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| Neversink River, NY |
The sport of fly fishing is so rich in history that a mans time on earth won't allow him to even scratch the surface. I'm a person who loves history and I started digging a few weeks back into the history of the Neversink Skater. The skater was created by Edward Hewett in the Catskill Mountains of New York. The fly was tied to imitate butterflies which the brook trout would jump for. Some of the fish would clear the water for such a meal. The skater was tied on a 16 hook with oversize hackle. When I look at one it appeared to be a dandelion puff. I paid a visit to the Catskills to get some first hand information on Hewett's Skaters. I found someone who enlightened me and now I have a place to start. Well Hewett's skater led me to the limestone stream Letort in Pennsylvania. There was a fly tyer and angler by the name of Ed Shenk who also tied a variant of Hewett's skater, I believe he called it a spider. Shenk's spiders are responsible for taking some big browns, including an impressive one in Argentina. So armed with that knowledge and the Neversink history I tied up some of my own.
This is a Neversink Skater as tied by Harry Darbee according to Hewett's recipe.
Here are three of my "Skaters" the problem I had is the hackle is sized for number 12 flies.
The day I tried my skaters on a small stream the flies worked well with out the added cement. One particular brook trout shot clear out of the water and grabbed the fly on the way down, that's the honest truth.
Here are a few brook trout that found the skaters to be irresistible.
I'm going to continue to fish this fly but will also add various color hackle.
Very similar to some traditional tenkara flies I was looking at the other day. Check out the first row:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/amago/b-streams/flytying/tenkara.html
Johnson From Accounting
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I checked it out and they are indeed similar.
Thanks for the link.
Great looking skaters! What a thrill it must have been to see the brook trout fly out of the water to grab it. Things like that one never forgets. Regards, Sam
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam I've seen brookies do some strange things but this was the first airborne rise to my knowledge.
That brookie by the way is a dandy for around these parts! Beautifully colored to boot. One of the prettiest you'll ever see.
ReplyDeleteSam he was a fine specimen. Just when you think you have seen them all a beauty like that comes your way.
DeleteThanks, Alan! I am always guaranteed to learn something new when I visit your blog........... Sure makes great use of oversized hackles on a dry fly neck.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa Mel
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Mel the natural world teaches us all everyday, and luckily some of us see that and gain.
I use Whiting 100 packs and so far the largest I've seen them in is size 10....I'm looking though.
While I was fishing the Letort I met one of the "regulars" who used to fish with shenk and was using the skater, he didn't catch anything with it that day but I must say it was impressive to see it in action. It came alive!
ReplyDeleteLuke Bothell
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Luke that's great to hear that these older patterns are still being fished, and on the waters they were created for.
Have to put the skater on my "must try" list! Anything that causes brookies to go "Shark Week" on a fly has to be used :)
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will they pounced on that fly like it was the last thing to eat....there worth a try.
Alan - the second brook trout pictured looks very healthy and thick! Nice work finding a fish-able and cold stream in this drought!
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark the feed in that stream, minnows, and brook trout seem to be the ticket. Cold water but we do need the rain.
You must have been "shadow casting" to get the fish to rise to your fly before it hit the water, eh? :)
ReplyDeleteFading Angler
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Chris the trout rose to the fly which was sitting on the water, it's just that he missed it on the way up but nailed it coming down.
great pics and fishing again Alan, the brook trout look stunning.
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George @ flee & Float
George,
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George the brook trout are starting their autumn colors. It's only going to get better.
Similar to the Bivisible flies that I use all the time. These type of flies seem to be particularly effective around dusk.
ReplyDeleteben
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Ben yes it is similar to the Bivisible. That fly was also created by Ed Hewett.
There is nothing more fun in my neck of the woods than skating flies. This will be one that should work anywhere.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard you use these flies in Colorado, that's great.
They also tie a skater caddis that draws interest.
Awesome flies !! Love the colors on the second brookie. Fall is coming and the colors will become more pronounced.
ReplyDeleteTROUTI
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Pete I love hearing that word Fall. This morning it feels wonderful.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteLove the history of this fly and the lore of Hewett! Best I could find via internet search years ago is a David McPhail video of how he ties it...link below.
https://youtu.be/jICZkWzhhFU
I like your smaller hackle version a bit better personally. I fished with a buddy Sunday in the Catskills on some brook trout waters and he used a thread body stiff hackled fly majorly manipulated on the surface and the brookies were hammering his fly!
It sure works!
Adam
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Adam thanks for the link. Davie is one of the best fly tyers in the world although a bit tough to understand. We were in the Catskills Sunday, hiked a bit near the west branch Neversink. Brookies seem to like the skater, now I'll need to try it with wild browns.
There's water somewhere but not much here in Maine Brk Trt..
ReplyDeletepenbayman
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Mike some areas are doing better than others, luckily I have a few waters left to fish. You guys are coming up on the last month of fishing, hope the streams fill for you.
What book are you showing Hewitt's Skater in?
ReplyDeleteWhat book are you showing Hewitt's Skater in?
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