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Posts tagged "stonefly nymph"

Twenty Inch Chubby

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 14, 2023
Twenty Inch Chubby

Twenty Inch Chubby Stone Fly

Large stoneflies are common throughout our local rivers, just not of the same density found in most western rivers. That said, the nymphs are large, and their alien-like appearance gets noticed by fish – particularly steelhead, but don’t dismiss them for trout. 

In late winter stonefly nymphs get active, which could simply be the result of getting flushed downstream as river flows increase with seasonal runoff. Later in mid-fall once the leaves have fallen off the trees, sees another round of activity as the nymphs chomp on decaying leaves making the Twenty Inch Chubby a fly to use during both spring and fall steelhead seasons.

Trout fisherman here in the Midwest and out west will find this pattern effective, especially in June when they are most active, crawling out of the river to emerge into adults.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Natural

Twenty Inch Chubby and natural stonefly nymph

If fishing them for trout, you can alternatively wrap a lead underbody in the middle of the hook shank.

The Twenty Inch Chubby blends elements of two great stonefly nymph patterns that have been around and catching fish for years – Ed Engle’s Twenty Incher and Hogan Brown’s Chubby Cousin. The rubber legs give movement and add to the profile, while the lighter thorax region exaggerates the difference between it and the abdomen. Lastly, peacock always seems to offer that natural iridescence that looks good in the vise, fly box and water. It looks best in a fish’s mouth.

 

Recipe

Twenty Inch Chubby - Steelhead

Steelhead eat more than small, black stoneflies

Hook: Daichi 1720 #6
Thread: Uni 6/0 – Black
Tail: Barred Sexi-Floss Copper Medium
Dubbing: AZ Synthetic Peacock Dubbing
Abdomen: Peacock Herl
Rib: Holographic Flashabou – Copper
Wingcase: Thin Skin – Mottled Bustard Natural
Legs: Barred Sexi-Floss Copper Medium
Thorax: Senyo’s Fusion Dub – Tobacco
Antennae: Barred Sexi-Floss Copper Medium

 

Tying Instructions

 

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 1Step 1. Place hook in vice and wrap a thread base from behind the eye above the hook point and barb.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 2Step 2. Dub a very small amount of the peacock dubbing.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 3Step 3. Tie in the tail along the shank and up against the dubbing ball on both sides to help splay the material.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 4Step 4. Tie 7-9 strands of peacock herl by the tip and wrap down to the tail tie in.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 5Step 5. Tie in the ribbing like you did the peacock.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 6 Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 6.5Step 6. Wrap the herl around the thread to strengthen it.
Then, wind it forward stopping about a hook gape’s distance from the hook eye.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 7Step 7. Wrap the rib in the opposite direction that you wound the peacock.
Be careful not to pull too hard and stretch/thin the flashabou.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 8Step 8. Cut a strip of Thin Skin about 3/16-1/4” wide and tie in at thorax area.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 9Step 9. Tie in a Hen Saddle or Grouse Feather by the tip and upside down on top of the Thin Skin tie in. Then, tie in the antenna on each side of the shank forming a forward facing loop that extends beyond the hook eye.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 10Step 10. Tie in two strands of leg material – perpendicular to the shank and evenly spaced apart.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 11Step 11. Dub the thorax area which will help you position the legs where you want them.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 12Step 12. Pull the feather over the thorax and tie off.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 13Step 13. Pull the Thin Skin over the thorax to create the wingcase.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 14Step 14. Whip Finish the thread.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Step 15Step 15. Cut the loop of Sexi-Floss to create antennas and trim to the even and appropriate size.

Twenty Inch Chubby - Side ProfileTwenty Inch Chubby Side Profile

 

Twenty Inch Chubby - UndersideTwenty Inch Chubby Underside

 

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Sparkle Stonefly Nymph

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 16, 2017
Sparkle Stonefly

Sparkle Stonefly Nymph

Large stonefly nymphs populate most of our trout and steelhead rivers and because of their size, they offer a calorie packed snack to fish. Water levels often fluctuate dramatically in the Spring as snow melts and this increase in water flow often dislodges these large nymphs and send them tumbling downstream making this pattern ideal for Spring Steelhead.

The clarity of the water typically becomes stained with increased flows due to winter’s thaw and rains which is why this large profile fly pattern and sparkle thorax help attract the fish’s attention. The color black remains visible in the water column as it contrasts the stained water while the rest of the pattern does a good job of providing a stoneflies silhouette. And the rubber legs just add a little motion while it dead drifts.

