Friday, January 15, 2021

Fishing "chickabou" and fine winter fare...

Remember the fly I wrote about a couple of posts ago, well I have fished it a few times now in a couple of streams. I was surprised how well it was recieved by the local char, not really surprised because I had a strong feeling it had the attributes of a fish taker. But the surprise came by where many strikes came from. The fly actually is a small streamer but it was being taken near the surface like a caddis emerger. Some of the brookies swiped at it as it was swinging and several slammed it as it sat near the bottom.  

I wish I had underwater video of the flies action for it was remarkable. As the fly lay motionless in the current the darker portion of the fly expanded which chickabou will do. Well that expansion drew some violent strikes and that led me to believe the brookies were taking it for a sculpin. Many small streams have generous populations of sculpin and they are a sought after food source for trout.

 

 

A brookie that took the chickabou fly.
 

In this riffled section of stream is where the chickabou fly was taken as a caddis.
 


 

When wet you can see a sculpin like resemblance.  From a large head to a thin tail. And when the water flows through it life is put into action. I have tied a variant of it using a short shank hook. More on that later.
 

Baked gnocchi.....cut peppers, onions, tomatoes approximately 1" pieces. Add minced garlic, olive oil and frozen gnocchi. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake in a 450 oven for 18-20 min.
 

 

32 comments:

  1. Fly suggestions, picturesque streams and a wonderful recipe as well? Thank you!

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    1. Bill/Tully
      Thanks
      Bill it's been a long time. Hope your OK?
      It all comes together here at SSR's.

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    2. All is wonderful thank you. I made your recipe tonight. Delightful, tasty, easy to make. A winners. Thank you.

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    3. Bill I'm happy all's good in your house. I'm delighted you tried and like the gnocchi.
      I just put together a stew that is everything I had laying around. A good weekend for soup and stews.

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  2. Alan
    A healthy dish for sure, the heat softens the veggies. This fly proves the trout do feed on the bottom at times. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill healthy and delicious, easy to make too. They will hold the bottom in colder times. That's why it pays to fish all the way from top to bottom.

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  3. Looking forward to the particulars on this fly! It makes me want to go tie up a few of Gartside's 'Sparrows'. Lunch looks mighty tasty...

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    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike, Gartside Sparrows work very well in the winter ah what the heck they work well all year long. Gnocchi works well all year long too.

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  4. I just went back and looked at the Gartside Sparrows you posted in 2014; I love the body dubbing you used for them. Beautiful flies, Alan.

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    1. Mike
      Thanks
      Some sparrows are tied full, and others sparse. I believe Jack used a mix of squirrel and rabbit for his body dubbing. He also tied a similar pattern as the sparrow. It's called "Evening Star"..

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  5. Thanks Alan. Inspirational as ever. I am going to tie some of these chickabous and give them a try. I need simple, uncomplicated streamers for my creek. As far as whether they see it as a caddis, or a sculpin, maybe the answer is they perceive it as alive and meat for sustenance. I might add some eyes at the front, use some UV epoxy for a head.

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    1. Ned Zeppelin
      Thanks
      Kevin these are as uncomplicated a streamer as I have ever tied. Your modifications should work well. Let us know.

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  6. Replies
    1. Bureboyblog
      Thanks
      Especially the veggies and gnocchi....

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  7. Beautiful brookies, Alan! I have a small Gartside sparrow tied on to my fly rod right now from the last time I fished. That fly connected with a trout so I am keeping it on until next time out. That baked gnocchi is right in my wheel house. Man that looks good.

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    Replies
    1. Sam
      Thanks
      Sam the sparrow is a fly to try at almost anytime. Browns love it fished slow near the bottom. Give the gnocchi a try. I had a close encounter with a big brookie today.

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    2. I hope the big brookie comes to net for you soon, Alan. You know where it is hanging out now.

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    3. Sam I know where he was if he doesn't decide to move. Trout travel a lot in a stream but brookies change locations quite a bit faster.

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    4. Agree, Alan, they do move around. I have seen hide nor hair of the brown that taunted me in the fall. I did connect with a beautiful holdover rainbow this afternoon though! What fly did it hit? That same Gartside Sparrow that I had tied on from last time out!

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    5. Sam that's awesome. Gartside knew a thing about fly tying and you put your talent to work and a rainbow came to the net. A little windy out there today.

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  8. Hi Alan

    I do like the look of that chickaboo streamer (and so do the Brookies apparently). I am already planning how I can hatch a few of these from my vice with the materials I have available.

    Take care and stay safe

    Alistair

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    Replies
    1. Alistair
      Thanks
      Alistair, a hook, and some fluffy marabou feathers and your in business.

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  9. That's a fine looking stream Alan. A fine looking plate of food too. Stay safe, John

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    1. The Two Terriers
      Thanks
      John good food goes with most everything we do.

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  10. That's why I liked the last one on that post.

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    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark could there be some baked gnocchi happening at Casa Kautz?

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    2. Some type of sourdough bread. I never know until it's put on the counter. When baking is happening, I'm not allowed in the kitchen. Can't get underfoot.

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  11. Alan,
    Wow! This "chickabou" pattern looks awesome and it has already proven itself in the small streams around your home! I think you are spot on with the sculpin look to it! I agree! I can only imagine what chaos this might cause in a slightly bigger size on my local smallmouth bass! Now, to find my chickabou feathers....
    Once again, you are feeding us with this delicious looking dish! Simple to make yet so tasty! I like the way you have chosen to live! Simplistically!
    Fantastic post Alan,
    Dougsden

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    Replies
    1. Dougsden
      Thanks
      Doug those chickabou hackles are the softest soft hackles you can use. Very sexy in the water and quite stimulating to the brookie. I could see smallmouth taking this fly. Simple ways most times are better but in this day in age it's a hard thing to accomplish.

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  12. Hi Alan. Thank you for your wonderful post. Great looking fly and mouth watering dinner!! Can you briefing describe the tying process of how you attached the marabou to reflect a full profile? Greatly appreciated. Thank you again for your wonderful stress easing reflections and adventures.
    James

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  13. Pop.N.Bug
    Thanks
    James I will do the tying sequence in a post soon.

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