Grey Fox
Just received a (true) report from Bill, after a week(7/1-7/6) on the
Miramachi. Fishing Atlantics over 50 years, all over the world, this was
one of his best trips. 11 landed, 2 in the 25 lbs class. The big guy, fresh
and bright, just shy of 42".
Cruising the cutting edge of tackle, Bill had me order him a spey rod 4
years ago. All the lines and heads set up, he religously ran Falkus Spey
Casting video, marvels at the grace and beauty of spey casting. Bill hit
the trout river with his 14' Sage and was sort of getting the rhythm, but
would never break out the 4 piecer when the chips were on the line. Last
year I actually thought he'd sell it since he wasn't using it.
On other fishing trips when questioned on spey casting, Bill said he wasn't
confident and even tried to attend a spey school but it didn't fit his timing.
Arriving on the Miramchi last week, assembling his favorite 7 wt, he was
heartbroken, finding a very small crack in the female ferrule on the tip.
Oh man, I don't want to use the 9 wt.
Necessity is the mother of alot of things, including casting and using a
spey rod. "Not only could I reach the fish easily, the drifts were
really what I was impressed with. So were the salmon. Hook ups were easy,
but playing and landing the first one was different. Not difficult, but
different. Initially holding the rod and reeling felt out of place, for
about 30 seconds. After that it was kid's stuff. The big fish, I knew from
the first jump, was big. I had it in total control."
"Fishing with 2 others, they wouldn't talk to me after the first few
days. With their one handed rods, they just couldn't present the flies the
way the salmon wanted them, ending up with only afew fish each."
5 days of 8-10 hours per of casting and there was none of the hand and arm
fatigue normal with 1 handers. Bill says he still isn't the best on spey
casting and more than ever wants to get additional instruction.
But Bill's interested in the 13.5' 7-8 wt Sage now.
Copyright©1996 Fly Fishing Network
Not
only do we fish alot, we do our homework and spend alot of time tying and
trying different techniques and materials.
To FFN, the ulitmate angling is to see the fish, rise, one cast, one drift,
and the take. Playing and landing it is part of the senario, but may be
considered almost anti-climactical.
Though spinner fishing has always been a favorite, we have never really
put the time in on researching the bigger spinners, for the simple reason
that we haven't the shots using them on our home waters. But the last few
years, the Hendrickson has been making a sizable appearance and a two tail
white dun and spinner, which we think is eporus vitrea has taken the trout's
attention. This season, some evenings when the dorothea spinners were extremely
heavy, the fish would allow them thru to concentrate on the white fly.
In the past all the large spinner imitations, #12 or above, were tied in
the classic spinner style, or with a clipped deer hair body, a la the Darbees
Coffin fly. Where the fishing pressure is moderate, and the fish are moving
they will do the job. But where the trout are pounded and can tell you the
hook brand and size of the fly, they never give the confidence for the take
after the prefect presentation.
First we had to waste valuable fishing time to net specimens and observe
the water. Since it was almost dark when the spinner fall occurs, the observation
had to me made with a microlite. It wasn't a waste in that the initial reaction
was that most of the spinners coming down weren't in the classic wings flat
on the water pose our spinners were tied to imitate. At least half were
on their sides, with the wing's then being in an upright position. Vertually
never were the wings on top of one another, meaning the silouette would
show two distinct wings. There were enough pairs of spinners, still attached
from mating to worth researching a pattern, but that for a later day.
The other major factor was that being on their side, the curvature of the
body would likely be a keying factor of selective trout.
We've always tied the big duns, like the green drake, isonychia and the
white fly, ephoron lucon, with extended bodies. The bodies were done in
either standard dubbings or deer hair, with the very big duns prefering
the deer hair in helping floatation. These extended body duns always had
a good deal of realism with the curved bodies. The extended body also allowed
usinging a much smaller and shorter shank hook to help both floatation,
striking and releasing.
Applying this background to spinners was a simple process. Through size
12 hooks, 2 or 3 barbs of microfibets for tailing are adaquate and give
a great deal of realism. With the curved floating body, strong tails aren't
needed to stabilize.
The key to tying good extended body flies, is a good extended body tool,
to keep the tying base taut, and solid enough to allow working and applying
material to this base. There are two basic kinds of extended body tools:
one to tie the extended body directly on hook and one to tie body after
body, cut the mono and then mount the body on the hook. Serious tyers should
have both types, but if you only want to spring for one, the former is the
way to go and the DynaKing, though expensive, is the best and also doubles
as a parachute tool. The neatest of just tying body tools is the Yamshita
which allows for custom quality work one at a time.