Steelhead caught on Sparkle Stonefly Nymph

Steelhead caught on Sparkle Stonefly Nymph

This variation of Bowerman’s Sparkle Body Stone fly pattern has worked for steelhead in the spring, but also in late fall when stoneflies seem to get active crawling around the river bottom.

Recipe

Hook:               TMC 3761 #6
Thread:            Uni 6/0 Black
Lead:               Lead Wire .030 (optional)
Tail:                 Goose or Turkey Biots – Black
Body:               Black Dubbing – Awesome Possum
Rib:                  V-Rib Medium Black
Thorax:            Estaz or Pearl Chenille – Black
Hackle:            Hen Saddle – Black
Legs:                Medium Round Rubber Legs – Black
Wing case:       Turkey Tail treated with Flex Seal or Crystal Clear

Tying Instructions

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 1Step 1. Wrap a base layer of thread to above the hook barb.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 2Step 2. Tie in a very small ball of dubbing above the barb to help spread the tail.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 3Step 3. Tie in biots – with the natural curve opposing each other in opposite directions.
Use the dubbing ball to help spread them. The pointed ends should extend the distance of the hook gape.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 4Step 4. Tie in the v-rib along the shank so the convex (rounded) side is against the
hook shank where the material extends beyond the hook bend.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 5Step 5. Dub a tapered body from the tail 2/3rds of the way up hook shank.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 6Step 6. Wind rib, convex (rounded) side up, through body creating a segmented look.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 7Step 7. Tie in wing case, dull side down, extending over the body area.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 8Step 8. Tie in the tip of a hen saddle feather convex side facing rear of the hook.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 9Step 9. Tie in Estaz or Chenille just in front of where saddle hackle is tied in.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 10Step 10. Tie in a rubber leg on each side of the thorax.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 11Step 11. Wind thorax material toward the eye so rubber legs are separated – maintaining an X profile.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 12Step 12. Gently pull the saddle feather over the top of the thorax and tie down.

Sparkle Stonefly - Step 13Step 13.  Pull wing case over thorax, trim and whip finish.

Sparkle Stonefly

Sparkle Stonefly BottomFinal: Sparkle Stonefly Nymph

Sparkle Stonefly - Optional Lead WireOption: If adding lead wire, do this step between steps 3 and 4.
Tie lead wire 1/3rd of the shank’s length behind the eye. After securing, wrap the
lead around the shank towards the hook bend and tie off above hook point.
When tying the V-Rib at Step 4, tie it just behind the lead wire.

 

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Winter Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - February 18, 2015

There is no doubt that winter’s here and so are some record low temperatures making fly fishing on local rivers pretty much non-existent. Shelf ice is pretty prominent on the river’s edges and some slower portions are covered with ice, limiting access should you decide to venture out when cabin fever gets you to that point. The snow pack along the river isn’t too bad as snowfall has been a little light this winter which should help keep the spring run-off within reason. If you do head out when temps bump up a bit keep an extra change of clothes in the car, avoid walking on the shelf ice along the edge and simply use caution.

As far as the fish, look for steelhead to be in the slow moving, deep holes and don’t expect much of a fight once hooked with water temps barely above freezing. Areas with numerous springs are a good place to target as the warmer ground water seeping in often holds fish. Fish realistic flies with lots of motion like hex nymphs and preferably under an indicator for your best drag-free presentation. With fall salmon’s progeny developing, now is a good time to fish an alevin pattern for both steelhead and trout.  With increasingly warmer late winter days not that far away, look for stonefly nymph action to increase and more fish to shuffle around as the days get longer and more fish get that spring urge to begin their upstream migration – it’s not that far away.

Good luck,

Ted

Spring Steelhead – It’s not too far away! From mid-March through April. Dates available.
September Salmon – Dates are limited for fishing the Betsie River in early Sept. and later on the Manistee.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your fishing trips planned for the year. Booking all species/seasons.

Betsie, manistee, spring steelhead, steelhead, stonefly nymph, winter steelhead

Top 5 Steelhead Flies for Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 17, 2013

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Fall Steelhead Manistee River

Steelhead anglers in Michigan and the Great Lakes have a lot of choices when looking to stock their fly boxes. There’s no shortage of effective flies, but choosing a select few can almost be confusing or even intimidating. This list of top 5 steelhead flies includes patterns that have produced for me and my clients over the years – both in spring and fall.

Those who have fished with me know that my fly boxes include more patterns than these. The purpose of this list is to help you identify and start to build a collection that will fish well and become the favorite, producing staples in your fly box.

