"Henryville Special"

The Pocono mountains of eastern Pennsylvania are probably best known for their status as the place for honeymoons. To those who fly fish it's also a trout paradise, both small stream and bigger. Many anglers believe that dry fly fishing in the United States first originated here, and in particular on Brodhead Creek.

Brodhead Creek flows to meet the Delaware and offers some fantastic fly fishing. One section called the Henryville is where this fly gets its name. The "Henryville Special" was created by Hiram Brobst back in the thirties. It is a caddis fly and has a reputation as a fish taker. A versatile pattern it can be fished dry in a traditional manner or one can swing it as a wet fly and it works very well skittered across the surface.

I have carried and fished the Henryville Special since taking up fly fishing. They say every fly has its day, but I'd bet this one would have that day every day.

This is a small stream in the Poconos I've fished many times. The Henryville Special has worked very well here.

This small stream in Connecticut I fished the other day. In this little riffled run I managed to have four hookups. They were taken on a variety of presentations.

Of the four hookups, this wonderful wild fella is the only one to allow me a photo.

So if you haven't tried the Henryville Special, I would highly recommend you try it. The fly works in sizes 12 to 16.

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