Fly of the month (North America)
What Fly fishing fly works best for this time of year in and around North America
5.1.09
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About Me
- Joe "Mad about fly fishing" average
- This page is born out of a passion for fly fishing and for the bugs that we tie at the end of our leaders. If you think about it... ...it doesn't matter what altra light custom made rod with double tapered line and 100% flurocarbon tippet you have, if the fly is wrong they are not going to bite and them biting is what we want :) Tight lines
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Muddle Through Somehow on North American Streams with a Minnow for All Seasons
If you were to randomly peruse the contents of any North American fly fisherman's gear box at any given time, you could bet money (and win!) on the odds of finding a muddler minnow (or twenty) somewhere in the jumble. The muddler is generally considered the most widely used streamer fly in North American fly fishing circles, and for good reason—it produces results regardless of the season.
In the scheme of things, the muddler hasn't been around too terribly long---only since 1953 (according to “official” record). It was purportedly invented by Don Grapen of Minnesota and announced in a magazine called “The Practical Fly Fisherman.” If you ascribe to this bit of history, then you'll accept that the muddler was named after a small goby-type fish called a cockatush. In Wisconsin, these fish are called “muddlers.” There is some debate, however, that the muddler was more likely developed around the turn of the century by a German immigrant named Ludwig Moedler who created something suspiciously akin to a muddler minnow by wrapping deer hair around a fishing hook and trimming it in a circular fashion. Regardless of where your loyalties rest, there's no arguing that the muddler minnow is a fly to be reckoned with.
Part of the muddler's success lies in the fact that, contrary to its name, it is capable of imitating any number of tasty foods preferred by trout. Left unweighted, it rides on the surface, serving up a convincing imitation of a hopper, moth, or small, struggling mouse. Rig it with a bit of split shot, and it dips beneath the surface to imitate a variety of bait fish, especially sculpins. Additional weight can be added to allow your muddler to dive deep, where the big ones lie. While innumerable color schemes and configurations have been tried and tested, all muddlers have one thing in common: a spun deer hair head. The traditional muddler design is also characterized by a squirrel hair underwing and turkey feather wing. Most of the time, the hooks are wrapped in gold or silver mylar or tinsel. The muddler is sometimes considered to be one of the more difficult flies to tie, but with practice (and you'll want many muddlers in your box), it is said to become something like second nature.
Just as there are multiple configurations and imitative uses for the muddler, there are also multiple ways of fishing this fly. If you're after a vicious attack, try stripping the fly across the surface in a rhythmic pattern that results in a tantalizing wake. Another approach is to allow the muddler to sink and retrieve it by twitching it either against or across the river's current. Of course, your retrieval pattern will depend on how you choose to weight your muddler. Regardless of how you make it, weight it, or retrieve it, tie yourself a handful of muddlers and never second-guess your selection again. You'll do more than muddle through—you'll succeed with “flying” colors!
The October Caddis Nymph: A Fly for “Fall” Seasons
As summer draws to a close, fly fishing in the Northwest heats up with a number of hatches enticing enough to whet even the most sluggish of trout appetites. Among these hatches is that of the aptly named October caddis, which begins around the end of August and can potentially last well into November. What the October caddish hatch lacks in size (it is often considered one of the smaller or more piecemeal hatches), it makes up for in unbridled excitement. It all goes back to the fact that big fish want a big meal, and there's hardly any meal fatter, more vulnerable, or more tempting this time of year than an October caddis nymph.
For all its varying shapes and add-ons, the October Caddis fly is typically produced in one hallmark color—a vibrant, autumnal orange that not only reminds us of Halloween (hence its occasional nickname, the “Halloween Caddis”), but also successfully mimics the orange coloration of the October caddis itself. Presentation for the October Caddis is fairly straightforward. Choose a fast-moving, freestone stream, and and try aiming for a shady spot, or one overhung with vegetation. Deep holes are also another good bet. Since you'll be imitating an emerging caddis nymph, use a slow, twitching retrieval that brings the fly along the bottom and up “towards the light.” Don't get lazy, though! The October Caddis is known to produce aggressive, thrilling strikes, so keep a a firm grip on things.
Finally, it should be noted that successful use of the October caddis—and you will be successful if you abide by the “rules”--is not for the impatient. As stated before, the October caddis hatch isn't something that happens all at once. You'll have to be diligently vigilant to catch the hatch as it begins so that you can tie one on and be a part of the action. Ultimately, whatever time you must spend scouting the riverbanks for the start of the hatch will be time well rewarded, perhaps beyond your wildest angling dreams. For a fishing experience that's all treat and no tricks, tie on an October Caddis nymph and let the good times roll!
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