The "John Storey" A Fly That Earned A Place.....

The John Storey, a fly that was brought to my attention here on SSR's by a follower. John from the Two Terriers had mentioned it saying it had been a very productive fly for him in the U.K. His mention brought several responses from other readers. Bill Shuck tied up a couple of versions of the John Storey, one wet and one dry. Alistair also provided me with some history of the fly in the form of writings.

So I tied up a John Storey dry fly and over the last few weeks gave it a tryout on some small streams. I'll let the series of photos give you a view of how it worked. I'll just add this. The John Storey will hold a place in my box.

An Easy Sunday Morning

Yesterday morning broke to a light rain shower. The day was to be cloudy with a sprinkle or two, typical early May weather. I planned to meet Kirk at a stream and fish for a few hours and perhaps coax a fish or two to take a fly. This time of year the woods are brimming with color. Flowers are bursting forth colors. The wet air just seems to highlight to color.

The stream in places just sort of meanders at a slow pace with a somewhat stronger riffle in places. Most flies at times will work here, and what you select is as good as another.

This streams contains another Connecticut native, one that is quite the battler when hooked. The fallfish, this male in his spawning attire took a soft-hackle. These fish fight like salmon. The dart, run and leap and on my 4"10" 3wt really impress.

Very pretty...soon they will be "wader wreckers".....defenders of brook trout waters.

Such places can produce wonderful surprises.

"Beautiful"...on a cloudy dam morning he was hungry.

What the hell is that. I found this pattern on the net somewhere. I think it's a Danish sea-trout fly. I've been wanting to try it locally and I did yesterday....more time is needed.

All turned out well, a few fish caught, a cup of coffee and a oatmeal raisin cookie enjoyed...life is indeed good.

The "Black Hole"

Good morning. Breakfast this day, and a good start to a fine day. Here at the homestead it's sunny with a strong breeze, very pleasant. Last week i visited a lovely small stream that has endured some hard times. The heat and droughts of a few years ago took a toll on the brook trout that live here. I'm happy to say that the stream and it's natives are doing just fine.

The stream is lined with hemlocks...many trout lillies were in bloom this day.

Fishing the runs and pools that normally hold fish I encountered several willing natives.

A well fed healthy brookie. No dry flies this day.

Parts of this stream are a pleasure to walk along. Many clearings and almost no brush.

Another fine brook trout. They were in the mood for a purple and starling soft-hackle.

On this stream there is a place known as the "black hole" it is a deep pool with a rush of water at the head and a massive log jam at the tail. There are some impressive brook trout in the black hole, they can be seen from time to time....seeing is one thing, catching is another...one day my friends.

I did manage one from the black hole this day. A beautiful fish that took a soft-hackle.

A fly for perhaps an evening on the black hole?

The Soft Hackled Fly Addict, Salars Nemesis And Connecticut Brook Trout

"Salars Nemesis" Tied on a Partridge Low Water Salmon Hook

Back in January I was informed about a salmon fly that was created by Sylvester Nemes. Well that started a project for me that had some deep research as well as a purchase of a book written by Nemes that contained a fly. Salars Nemesis was the fly and from the actual fly tied by Nemes and a photo on the back jacket of the book along with some very good advice from a few fly tyers I came up with a version I think is close to Nemes original pattern.

In my attempt to tie the fly as close to the original I tied several others. The differences were not that great, some body colors, forgetting to dub the thorax as well as not putting Jungle Cock nails on some of the flies. Well over the months I've fished these and have come to the conclusion that Salars Nemesis is one hell of a fly "for trout"

Fished in rough waters and slicks, deadly in both.

Here's a version tied on a Allen N201 hook.

In slower moving water such as the pool above the fly was magic. Sometimes it would draw multiple strikes.

In the short period of testing this fly I feel the original way Nemes tied the fly worked the best.....it's a long season though.

Are those "fiddleheads"?