CDC around the hook to form a thorax. Use the light wire pupa hook to give a curved shaped fly that will sit angled down into the film to typify the emerging mayfly.

Fly Fishing: Nymphing Strike Indicators (Sighters)

Not sure if any vendors in U.S. selling these indicators/sighters. Interesting concept for nymphing on a fairly short line and not over weighted nymphs. Just providing the visuals.

Allegedly more sensitive than traditional floating strike indicators, these sighters-indicators are just in the water or just out and within range to detect subtle takes. The nymph(s) cannot be too heavy. Notice above that one sighter has o rings and one has just the loops.

Fly Tying: Thread Body & Wire Rib (Segmentation)

Yesterday, I presented a fly pattern with an abdomen created from a piece of twisted, synthetic fibers (Zelon or Antron). The twisting of the fibers and careful wrapping up the shank creates an impression of segmentation. In the below photo, I am showing what I often use, which is a tying thread body with an overlay of wrapped wire ribbing, which also shows segmentation.

What is missing are the fibers that suggest life from dubbing, yarns, ostrich, peacock, pheasant tail etc. Considering that many of these pupa/emerger patterns are tumbling through riffles, it is debatable if it is required. Tie the stiffer patterns like this one and add animation in the thorax. In other patterns add life in the abdomen with materials to suggest gills (like the Fuzzle pattern yesterday). This pattern simply shows the ease of a thread body. The thorax is a little beefy and the thread abdomen could have been tapered larger as it neared the thorax. Still, looks ok. Beard is starling feather barbs and collar is black ostrich.  Hook: Size 14. Dubbing: Ice Dub (Peacock)

Thread body and wire ribbing (SB)