55 on the fly

More trip prep ~ tying of some Vinnie's Iso-nymphs.  I tied some with and without wire heads pictured below.  I'm starting to get excited about this trip in a couple of weeks even though it will be a short one, just two days.  But hey, two days with your son fly fishing, what could be better.  Scott is coming to the house this weekend and we will get all of our final plans made...  Should be fun and we've got to have better weather than last time, right?  So stay tuned... Vinnie's Isonychia Nymph... top view Wire Head Vinnie's Isonychia Nymph Hook:  2x long nymph hook size 12 Thread:  Danville 6/0 black Tail:  3 peacock herls Abdomen: Iso DK#25 dubbing Ribbing (and Wire Head): Copper wire  Thorax:  Iso DK#25 dubbing Wing Case: 3/8 inch section of turkey tail feather, folded so you have two layers. Legs: olive-brown hen back feather “V” cut

I'm getting ready for an upcoming fly fishing trip to the Delaware River with my son Scott by tying a few Isonychia emergers.   Matt Grobert's Iso-emerger is a simple and fun fly to tie.  The fly below is tied on a size #10 Allen scud hook with only three materials; zelon for the shuck, Iso custom blend DK#25 dubbing for the body and natural deer hair for the wings. tied and photographed by Doug Korn I like to add a front hackle of brown grizzly as well to give the impression of legs. tied and photographed by Doug Korn

If your going to fish out West - Don't leave home without them! As always my video's are a little rough around the edges but, I hope you find it "good enough". Hook: Dai-Riki #305 14 Thread: Serafil 200 tan or Uni 6/0-8/0  Rib: tag end of thread  Abdomen: DK #14 Spruce Moth dubbing or light tan Palmered hackle: honey or light ginger rooster, palmered front to back, trapped with tag end thread ribbed to eye, clipped short on top and bottom. Wing: 2 Salmon Favorelle hen chicken feathers (very light ginger), or buff pheasant feathers, tied in flat one on top of the other, 1 gape length longer than hook, tied behind eye then folded over to form the head and whip finished.  Varnish the head and 1/3 of the wing. Special Note: My "Korn's Spent Wing Caddis" is tied the same way as the Spruce Moth see it here:  http://55onthefly.blogspot.com/2010/05/55-on-fly-fly.html

Wire Heads - try 'em you'll like 'em. I've been making these "Wire Heads" here in NY for many years.  A friend asked me to share them with you, so here they are.  I'm sure others have made similar heads in the past, but if so, I've never seen them. Please check out my "how to" video's below, enjoy. These videos are a bit rough and unedited.  I hope you find them "good enough" for this demo... Doug. Part 1: "How to" make wire heads on hooks instead of using beads:  Part 2: features two flies tied with "Wire Heads":  Note: I also tie; PT, GRHE, RS2's and several other nymphs like my version of the Copper John with wire heads.  Korn"s Wire Head Scud Hook: Allen, size 14 scud hook Thread: Danville 6/0 dark olive Scud Back: Uni-Mylar #13 3/64" Pearl Rib and Wire Head: copper wire - med. Body: Red Fox Squirrel dubbing  Korn's Wire Head Stone Fly Nymph Ho...

This caddis imitation was inspired by two great flies.  The late Al Campbell’s SHWAPF (swept hackle wingless all purpose fly) and the Tellico  nymph of the Great Smokie Mountains.  I've been using it for about 10 years both East and West with great success...  Almost hate to let this one out of the bag, although we have been selling it at Parks Fly Shop in Gardiner, MT for the last four years or so.  Tie some up and give them a go... You'll be glad you did. tied and photographed by Doug Korn Hook: Daiichi 1550 #14-16 Bead: green glass bead 11/0 Thread: Serafil 200 or uni 8/0  Tail & Shellback: Fox Squirrel tail Note: trim tips, tie in by the tips behind the bead.  Wrap to the bend of hook, split stack; 1/3 for tail and 2/3’s for shellback and wing. Rib: heavy copper wire 28 gauge Abdomen: dubbing caddis green Shellback and Wing: fox squirrel tail pulled forward and tied off behind bead, then folded back for wing. ...

