Thread: Dry Flies

I've been tying mostly jigs and clouser type flies. I tied up some dry type flies and bead flies this weekend for gills. Do I need some kind of wax on them ? I have only used poppers in the past.

Floatant will help keep the dries on top. There are different types available. "Gink" is a good one.

Warning: gills will chew up trout dries pretty quickly.

Ditto the 'Gink', good stuff, reapply to fly as needed as you're fishing.

Thanks guys. Whats a good gill pattern? I've just been making up some buggy looking patterns and wooly boogers.

I've been doing well with a beadhead nymph that I tie.
Hook: TMC 2302 #10
Tail: wood-duck fibers
Body: peacock lite brite

Thes guys thought it looked good


and these


Steve

Originally Posted by sticksteer

Whats a good gill pattern?

You can't go wrong with WB's. You might try tying some smaller ones in size 12, 14, and maybe even 16.

Traditional trout nymphs work great, too: pheasant tail, gold-ribbed hare's ear, and prince.

You guys use a float of any kind or just gently strip it in? I use some soft hackles and nymphs from time to time, just casting and twitching it back, but I've nver messer much with strike indicators or floats when flyfishing.

Originally Posted by INGrandad

You guys use a float of any kind

For trout, yes. For gills, never.

I just use a slow, hand-twist retrieve. This keeps the line tight and helps you to feel the bites.

For topwater, I've made some tiny spun hair flies that work very well and you don't need any flotant. Trimming the little things can be a pain, but doesn't take much to float the fly.

I actually prefer to use sinking nymphs, the larger gills seem to be a bit deeper. Last weekend was catching crappie as well on nymphs. The biggest time I use floaters is if they are holding in very shallow water.

thats an impressive catch Okie, how about pic of that fly ?