Fly Tying Page

Fly Patterns For the Upper Delaware and Catskill Rivers

                                              

 

This page was created to be a place where we can offer our guests information on the many facets of fly tying.  In the future look for fly patterns, Tying instruction, Tips for fishing specific patterns, information on new tying material and more.....

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During the winter months our staff spend a great deal of time at the tying bench producing the flies that fill the bins in our shop. This winter we will share some of our favorite producers along with the tying instructions. Look for a new pattern every 2 weeks until April! All of the materials needed to create these patterns can be found in our shop.

 

2/5/11

Fur Nymphs

Subsurface Fly - Heavy Weight

Skill Level- Intermediate

Here are some fur nymphs ready to go into the Baxter House Fly Bins.

This is a simple nymph that our guides use regularly as part of a multiple nymph rig. This is a large and heavy nymph that we always turn to in the early season and whenever the river is up in flow. This pattern does especially well with the Upper Delaware Wild Rainbows. Many days our largest Trout of the day will come on this pattern. We tie this pattern in Brown / Pheasant Tail Color and in Black. This pattern is suggestive and can be used to imitate either a Mayfly or Stonefly nymph.

Hook - Dai Riki -#135 Heavy Wire  sz. 6

Thread -  Rust Uni-8/0

Wing Case- Thin Skin

Tails -  Pheasant Tail Fibers

Abdomen -  SLF Squirrel dubbing or Arizona Synthetic Dubbing

Rib- Copper Wire

Thorax- Micro Pine Squirrel Zonkers

The Steps

Click Photo to Enlarge

       #1          #2           #3         #4          #5        #6           #7        #8

 

                     #9          #10        #11        #12         #13        #14

#1- Attach Thread to beaded hook

#2 - Tie in a good bunch of Pheasant Tail Fibers at rear. (5-7 fibers)

#3 - Tie in copper wire for rib

#4 - Wrap wire and PT Fibers to front of hook to create smooth base layer. Cut off excess fibers.

#5 - Dub Body up to thorax area of fly. The dubbing should be spiky for best results. Then wind wire rib through the dubbing to create nice abdominal tergites.

#6 - Cut strip of thin skin 1/4" wide

#7 - Tie in thin skin and leave hanging towards the rear of the fly.

#8 - Choose a strip of micro pine squirrel zonker

#9 - Tie zonker strip in just in front of the thin skin.

#10 - Palmer the zonker strip up to just behind the bead and tie off.

#11 & #12 - Bring thin skin forward and make 6 to 8 wraps just behind the bead. Then fold the thin skin back towards the rear of the fly and firmly tie the thin skin into place. Clip the loose thin skin just behind where the thorax met the abdomen. This technique will give you an upper and lower wing case. The upper wing case will be able to move and the characteristics of the thin skin will pick up light and give the appearance of a live struggling insect.

#13 - Whip finish and cement

#14 - Cut a small V of fur from the underside of the fly. The removal of the under fur will allow the remaining fur more room for movement.

Our guides stock their boxes with this pattern tied with both tungsten and brass beads. These are the flies we use rather than split shot to get our rigs to the proper depth that the conditions are calling for.

For early spring we usually start searching the waters with this fly about 3 to 4 feet below a float. From this fly we drop another BH nymph about 15" -18" behind followed by a Caddis Pupa about 12"-14" behind.  The only adjustments needed to this rig is in the float. We always adjust the float to make sure that our nymphs are getting to the bottom third of the water column.

 

 

 

3/21/10

 

Delaware Ghost, Streamer Fly

Skill Level - Intermediate

 This is a great streamer fly that I call the Delaware Ghost due to the similarities to the Classic Ghost Patterns. This is a killer pattern on all Upper Delaware waters including our rivers, ponds and reservoirs. This is one of those patterns that is not an exact copy of any particular baitfish but it's close enough to most everything that swims here. When tied correctly this pattern will really undulate on a varied retrieve. When fished with short strips and pauses it really sells the wounded baitfish illusion.

