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[IR4Jflyfishing]

Hey guys, although it seems like winter has truly just got into swing here in southern Ontario I'd like to promote some trout conversation to keep us all from getting cabin fever.

I am currently tying flies for our CRA compilation entitled "The Small Things", I was a very on and off fly tier for the past 10 or so years. Whether I was unable to find time or that I just tied way too much back when I first started and it became boring. Regardless what are your go to trout flies I'll give me list down below, feel free to follow the format I use or just name a few!

Dry fly- Adams female, I use this fly in larger sizes as a prospecting fly and in smaller sizes matches well to mayfly or midge representations. I used to tie down to like a size 18 to even match a mosquito hatch but I have since stopped.

Terrestrial- This was probably my most deliberated fly but I have decided on a stimulator (yeah yeah Im calling it a terrestrial), I tie these flies in sizes from 10-4 in the many different colour and pattern variants. (favourites being olive and royal)

Wet fly- Has to be an Partridge Orange, a very easy fly that can be turned out very quick but has a way of turning on low water trout on the swing.

Streamer- I am a streamer fisherman, 75% of the time I am throwing a streamer on the trout rivers. I have been known to get weird with the sex dungeon or go tradtional with a grey ghost but if I only had one streamer to tie in various sizes or colours I'm going wooly bugger. Wait no, thats a bit of a cop out recently its been zonkers/belly dancers in various colors.

Nymph- Bead head copper john, no doubt. More nymph fish of mine have been caught on this fly then anything else in my box. Pro tip, dont be afraid to tie this fly in outlandish colors especially to throw on those very bright days (think pink h34r: red fed :twisted

Scud/Czech- One of the better czech nymphs/scuds Ive fished is a fly called the green pea, in my mid it is a very general looking pattern but it fishes well and catches fish. Look it up if you want a good dredger, get out the tungsten and keep a tightline.

Mouse- Disco mouse, this one doesnt come out often but when it does it produces.

Let me know what you guys have got, I'll post some updates of how my boxes are starting to look as the winter progresses if thats something you guys are into.

tight lines and tight vises.

Matt

 

[JDean]

OK Matt, I will take the plunge. Below is my list.

Dry - I have three on my list when it comes to dries. I do like a Parachute Adams and tend to use that and an Elk Hair Caddis for flotation and visibility. But I think my all time favorite is an old school Royal Coachman.

Terrestrial - A little bit off the wall here but seeing as a terrestrial, by name, is a land based meal I have to say the San Juan Worm tops my list

Wet - No real favorite here but I do tend to throw dark patterns like a Black Nat

Streamer - Going to go with a Bow River Bugger on this one

Nymph - I spend the majority of my time on the stream with a nymph on the end of my line. Seeing as 90% of a trouts diet is sub-surface this makes sense to me. I have two patterns that I usually start with, the Pheasant Tail and the Copper John. Both of these in bead head designs

Czech - I tend to use my standard nymphs with more weight in the head and a little more flash on the back.

See you in April

JD

 

[Christopheraaron]

Dry- Royal Wulff as bushy as possible for fast water, super sparse quill body adams for flat water.

Wet- any or the partridge series (tie them tenkara style as well).

Terrestrial- either a chubby chernobyl or an inchworm pattern,

Nymphs, I refuse to fish them!

Streamers- sex dungeons, zoo cougars, hog snares.

 

[JDean]

Hey Christopher, why do you refuse to fish nymphs, just curious

 

[Christopheraaron]

It's just boring as hell, I hold nothing against guys who do, just not my cup of tea.

 

[emirribolov]

I love nymphs . Dead drift them then you let them swing. It is almost like spey fishing for smaller trout. Love that tug. But again dry flies are fun too love when fish slurps that fly.

 

[wlatyn]

D ^^x2...I also prefer to "swing" nymphs on a tight line...Bead Head Prince nymph being my go-to when prospecting new waters
Hard to beat the Adams as an all-round dry fly
I never hit the stream without some CDC Usuals in the box...so versatile; can fish them dry, pop them under emerger-style, drown them and fish them wet...plus, super-simple to tie in a variety of colours that can mimic so many different insects

 

[Shmogley]

well now.. enjoying this thread quite a bit!

here's my take..

Dry - My favourite type of fly fishing when it comes to fun factor. I choose tan caddis for my go to. I have never been on a piece of water where the fish wont hit it. doesn't matter whats around or hatching something about the caddis just always works for me. keep in mind though i use a smaller then average size. i don't tie and not sure of exact hook size but smaller then the average.

Terrestrial - up until recently this has always been a hopper for me but I'm finding new interest in beetles. Don't see many guys tossing them but at my local small stream and a couple of other gems if you get a nice small jungle beetle or junebug imitation going when they are in the air its just been deadly, especially for smallmouth. this is probably the hardest section to decide on a go to as my feelings on this always change

Wet - this is an area I don't have much knowledge in. Have only used a march brown and something that looked like a muddler with some gold in it. Can't really pick a favourite here as its not a method I tend to choose, but I caught a few on the march brown so ill stick with that.

Streamer - Ah streamers. My bread and butter. My "Old Reliable" on any given day. Without a doubt the most fish caught for me has been on streamers and there's so many to choose from. But going by volume of fish caught I have to settle on a weighted body brown woolly bugger. I used to use beadhead version but since switching to ones with the weight inside the body its been noticeably better. I assume it's because it looks more natural without the bead head. I always have a few ready to go in my box no matter what/where I'm fishing. and likely this is the first fly i will use if i don't see surface activity.

Nymph - I don't personally enjoy it as much. its because I don't feel like I'm really "fly-fishing" as much when using it. its not so much nymphing as it is just dead drifting in general. I always ask myself why I'm doing this kind of fishing with a fly rod when using a centerpin is all around better. That being said, some of those dog days when nothing is working out I will switch to my trusted pheasant tail with a small bead head. and usually be onto something where nothing was working. so that's my choice here.

All time Favourite - this is just a next section im adding here because its awesome. I don't get to use it as much but undoubtedly when I do, its the most fun I have every year. I'm talking about when the hexa (giant mayfly) start to do their dance. the spinner fall when they are out is amazing here. Whether its big bass/carp or huge browns/bows on colder streams, if you can get out in a hexagenia spinner fall or hatch, you will have some of the most explosive Top-water action you could ask for aside from maybe using poppers for larger more aggressive species.
Hexa flies(emerger and spent) have been wonderful for me, and I am always looking forward to late summer when they return.

Also got a few new ideas from reading what you guys use so cheers for that!

good post.

 

[Shmogley]

D ^^x2...I also prefer to "swing" nymphs on a tight line...Bead Head Prince nymph being my go-to when prospecting new waters

Swinphing?

haha it works though. especially on low and clear days. swinging a stonefly for steel or smaller nymphs for residents is a great tool, and not many use it. Guess its sort of a strange idea to some to swing a nymph.

 

[JDean]

^ this is the basic reasoning behind wet flies. Swimming a nymph would resemble an emerger which is what the sub surface wet imitates. So no doubt it works and is another tool to add to the arsenal

We gotta get out this year for residents Schmogley. You with your dries and me with my nymphs we will have it all covered

 

[Shmogley]

hell yea buddy, cant wait till opener!