Nothing looks worse than your standard mop fly. You know what I'm talking about - a one color mop finger with a bead head. There is no creativity here and we know it! We can do better with a little imagination!
Remember, what comes out of our vises is supposed to look like a living creature because that's what trout like to eat. They don't want to eat squiggly pieces of cotton that are lashed to a hook but will snap at them due to, well, territorial rage. Let's make something that looks REAL and ALIVE!! And it's going to be easy!
Second, put a collar on this fly of either buggy dubbing or dub on some marabou to get an even buggier effect.
Third, use a sharpie to add to lifelike color to the creation. I like brown.
Forth, notice that the top fly has a collar of large partridge. Do anything that you want. Remember, I've caught trout with this fly on almost every river that I used it on. (the river where it failed was on the WB of the Westfield. I'll fix that this spring!)
Ken
19 comments:
Fished them last year (admittedly without enthusiasm) and didn't see that they were a magic fly. Fared better with std large nymphs! I will say that your grey mottled one would make a good cranefly/helgramite imitation.
Anonymous 8:20
I had hellgrammites in mind when I first used this fly. I worked really well on the Millers and even with those stuffy rainbows on the Swift!
Ken
When all else fails put on a simple mop fly and you nab one almost instantly. Works everytime.
Brandon,
You get it!!!!!!!!!!!! Something "dressed" will probably do better!
Ken
Ken -
I'm a little PO'd at you. Dang it, you came up with it first :) ha ha ha! Love that idea to use bead chain on a mop. That's a super idea!
Will
Will,
I knew you'd like it. It makes sense instead of a mop and bead. I've tied up some wB's with them. Looks good, fishes good - it's a winner!!!!!
Ken
Ken you likely saw this... But it's a nice read and hopefully a sign this is really going to occur (Quinnie Dam Removal) http://www.telegram.com/item/20180304/grant-will-pay-to-remove-west-boylstons-quinapoxet-dam
Will,
I devoted much of a post on the Quinnie dam back on February 18 and got a lot of good feedback from readers. My concern is that this project has been going on the Y E A R S with stories that the money has been allocated already only to find that the new grant money is for feasibility. I'm not going to start waving the pom-poms and doing high fives until I see the earth movers working. This is Massachusetts!!!
Ken
Good point... I'm going to stay optimistic though... This would be Soooooooooo Awesome!
Ken since u will be in florida I believe a white mop fly with a bunch of white maraboo collar and black bead chain would work great to match the white and brownish sand fleas that are in the wash on a receding wave. Watch a u tube video on catching florida ocean sand fleas and you will see what I mean. That white fly I gave you last year was trying to represent them. I think the mop with white and tan collar would work. Hang on tight because the strikes are very hard as the fish fly thru the wash to gather the sand fleas burrowing back. At least on the west coast they did. Enjoy the warmth, wish I could be there and try it out myself.
Will,
I am optimistic also BUT it seems like "irons in the fire" mean more than completed projects.
tincup Bob,
Very good idea and I'll try to work some up tonight.
BTW, I've seen videos of scooping up sand fleas by the DOZENS. Some actually cook and eat them. If I'm starving I might have to do it!
Ken
Per the article “The grant will assist the MWRA to develop permit-ready plans for the removal” - sounds like we are still a ways away from the ACTUAL removal. Love to see it happen, not holding my breath tho!
Quinnie is 1 of 4 dams projected to be removed with recent grant funds: https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-grants-to-restore-rivers-increase-climate-readiness
It took a bunch of time, but two dams on the Shawsheen in Andover have been removed recently. So I keep the faith that the Quinnie dam will one day be removed as well.
Georgeann Kerr's slide deck on Quinnie Dam removal from 2015: http://www.mwra.com/monthly/wscac/2015/101315-quinapoxet-dam.pdf
Andrew,
In defense of the dam busters there is a major difference between the Quinnie and the Shawsheen: the Quinnie flows into a public water supply and consideration must be given to sediment flow etc.
Ken
Any word on the Bondsville Dam restraining the Swift? There had been a lobby some time ago after a tragedy.
Another dam, in the center of Hampden on the Scantic, didn't have to wait for state permission. During the heavy rain and ice build up of February, it gave way. I was told the ice avalanche barely made it under the downstream bridge by the Village Mart. It drained what had been impounded for over 100 years, exposing a few nice runs, and offering the opportunity for downstream browns and brookies to take advantage of the spawning beds way upstream. It will be interesting to see what changes occur in the fishery. The Scantic holds native brook and wild brown populations. From the headwater, the first dam downstream now is in Somers, CT.
Bob O,
There are two dams in Bondsville on the Swift. The owner of one needs to take it down. Some property owners started to spread misinformation about the effects of a takedown. It's been in limbo for years now.
Ken
have you tried the millers river or the ware river yet? or is water too high there. thanx for any input
Ken,
I assume you're talking about the upper dam. Interesting that a new article was just posted about that here: http://www.gazettenet.com/Repairs-to-the-Upper-Bondsville-Dam-almost-underway-15998842. Doesn't look like that one will be coming down soon.
I'm not sure who owns the lower, smaller dam; I've heard National Fiber. I enjoy fishing above, below and between the two.
Bigmster,
Way too high, way too cold!
Kevj,
Hmm...
Ken
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