Hook - Long heavy wire streamer hook

Thread -  Gel Spun, Red

Wing - Light Grey Marabou

Tails -  Light Grey Marabou

Throat - White Marabou tied long

Abdomen -  Red Ice Dub

Rib- Silver Tinsel

Cheek- Silver Pheasant wing cover feather

Topping- 4 or 5 strands peacock herl

Eyes- Jungle Cock or Stick on Eyes

                                                                    Step 1               Step 2                  Step 3                    Step 4

                                                                                  Step 5                Step 6                Step 7

Step #1 - Tie in a nice full marabou feather for your tail. It is important to use the feather to build up the body of the fly. Note the length of the body. Step #2- Tie in silver tinsel for the rib. Step #3-  Dub a thick even body with ice dub and bring the rib forward. It is important for the action of the fly to make sure the forward end of the dubbing is very wide. This causes the marabou to stand out at an angle. (pic #4) Step #4 - Tie in the wing and the throat. Make sure you wrap your thread back to firmly seat the marabou tight against your dubbed body. Notice the angle that the wing and throat are at. Step #5- Tie in one Silver Pheasant on each side for your cheek. Step #6 - Tie in your Jungle Cock or install your stick on eyes. Switch to black thread and create a nice head.

This fly is great as a stand alone fly but where I've found it to be a real killer is fished as part of a tandem streamer rig. I usually will fish a heavily weighted 6" or 7" streamer and put this fly on a dropper about 2 feet in front of it.

 

Foam Back Hackle Spinner

(Rusty Mayfly)

Skill Level - Intermediate 3/4/10

Hackle Wing Spinners are one of the main flies that our guides use every day of the season. I tie these flies to imitate every Mayfly that hatches from the waters of the Upper Delaware. In my fly boxes you will find copies of this pattern in every size, from the giant Green and Brown Drakes to the smallest BWO'S.

There are many types of materials that are used to make spinners but over the years grizzly hackle is the only material that I've found that works at all times of day and in all the different light and weather conditions. When presented in a drag free drift this fly will produce confident takes almost every time.

Those who plan on tying this fly should note that the hackle should be wound on top of itself. This is contrary to how you would hackle a traditional dry fly. The result you are looking for is a hackle that fans out wildly from one tie in point and produces an image similar to the natural insects wing silhouette.

The foam wing case does not help in floatation. It is only added for visual acuity.  The added visibility that the wing case provides enables the angler to keep it in sight well enough to fish it drag free.

Hook - Standard Dry Fly to size

Thread - Uni-8/0 Yellow or Orange

Wing - 2 Grizzly Hackles -Dry Fly Quality (oversized)

Tails - Micro Fibbets

Abdomen - Turkey Biot -Color to match natural

Thorax - Dubbing to match natural

Wing Case - White Foam Strip

                                       Step 1                   Step 2                Step 3                    Step 4                Step 5                Step 6

                                                        Step 7                Step8                Step 9                Step 10                Step 11

 

 Step 1 - Start thread mid hook. Step 2   - Attach 4 Micro Fibbets in divided / Split tail style.  Step 3 - Attach Turkey biot.  Step 4 - Wrap forward to thorax area and tie off. .Step 5 - Dub a small ball of dry fly dubbing to create rear of thorax.  Step 6 - Attach a thin strip of white foam. Step 7 - Dub a second ball of dry fly dubbing to create front of thorax area. Step 8 - Tie in 2 Dry Fly quality grizzly hackles. Step 9 Wrap hackles and then divide by taking figure 8 wraps with thread.   Step 10 - Dub a small amount of dry fly dubbing and take a few tight figure 8 wraps around the wing. Step 11 - Bring the foam strip over the thorax area, clip and form a nice thread head.

Below is photo of the bottom view of the finished fly

 

 

Fast Water Mayfly / Hackled Comparadun

Green Drake

(Skill Level - Intermediate) Posted 2-8-10

This is an exceptional fly pattern that we use whenever we see fish feeding on flies that are active on the water. This fly is basically a hackled comparadun with the hackle cut flat on the bottom. This fly will pick up motion from currents and wind. This fly is also easy to manipulate on the water without sinking it.  I have had some luck with this fly tied to imitate a few different Mayflies but where I use it most is during the Green Drake Hatch. Drakes tend to flop all over as they are drifting on the surface. This pattern will create a close enough resemblance to the naturals to provoke consistent  and confident takes.  This fly unlike other traditional hackled flies seems to work regardless of how it lands.

