Back in 1929 in Portland Maine a fly tyer and fly angler named William Edson created one of the best bucktail streamer flies ever. This fly has been fished the world over for every game fish that swims. Originally tied for brook trout and salmon it is also great for brown trout and smallmouth bass. I have fished this fly for 40 years and and when I put it to use it does the job. I would say it's the number one brook trout streamer out there. The fly has also accounted for several salter brook trout.
The streamer is named the "Light Edson Tiger" it's material list consists of yellow bucktail, Wood Duck black and white flank feathers. peacock herl and red saddle hackle feathers. It can be tied with brass eye as Bill Edson used or with a jungle cock eye, or you can tie it without the eyes.
Here are three versions of the Edson Light Tiger. Top is plain, middle is with jungle cock and the bottom has brass eyes. And in the photo is an area where I have fished this fly many, many times.
Here is an old photo probably the early 1990's...I was fishing a stream with the Edson Tiger. A small brown trout took the streamer and while I was bringing it in a larger brown slammed the small brown. I was able to bring the two in for a photo.
Beautiful streamers and brown, Alan. The river I fish has been slow lately, nothing doing for the most part. Last year though around this time of year, I hooked something small and next thing I know the end of my line was off to the races. Brown trout are opportunistic with small trout on the end of an angler's line from time to time.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam with spawning going on fishing can be off. Trout have a mission to complete and that's what they focus on. I'm sure things will pick up soon. Spawning also make larger trout very aggressive and they tend to chase smaller trout away, that's why streamers work especially well now. Try fishing a gray ghost next time out.
We got one today, a triumph considering the high state of the stream we fished.
ReplyDeleteI found myself thinking that "fish don't care where they could feed yesterday, they only care where they can today."
Foot paths under a foot of water held rises of big browns and the usual holes where torrents of chocolate water in a typically gin clear stream.
I admit a bright pink thing on your shoulders severely limits your catch rate when fishing tenkara close.
Nathan Camp
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Nate kudos for your attempt, I saw a stream yesterday that was just awful as far as colored water is concerned.
Yes sir that little pink thing has to be happy for a dad like she has.
Fall has always been good for Browns at the "secret Lake". Unfortunately the forest is shut down and so is the road to the lake. Maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark you have experienced hell out there this past year. We know that things will get better. SSR's readers want to know more about "secret lakes" browns....
Love the old photo with the 2 brown trout. Your Edson Tigers are great ties - that is a streamer I have to tie one of these days. I am actually nosing around where to get a jungle cock neck for the eyes of streamers. The auction site has some for around $90 but hard to tell the quality. When it comes to materials (and hooks) seems like you always have to be on the prowl.
ReplyDelete- Kevin
Ned Zeppelin
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Kevin I have some old photos buried in the archives and I may post a few in future posts.
Jungle cock is a tough purchase without actually seeing
it up close. If you buy online, ebay make sure you have the option to return the cape. The Edson Tiger is a great fly and if you don't have JC or brass eyes it still works well.
unbelievable...!!
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando you summed it up in one word...
And a great place in Maine to fish it!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous
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I agree. I have so many memories of that area. The river above Little Kennebago has given up some beautiful fall salmon
Never fished it in the fall, just Kennebago Lake in the Spring. Love to take those LLSalmon on top!!
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LL's can really bend a rod. One time while fishing Mooselookmeguntic we encountered a caddis hatch off of Students island. the salmon were going nuts for elk hair's...I have never witnessed anything like that since.