Hex Nymph

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Hex Nymph Pattern Bear's Hex

Bear’s Hex Nymph

Hexagenia mayfly nymphs or “wigglers” are significant, since many of our rivers with steelhead also have this silt burrowing mayfly. One of the largest mayflies, the hex, looks buggy. Many of the patterns used to represent them also share looks similar to other important food sources, like sand sculpins and sucker minnows.  No steelhead box should be without some.

Commercially Tied Patterns: Bears Hex Nymph, Schultzy’s Rabbit Hexum, Ted’s Edible Hex, Fox’s Shuck Hex Nymph

Sizes: #6 – 10

 

Caddis

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Caddis Pattern Boogie Woogie Caddis

Boogie Woogie Caddis

Lift just about any rock or log in the river, and you will find caddis cases clinging to the cover. This grub looking pupa ranges in size and color, but it seems that green and chartreuse are the most effective for Michigan steelhead. Most patterns are tied larger and brighter  than real life and “suggest” caddis, but serve more as an attractor – especially when fishing stained water. Small, natural looking patterns in green, olive and cream are worthy of a place in your box when fishing low, clear water often associated with winter steelheading.

Commercially Tied Patterns: Disco Caddis, Boogie Woogie Caddis,  PM Caddis, Flashy Brassie Grub

Sizes: #6 – 12

Click here to learn how to tie Caddis patterns.

Steelhead Bugger

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Steelhead Bugger

Steelhead Bugger

The “Crescent wrench” of all fly boxes for most species is the wooly bugger — because it works. Tied with a touch of flash and with the natural, buggy appearance of peacock, the steelhead bugger (a.k.a. “The Steelie Bugger”) is a slight variation from the standard wooly bugger. Both patterns suggest a leech, a stone fly and who knows what else – it’s the Steelhead Bugger that seems to be even better. Make sure you have some in your fly box.

Commercially Tied Pattern: Umpqua’s Steelhead Bugger

Sizes: #6

Click here to learn how to tie a variation of this pattern.

 

Egg Pattern

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Egg Pattern Nuke Egg Fly

Nuke Egg

Tandem fly rigs are the norm when targeting steelhead. More often than not, one of the flies is an egg pattern. Serving as a realistic egg imitation or when large and bright – an attractor, no veteran steelhead fly angler will deny the effectiveness of an egg pattern. To learn more about fishing eggs for steelhead, read, Egg Patterns.

Commercially Tied Patterns:
Glo Bugs (Oregon Cheese, Golden, Chartreuse)
Crystal Eggs (Peach, Chartreuse)
Nuke Egg (Oregon Cheese over Steelhead Orange,   Chartreuse over Flame, Egg over Steelhead Orange.
Rag Eggs (Clown, Apricot/Dark Roe , Egg/Salmon, Oregon Cheese/Burnt Orange)

Sizes: #6-10

Stonefly

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Stonefly PatternTrout Retriever

Trout Retriever

The first insect of the year to hatch in significant numbers is the small black stonefly. Tie one on when you see them crawling on snow banks or fluttering on the surface when the sun is out and water temps increase slightly, tie one on. Our waters have a variety of stoneflies ranging from the small stones mentioned above to some in excess of two-inches long. My favorites are black and cover the size range. As water temps cool in the fall and leaves start to decompose underwater, stoneflies get active making them a good choice at all times of the year. Oh, and when the bite is tough, sometimes the small stone pattern is enough to trick the fish into eating a small snack even if they aren’t actively hatching.

Commercially Tied Patterns: Mercer’s Biot Epoxy Stone – Dark, Trout Retriever, Ted’s Early Black Stone, 20 Incher

Sizes #6-12

Honorable Mention: Leech

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Leech Pattern - Miles Davis

Miles Davis

Often the spring run can coincide with winter’s thaw and/or spring showers leading to high, dirty water conditions where your small realistic nymphs can go unnoticed.  Tied with rabbit strips or marabou, the black leech’s large profile, undulating motion and sometimes combined with some sparkle or flash can come up big, deserving a place in your fly collection.  High and dirty water in the fall isn’t much of a concern to fall steelhead anglers here in Michigan, but those looking to swing flies on sink-tips should keep a leech handy.

Commercially Tied Patterns: String Leech, Silvey’s Tail Light, Miles Davis, Larimer’s Reverse Marabou

Sizes: Go big

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Spring Steelhead Leech Pattern

Leech Eating Spring Steelhead

 

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