There was no genius on my part, Gary Warren presses a handful of aesthetically horrid flies into my hand – and while I’m recoiling in abject terror and mock offense, he’s cackling madly “trust me Bubba, you gonna want those..”
I’ve got a handful of bulky and garish panfish flies and we’re supposed to assaulting one of California’s pristine spring creeks…
I’m thinking my leg’s being pulled. Gossamer and precise I could handle, small and delicate I was expecting, but large-lumpy with a taste of cathouse was what I got.
Chenille has been one of many casualties over the last couple of decades. Once common on all manner of trout flies – wet or dry, it’s now mostly relegated to large flies. Smaller synthetic chenille saw a brief resurgence, but the steady onslaught of synthetics with similar yet more forgiving qualities have eroded its use considerably.
I keep skeins stashed in most of the colors, but my fishing has the diversity that warrants such a collection.
After that evening on the creek I called it the “Forbidden Color” – whose name can only be whispered among life-long pals, as everyone else is slapping their knee and laughing at your sincerity.
“Honest, this stuff is patented fish death!” and strangers backpedal making helpless motions when you offer some – like you were insisting “they’re eating Vienna sausages, just put one on a treble hook.”
If it had a name I’ve forgotten it, and Gary never claimed ownership, only insisting that no better stonefly nymph had ever seen fresh water …
If any, the secret is getting the fly wet (above). Garish oranges become shades of brown and giggles are stifled as it’s suddenly predatory and eatable.
Early season I’ll carry no less than a dozen. It’s heavy, packed with lead or in bead head variant, one of those classic “money” flies that look right at home once you wedge it repeatedly in a trout’s maw.
Tags: variegated orange and black chenille, gary warren, stonefly nymph, early season nymphing, weighted nymph, bead head
Scary, isn’t it?
Substantially Leadeded to be labeled a “depth Charge”? That’s the key hallmark of a Stonefly nymph – get down in those deep, nasty holes where a Hares ear can only dream of going.
This is the original version, tied with an entire shank of lead wire. Beads are just as good, and both is better.
Nice looking fly. Have you ever tried using those chenille stems they have at craft stores? I haven’t had a chance to look at them up close yet, but they come in some great fishy colors.
@Cabot – yes I have – with both good and bad results. The dark colors are fine, but the light or bright colors often are accompanied with untreated steel wire, after the first use they start rusting and discolor the body. For this fly, rust color would be an asset – just one more shade of brown among many.
Whilst Packing my gear for this weekend’s backpacking overnighter into a small drainage, I came across one of these in one of my “feeder” boxes.
I didn’t even know I had it, undoubtedly something that came along in some fly swap and never made it into the main rotation, but one look said “Do it, dooooo it….” and into the box it went.