You just can't go wrong fishing the riffle sections of the Swift with a Serendipity. I once used the tradition tie with it's fine deer hair head but found it lacking, at least on the sections that I like to fish. I experimented with this fly, changing the wing and the body material. The addition of turkey flat for the wing worked nicely as did the flat, waxed nylon thread for the body. Take a close look at the "head". Yes, there's head on this version which is dubbing that is the same color as the body but DARKER. My colors are red, pink and green. The green works great in the Summer!It saved the morning at the gauge/pipe section today. The pipe has been slim pickings this month and that's bit of a mystery. I've only seen one other angler this month in the early morning when I've been there so maybe others have had the same experience. The Gauge is a different story. I took two 'bows on that stretch both on a #16 red serendipity.
Early this Friday me and my better half will be heading to Jamaica for five days for some mid winter R&R. Can't wait!!!!! Maybe the groundhog won't see his shadow next Tuesday and Spring will be "right around the corner".
Ken
14 comments:
Ken, I have been waiting for a while to see your variation of the Serendipity. Nice tie. The red softhackles are my go-to fly in that lower section. Not so different than your flies. Enjoy your trip to Jamaica!
tight lines,
Gerry
Gerry,
We need some fishing tales from southern Florida!!!!!
Hope all is well!!
Ken
That fly looks good Ken. Do you sometimes tie it with poly-yarn as well? For some reason I thought I remembered the one you showed me having a poly yarn wing. I actually tied some up in brown olive with a dun poly wing and a rib after I saw you a few weeks ago. Havent really fished them much yet though. I hit the FFO section today and got a half dozen on scuds and caddis. Enjoy the vacation.
Ken,
Did you fish the riffles with the serendipity this sunday? I figured being so cold, there would'nt be anything in them. Usually, I stick to the deepest runs or pools I can find in the winter, but I don't do well in the winter. Three weekends ago i fished the Swift a ways above the pipe in early morning, where that old blown out stone looking dam spills over. Not even a bite. Today I went to Blackbridge pool on the Farmington, same story, not even one hit. The summer/winter caddis did'nt start to come out until afternoon when I was headed back to MA. I fished a larger stone with a size 16 PT on point with a couple splitshot to get down, and a big football indicator on top. Do you have dry stretches in the cold??-CLIFF
Cluster,
I used to use poly yarn for the wing but switched to turkey flats. The fly that you saw must have been an old one. Glad to see that you did well upstream.
Cliff,
I agree with you. Two years ago the Swift below rt9 fished great through the entire winter. The water was higher then. This year the water is around 40cfs and there is more ice around the edges which leads me to believe that the water is colder and the trout are not in the riffles but are in deeper holding areas. The two that I caught had little fight to them. If we can get some higher air temps things should pick up.
Last few times there in the past 2 weeks produced bows with tiny brassies,midge pupa, scud and an egg sucking leach with an orange egg. I even got some swipes on a size 6, white, rabbit strip streamer. Going to have to tie up some of those serendipities!
Adrian
BTW anyone else see that big carp at the bottom in the Y pool almost looked bluish purple in color? Thing was pretty hefty...
Havent seen the carp, but ive definetely seen some diesel suckers in there...
30 years ago people would catch walleyes in the Y Pool.
I caught a 20 inch lake trout in the Y pool this May.
Thanks for the post Ken. I used a serendipity to catch a few 6-9" natives in Western PA this weekend, definitely going to give yours a shot.
Cluster - what size scuds do you have your best luck on?
Tom
Cluster, maybe thats what I saw. Whatever it was it was just hanging there.
Tom,
Thanks for the post!!! I'll take it that you are a PA. fly fisher. Glad to see that this blog reaches beyond good old Massachusetts! I hope that my version of this fly works for you!!
Ken
Ken, do you add split shot above your serendipities to get it down or do you fish it a few inches below the surface? I think some also dress the "white" part with floatant to act as an emerger in the film. Wondering which works for you
Anonymous,
I put weight on if the water conditions require it. The traditional serendipity has a deer hair wing which would keep it near the surface if weight isn't used. I don't like that set up. The "turkey flat" pattern stays high enough in the current for me. Micro shot will get it down.
Ken
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