It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
- BiggerThomas
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It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
I've gotten back into fly tying and I'm looking at some easy late winter/early spring flies to tie. I tied a zebra midge yesterday which, on a good day, might tempt an inebriated trout that could barely swim straight. This week, I plan on moving onto LBS, little black stoneflies (#16-#18), which usually begin appearing next month--in this case, that's next week. They're often one of the first flies to appear in very early spring and can easily be spotted as they crawl up onto the snowy banks to hatch. Here's a little page & video about LBS:
https://wiflyfisher.com/Little-Black-Stonefly-Hatch.asp
And here's one on how to tie the fly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9EqQliR4C0
What are your favorite flies for this time of year?
https://wiflyfisher.com/Little-Black-Stonefly-Hatch.asp
And here's one on how to tie the fly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9EqQliR4C0
What are your favorite flies for this time of year?
"Most anglers spend their lives in making rules for trout, and trout spend theirs in breaking them."
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Hi, Big Flatbrook has a great black stonefly hatch. A couple of years ago in March they were all over the place. I had most of my hits under water and my version of the fly is a all black caddis fly in a size 16 or 18. I use the cheek hairs from a white tail buck for the wing because it lays flat on the hook and easy to work with on the hook. Bill the mailman
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Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
You can swing soft hackles when they are active. Try something on a small 3x long hook. Black hen for hackle, moose for the tail. You can use just about anything black for the body.
Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Size 16 or 18 black pheasant tail works just fine, as does an all black size 16 soft hackle. Very prolific hatch in NJ, I can't think of one trout stream in northern NJ that does not have good hatch.
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Anatole France
Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Lbs are one of my favorite hatches.
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Purveyor of the dark art of the long rod
slingin' cane
- Rusty Spinner
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Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
For all of January and much of February, stick with scuds and midges because that is what is available every day for them to feed on. As February progresses, the little black and little brown stones become more important on warmer days during midday hours. Pheasant tails are something trout know throughout most of the year and will often take for that reason, but our mayfly nymphs are still teeny tiny right now and not as available to trout as a major food source until later in March and into April and beyond.
"A sinking fly is closer to Hell" - Unknown
- BiggerThomas
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Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
I've been fishing scuds almost exclusively since Christmas. So far, so good. Can't wait for spring, tho, to start nailing fish up on top with dries.Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:23 amFor all of January and much of February, stick with scuds and midges because that is what is available every day for them to feed on. As February progresses, the little black and little brown stones become more important on warmer days during midday hours. Pheasant tails are something trout know throughout most of the year and will often take for that reason, but our mayfly nymphs are still teeny tiny right now and not as available to trout as a major food source until later in March and into April and beyond.
"Most anglers spend their lives in making rules for trout, and trout spend theirs in breaking them."
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
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Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
I had a sudden inspiration to tie up a few Micky Finns. Threw them the other day and has some luck! Go streamers for a change from the little stuff.
- BiggerThomas
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Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Nice, broski. Did you hook into the trout at the end of the drift or on the swing?PortMurrayAng wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 4:29 pmI had a sudden inspiration to tie up a few Micky Finns. Threw them the other day and has some luck! Go streamers for a change from the little stuff.
"Most anglers spend their lives in making rules for trout, and trout spend theirs in breaking them."
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Take me fishing DAD!
- BiggerThomas
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Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
"Most anglers spend their lives in making rules for trout, and trout spend theirs in breaking them."
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 11:06 am
Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Nice, broski. Did you hook into the trout at the end of the drift or on the swing?
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Big hit came just as I was lifting to recast. Made me jump. Short, slow strips across the end of a pool brought another up.
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Big hit came just as I was lifting to recast. Made me jump. Short, slow strips across the end of a pool brought another up.
Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Big hit came just as I was lifting to recast. Made me jump. Short, slow strips across the end of a pool brought another up.PortMurrayAng wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:05 pmNice, broski. Did you hook into the trout at the end of the drift or on the swing?
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Its the color scheme!!! Oldy but a goodie...under used and almost forgotten...nice work!!!
- BiggerThomas
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Re: It's 18 degrees outside...time to start thinking about hatches
Its the color scheme!!! Oldy but a goodie...under used and almost forgotten...nice work!!!Fishybig wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:40 pmBig hit came just as I was lifting to recast. Made me jump. Short, slow strips across the end of a pool brought another up.PortMurrayAng wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:05 pmNice, broski. Did you hook into the trout at the end of the drift or on the swing?
[/quote]
Agreed about it being an oldy but goodie...it was the first fly I learned to tie back with Mark Dettmer down at his old DRO shop on Rt 31. RIP Mark.
"Most anglers spend their lives in making rules for trout, and trout spend theirs in breaking them."
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,
-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,