mayfly nymph pattern

[srupp]

I will admit I seldom use mayflies in stillwater, adults nor nymphs, however a good friend says he reaches for it first and its the last fly he goes to in fall...
So the standard hares ears nymph and pheasant tail nymphs..are the tried and true standbys.
In spite of Mr Brian Chan repeatadly admonishing fly tiers make it a resemblance it doesnt need to be a great realistic identical pattern...that is what im leaning toward in my new mayfly nymph pattern..the tail, body, color shape came out fine..finding a small covert feather is a challenge. .almost done..trade off fo some sanding on some woodwork and another knife to sharpen...lol will post new pattern tomorrow. .I hope. Gonna stick to size 12 and 14 only
Cheers
Steven

If you guys get sick of new flies..just say so...

[Sofa King]

very true about the realism.
I can't remember the fly now, i'll have to look in my box.
but, I have some that are real-er looking, and in this one little lake, never had a bite with them.
then, I have the same fly, but with a totally out-of place-looking piece of pink wool that's been tied into the fly.
that one gets smashed every time it hits the water.

[Sofa King]

never tire of seeing new samples.
anybody who does, can just not click on the thread.

[srupp]

Hmm just chatted with another fly fishing tyer...and Garry recommended size 18 and 16...seems kinda small? Size you guys use?
Steven

[wrenchhead]

Size 14 hares ear is my go to searching pattern

[srupp]

Size 14 hares ear is my go to searching pattern

Thank you..going to stivk with plan A size 14 and 12..maybe a couple smaller justincase..lol
Steven

[Steve W]

I have used both the Pheasant Tailed Nymph and Hares Ear Nymph down to size 16 while fishing a mayfly hatch, mostly an East Kootenay thing. However, more recently in Thompson a dn Hwy 24 area lakes I've found that a size 14, bead head or not soft hackle works very well too. Mostly use a medium grey floss body or a dubbing color I call "wool sock grey". Red wire or silver wire rib and if a bead is used a black tungsten one appropriate to the hook size, Grizzly hackle fibers ta for the tail and a grizzly hackle as long as the body fairly sparse up front.

[BigfishCanada]

A friend does incredibly well fishing one with a pumpkin head, he will take his belly boat right over the school and drop his line right now into the hatch/school , not sure its a mayfly though?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JS-h18PRDBs/TzsVO2tibtI/AAAAAAAACiM/QZSn6gNTU7Q/s1600/Pumpkinhead.jpg

Ill be using chronimids this spring and when i get bored troll with leachs

http://flyguys.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/KrazyBlackRedIceCreamConeChironomidPupa640x480.jpg

[elknut]

sorry wrong picture

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/SRR_60410001.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/SRR_60410001.jpg.html)

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/SRR_60380001.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/SRR_60380001.jpg.html)

the tail is grizzly the body is yellow dun with scud stretch over..the entire hook was prewrapped with copper wire thin.. thorax was pale dun and the wings were partridge feather with some uv resin..top was 2 toned with brown waterproff pen..tied on #12..still some fine tuning..

well????

steven

[krazy]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/SRR_60380001.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/SRR_60380001.jpg.html)

the tail is grizzly the body is yellow dun with scud stretch over..the entire hook was prewrapped with copper wire thin.. thorax was pale dun and the wings were partridge feather with some uv resin..top was 2 toned with brown waterproff pen..tied on #12..still some fine tuning..

well????

steven

I really like the depth (translucent) look of the body and wingcase!

[Knute]

Looking good Steven, lots of patience applied to that little beauty.
Tying desk still as neat and tidy as it was before you started tying the last few weeks?

[srupp]

Looking good Steven, lots of patience applied to that little beauty.
Tying desk still as neat and tidy as it was before you started tying the last few weeks?

A little finessing ..new flies always require fine tuning..muscle memory..to get the recipe to fit..
The desk? Kinda looks like a bomb went off..organized chaos..still green, then grey finally brown.. still 4 weeks away from a few dries..with trying to go for elk...and sharpeming knifes, wood working and pretty painfull 15 hrs a day..Unfortunately the chronic limping poor gait is throwing my back into the pile with destroyed knees and hip...the life of a retired geriatric ex..paramedic..
Srupp

[Big Lew]

That's a mighty fine specimen Steve. You being a perfectionist sure shows in your results.

[srupp]

Hmmm trying hard to get better with time..so proportion, color size..even the tiny bit extra wing..legs to try to incorporate some movement....it is a new pattern hasnt caught a single trout yet but here is hoping..hmmm later I will post some photos of size 18 adult mayfly now those truly take some concentration calm hands and no more than 1 coffee..plus reading glasses..
Cheers
Steven

[srupp]

so here are a couple size #14 hares ears nymph..mayfly nymph made with dubbed on rabbits face hare...same for the tail..lots of pressure needed and plenty of wax to kep it there..some natural partridge for wing case wings..
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/SRR_60460001.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/SRR_60460001.jpg.html)

steven

[guest]

Wow Steven,
your mastering your hobby .... very nice !

