Paul's May 2017 Fly of the Month

PT3 UV BL Nymph

(Pheasant Tail Variation)

Hook:  Your favorite nymph hook.  Tie and fish these in sizes #12 to #16.

Thread:  Black or brown 8/0 uni thread.

Tail:  Natural CDC feather fibers.

Body:  For size #14 nymph, 4-5 fibers of Pheasant tail.

Rib: Thin UV mylar tinsel or krsytal flash

Thorax:  Synthetic UV peacock dubbing or UV peacock black dubbing.

Bead:  Gold tungsten or color of choice.

Hot Spot:  Red thread.

This is just one of the best nymphs going without any improvements.  Why mess with a fly that works so well?  Well there are a few added “Trout Triggers” here.  If your fishing a lot of TMA’s, sometimes you can do a lot better fishing something just a little different than anyone else.  So what’s different about this fly?  First, the tail with it’s CDC fibers, create movement.  Secondly, the UV enhancement makes the fly extremely visible.  Finally, it has a hot spot, one that is very unique in that it is located in front of the bead.

To tie this fly begin by placing the bead on your hook.  Place it in the vice.  Take your red thread and create a “hot spot” in front of the bead.  Tie and cut off your thread.  Behind the bead start your black or brown thread.  Wrap down to the tail.  Tie in your natural CDC fibers.  For a size #14 Nymph I use almost an entire feather.  It should be a little more than a hook gap long.  Now tie in your UV rib.  Next, tie in 4-5 pheasant tail fibers.  Wrap them forward with hackle pliers just as you would for a standard pheasant tail nymph.  Leave enough room for your thorax.  Dub a thorax with your UV dubbing.  Tie and cut off your thread and your done.  How simple is that.

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 at pdinice@frontier.com . 

April 17, 2017 Fishing Report & Video of Will Stone landed a Hous striper.

Fishing Report April 17, 2017

Upper Housatonic – The upper river is flowing at 1,800 CFS this morning.  Keep an eye on flow.  As soon gets down to around 1,500 CFS you can wade most areas.  Reports I’m getting that the first Hendricksons have been spotted.  I love to fish this river the first time it gets to a fishable level in the Spring.  I’ve always done well fishing to fish that haven’t seen a fly in a long time.

Farmington River – As with most rivers the recent rain should improve fishing on this river.   The reservoir finally has a decent amount of water.  Water flow is high than we’ve seen in a very long time. The river is chock full of fish, hold overs and recent stockies.  That being said, the reports of fish being caught have been less than stellar.  This may be the result of the water temps being too cold at the moment.  Also due to the increased flows.  Hard to tell.  With this heat spell the water should warm up and the fish should become more active.  There should be a lot more insect activity too.  The first Hendricksons have also been spotted. 

Smaller Streams – This is a great time of year to fish smaller streams in your area.  They are loaded with fish.  I’ve been out a bunch of times fishing the ones in my vicinity.  Unfortunately, I have not been doing well fishing them.  Most are flowing at higher than normal levels and the water temps are on the high side.  I’ve seen a ton of “little black stones” on all the streams I’ve fished, but the trout haven’t been on them.  Again, keep your eye on warmer water temps and increased insect activity. 

Lower Housatonic – The lower Hous is fishing extremely well right now.  You don’t have to match the hatch,  traditional ties of deceivers & clousers will do the trick.  Migratory fish haven’t arrived in strong numbers yet but the river is full of hold over fish.  Some of them are decent size fish.  I landed my first keeper the other night.  Unfortunately I sliced my finger open on the striper’s gill plated.  A new first for me.  I went home all bloody and looking like a serial killer.  Best time to fish the river is on the outgoing tide. 

Below is a video of friend Will Stone landing a spring Hous Striper:

Paul's April 2017 Fly of the Month

Blowtorch Tag Nymph

Hook:  Favorite jig, nymph, or wet fly hook.  I prefer to tie mine on a jig hook such as an Allen Size #10 -#16.

Thread:  Veevus 8/0 fluorescent orange.

Bead:  Copper slotted tungsten bead to match hook size, or bead & color of choice.

Tag:  Glo Brite fluorescent orange floss.  Three to four strands.

Weight (optional):  3-10 lead wraps of 0.015” for size 16 & 14, 0.020” lead for size 12, and 0.025” lead for size 10.

 Hackle:  Mottled India brown hen  hackle or CDC feather.

Ribbing:  Opal or pearl mirage micro-flashabou or krystal flash.

Counter-ribbing:  5x tippet.

Dubbing:  Hareline peacock black ice dub.

This is a nymph that produced a lot of fish for me last year.  It was “designed” by a fly fisher by the name of Devin Olsen.  He is a member of Fly Fishing Team USA.  On a trip to the Czech Republic, a similar soft hackle fly was being used by fly fishermen there.   He modified the fly design/materials slightly and the “blowtorch” was born.  In the past I’ve tied all of my blowtorches on a size #14 hook.  This year I’m also going to fish them on a smaller size #16.

