Another Look At Soft Hackles

 " Don't fish for the fish that you see.  Fish for the fish that you don't see". Me

Partridge and Olive size 14

It was about 8 to 10 years ago that a reader asked the question about tying soft hackles on scud style hooks.  I think we all pulled out our scud hooks and began to whip some up.  They looked great and caught fish too but seemed to faded into memory except for a special situation.  I see them on the web occasionally but they appear as an afterthought.

Now, the question is: should we use them?  The answer is "of course" but they work best in certain conditions.

1. I tie 95% of my SH on standard dry fly hooks.  I hardly ever use heavier wire wet fly hooks.  I fish most of my SH on the swing so I don't want any unwanted weight from the hook effecting the presentation.  BTW, my most used sizes are 12, 14 and 16.  Size 10 and 8 work well on big stonefly rivers like the Millers and the EB but most of the time it's the standard stuff.

2. Now, if 95% of my SH are tied on standard dry fly hooks what about the other 5%? When I tie in sizes 18 through 22 I use scud hooks. Why, the hook gape is wider in these hooks so you have a better chance of hooking and landing a trout with that style of fly than with the standard straight shank hook. (the added weight of the hook, in those sizes, can be dismissed.

3. Another thing is that the majority of these tiny SH are basically black because I get to use those tiny startling hackles!!

4.  Don't waste time and money with those gimpy little bags of loose partridge feathers.  Make friends with an upland bird hunter or just buy the total skin.  It's worth it.

The Seasons Change

As I write this blog entry it's 5 am and only 49 degrees on this last day of August.  In my opinion Autumn is the best time for the fly fisher.  Book your dates now!!

BTW, I'm being told that the EB is off  the Fall stocking lit BUT when I look it up, on the latest updated list, it's still there.

Ken

EB Musings And A River Update.

"And never fall into that statistical macho trap that's so prevalent in fly fishing these days. If you keep score you can be beaten, but if you refuse to compete you can leave the impression that you have long since risen above that kind of crap" - John Gierach 

The Ware and the Millers in Royalston/Winchendon were stocked on 10/11.

The Quinapoxet River was stocked 10/12.

Well, it's about time! The EB has pulled off an imitation of the Millers by holding on to its water FOREVER! On Monday 10/8 we worked our way through a flow of 505 cfs and then on Tuesday we still had to deal with a 475 flow. The latter number allowed us to get across the Bliss Pool which is the best way to fish that lovely piece of water. Clients on both days caught fish.

Now, last Fall this river did not receive a stocking because someone in the DFW thought the flow was too low (it wasn't). This year the stocking occurred with a flow over 1000 and that moved the trout around instead of being all balled up at stocking points. We caught trout everywhere and in numbers that didn't make us look like we were fishing a trout hatchery. Bliss, Chronicle, The Bend and Les's Pool all produced.

We tossed heavy metal at those guys in the form of cone and bead buggers and a size 8 beadhead breadcrust. Having sink tips also helped. Now we are going to get some rain tomorrow so watch the flow if you intend to fish there. Under 600 cfs is a cautious "go", over 600 is a "no go".

River Update

The Ware finally got its Fall share of trout and its flow is perfect right now. Last year we caught a mixed bag of bows and browns with the browns being a bonus because browns were only stocked in the Spring. The Swift is fishing well. Remember to check for clipped adipose fins and mark the spot where you caught them and then email me the info. The Millers continues to misbehave with a flow of 800 as I write. One reader mentioned that he saw rising trout in the Second Run below Rezendes up in the Bears Den. As the flow goes down the first place to fish will be Orcutt which can be carefully waded at 700 cfs below the bridge.

Book Me

I still have some good dates in October and November is only half full (it will be 80% booked by Halloween). Contact me !!!!!!!


Ken

All This Rain = The Swift

"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded" - Yogi Berra

One has to go back to 2011 when Hurricane Irene stormed through in late August of that year to witness the high flows that have taken over New England. Even the noble Farmington is busting it's banks as this weather onslaught continues. There is one stream that remains civilized and that's our own Swift. It's a tick under 55 cfs as I write and baring a Quabbin overflow it will remain in that neighborhood. Fish it this weekend but try to move around. Fish it from the Bubbler to Bondsville!!!

Brookies??

I'm looking but I don't see as many as in years past. Cady Lane by the horse farm used to have schools of them all Summer long but this year is very different. Did they find a more suitable home or did the browns thin them out or is this just a population cycle that they are going through? We will know in three weeks.

Stocking

Well, It has started with the Squannacook and the Nissie getting their Autumn share along with some lakes and ponds which may be the safest bet this weekend. Don't even think about the Millers, the EB or the Ware.

Top Fly

The Partridge and Orange of course.

Ken

Seed Bead Heads, Partridge and Magic Orange, Big Bows And Food

"The future isn't what it used to be" -  Yogi Berra

I can't seem to leave well enough alone - I'm always fiddling around with fly patterns and new materials usually with the result being a different profile to the fly while still making it look like a real insect instead of am attractor fly. Seed Beads, a mainstay in jewelry manufacturing, filled the bill.

Just march into a Michael's Craft store and head for jewelry making. You will see vials of different colored plastic beads (pretty much weightless) and then pick out a color. I picked Olive. Size 11/0 pretty much works for sizes 14 through 18. Flies tied with these beads give us a true profile that nymphs have without the heavy attractor bead and they will not be getting you down into the weeds which is what you don't want! Like the soft hackle family they are the perfect low water fly!!

The Partridge and Magic Orange has been my top fly on the Swift within the past week with a size 16 taking top honors. As I stated in my last post you can order Partridge and Orange flies from me and then send an email with the words "Magic Orange" and I'll send you the real thing.

There has been a rash of break-offs by monster bows on the Swift lately. A client broke off three last Wednesday evening and David said he lost four on Sunday. Both of these gentlemen are accomplished anglers and were not using ultralight tippet material. The top photo is of a rainbow that was in the 20 inch range that I managed to put into the net only to break off the next large bow.

I love chicken in all of its forms and it just seems best when it's paired with garden grown summer vegetables.  Cooking this is easy: take some boneless chicken thighs seasoned with pepper and throw them on a hot grill just to sear the outside. Then transfer to a skillet in the kitchen and toss in some zucchini strips, thinly sliced carrots strips, thinly sliced onion, some tomato wedges, one thinly sliced potato (like the thickness of a potato chip), a few chick peas, season with anything you like (I like pepper) and then cover and cook slowly. When it's almost done toss in some baby spinach and let it wilt.

Ken