I’ld like to thank Riverbum over at Flick’r for the use of his picture

Although this is thought of as a spring fly I have had great luck with it all season and therefore think you should tye one on anytime. It is especially good in current and in triple rigs or as part of a dropper rig. So here is how I tye this classic nymph pattern.

I keep it pretty basic:

Start by tying a brass bead in at the eye of the hook. How I do it is I first run my thread from the bend to the eye to form a bedding. Slip on the bead over the thread and apply some super glue. Let it set for a minute or two. Then move the thread back behind the bead and back to the bend. Tye in some fine copper wire. Now you can color this fly by changing the colors of the wire, but I prefer the shine of the natural copper over the “tinted” wires we can get from suppliers. In fact I strip most of mine from old dc battery operated motors from my son’s dead rc cars. (Recycle !!!!)

With the wire tied in wrap it forward to form a smooth segmented body. Stop just about an 1/8th of an inch from the bead or a little less.Tye off the copper and trim, then tye in some peacock herl to form a thorax. Wrap it forward and up to the bead. Tye it off and glue the windings. Some tyers go on to form wing cases over the thorax, but I skip that step and it hasn’t made any difference in how effective the little fly is on trout for me.

With some minor changes: a tail and a wing case this pattern then morphs into a Copper John

It recently came to my attention that there are a few anglers out there still using the wrong knots. Or they just don’t realize how easy a good knot is to tye. I have looked the internet over from top to bottom seeking useable illustrations… my drawing leaves a little to be desired. Photos don’t show as much detail.

So here we go with Knot #1 and when or where to use it.

THE IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT (click on image to enlarge)

I use this as my terminal, or ending knot. The final knot between me and the fish. Simply pass the end of your line through the eye of the fly. Grasp the line as it comes out of the eye, pulling a six inch piece out to use later. Now holding both sides of the line trapping it. Form a loose loop and start wrapping the line back over itself about six or eight times. Then wet the line with saliva or water and pass the tag end through the loop formed at your thumb. In the illustration it shows the line passing through the secondary loop. I have done it that and without it. Both knots hold up well. Using the moisture to reduce friction allows you to pull this knot tight without weakening it from friction caused heat. Once tightened trim off excess line ……and go fish!!!!!

Where and When: This is my universal fishing knot and is my way of attaching flies to leader and lures to line. For years it has served me well as a utility knot. Although tying on anything in the #20 class is hard, this knot is the easiest to tie fast and strong even on downsclaed offerings. With practice you can retye and exchange flies with this knot as fast as most anglers can using cheater clips. I can assure you this knot is far less visible than that clip.

Knot #2 THE PALOMAR KNOT (click on image to enlarge)

This is the “Bill Dance/Jimmy Houston Knot” used by most pro bass anglers to tye on heavy lures on heavy line with maximum strength. What does that have to do with flyfishing. How about the fact that it is also the easiest and strongest idiot-proof knot in existance. if you can’t tye an Improved Clinch Knot…try this one. Just double your line forming a loop, pass it through the eye of the hook (or whatever). Now pull the loop up and over the standing line in your left hand using your right. Pass it through the looped double line like in the picture, and then put the closed loop on the end over the item to be tyed in. Pull the knot tighter, wetting it slightly with saliva or water to reduce friction. Pull it up tight against the eye of the hook, and trim off the excess. This knot brags a unique 95% knot strength or better. I like this one for nymphs and wingless flies. But the Improved clinch is my go to knot for everything else.

Knot #3 THE DROPPER LOOP (click on image to enlarge)

This is the strongest loop knot for dropper flies I have ever used. Follow the illustation and you will see how to twist both sides of the loop. Passing the loop up through between the opposing twists. Slowly pull it taught, wetting helps. To attach your fly once the loop’s ready just feed it through the eye and loop it over in Palomar fashion. Pull it tight and it’s fixed in place. Adjust the knot to get the fly to ride right when nymphing or dropper fishing any fly. If concerned about loosening, use a drop of super glue in the loop.

Master these three knots and you can be certain you can tye one on with the best of ‘em.

We are now entering the best and warmest fishing of the season. Soon the water will warm too much and the trout will disappear up streams and brooks or go deep in lakes. But for a time the trout will be rising in the late of day or earliest hours. Seeking coolness as they can find it. We have had a mild summer and lots of rain. Now it’s time to tye on a hopper and dead drift your way to huge trout and lots of action.

I prefer “dave’s” over “joes” but any good hopper imitation can lead you to great catches and lots of action here in Aroostook right now. I even opt out for a black cricket or tan one from time to time on smaller streams. I’ve even cast those realistic plastic-molded bugs with great success at this time.

The trick to this fishing is to fish the hoppers on transitioning days with a breeze. The summer winds cast many a hopper into the water. Try to cast to shore while wading midstream. This close -in presentation looks most realistic. Don’t forget to fish on a tight line, or you’ll miss alot of fish.

Right on the heels of this tremendous surge of fishing is the “Miller Time” and that’s when the spruce bud worm larva hatch off into moths. These greyish “flutterby’s” as my little sister use to call them. Will appear everywhere in August…. on into September. Although they do alot of damage in area forests. More Years ago than now…thanks to spraying. These become a huge food source to trout who gorge on them as long as they last. so be ready to switch tactics and flies in august to take advantage of this growing trend.

Lessons with Lefty DVD (Click Image) Our Price:$28.98

I wish to apologize to all my readers and fellow bloggers for my long departure. Due to a freakish set of events I was unable to blog here since mid June. Things are returning to normal so I am back and my DSL has been reconnected. I have a new house to get used to…and unpacking to do. Keep watching and I will do my best to write articles worth your reading.