As mentioned before one of the major advantages of the extended body tie
is using short shank hooks with large gaps. This allows for better striking
and hooking, along with the lighter weight aidding floatation. For the 5mm
extended body, #16 TMC 500 U were used, and #18 on the 4mm length. These
were choosen for no other reason that they happen to be on the tying bench,
but they did work well. Tyers should experiment with various makes, styles
and sizes, to suit their practicality and asthetics.
Tying the big, #10 and larger, extended bodies, the mono wasn't critical,
using 12-18 lbs Maxima, or whatever was laying around. On smaller sizes
hooks we found the lbs test and stiffness was critical for workability and
curvature of the body. Finally settling for 8 lbs for 5mm extended body
and 6 lbs for the 4mm. These were soft enough to retain body curvature after
the tool was released.
Tie the mono to the middle of the shank, and tie in 2 white microfibbets.
Cut a small bunch of white deer hair and tie the skin end onto hook. One
predominent feature of spinner's, is the delcate, narrow, quick taper to
the tail of the body. Too fat and it looks like a B-29. If you're going
to err, do it on the narrow side. Continue wrapping the thread off the hook,
off the hook, up and segmenting the extended body. At 5mm from where attached
to the hook, make 3 tight turns. Continue back to the hook, using hard thread
pressure to compact the deer hair, lessening towards the head, striving
for a neat tapered effect.
For wings, any of the standard spinner styles can be used but we prefer
the little known style Chauncy Lively has pioneered. Using stiff hackle
barbs (saddles for larger spinners) take small clumps (10-15 barbs) from
opposite sides of the stem. Lay the clumps butt to tips and tie onto the
hook. Here you have the choice of leaving them spent or upright, allowing
a distinct division between the 2 wings. Cut end of wings to desired length.
This winging is fast. Faster than any of the other winging styles. And effective.
We haven't specified wing color. Winging is an area materials just haven't
caught up with. We've been experimenting with white, very light blue dun
and grizzily, with each showing effectiveness, but in our minds, each being
equal in mediocrity.
Add a small amount of white dubbing to the thread and figure-8 it around
the wing to add some bulk to imitate the natural. Whip finish it off.
This extended body spinner style is simple and quick to tie. The hardest
step is cutting off the excess deer hair. Be careful and cut as close to
the 3 turns end of body making sure you don't cut the 2 microfibbets. Cut
the mono close to the 3 wraps. Divide the 2 tails pulling them apart and
try to get a slight crimp into them where they leave the body.
Admire your work and think of how it can be improved.
Get on the river towards dark and test the pattern.
Please answer yes or no:
1. Became interested in fly fishing after seeing "A River Runs Through
It".
2. Went to an expensive fly fishing school.
3. Prime considerations is to catch fish.
A. Big Fish.
B. Alot of big fish.
C. Not much concern about the method or style, as long as it's with a fly.
4. Not really concerned with enjoying the outdoors.
5. Less concern with enjoying good companionship.
6. Drive to the river in a late model Benz, BMW, Jag or customized 4 wheel
drive vehicle.
A. Extra points if you chauffuered.
7. When you step into the river you appear to be out of the Orvis catalog.
A Extra points if other anglers whistle at you.
8. Rate guides by how they produce 3, A, B & C, for you.
9. Fish atlantic salmon in Norway, Iceland or Russia.
10. Tell the lodge you booked with to inform you if the fishing is going
to be lousey the week you've booked because you'll pay but won't go.
11. Same as 10. except regarding guided trips.
12. Wear Stream Line or Simms custom wader, whatever the weather or water
conditions.
13. Balance of accessories, including underwear is Patagonia.
14. Rate other anglers on what they tell you the size of their catch is.
15. Wear Barbour waxwear when not on the river.
A. Extra points wearing Barbour to the office.
16. Rate other anlgers on how expensive their gear is.
17. Can't really cast well. Please be truthful on this one.
18. You've got the only good spot in the pool, and even though you've caught
20, refuse to give it up, even though your best pal has been waiting a hour.
19. Buy your flies by the dozens.
20. Can't tie flies worth a damm, but you have a $500. vise on your desk
in the den.
21. In the same den, you have 20 aluminium tubes lined up in Orvis racks.
22. Have a macho, know everything about angling attitude.
A. Many extra points, if you exhibit this attitude with the guide, who knows
can't catch a thing without him.
B. Triple extra points if you still exhibit this attitude with the guide,
and after you get shut out, blame it on his guiding.
C. Triple the triple extra point, if you are asked, with the guide being
there how you did and you lie, saying you got 15.
23. Wade thru the middle of holding lies since you can't cast.
24. Wade thru the middle of holding lies to retrieve you hung up fly.
A. Extra points if there are other anglers fishing the pool.
If your yes answers are 50 to 60% you're a mild yuppie. 70-90% a full fledged
yuppie. 90% or above, a full fledged model yuppie who should nominate yourself
for a yuppie kudo in Rod & Reels awards.
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