Friday, April 6, 2012

"Fork Tails" And Other Foodstuffs.


Trying to figure out what trout eat , when they want to eat, and at what stage of the life cycle they will eat it has always been a part of fly angling that least appealed to me. I always feel that to guess the right one would need a degree in "insects of the stream". Then I would need a fly box or should I say a fly box for every stage of an insects life. I decided long ago to carry a few flies, the ones I have confidence in, flies that have proven themselves to work, are highly visible to the fish and especially to me, and most important are easy to tie. With that I can head to a small stream armed with one fly box and have a great day. "Simplicity".
On my last outing I chose a few of the flies that I thought would work well. One pattern was a "Smoky Mountain Fork Tail". It's a pattern created for wild trout in the in the southern states, but it work very well here also. The other is a pattern I created, "Raggedy Ann". I'm going to tie one using the colors red and yellow and call it "Raggedy Mickey"
"Raggedy Ann", they like it.
A "Fork Tail" very effective.

This is another simple pattern that works well


24 comments:

  1. We have the same philosophy when it comes to our fly boxes and what's in them. Nice post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kiwi,
      Thanks.
      I've seen your flies and it fits the word "simple" and effective.

      Delete
  2. Love your "raggedy" flies. It's hard to go wrong with maribou! The forktail is a neat tie, the best part, is that it could look like a lot of things, and yet nothing at all - that trait is a great one in flies for any stream! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will,
      Thanks.
      You summed it up well, a lot of things, and yet nothing at all.

      Delete
  3. Yum, not the fish, the pasta. Wonder if those would work out here?

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shoreman,
      Thanks.
      I think both the pasta and the flies would work well out your way.

      Delete
  4. Another fan of the "raggedy" flies here. Would really like to see more detail and info about how to tie them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous,
      Thanks.
      I'll do a post on the materials and tying info soon.

      Delete
  5. Excellent post. I couldn't agree more about trying to figure out what they are chewing on one particular day. I always tell my brothers they were biting on the end of my fly line :) Its a Castle Rock Killer hatch ;) Thanks for sharing and great pics as well. Tight lines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trout MaGeee,
      Thanks.
      I know, who wants to give up time figuring out what to use, lets fish.

      Delete
  6. Nice flies and approved by the final judges, the trout! When I fish I many times end up with the same fly on the tippet (or a dry one of the same pattern). I've seen fly fishers frenetically changing flies instead of fishing. I feel pity for them because instead of having a relaxing time of contemplating during fishing they are making their outing another stressful event. I read an article in a fly fishing magazine here years ago and the author suggested (or did himself, not quite sure) to just take a small match box with flies out to the water. Somewhere along the philosophy that yours. Lovely pictures and interesting flies.
    Have fun with your favorite flies Brk Trt,
    Mats Olsson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Jassid Man,
      Thanks.
      You said it well. And we don't need stress along the stream.

      Delete
  7. I like ALL those patterns. Love the name "Raggedy Ann." Nice work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      When you look at the fly, it gives that impression.

      Delete
  8. Those are some great looking little flies. I can't say that I currently have anything in my flyboxes that look anything like those...but I soon will.
    As usual , I'm hungry now after seeing your dinner pic!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      We might want to start another blog...."Fish Food" and "Fishermen Food"

      Delete
  9. Nice flies, nice fish. I wish I could only carry a few flies on the stream. I always have way more than I need.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin Frank,
      Thanks.
      Select the ones you favor, take those with you and try using only them. I bet you'll be surprised.

      Delete
  10. Brk
    Fantastic patterns and as always those Brook trout are awesome. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      I'll bet those "Raggedy Ann's" would take a few bluegills.

      Delete
  11. Like you, I've started to carry a box that only has a few patterns. Ones that I too am confident in. Nice piece.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve Zakur,
      Thanks.
      It's a good practice especially on the small streams we fish.

      Delete
  12. Another successful outing Brk Trt..any signs of fiddleheads yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. penbayman,
      Thanks.
      I have not spotted any yet.

      Delete