Will Mulies and Rams take the bait ?

[srupp]

Wow Steven,
your mastering your hobby .... very nice !

Will Mulies and Rams take the bait ?

hmmm recognize the tail fibers???they actually came off a late season bird supplied by a excellent guy on this forum..

the mallard...

cheers and THANKS

steven

[srupp]

hmmm last pattern for mayfly #14 grey...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/SRR_6052.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/SRR_6052.jpg.html)

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/SRR_60530001.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/SRR_60530001.jpg.html)

cheers

Steven

[270ruger]

Gentlemen,
I'm going to start tying flies can someone forward the better sites where to get information on patterns etc
Thanks,

[huntcoop]

Gentlemen,
I'm going to start tying flies can someone forward the better sites where to get information on patterns etc
Thanks,

www.flytierspage.com

Is a good site for pictures, videos and videos.

[Knute]

www.flytierspage.com (http://www.flytierspage.com)

Is a good site for pictures, videos and videos.

^^x2...Look for Art Lindgren, Philip Rowley, Ian Forbes and Kelly Davison.

I also like the Sportfishing on the Fly site...SFOTF...good BC patterns

[Bugle M In]

Found this old thread after the recent 2019 fishing thread and looking online for some different Mayfly patterns.
Search brought me to this link.

Srupp, looks like you have some real talent there!
Any of those patterns a "go to" that you like when using Mayflies??

Looking for something more than just my pheasant tail mayfly pattern to experiment with.
Can be a deadly fly to use between say 10:30 am till 2 pm around this time of year.

[srupp]

Hmmm if I only could have 1 fly pattern..Brian Chans ruby eyed leech..dont forget to boil it in hot water for 30 seconds to get tge kink out..BIG DEAL..REALLY helps immensley and add some weight to the body AND the copper cone head.
fished along the weeds and shallow water benches on floating line..DEADLY..or dragged along the actual drop off rowing or electric.
mayflies comprise 5% of fish food
Steven

[Bugle M In]

Hmmm if I only could have 1 fly pattern..Brian Chans ruby eyed leech..dont forget to boil it in hot water for 30 seconds to get tge kink out..BIG DEAL..REALLY helps immensley and add some weight to the body AND the copper cone head.
fished along the weeds and shallow water benches on floating line..DEADLY..or dragged along the actual drop off rowing or electric.
mayflies comprise 5% of fish food
Steven

Yup, good advice about the boiling water technique to straighten out the fibers on Simi-Seal etc.
Do have them tied up, but I might possibly have tied with "too much" Simi-Seal?
Guess I can pull out some fibers, but bring it up for others to "pay attention to" if tying them.
Do however need to tie up some "Balanced Leeches" and use them on a Float off the dry line. (hear that's a deadly way to fish them).

Mayflies I suppose depends on the lake one fishes.
At Lundbom out of Merrit, they work really well right now as well as Damsels.
But then, at White Lake out of Salmon Arm, the Mayflies aren't that great. (better off with Damsels and Chronies)

Just looking for a secondary Mayfly Pattern other than the Pheasant Tail Mayfly (with or without copper bead) that will always be standard issue.
Finally sick and tired of tying up McPhail Caddis Pupa the past few months. (Never got to Sheridan as I was planning on)

Also, tied up a bunch of Boobies and got a hold of a VII Sink Line to drop down quick and retrieve.

Biggest Issue is I still sit in a Belly Boat, so no fish finder, so a bit of a guessing game.
Although, I hear there are some new fish finders that work off of a "float" and cell phone app.
(I-Bopper and Deeper Pro are some options: https://www.amazon.com/ReelSonar-Wireless-Bluetooth-Smart-Finder/dp/B07H6S4ZB4)

[srupp]

Hmmmm mayflies are not that important a food source IMO for rainbows..
Chronomids, shrimp..gamarius...leech...caddis..
Mayflies..for special short term..not as much as dragonflies, damsel flies..about the same as waterboatman..
Doing some woolly buggers up last night..
Ordering some more chronomids hooks etc..how can a guy have 2,000 chronomid hooks..and NOT have the 2 size..shapes..lengths I want to tie up..hundreds of # 18.. yet no 16 xxl..figures..
With 5,000 hooks..literally not figuratively. .and need something different..lol
Want to pack my portable tying station..and tie some chronnies up while @ Sheridan..
Tight lines
Srupp