HFFA Fly Tying

For more than 20 years I've been teaching Salt Water Fly Tying for the Housatonic Fly Fishermen's Association.  Cost of the course (5 nights) is $5.  That's a Dollar a class, includes all materials and hooks, and you'll go home with 2-3 flies per class.  It's so enjoyable to tie a fly mid-winter, take it out of your box in the spring or summer, then catch a striper on it.  Let's you dream about better fishing days and warmer weather.  I also continue to learn from everyone I tie with, no matter how experienced they are.  Thank you to all those friends who shared their knowledge, laughter, and experiences with me. 

 

Paul's December 2013 Fly of the Month

Angry Jake



Hook:  Standard Nymph, size 10 to 20. 

Thread:  Black (I sometimes use orange).     Weight:  Lead wraps.

Abdomen/Body: Turkey Tail Feathers.

Tail:  Turkey tail feather fibers.         Rib: Fine copper or red wire.

Thorax:  Ice Peacock Dubbing.

Wing Case:  Dark/Black (or holographic) nymph skin coated with epoxy.

Legs:  Partridge.                      Bead: (optional) Gold or Copper.

This is the Farmington River’s version of the Pheasant Tail nymph.  It’s much darker than a PT nymph.  Those that fish the Angry Jake instead of the PT nymph swear by it.   This is my version of it. 

Begin by placing your bead on the hook then insert in vice.  Add a layer of thread from behind the bead to the bend of the hook.  Add wraps of lead approximately 1/3^rd the length of the hook shank behind the bead.  Cover with thread then give it a coat of Hard as Nails.  Tie in 3-5 strands of Turkey Tail feathers at the bend of the hook.  Leave the tag end of the turkey feathers. Tie in additional turkey fibers if needed for the Abdomen.  Tie in red copper ribbing.   Palmer the turkey tail forward to create your abdomen.  Counter wrap the abdomen with red copper wire.  Tie in your nymph case.  Dub your thorax with peacock dubbing.  Tie in your legs on each side of the fly.  Bring your wing case over the thorax and tie it off.  The fly is finished.  I like to epoxy the wing case to give the nymph a little extra flash.

This fly can also be viewed at the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association website at www.hffa.net .  If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the Month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@snet.net.

 

Paul's November 2013 Fly of the Month

Epoxy Back Nymph

 

Hook:  Daiichi 1550 or nymph hook of choice Size #14-#20. 
Tying thread:   Uni 8/0 in black, brown, or olive.

Bead:  Copper colored bead.

Tail:   Brown hen neck fibers.

Abdomen:  Black, brown, or olive Ice Dub over which is palmered a color matching goose or turkey biot.
Rib:   Fine red wire.

Wing Case:  Pearl mylar tinsel or ribbon.

Thorax:  Black, brown, or olive Ice Dub.

Legs:  Brown hen neck fibers.

Top of nymph:  Coated with 5 minute epoxy or U.V. resin.
 

This is one of my top 6 go to nymphs on the Housatonic and the Farmington.  

With a tungsten bead and an epoxy back, this nymph gets down deep in a hurry.  I’ve had great success with it in all three colors (black, brown, & olive).  When I tie it in olive, I usually tie it in smaller sizes, sometimes using it as a dropper behind a large dry fly. 
 

Start the thread at the eye.  Wrap down the hook to the hook bend.  Tie in your hen tail fibers.  Next, tie in your red wire to be used for your ribbing.  Now tie in your turkey or goose biot by the pointy tip.  Please note that one side (raised edge) of the biot will give you a more segmented look once it’s wrapped up the hook shank.  Dub the abdomen with Ice Dub.  It should have a very slim profile.  Next, get your hackle pliers and palmer the biot over the dubbed abdomen.  Leave a little space between the wraps.  This adds to the visual segmentation of the abdomen.  When I tie this nymph in a size #20 I usually forgo the Ice Dub. Because the fly is so small I form the abdomen by wrapping the biot over itself.  Once the abdomen is formed, tie and cut off the biot.  Now counter wrap the red wire up the abdomen.  Tie and cut it off.  Next tie in a thin piece of mylar tinsel or ribbon for a wing case.  Dub your thorax with Ice Dub.  Tie in your legs of hen neck fibers on each side of the nymph, just behind the bead.  Bring your pearl tinsel forward and tie it off at the bead.
 

Finally, give the top of the wing case a coat of U.V. resin or 5 minute epoxy. 
 

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the Month, I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@snet.net .  This pattern can also be viewed at www.hffa.net .

Fly Fishing Fall 2013 with Friends "Bear" Cochrane & BJ Cassio

Paul's October 2013 Fly of the Month

Harrington's Deep Rip Deceiver a.k.a. The HDRD

Hook:  Gamakatsu#55015 in size #5/0.

Thread:  White flymaster.

Tail:  Four (4) to six (6) big schlappen hackles tied deceiver style.  Also, flash-a

          bou mylar tinsel of choice.

