It goes without saying that fishing in Minnesota has been denied me. Roughfisher and I split the entire world of fly tying between us, he gets all the Tungsten in North America, and I can have an occasional dry fly hackle …
… maybe, and only if he gets to pick which one.
In the face of true Genius, I had to risk it all …
Hatches Magazine sent an email featuring some of their latest patterns, and the above Chain Gang Stonefly (by Dean Myers) is to die for …
The fact that it weighs a quarter-pound will only be off-putting to the dry fly contingent, who’ll wish they had a dozen or two when they meet that shadowy plunge pool with the rock overhang. The self-same pool that defies a good drift – because of the speed and direction of current.
I recognize it’s one of those must have flies that offers access to the dark depths where that enormous and cagey 13” lunker calls home, denying the lie to all the 10” pretenders.
I would think the steelhead crowd just went into salivate as well.
As I saw it first I’m allowed a bit of artistic license – somber and its steelhead cousin, tied in Espresso-Claret spectral. I simplified the pattern as this is a fly you’ll snag in quantity.
I just want to see Roughfisher eat his cork grip when he sees the gravitational pull of Brass as it blows past his Tungsten enroute to an impact crater in the creek bed.
Some flies you lay eyes on and rush to the vice, this being just the ticket to send the most jaded tier scrambling for colored bead chain. Significant out-of-the-box thinking on the part of Mr. Myers.
I’d like to see a close up of that spectral espresso. Is that one of the 101 Ingredient dubbing blends? I see the possibilty of a nice hellgrammite pattern here.
Yes, it’s one of a number of claret blends I’ll be offering.
Claret-Gray
Claret-Black
Claret-Espresso
Claret-Olive
… are on the books.
that beast has got soul….
Why am I not surprised the Roughfisher is in rapture over the possibilities. He’s likely got a dozen already tied with bead chain and a 5mm tungsten chaser.
… and since he feels it to be a bit light, has two BB split shot instead of the antennae …
2010 has been the year that fly tying has officially entered its Baroque period. Remember that you read it here first.
Damn, that’s sexy. Why the hell didn’t I think of it? Brilliant pattern.
Wow. I am equal parts impressed at the ingenuity and humbled by what a crap tier I am. Great stuff.
Sparse Grey Hackle spoke of his bead chain nymph working on the Esopus in Fishless Days, Angling Nights back in 1971. You would have thought that some development on this theme would have occurred over the past 39 years. Of course, many would have justifiably thought it was a tongue in cheeck pattern given his dry fly purism. What would Sparse say?
Jesus, DUCK!
First thing that went through my mind was how big a hole it would make as it went though my mind.
The hooks you’re using look suitable for Queequeg.
What a terrific idea. And to think, I thought all that stuff was good for was eyeballs on minnow patterns and clickin’ off the ceiling fan. Very nice.
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