To tie this fly begin by placing the bead on your hook.  Next, make your wraps of lead around the hook shank.  Push it forward tight against the bead.  Lock it in place with thread wraps behind and over the lead wraps.  Now wrap your thread down to the bend of the hook.  Take 3 strands of your fluorescent orange floss and pinch tie it in behind the lead.  Wrap your thread down the hook shank to the bend. Next, cut your floss (tag) just slightly longer than the bend of the hook.  Tie in your 5x tippet on the far side of the hook.  Tie in your opel/pearl flashabou on the near side of the fly.  Now, dub a body with your peacock black ice dub.   Leave a small gap behind the bead for your hackle.  Rib the fly first with the opel/pearl flashabou.  Tie and cut it off.  Counter-rib the fly with the 5x tippet.   Cut the tag end.  Take a prepared mottled brown India hen feather for your hackle fibers.  The feather is not tied on the hook shank and wrapped.  Instead, the center is cut out of the feather, creating a V wedge of fibers.  The fibers are then splayed over the hook shank, tied in, and pressed around the hook shank.  Cut off the butt ends of the fibers and create a hot spot collar with your thread.  Tie it off and apply some head cement.

Devin Olsen has a great video on how to tie this fly below:

He also has a great website at http://www.tacticalflyfisher.com/ .

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a pattern of the month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com . 

Paul's March 2017 Fly of the Month

Greg's Big Up Shrimp

Hook:  Size #4 Gamakatsu SL45 Bonefish hook.

Tying thread:   UTC 140 Shell Pink thread.

Weight:  .025 lead wire.

Body:  Spirit River Mo Hair Yarn, Muskrat Grey.

Legs:  White Mallard flank; topped with 4-5 fibers of yellow buck tail, topped with 4-5 fibers pink buck tail

Egg sack:  Slf dubbing soft shell dubbing (orange/pink color).

Eyes:  30 lb mono, melt ends for eyes.

Antennae:  Two strands of peacock krystal flash.

Body:  Spirit River Mo Hair Yarn, Muskrat Grey.

I don’t know why but there are very few fly fisherman out there fishing crab or shrimp patterns.  This particular shrimp pattern is a magic one.  It was developed by a fellow fly fisherman by the name of Greg Mattioli of Califon New Jersey.  I met Greg on one of my trips to Cape Cod.  We met fishing the Bass River during the May striper run.  He was really nailing big numbers of fish with this fly.  He was kind enough to give me one.  We’ve kept in touch since. The friendships through the sport of fly fishing are truly remarkable.

Begin by lashing two strips of lead wire to the bottom of the hook shank.  The lead is not wrapped around the hook shank.  Two strips are lashed on the bottom of the hook shank.  Next, tie in the mallard flank fibers.  The thickness of the fibers should be approximately ¼ inch wide.  Tie it in on top just around the bend.  It should extend about a hook shank length beyond the bend and angled slightly downward.  Scrape it with your finger nail to flair it out.  Next, tie in some yellow buck tail, 4-5 hairs max.  It should be the same length as the mallard.  Now tie in your pink buck tail, again 4-5 fibers.  It should extend slightly beyond the yellow buck tail.  Next, dub a little dubbing ball with the slf dubbing.  Now, tie in your mono eyes.  They should extend about about a ¼ inch beyond the bend of the hook.  Next, tie in two strands of peacock crystal flash for the antennae.  Next, tie in your Mo Hair yarn.  Wrap the body from behind the dubbing ball to just behind the eye.  A rotary vise comes in handy for this step.  Stroke the mohair fibers back as you wrap the yarn.  Finally, wrap, whip finish, and tie off your thread.  At each stage of tying this fly apply hard as nails or choice of head cement to make it as durable as possible.

To fish this fly, make a couple short strips, stop and wait.  It is particularly effective in estuaries, back bays, and anywhere else where there are shrimp populations.   This fly is a great producer.

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a pattern of the month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com . 

Paul's February 2017 Fly of the Month

Charlie Place's Yellow Mustache Streamer

Hook:  Mustad 3665A Size #6. 

Body:  Silver mylar body wrapped from the eye to the bend of the hook and back to the eye.

 Gill/cheeks:  Bright red thread started from the eye and wrapped about a half inch toward the hook bend.

 Wing:  Yellow marabou on top of the hook.  Extends about twice the hook shank.

 “I make the bodies then cover them with head cement or whatever you use.  Then put the marabou on”.  – Charlie Place.

 A few months back a fly fishing friend asked me if I knew the instructions for tying Charlie Place’s Yellow Mustache Streamer.  Charlie passed away some years ago, and I didn’t know or remember how to tie the fly.  So I got in contact with a friend who knew friends that did.  Above is the recipe for the streamer.  An easy tie for even a novice fly tyer and it sure catches fish. 

