Silk Threads, And Effective Flies

A few posts ago I talked of a new to me silk thread that was available. The name of that thread is Ephemera. It's a fine thread and it's colors are deep. The thread works quite nicely and it's diameter is thin but it has strength and does not break when some muscle is applied. I have also found it to be break resistant when it accidentally hits the hook point. I have three spools of thread pictured above. The one on the right is YLI silk, the center is Ephemera silk and on the left Uni thread.

Here are some Partridge and Green soft hackle flies. These are all tied with Ephemera silk. In Sylvester Nemes  book "The Soft-Hackled Fly" he lists two recipes of this fly, one with a thorax and one without. These are tied with a thorax of hares ear dubbing.

The Partridge and Green soft-hackle...This is how it looks wet. This fly has worked well everywhere I have fished it, and as a matter of fact it was responsible for some of the most beautiful brook trout I have caught in the streams of Shenandoah National Park. Uncomplicated, simple and very effective.

 

A Small Stream

It was up early yesterday for me. I had planned to fish a small stream that was about an hour and a half away. The morning was quite chilly and that first cup of coffee really tasted and felt good. So after some scrambled eggs I put the "little rod" the little line and a few flies in the car and set off to see how this stream was going to treat me. It seemed a bit odd as I pulled off the hard road onto the dirt road. The little pull off had a SUV parked in it. I tried to fit the Honda in there to but there was not enough room. I drove up a little further and found another nook that I was able to get the car in. This road does not get much traffic. The few homes and camps and the cars that belong to the owners are about all the traffic on that road. Maybe the SUV was fishing or perhaps scouting out some deer.

Geared up I walked to the stream. As you can see it was in beautiful condition. This area is kind of rugged and reminds me of the streams I fished in Shenandoah Nat. Park. The water was cold and clear and within seconds I scattered several brookies. I pulled out the "Tiny Ten", tied on a soft hackle and started to work the pool. 15 minutes later I realized I scared the fish into their under rock lies. Move on Alan.

In this landscape of large rocks and boulders, hemlocks galore and a few oaks for good measure I found this patch of wild asters.

This pool was amazing. It was deep, and a cobble bottom and a undercut. I fished it for a good half hour, changing flies a few times. I had several strikes and a few hookups but not a single fish to hand. The one thing about tenkara fishing is the fact that a net is mandatory if you want to photograph a fish. It is difficult to bring a fish to hand when you are unable to grab the line and gain control.

Fortunately I was able to accomplish one to hand without a net. A nice healthy brook trout. Unusual spotting on this one but it's green body was a sight I have not seen in some time. Most of the brookies were about the same size with a few smaller ones in the mix, which is a good sign.

I'll probable be back here in the weeks to come, both with Tiny Ten and the Small Stream Reflections bamboo.

Flymphs

The "flymph"...a stage of an insects life, not an adult or a nymph but the stage where it's coming to the surface and is vulnerable to the trout. The fly itself is a wet fly but one that is tied without wings, usually with a dubbed body and silk is the thread of choice. These flies offer a meatier profile then a spider pattern which is also a flymph... in other words they are both emergers.

The first fly is a "Gray Fox Flymph"... It has a dubbed body with gold rib and partridge feather.

This fly is a "Gray Dun" flymph...it features a gray dubbed body with a gold rib and a dun hackle.

This fly is a "Blonde Starling" flymph...it features a coq de leon tail, a black dubbed body, silver rib and a blonde starling hackle.

This flymph is what it looks like wet. You can see the silk thread underbody coming through the dubbing. Silk thread is so important in the effectiveness of these flies.

"Big Jim"...a flymph I created in the name of Jim Liesenring, the master of the flymph. He along with Pete Hidy were the pioneers of this type of fly.

A State Of Well Being Revisited

You have read many times in my posts a reference of "brook trout forest". It is but three words of a title to that wonderful book by Kathy Scott that has so much meaning to me. Brook Trout Forest came full circle to me this past weekend when Jeanette and I paid a visit to a stream within the southern part of the Green Mountains. A lovely area that is part of the headwaters of the Deerfield river. It is a place I first visited five years ago just a few months after it was forever protected. I have over the last five years visited here several times and have become close to this area in mind and soul. It is very rugged and peaceful and will strain your resources but I'll never whimper for it will refresh you in such a way that is hard to put into words. So come along with me and enjoy "brook trout forest"....

The trail as it winds down the mountain. Gentle here and welcomed by two seasoned hikers.

The river a destination like no other. Very large boulders in parts of this stream which lead to some peaceful pools.

I did not where waders choosing hiking shoes instead. Wet wading was not planned but did occur.

The crystal clear water of this pool actually held brook trout...can't see them, but they see you.

Wild jewel is how I describe what is in my hand. He still swims the waters of "brook trout forest"..

This one of the first pools I fished when came here five years ago. It has changed over the years but still has what it takes to keep all happy.

As we walked back the sky bid us farewell....