Stone fly dries today... the fish were coming up to play... Reflections Brown Trout

Today was a very nice fishing trip.  Our son Scott is here visiting us for his Birthday which happens to be today...  So with all the warmer weather we have been having this winter I encouraged him to bring his fishing gear with him.  This morning it was still 59 degrees out at 7 am. --- but the weather forecast was for some rain and dropping temps throughout the day so we decided to head out early rather than later.  It turned out to be a good move and I was quickly into a good fish right away.  Scott's a good fisherman and we managed to catch both some big and some small browns...  We caught some rain too but nothing that made us give-it-up...   I was the lucky guy today catching two nice brown trout, a 16 and a 17 incher, outstanding fish for this creek where 12 incher's are good fish... At noon we quit and headed for our local burger joint.  A wonderful day... Anytime spent with your son is great but none better than on s...

My friend John Scott over on FAOL forum has a great Rubber Legs Stonefly Nymph* pattern that is a killer out west... I have great luck with it as does John...  I have scaled it down for here in NY to a size #14.  Just another stone to throw at them, simple to tie and different enough from what most folks are using around here. Hook: 1xl nymph #14  Thread: 6/0 Uni Black Weight: lead wrapped foil or black bead Tail & Legs: orange plastic fruit bag material or small rubber legs  Body: MFC Micro Lucent Chenille 035-black *see John's step-by-step here: RUBBER LEGS STONEFLY NYMPH by  John Scott, Lolo MT http://www.flyanglersonline.com/fotw...tw20100524.php

Our son Scott and his fiancee Erin were visiting us this weekend.  He lives and fishes in and around the Endicott, NY area.  We were tying up some turkey tail nymphs for him to use because he's been seeing some small winter stones while fishing... The last time I was out fishing on 2/9/12, I saw a few of our small stone flies on the creek too.  It won't be long before they are out in earnest.  So, tie some up and be ready for them. Here are two nymphs that I like. Korn's Oatka Stone Nymph (soft-hackle) Hook: #14 - 1xl nymph Thread: 8/0 Uni Black Tail & Body: turkey tail Rib: small copper wire Thorax: black dubbing Soft-hackle: iridescent turkey neck feather Rene Harrop's Turkey Tail Nymph Hook: #14 - 1xl nymph Thread: 8/0 Uni Black Tail, Body, wingcase, thorax and legs: turkey tail Rib: small copper wire

Hit the creek again this morning..... this pool provided some lively action! Nice brown here caught on a translucent orange Fire Fly. This run doesn't look like much but is one of my favorites... Why? Because it produces fish! Go on get out there and getch-ya some!

I got out for a couple of hours this morning.  It was about 40 degrees and very windy, but hey, I was out fishing! The water was a bit high and fast but I managed to find some fish in the slower water along the edges... Nymphing with my St Croix 5wt. and the fly of the day?  No, doubt the Fire Fly... "on the fly"

Craig Mathews at Blue Ribbon Flies has come up with a nice winter time midge emerger.   See him tie it here:   http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/how-to/soft_hackle_midge_emerger/ Inspired  by Craig, I got some "combo thread" from BRF and tied the #18's shown here... Simple to tie and just as effective I'm sure.  I hope to put this new fly to the test next week here in NY...   My materials list: Hook: 18-20 std. wet fly Thread: BRF - Combo thread 6/0 black/red for body  Tail: zelon amber or grey Thorax: black zelon or rabbit dubbing Wing: Ruff Grouse “V” tied soft-hackle style with wraps walking the fibers around the shaft.  I like my soft-hackle a little longer than Craig... tie 'em as you like 'em.

A short while ago I was encouraged by fellow FAOL forum members to submit a step-by-step of my Korn's CDC Spent-wing Caddis and the Parachute variation that I tie.  So I gathered up my meager photographic equipment and took some photo's of the tying process and sent it in.  Today they have posted it as the Fly Of The Week... see it here:  http://www.flyanglersonline.com/fotw/2012/fotw20120130.php

Korn's CDC Spent-wing Parachute Caddis ~  tied and photographed by Doug Korn This parachute caddis fly is a variation of the Korn's CDC Spent-wing Caddis, seen here: http://55onthefly.blogspot.com/2012/01/korns-cdc-spent-wing-caddis.html It makes a nice lead fly for the above standard CDC Spent-wing as that fly is not easy to see on the water... With the parachute this fly is easy to see and floats like a dream. Hook: MFC 7000 #14 Thread: Uni-8/0 Camel Body: tan type #1* CDC feather wrapped forward. Wing: 2 hen pheasant feathers tied flat, with a small drop of head cement spread on top. Post: white CDC type #3* puff feather on top of shank, fold in half and post up. Hackle: one natural colored type #1 or  #4* CDC feather using the Marc Petitjean Magic Tool.  Complete fly by trimming the post and the underside of the fly flat. *as per CDC feather chart by Hans Weilenmann