Hook - Mustad 94831 size 8 -10

Thread - Uni-8/0 Yellow

Wing - Yellow Dyed Deer Hair

Tails - Moose Body Hair

Abdomen - Cream Dry Fly Dubbig

Hackle - Yellow Dyed Grizzly

                                                       Step1                  Step 2                    Step 3                    Step 4                 Step 5

                                                                      Step 6                   Step 7                 Step 8                 Step 9

Step #1 - Start thread at tie in point of wing.   Step #2 - Stack and Tie in Bunch of Deer Hair Comparadun Style.   Step #3 - Tie in Tails.  I like Moose Body Hair. Make sure you use 5 or 6 nice stiff hairs    Step #4 - Dub finely tapered body  Step #5 Make a dozen or more tight wraps in front of deer hair wing. This is intended to stand wing up and lock it in place.  Step #6  - Tie in 2 Quality Dry Fly Hackles.  Step #7 - Wrap the hackles. Do not worry about keeping the hackle slim as in a traditional catskill tie. Instead hackle it heavy and don't worry about a few stray fibers. Were looking to make a strong floater that has the ability to skate.   Step #8 - Turn your fly in the vise and clip the bottom of the hackle flat. Be sure not to cut too deep, you do not want a flush floater.    Step #9 -  Trim any hackle that extend past the hook eye or towards the rear and you're finished.

When presenting this fly to the fish I always try my first drift with a drag free motionless presentation. If I do not get a rise I will usually watch the fish feed on a few more naturals to get a positive fix on his feeding zone. On my next drift I will twitch the fly 12" to 15" upstream of the fishes lie and then relax it into a drag free drift by throwing a loop of line. This will most often produce a confident take.

Knock Down Mayfly Dun posted 1 /16 10

(Skill Level - Intermediate)

 

The Knock Down Dun is a Western pattern developed by Rene Harrop for the selective Trout of the Henry's Fork. Since I first fished this pattern years ago in Idaho I've been tinkering with it and adapting it to the major hatches that occur in the Upper Delaware. This pattern will produce the best results when fished during insect hatches that have naturally high mortality rates during emergence. In the Upper Delaware these hatches are Hendrickson, Red Quill, Sulfur and Blue Wing Olives. Last season I also had some promising results fishing this pattern tied in huge sizes during the Green and Brown Drake hatches.

It is important when tying this pattern to use top quality CDC feathers. We only tie ours with Trout Hunter CDC and Locally Harvested Canada Goose CDC. Both of these sources have the fully formed large feathers necessary to float the larger mayfly imitations.

Hook - Mustad 94831

Thread - Uni-8/0 to color

Wing - 4 large CDC Feathers

Tails - Micro Fibbets

Abdomen - Turkey Biot

Thorax - Dry Fly Dubbing

                                                        Step 1                   Step 2                  Step 3               Step 4                   Step 5

                                                                      Step 6                    Step 7                Step 8                   Step 9

Step #1 - Start thread at tie in point of wing.   Step #2 - Choose 4 fully formed large CDC Feathers.   Step #3 - Measure wing to same length as hook.    Step #4 - Tie in wing leaving 1/8" to hook eye.   Step #5 Tie in tailing material and form split tails.  Step #6  - Tie in Turkey Biot  and wrap from tails to wing. Make sure biot wraps smoothly and forms a long thin abdomen.   Step #7 - Dub a small amount of dry fly dubbing and form the rear section of the Thorax.    Step #8 - Divide your CDC wing into 2 equal bunches. While holding one bunch take a few tight wraps of the other bunch to separate. Repeat this on opposite side. Make sure that your wings are equal in size and slanted slightly forward.    Step #9 -  Dub a small amount of dry fly dubbing onto your thread.  Make a few figure 8 wraps between the wings and a few turns in front of the wings. Whip finish and the fly is complete.

 

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This year we plan to continue our tradition of having Guest Fly Tyers in the shop on the weekends during April, May and June. In addition to our guest Tyers we have plans of offering FLY TYING LESSONS periodically throughout the Season!

Look for our Schedule of tyers to be set soon.

 

 

 

 

 

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Baxter House
Old Route 17
Roscoe, New York 12776
Phone: (607)-290-4022

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