The taking fly

[redietz]

"It remains only to add, that the taking fly should be fished as point, i.e., the fly farthest from the angler."
-- Edmonds & Lee, Brook & River Trouting, 1916

This fly was point for me frequently during the recent sojourn to Roscoe; it certainly was a "taking" fly:



In fact, I took trout on it every day that I fished, and in every section of the Beaverkill and Willowemoc that I fished.

I mentioned to several people at the Center that I was disappointed when Allen Magee published his Soft Hackled Nymphs book and saw a similar fly on the cover. I thought that I had invented it, and it was my secret weapon during the sulfur hatch for several years. Apparently, it wasn't my invention or even secret.

Oh, well. It's still a very productive fly.

[letumgo]

Bob - What hook do you recommend for this pattern? That looks like a wide gap hook. Is that important to the way the fly fishes?

Great fly, by the way. Thanks for sharing your secret.

[redietz]

The hook is a #14 Sprite Perfect. I believe that "Perfect" is the same as "Model Perfect" which is an older English designation for that we would today call a round bend, wide-gape hook.

I've caught plenty of fish with the same fly tied on a Mustad R50, but the Sprite is blackened and I just like the way that looks with this particular pattern.

[hankaye]

redietz, Howdy;

Grand looking fly. Appears worthy of the title...

hank

[Old Hat]

Bob- great pattern. I tie one very similar with yellow silk floss and a copper wire rib that goes all the way through the yellow. I have used it as a PMD emerger for years. It has taken a lot of fish for me. On Stillwater I replace the pheasant tail with ostrich dyed brown to get a little more motion and that "struggle effect"

[tie2fish]

Bob ~ That is one super pattern ... I can easily see why it produces so well for you. Thank you for revealing your "go-to" secret.

[William Anderson]

I can see how this is a taker. Nice fly, to all those who discovered it. Bob, this is a killer, especially with that marked hackle and proportions that ring true for me. The bright thorax is the clincher. Cool shot too.

w

[DOUGSDEN]

Bob,
Great pattern and photo shots too! I like what you post and please keep them coming! I am glad to hear that you did well with this cool looking pattern. We would like to give you credit for making this discovery. Aren't we always in a state of flux as far as what is created, discovered, re-discovered, and such?
Great thread friend. Please keep us fed!
Your pattern pal in Ohio,
Dougsden

[chase creek]

Very cool fly. Like the abdomen/thorax contrast, really makes it pop out.
This goes into the "Tie A Few Of These Up" file.