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Posts tagged "lamprey"

Lamprey Leech

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 9, 2012
Lamprey

Lamprey Leech Streamer

The Chestnut Lamprey is an important food source for the Manistee and many Northern Michigan trout rivers. This is what led me to develop the Lamprey Leech fly pattern.  I wanted a pattern that was easy to tie and had lots of motion which resulted in this fun-to-fish and effective pattern. The Lamprey Leech has become my go-to fly when the fish aren’t overly active or are acting lethargic and deserves a place in your fly box.

Each year customers bring a significant number of fish to the net with numerous Chestnut Lampreys attached to them – I can’t help but think that the fish remember these parasites and revengefully attack them when given the chance.

Lamprey - Chestnut Lamprey on Brown

Chestnut Lamprey on a Brown Trout

Lamprey - Chestnut Lampreys

Lampreys Taken Off a Trout

Rich in protein and provocative swimmers, the lamprey often swims against the current making themselves easily noticed and vulnerable to predatory trout.

Late spring and early summer is when these 4-6 inch lampreys are most active and abundant, making them significant to the fly angler. While the months of May and June are optimal, this pattern has caught fish throughout the year  perhaps because of its resemblance to worms and night crawlers, or because of its profile and action.

How to fish the Lamprey Leech Fly

Lamprey - Chestnut Fish

Trout Like Protein Packed Food Including Lampreys

Since it is tied with a bead-head, anglers can fish this fly on both a floating line or a sink-tip. The floating line approach is a fun way to fish shallow water with moderate cover, allowing you to work the fly in and around that cover.

Mends in either type of fly line are very important as it gets this fly to work in conjunction with the current to maximize its movement without stripping it out of the targeted water.  Popping  or snapping the rod tip upwards like a jig, combined with mends, can really seductively work the pattern as can two, quick strips with a long pause in between.

To learn more on an alternative presentation and approach to streamer fishing, read Seductive Streamer Fishing.

Lamprey Leech Recipe 

Hook:                   TMC 200R #4
Thread:                 Uni 6/0 Camel
Bead:                    3/16″ Copper
Tail:                       Marabou – Blood Quill Ginger and Golden Brown
Body:                    Natural Brown  Strung Saddle Hackle
Flash:                    UV Polar Chenille – Copper
Wing:                    Same as tail
Collar:                   Mallard Dyed Wood Duck Flank
Topping:               Sheep Hair – Rust


Tying Instructions 

Lamprey - Step 1Step 1. Place bead on hook and place in vise. Start a thread base from behind the bead to above the hook point. 

Lamprey - Step 2Step 2. Tie in ginger marabou so it extends close to twice the length of the hook.
I typically remove the end of the feather to keep it long and lanky to maximize motion.
Wrap on top of the hook extending 2/3 rds up the shank.

Lamprey - Step 3Step 3.  Repeat Step 2 with the darker marabou so it is the same length.

Lamprey - Step 4Step 4. Tie in a very webby (almost schlappen-like) saddle hackle by the tip and wind up over the marabou.

Lamprey - Step 5Step 5.  Tie in the Polar Chenille and make one or two wraps depending on the amount
of flash desired. Use your bodkin to pick out any trapped fibers.

Lamprey - Step 6Lamprey - Step 6.5

 

Step 6.  Use just a bit of marabou and tie in so the tips extend past the bend of the hook.

Lamprey - Step 7Step 7. Repeat Step 6 with the darker marabou feather, using just a little more product but remaining sparse.

Lamprey - Step 8Step 8. Tie in mallard flank by the tip, and fold the feather so both sides of the stem
sweep backwards. Make 1 to 1.5 turns to create the collar.

Step 9.  Tie in a clump of sheep hair on the top half of the fly where the tips extend to above
the hook barb. Tie off and apply head cement.

The wet look of the Lamprey Leech. Lots of motion and a great profile.

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chestnut lamprey, lamprey, leech, michigan, night crawlers, streamer pattern, trout rivers

May Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 3, 2012

Trout opener has come and gone and so have the anglers. While opener weekend had mixed results thanks to cold weather, the annual traditions of groups, families and friends seemed to be alive and well.

Stable and warmer temps this week has improved hatches and dry fly fishing – they should continue get even better with warmer weather. If fishing the upper Manistee look for Hendricksons – both light and dark, March Browns, Mahoganies, Black Quills, bigger stones (#10), BWOs, and lots of small caddis and some #14 tan caddis. The month of May offers some great dry fly fishing but be prepared for selective feeding – pay real close attention to what they are eating and what stage; emerger patterns are proving themselves as real fish catchers as more people are fishing them.

Conditions on both the Manistee and Boardman had been really clear with temperatures in the mid-50’s until we just received some much needed rain –  just too much of it at once. River levels have come up significantly after a couple inches of rain. Streamer fishing will be most effective in the high water. Look for fish on the inside of bends eating all of the food washing downstream.  The chestnut lamprey numbers are building so fishing streamer patterns that imitate them is a good place to start as are long, worm like patterns like mohair leeches and rabbit strip leeches. Other successful streamer patterns include zuddlers,  protected witness, baitfish/deceivers and sasquatches.

On the lower Manistee below tippy, look for water levels to increase and create some good feeding as food is dislodged in the flush of water. Fishing nymphs under an indicator can be real effective when not fishing streamer patterns on sink-tips looking for the big and more aggressive fish. Fry patterns fished on floating lines is still effective as we are taking advantage of last fall’s prolific salmon reproduction. Some caddis, bwo and midge activity is taking place on the surface throughout the day for those who like it on top.

Good luck!

Ted

The Spring Newsletter just went out – click here to read.

– Book a Trip for the Upcoming Fishing Seasons –

April: Steelhead and Trout fishing on the Manistee River
April-May: Trout – Streamers & Dry Flies. Hendricksons & Early Bug Hatches on the Upper Manistee
June: Trout -Big Dry Flies – Drakes, Isonychias and The Hex.
Booking for all 2012 Seasons – Some Fall Dates Remain Open

 

boardman, caddis, dry fly, fly fishing, fry pattern, lamprey, march brown, streamer, upper-manistee

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