Troutnut Forum > Specimen Discussion > Season Start

The Specimen

The Discussion

Flybyknight	December 22nd, 2007, 1:13 pm
Milton, DE Posts: 64	Strophopteryx fasciata is the second fly on my hatch chart; the first being Taeniopteryx navalis. Dreadful sounding names to be sure, conjuring up images of prehistoric monsters, but first seeing these benign little creatures bring me much happiness for the dawn of the fly fishing season has begun. Schweibert discusses S. fascita on p. 64 in "Nymphs" Often I see them in early March on snow banks and wonder how they can adapt to that. I fish my nymph ties on the bottom of fast riffles just before deep quiet pools, and have more success that way than with drys until about early May. At that time I sometimes have success fishing drys at the mouths of small feeder streams leading into the river. Dick
	Lightly on the dimpling eddy fling; the hypocritic fly's unruffled wing. Thomas Scott
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Martinlf	December 22nd, 2007, 9:39 pm
Palmyra PA Posts: 903	Dick, so you have a favorite pattern to share for the nymph?
	Louis Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold! --Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
Flybyknight	December 22nd, 2007, 11:03 pm
Milton, DE Posts: 64	Hi Louis, Yes I have a favorite pattern I would like to share. It is a favorite of mine because I feel confident fishing it in my home waters of the East Branch. First I do not weight my nymphs, preferring to tie on to the tippet with a loop knot, then adding very small split shot as needed to get the little bugger on the bottom. My tie for S. fasciata is a slight modification of the "Catskill Curler", which can be found on p. 63 of Stewart's "Flies for Trout" Hook: Mustad 9672 size 16 (3X streamer) Tail: 2 peccary hairs. Abdomen: Long barbs of darkest brown turkey tail twisted with black thread. Thorax: Peacock herl twisted with black thread. Wingcase: Dark brown turkey tail section coated with vinyl cement, (because vinyl is not as glossy as other cements). Legs: phesant tail tied on the sides. I do try and tie a prominent head. BTW, I always tie a black fly larva as a dropper on all my offerings, in this case a #20. Standard Disclaimer: Yes I have been fly fishing for over 60 years, but I am not a good fisherman, and I do not claim the above tie to be any better than anyone else's, especially guys on this board, but thanks for asking. Dick
	Lightly on the dimpling eddy fling; the hypocritic fly's unruffled wing. Thomas Scott
Martinlf	December 23rd, 2007, 2:48 pm
Palmyra PA Posts: 903	Thanks, Dick. It looks like a great tie. Uh oh, now you have me wondering about the black fly larva. Would you share your pattern for this one? In return I'll point you to the thread that has my favorite ties on it--or better still I'll try to resurrect the thread. Perhaps you'll find something of interest.
	Louis Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold! --Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
Flybyknight	December 23rd, 2007, 7:07 pm
Milton, DE Posts: 64	Hello Louis, Let me refine my previous post; I always tie on a midge pattern as a dropper, but the Black fly larva and Griffith's gnat predominate, because I believe the East Branch to be "Midge City" My tie for the Black Fly Larva is borrowed right out of "Midge Magic" by Holbrook & Kock EARLY SEASON Hook 18 M3906B (1 XL nymph) Hook 20 M 94840 Thread Black Abdomen C&C 54 yarn (Coats & Clark thread) Rib C&C 47 " " " " MID & LATE SEASON Hook 24 M94840 Thread Cream (I think that cream is a closer match where I fish) Abdomen DMC 762 yarn (Lane Colbert Co.) Rib White (Lion Brand White Multi 301; because it has tinsel) Well I hope that I have not mis-led you. EB is tough. Dick
	Lightly on the dimpling eddy fling; the hypocritic fly's unruffled wing. Thomas Scott
Martinlf	December 24th, 2007, 9:33 pm
Palmyra PA Posts: 903	No, Dick, you have not misled me; I've fished the East Branch and know what devils those fish can be. Thanks for the tips.
	Louis Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold! --Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler

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