To see the collection of previous articles go to the Fly of the Month Archives
Fly of the Month 2012
May 2012
| Black & White Minnow by Ron Ruskai | |
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Thread - - 6/0 Black |
April 2012
| Hendrickson Nymph by Bart Lombardo | |
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It is Hendrickson time here in New Jersey. The hatch is a few weeks early due to the mild winter we have experienced here in the north east. We are all hoping that the bugs stay around long enough for the season opener. If you want to fish this hatch you can still get out on our trout conservation waters which are open year round, though they are likely to be crowded. There have been no real prolific hatches report yet but there have been some sightings which mean the bugs are on the move. Although I fish a number of emerger and dun patterns, I only fish on nymph pattern for this hatch. I first found this fly in the book Flies for Trout by Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen. I have been fishing the fly since the early nineties when the book first came out and I have never needed another pattern. The grey band of dubbing in the center of the fly is essential to the pattern as the naturals often have a lighter coloration mid-abdomen. I prefer the fly as shown (minus the crazy long guard hard that need to be plucked out!), though you can also add a bead if that's the way you roll. These nymphs are active swimmers when emerging so subtle twitches and lift techniques are often productive when fishing this pattern. |
Hook: 2x long nymph hook size 12 or 14 |
March 2012
| CDC Little Black Stone by Lou DiGena | |
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Thread - 8/0 UNI Black This month’s fly of the month is a reprint of a fly of the month from several year’s back. No, we have not run out of submissions, I just thought I would share a pattern that has done very well for me this winter. I was introduced to this pattern many years ago by Lou Digena and it has become my go to fly for fishing the Little Black Stone Fly hatches of February and March. |
February 2012
Chimarra Caddis Larva
Submitted by Bart Lombardo
This bright orange/yellow caddis larva can be an important food source on some waters in our area during the late winter and early spring months. As far as caddis larva go it is one of the smallest I will bother to imitate. I tie them on a 3x short hook in sizes 16 & 18, but I know folks tie them smaller (typically 18-20). The short shank hook allows me to maintain a good hook gap but still keep the body appropriately sized.
I was able to get out this week and enjoy some of the unseasonable warm weather. This pattern and small patterns with bright orange hot spots produced well. Indicating that the fish may be seeing some of these larva already.
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Recipe:
Hook: 3x short larva hook |
Tying Instructions:
Cover the hook shank with orange thread wrapping down the bend of the hook, building up a thicker area over the barb of the hook.
Tie in a piece of yellow floss at the bend of the hook and advance the thread to the eye, whip finish and cut off.
Attach brown thread at the hook eye
Dot the back of the fly with a black marker a few times
Advance the floss towards the eye in open spirals allowing the orange underbody to show through and tie off at the hook eye.
Dub a small about of squirrel fur on thread and create the flies legs by making several wraps, pulling the fibers down after each wrap
Create a neat thread head, whip finish and cut off thread.
Apply a small drop of clear cure goo to the top of the thorax and cure with a UV light to keep the fibers pointing downward
Once this pattern gets wet the colors will change closely resembling that of the natural insect.
January 2012
CE Crayfish
Submitted by Lou DiGena
This is my CE Crayfish (Close Enough) . The Crayfish below was about a size 8. When I design my flies I like to follow the K.I.S.S. rule (Keep It Simple Stupid).
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Recipe:
Hook: Mustad 79580 or any Streamer Hook #2 - #12 |
1. Mash down barb and and create two thread humps for the dumb bell eyes. |
2. Secure your eyes with figure of eight and add your lead to hook shank. |
3. Wrap your lead forward and secure with thread. |
4. Tie in your green wire. |
5. Tie in a dubbing ball at the bend. |
6. Tie in a marabou tip to the far side of the hook. |
7. Tie in a marabou tip to the near side of the hook. |
8. Trim off the waist. |
9. Dub in your body. |
10. Advance the wire with open turns. |
11. Whip finish and your done. |
