55 on the fly

A great "all purpose fly" and a good winter nymph.  Tied with a black phase gray squirrel tail, if you can get some.  If not use red fox squirrel instead using the darkest material on the tail.  My buddy Ben gave me a black squirrel tail from one he had shot and I tied up a bunch of these for him.  With or without a bead or wire head it's a great searching pattern on those dark and dreary winter days.  Fish it as a wet fly dead drifted and then swung downstream. Black and Tan APF (all purpose fly) Nymph tied and photographed by Doug Korn This fly is one of a series of variations of my Korn’s SCHWARPF fly.  (Swept Custom Hackle Winged All Revised Purpose Fly) materials list: Hook: vintage Mustad #16 wet Thread: Serafil tan 200/2 Wire Head and rib: gold 28 ga. craft wire 2 layers 4 and 3 turns Tail, Shellback and Wing: black squirrel tail tied in by the tips, divided 1/3 for tail, 2/3's for shellback and wing Bo...

Continuing with my winter fly pattern series I offer up the Griffith's Gnat as my go-to dry fly. Many people overlook the old Griffith's Gnat and think of it as a pattern of days gone by.  But for me, it's a great searching pattern.  An effective fly throughout the year that excels in winter when the midges are about.  When there's a break in the winter weather and the midges are on the water I fish the G-Gnat.  It's an easy pattern to tie and it only requires a couple of materials.  It makes an excellent indicator fly as well, team it up with a Wire Head Pheasant Tail and have at it. my #1 winter dry fly the Griffith's Gnat materials list: Hook: dry #14-18 Thread: Danville 70 denier in red Body: peacock herl Hackle: grizzly

Here's another good winter fly. I like it as a trailer. Tied here as a "Wire Head" with an orange "Hot Spot".  It can also be tied with pink, red and chartreuse thread.  It doesn't get much simpler than that, but don't let that fool you, this fly takes fish in all seasons but really shines in the winter. Materials list: Hook: wet size #16-18 Thread and Hot Spot: Flo. Orange 6/0 Wire Head: gold 28 ga. craft wire or gold bead Tail and Body: Pheasant Tail Note: I like to add a dab of super glue to the wire head and the hot spot.