Body:  White/pearl crystal chenille. (Optional lead wraps under the chenille.)  (Another option, add a rattle on the hook shank.)

Throat:  White buck tail.

Wing:  Chartreuse, purple, or blue buck tail over white buck tail.

Lateral line:  Holographic mylar tinsel.

Eyes:  Oversized molded stick-on eyes.  Eyes are glued on then epoxied over.

This is a big fly!  8” to 10” long.  It is a variation on what’s known as a “Grocery Deceiver”.  It delivers.  My friend Mike Harrington has perfected this pattern.  He uses this fly with deep sinking lines on the Branford Rips.  Use the HDRD when you want to use a big fly to catch a big fish.  It’s a great pattern anywhere, anytime, especially for those striper monsters lurking in the deep.

This pattern calls for one of the biggest hooks you’ve ever tied on.  If you can’t find the Gamakatsu hook, tie it on a similar long shank “bait” hook available at most tackle stores. Begin by starting your thread at the eye of the hook and wrapping back to the bend.  If you want to really make this fly sink, add some lead wraps to the shank.  Make sure you “thread over” the lead, then cement or “hard nail” the wraps. 

Next tie in your schlappen hackles so that they extend 5” to 7” beyond the bend of the hook.  The hackles are tied in at the stiff base of the feather.  This makes it much more difficult to “foul” around the hook when it’s fished.   Tie in some strands of mylar flash-a-bou to the flank the tail.  Next tie in your crystal chenille, then palmer it half way up the hook shank.  Tie and clip it off.

The wing of the fly is going to consist of 2-3 clumps of buck tail.  Try to use buck tail that has a long length to it.  You want to profile of the fly to be as large as possible.  You are going to use a darker buck tail (color of your choice) for your topping. The key element to tying this fly, and how it differs from other deceivers, is the technique of “hy-tying” your buck tail wing onto the shank of the hook.  Tie the first wing clump of white buck tail on the top of the hook shank.  Once it’s affixed to the hook, wrap your thread at least 6-8 times around the buck tail so that it protrudes at approximately a 45 degree angle to the hook shank.  Now tie in a similar size clump of white buck tail for your matching throat.  Again, you are going to “hy-tie” it at a 45 degree angle to the hook shank.  Repeat this process one or two other times along the hook shank to the eye. 

Remember, for the last clump of the wing buck tail, you’re going to use a darker color to mimic the darker back of a bait fish.  Now tie in a small amount of white buck tail on each side of the fly, parallel to the hook shank to fill in the body.  Next, tie in your holographic tinsel to serve as the lateral line.  Tie off and whip finish fly.  Affix your 3D molded eyes to the fly, then epoxy or use a “light” resin over the eyes and nose of the fly for added durability.  Good luck.  You just might catch the “fish of a life time” with this one.

This fly can also be viewed at the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association website at  www.hffa.net .  If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the Month, I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's September 2013 Fly of the Month

Pink Squirrel Nymph

 

Hook:  Size 10 to 16 Curved Scud (Mustad 3906B) or nymph hook of choice.    

Tying thread:   Black.
Bead:   Gold.
Tail:  Rainbow Krystal Flash, 2-3 strands.
Abdomen:  Blend of Olive Ice Dub, burnt Orange Antron, & chopped fox squirrel.
Weight (Optional):  Wraps of .015 lead.
Rib (optional):  Red Ultra wire, x-small.
Thorax:   Pink Ice Dub.

This fly was developed by John Bethke of Westby, Wisconsin.  His original recipe calls for a pink hot spot collar of Coral Pink Chenille.  I prefer to use Pink Ice Dub.  It’s spikier and a little ‘brighter’.  This fly is really a variation of the traditional “Hare’s Ear”.  Many have called this a great cold weather or winter nymph.   I like to use it anytime through out the season.  It’s a great attractor pattern.

Begin by placing a gold bead on your hook.  Lay a base of thread from the hook curve to the bead head.  Return your thread to the bend of the hook and add lead wraps if so desired.  Don’t forget to “thread over” and cement your lead wraps.  Next tie in 2-3 strands of Rainbow Krystal Flash for your tail.  The length of the tail should be 1 hook gap.  Next, tie in your ribbing of Red Ultra Wire.   Blend and/or mix your dubbing for the Abdomen.  Dub a tapered body leaving enough room for your pink collar.  Rib the body of the fly and tie off your rib wire.  Dub a collar/thorax of Pink Ice Dub.  Tie off and cement the thread/knot of your fly.

This fly can also be viewed at the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association website at  www.hffa.net .  If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@snet.net

Sometimes the most memorable fish are the ones that got away !

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to fish the Farmington River with my friend Jeff.  We were there in the early morning hours and like many summer mornings, there was a fine mist hovering over the water.  Not many fish were rising at that time of day.  Jeff managed to hook into a really nice fish on a brown mayfly emerger.  He didn’t land it but it sure did bend his rod.  Sometimes the most memorable fish are the ones that got away.