" Try not to go too light on your tippet, play your trout hard, land them quickly, and try to keep them in the water. No 8x tippet!!! Fishing ridiculously light tippet when water temps are creeping up forces you to baby the trout and play them too long, and that can literally kill them." - Wise advice from UpCountry on the Farmington
It was the Fall of 2019 when I struck lightning at the tying vise. Now, we would like to think that every creation is an "original" when we know that it isn't. In reality it's just a variation on a theme and this soft hackle is just that but with a few wrinkles that give it it's own personality. The Copper Grouse is that kind of fly. Yes, it's another soft hackle but it has a few tweaks and bells and whistles that seem to set it apart. I've used it with success on the Millers, the EB and the Ware but it really shines on the Swift AND it seems to shine best in the Fall. Brookies and egg eating bows attack this fly.
If you have problems ordering this fly on my site then just shoot me an email with the following info:
What size fly x 1.80 each x 1.065 (sales tax)=
Minimum order = $20.00
Playing Fish Out Quickly
Hook the trout and try to get it to break the surface. Slashing on the surface tires a fish out quickly by disrupting their oxygen supply. They give up quickly this way and then are easily revived. There is an easy 50% reduction in fight time using this method.
Fish the Millers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken
10 comments:
Two weeks ago, I was walking past the Tree Pool for the unfished areas downstream, and I stopped to watch a guy try to land a 14-inch rainbow on 8x (he said this to a friend) as he walked the fish from the Pipe all the way down to the Tree Pool. He still had not netted it after 10 minutes, when I left, disgusted, knowing that it was a rainbow no one else would ever get to catch. Amazing.
Charles
Charles,
You have the right to be disgusted!!
Ken
Good advice, Ken, on bringing fish in quickly. The story above by Charles describing the 10 minute "fight" is indeed disappointing. I seldom use anything lighter than 5X these days and catch enough to keep me happy. Maybe I would catch more with 6X and smaller corresponding flies, but I don't think so.
Sam
I find it hard to believe in this day and age that there are anglers who are so damn clueless...if they know what 8x is they surely know to get the fish in quickly otherwise break him off...I have no problem breaking a fish off if its taking too long ...it happens a couple times per yr...the thrill of the hookup is enough for me these days...I've landed 3 inch brookies to 100+ lb tuna...the hookup is the same thrill regardless of size
Sam and BobT,
The place on the Swift where I've seen the most dead/dying fish has been in the debris pile below the Tree Pool. We know how they got there!
Ken
Ken, Hope your back to 100% or at least 90%! Bring it in quick net it and hope your barbless hook falls out, return to river for tomorrow! This isn't You Tube! Cheers,Chet
Dear Ken,
Just a quick kudos for your Copper Grouse - I have found that this pattern appeals to even the most educated Swift River trout when competently fished. Very simple to tie, for me the most effective sizes have been #16 and #18, the latter preferred especially by the Swift's rainbows.
The Copper Grouse compares favorably to the famous Hatching Pupa created by Ellis Hatch; both patterns have earned permanent places in my fly box.
-Mike
I've been enjoying your blog since I went fly-only. Your passion for this beautiful sport shines through. I do everything I can to fish with no footprint, and appreciate the note on heavier tippet. If you don't mind, how heavy would you say you can go with flies in the 16-20 range before it impacts presentation?
Also, have you been finding safe temps on the Millers?
Thanks in advance if you don't mind sharing, and thanks for the educational blog posts over the years either way!
Dave
I think really the only reason one would need 8x is to fish one of Mr Trella's wicked pissah midge as they are about the size of an atom, even with these flies I've found 6x and a good down and across works just as well(5 or 4x is fine subsurface 99 percent of the time), look for brands that offer higher lbs test there are a few brands whose 6x diameter fishes more like a 4x in strength use a rod that has some flex down into the middle and youd be surprised how much uumph you can give these fish without breaking off
Paul Fay and Dave M,
There is a regular commenter (BobT) on this blog who fishes size 28 with 5x tippet. The flies are tied on wide eyed hooks so he can use 5x and he doesn't play the fish to death or break them off. If you are fishing below the surface you don't need micro tippet.
Mike,
Thank you!
Ken
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