A mountain freestone stream. Rumbling and tumbling along without any human hindrances. It's boulders create back eddys which provide sanctuaries for the wild brook trout which call places like this home. It is streams like this that I love to fish. Places like this where you become one with where you are. A place where the word trophy has a different meaning. It is a place where certain flies are created. These flies are not frame quality but are worthy of so much more.
This is one such fly. The Mr. Rapidan...a series of flies created by Harry Murray of Virginia. These flies have a distinct yellow wing, moose mane tail and float like a cork. I fish these flies and nine out of ten times they catch fish. I prefer the parachute version as opposed to the "wulff" style one.
These are what live in those mountain streams behind those boulders. The incredible beauty of this fish is highlighted by the little yellow Mr. Rapidan fly. I fished yesterday with Kirk on such a stream. In one small run of four yards alongside of a boulder I raised three brookies on a Mr. Rapidan.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about your Bomber and Mr. Rapidan is that they're easy to see in the shifting patterns of light and shadow in riffles and runs on small streams. You've got to be able to see your fly to make sure it landed in the right place and that it is drifting as naturally as possibly. And, most important, you have to be able to see the fly to pick up the quick-as-a-wink strike of a brook trout in fast water.
Keep on keepin' on,
John
John Strucker
DeleteThanks
John your so right. Being visible on both ends is a big part of your success on small streams. Today I fished a stream that was on the low side. I had one chance to hook the fish and if I did not see the fly I would have gone 0 fro umpteen.
Alan
ReplyDeleteWhat size Mr. Rapidan are you using? Do you use a wading staff to navigate all those boulders? I would think a 6 or 61/2 ft. fly rod for reach to fish some of those pocket holes. Beautiful stream and colorful brook trout taken. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
DeleteThanks
Bill I use a size 14 Mr. Rapidan. No I don't use a staff but I will pick up a fallen branch and use that from time to time. I use a 5'9" fiberglass and 5' bamboo. Both with a 3wt line.
Interesting. Haven't ever seen a yellow parachute out here, always white. Then again maybe I wasn't looking for a yellow one. Not sure how they would work. Next time I'm at the fly shop, I'll take a look.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
DeleteMark you probably won't be able to find a Mr. Rapidan in your local shop. You can purchase them from Murrays Fly Shop in Va....on line that is.
I haven't thought about it before, but I prefer parachute to wulff style flies too. Casting is tricky on a stream like that, especially when the trees take leaf, but the reward more than makes up for it. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteJustin
DeleteThanks
Justin most times I'll use the parachute, but then there are times when the Original is used. I don't do a lot of long casts, I prefer to fish down stream in short casts and drifts.
Rapidan's, Bombers, Haystacks... those are my favorite dries. Bushy, gnarly, unpretentious; blue collar flies in a button-down Catskill world. Interesting brookie, I don't see any blue halo's.
ReplyDeletemike
DeleteThanks
Bushy, gnarly, unpretentious; blue collar flies in a button-down Catskill world....I like that buddy.
I'm trying something different Ordered a few from Murray's to try out rather than ordering the materials I was short and finding they didn't work.
ReplyDeletebillp
DeleteThanks
Bill I bought mine at Murray's too. I'm terrible at tying parachutes.