Caddis Chronicles

Here's a link to a recent Fly Fisherman Magazine article by Mike Mercer on the Missing Link caddis as a follow up to my last post; thanks to an unknown reader.

LINK: Fly Fisherman Magazine / Fly-tying / Mercer's Missing Link 

I'm off to Montana, see you on the return.  Look for reports on my Instagram account - @mattgrobert

And sharpen your hooks!

Here's a simple but very effective trout pattern I have been fishing for many years to imitate the larger mayflies that emerge in late May through July.  It's comprised of three materials, and by changing them up in different colors and sizes, you can imitate a number of mayflies with ease.  The pattern floats well and is effective on both fast and slow waters, which is a plus, too.  Thanks again to Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions for another excellent job in producing the video.

I have written about this pattern in previous posts, and given the effectiveness of this pattern throughout the year, we thought it was time to show how we tie it in another fine video produced by Tim and Joan Flagler of Tightline Productions.  I used this fly just a little over a week ago to catch a few nice wild browns during a decent BWO and midge hatch on a PA spring creek.     

I tie this fly in sizes 18-24, and fish it over hatches of small mayflies and during midge emergences. When fished, the body of the fly drifts just under the surface – the thin line – while the wing rests on top of the surface. Surface tension is a wonderful thing. Also note in the photo below of a well-chewed fly, the snowshoe rabbit foot hair appears glassy, translucent and almost as though it is liquid filled (click on the photo ). Which leads to my final thought on the matter – when choosing snowshoe rabbit feet for your flies, be sure to use the ones that have shiny, glass-like hairs on the pad, and reject the ones that have chalky, dull hair, it definitely makes a difference.

 

 

Sharpen your hooks.