I didn’t know Charlie very well.  Just enough to say hi and bye at fly fishing functions and meetings.   A few times we spoke briefly about fly fishing Cape Cod, a passion for both of us.  Unfortunately the timing was never right for prolonged conversations.  We were both very involved in the events that we attended.  That was my loss.  In seeking out the “Yellow Mustache” I went through some old magazines in my basement.  I came across a few articles that Charlie had written for On the Water magazine.  I had loved reading them back then.  Re-reading some of them now, I appreciate them even more.  I think Charlie captured the essence of what fly fishing is all about.  He viewed fly fishing as more of a life experience.  He wrote as much about his friends, his fishing surroundings, and passion for the sport, as he did catching fish.  I wish I had taken advantage of getting to know him better.  He was my “kinda’ of fly fisherman”.

You can view a tribute to Charlie Place on-line at http://www.onthewater.com/remembering-charlie-place/.  It also includes one of Charlie’s articles that gives you a great sense of what he was all about.

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 January 2017 Fly of the Month

Pliva Perdigon Nymph

Hook:  Nymph Hook of choice Size #12-#16. 

Bead:  Copper, silver or gold tungsten 2.3 to 3.3 mm tungsten bead.

Additional Weight:  0.015” lead wire.

Tail:  Coq de leon fibers.

Body and thread:  Olive Veevus body quill.

Rib:   Chartreuse Veevus 140D power thread.

Hot Spot:  Fluorescent orange thread.

Wing case:  Black nail polish.

Finish:  UV resin.

Varnish:  Hard as nails.

This fly is originated from Spanish fly fishers and is very popular with “euro-nymphers”.  Why?  Well it sinks like a rock and gets down fast, one of the important factors in euro-nymphing.  There is no dubbing or hackle fibers to slow its decent in the water. 

Begin by placing your bead on the hook.  Immediately behind the bead wrap your lead wire.  Make 3-4 wraps with your lead and slide it tight behind the bead.  Move it right behind the bead to hold it in place.  Start your Veevus body quill thread behind the lead.  Tie in your coq de leon fibers for your tail.  Next, tie in your chartreuse rib.  Form a tapered body with your body quill.  Tie it off behind the bead.  Start your fluorescent orange thread behind the eye.  Using even wraps, rib the fly with your chartreuse thread. Tie and cut it off.  Wrap and form your hot spot with your orange fluorescent thread.  Whip finish and cut off.  With black nail polish paint a wing case on the top of the fly.  Coat the entire fly with UV resin, then harden the finish with your UV lamp.  Finally, coat the entire fly with “Hard as Nails” clear polish.  This will help prevent your UV resin from clouding or cracking. 

Devin Olsen of Fly Tying 123 has a great instructional video on how to tie this fly at below:

The video and instructions on how to tie this fly can also be viewed at www.tightlinesflyfishing.blogspot.com .  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 December 2016 Fly of the Month

Marts CdL Hen Caddis Emerger

Hook:  Diiachi 1180 Size#16

Tying thread:   Dark Grey or Brown 8/0 Uni Thread.

Body:  Tan Superfine Dubbing.

Underwing:  Cul de Leon rooster barbs, dark pardo (optional).

Flatwing:  Cul de Leon hen neck hackle, speckled brown.

Hackle 1:  CDC natural Grey.

Hackle 2:  Cul de Leon hen neck hackle, speckled brown.

The past few years I have “re-discovered” fishing wet flies.  I started out fishing them a lot because they were easy to tie.  Then I kind of got away from them during my fly fishing journey.  Glad I’m back to using them.  Although this particular fly is characterized as an emerger, I look at it more as a wet fly fished in the surface film.  This fly was invented by a gentleman named Martin Westbeek.  It’s the hackle materials that make this fly “come to life”.  I’ve had some pretty successful days with it. 

I wouldn’t call this an easy tie, but it’s well worth the effort.  To begin tying this fly start your thread behind hook eye and wrap down to the point on the hook shank even with barb of the hook.   Next, dub a thin tapered body, leaving the last 1/3^rd of the hook shank (behind the eye) without any dubbing.   This will be the base for your wing and hackle materials.  If you like, tie in a few rooster CdL feather fibers as your underwing.  You are now going to prepare your flatwing.  Take a hen neck hackle and stroke enough fibers in the opposite direction to form a wing.  Hold the fibers in place and lash it down on the  hook shank.  The ‘flatwing’ should extend beyond the hook shank approximately 1/3^rd the hook shank.  Cut off the tip of the feather and the ‘butt’ end after the tie down point.  Form an even base behind the hook eye for your hackles.  Next, tie in your CDC feather by the tip.   Stroke the fibers back and then make a few closely spaced wraps.  The barbs should point to the bend of the hook.  Tie it off and trim the ‘butt’ end of the CDC hackle.  Next, prepare a Coq de Leon hen feather in the same manner.  Tie it in by the butt end.  Make two wraps with the feather and tie it off.  Trim off the ‘butt’ end and whip finish the fly.  You may apply a drop of head cement if you  wish. 

Below is an instructional video on how to tie this fly:

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 .