#32 late-phase emerger

One final post on this subject....
Discussing this pattern on smallstreams, I kind of assumed this pattern bottomed out at #28. Speaking with Roy Christie yesterday he suggested I tie the wing in on the way down (from eye to bend) rather than on the way up, to save three thread wraps and simplify the steps... it then fits neatly on a TMC 518 #32:

This is a shift in tying methodology for me - I usually lay a bed of thread from eye to bend then proceed back towards the eye adding materials as I go. Sure, it takes a little concentration to add tailing with the wing in-situ at this scale but having tried both approaches with this pattern the wing-first method is simpler.

Pattern evolution

Must be 3 or 4 years ago Roy Christie gave me some sound advice... tie your small flies just as you would the bigger stuff, just smaller.... I took his advice to heart, adjusted materials accordingly and now, when tying a pattern often start at #20 - #24 before tackling #26 and smaller.
The generic late-stage emerger on the previous post informed the tying of the #24 and then #28 below:

All three together, from left to right #20, #24 and #28:

 Thanks for the ongoing advice and support, Roy - the style and material choice on this generic late-stage emerger also has a little Christie-spice in the mix...

Generic style

If your fortunate enough to have access to lightly fished, wild streams chances are you'll encounter opportunistic trout. It's these conditions that inform much of my tying - style can be less prescriptive, more generic. The barring on teal suggests both shuck and tails, the blood red microfibbets suggest emergence and adds contrast. The sparse mallard wing makes for a pretty profile and the v-clipped hackle ensures both good floatation and a busy footprint. Multiple triggers rather than specific imitation...

Long weekend

It has been good to take a few days away from work over the weekend. Following rain most days, water levels are up a little but conditions are good and there's lots of fish rising from mid afternoon through last light that will readily take well presented, small flies. The higher levels also enable close-range fishing at 15-20ft. This is a lovely way to fish and ensures fish are played swiftly to hand for release. Most fish are photographed in the net - it's a lot easier on the fish when out solo.

There's also been some time to tie and I'm still working on the budget-macro set-up, as shown below... it's very lo-fi but works fine with a little patience.

Macro on a budget

The latest compact point and click cameras typically feature a pretty powerful macro setting, useful and conveninet if you photograph small flies. The images I post here are pretty low-grade albeit you get the flavour of what I'm doing. In the absence of a budget for a new camera I've had to think creatively. Lars Bensten first suggested the use of a maginifying lens to sharpen up small fly photography earlier this year. I need to work on lighting and the set-up but initial results are looking good. Below are a couple of examples with the new macro-on-a-budget I've set-up in the Small Fly Funk lab. The bivisible and thorax dun below are #24:

Even at #32 scale, this very basic approach illustrates ribbing detail on a spent caenis. The fibre optic Niche Midge Wing tips were unintentional but I dig the effect:

The set-up is far from convenient but worth a little effort for the improved results.

Trout Lessons

Freewheeling Tactics and Alternative Techniques for the Difficult Days (ISBN 978-0-8117-0581)

This is Ed Engle's latest book and his first since Fishing Small Flies (2005). Not that he hasn't been writing regularly with articles in American Angler, Fly Fishing & Tying Journal and Fly Fisherman. It is these articles that have informed some of the new chapters with further development of the ideas for the book.
If you search fly fishing books on Amazon (UK) you'll find 4,396 results - not sure how many are unique titles but this result illustrates the extent of published material available. You can de-risk your selection if you stick with a group of dependable writers - Ed's right up there with the VERY best.

The titles of Tying and Fishing Small Flies were suitably succinct, the new book is more of a mouthful yet intelligently judged. It's a departure from the world of ideal conditions and covers the real-world situations and fishing tactics that likely cover more of the typical season most of us encounter. That's something quite unique in fishing writing.

There are 8 chapters covering specific fishing techniques, conditions and environments that at best challenge the fly fisher and at worst, leave us completely stumped. The High-Water Strategies covered in Chapter 6 will prove relevant to those of us who fish the spate rivers of Ireland and the UK and the shots of trout taken against a backdrop of coloured water illustrate that the advise is more than notional theory. Knowing where to find trout and the range of approaches that enable the angler to fish through such conditions is massively insightful. This opens up additional time on the water that may otherwise be written off.
Chapter 7's Small-Stream Finesse is a resource I just know I'll be returning to regularly. We're all familiar with the basics but Ed digs so much deeper here to help us fine-tune our small stream fishing. The concept of streakers is a revelation. Advise on how to find trout-holding small water using topographical maps is essential reading. I've long studied the OS maps of my local area and now have an awareness to really scrutinise the contours of the local area in search of unfamiliar water and wild trout. Exploration is a fundamental component of small stream fishing and this chapter is uniquely informed and insightful.
Whilst not dedicated to the subject, small flies feature throughout Trout Lessons particularly as a tactical response to catching difficult trout. The book also provides a helpful refresher on the range of casts and presentation techniques that enable success with some fresh tweaks and innovations to try out.
Ed's account of high-stick dry fly fishing is key for effective presentations when fishing pocketwater - and is also a proven approach when tackling small streams where multiple, micro-currents can compromise presentation. Even with a shorter rod this technique works a treat at close range, so finding the occassional familiar idea within these pages is a real confidence booster for the reader, and will no doubt motivate us to work on the new and unfamiliar techniques. 


The photography throughout Trout Lessons is excellent, much of it is stunning - the settings, particularly in Small-Stream Finesse are quite beautiful. There's a few treats for those of us who enjoy John Gierach's writing - I guess that's all of us. I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure we see John in characteristically tricky small stream mode throughout this chapter.  
One of the challenges of writing about casting is the supporting photography. Ed assists with a bright line to communicate the action both in-the-air and on-the-water, with highly visual results. The images of fly patterns are always crisp and sharp. 


This is a highly relevant book, one that skillfully articulates new ideas and strategic insights that will elevate our fly fishing. What is equally remarkable, is that Ed applies these tactics intuitively to solve on-stream problems where as you or I may struggle or give up for the day. It's an act of great generosity to record and share such experience and skill, so that our own skills may evolve - it provides serious bang for your buck.
Returning to a small fly perspective, Vince Marinaro represented the first wave of writers on the subject. In The Ring of the Rise remains seminal and as valuable today as when it was published in 1976. Ed has defined a second wave with his books of the last decade which upgrade the formula - he is a sophisticated and highly intelligent fly fisher and writer who never resorts to hyperbole to communicate his unique depth and breadth of experience.


Juan Ramirez was so right... this one's a keeper.
 

Large mayfly emerger

Like many regions, late June/early July provides predictable, large mayfly hatches on the local streams. I missed the action this year (the first time in the last four seasons) due to work commitments. The fishing is easier than at any other time of the year and trout exhibit less caution as they binge on plentiful fly. It's also the only time when I tie and fish on the fringe of small flies so the Partridge 15BN and BNX #20 hook enables me to fish bigger and capitalise on their wanton feeding.

A detailed hook study will follow later, the comparison chart below highlights the scale of the Partridge 15BNX compared to other #20 curved shank hooks:

Although subtlety is less of an issue, this hook enables a deeper exploration of triggers and the expression of emergence - there's simply more room to work. The recipe below describes my approach to this:

Hook: Partridge 15XBN
Thread: Uni Trico 17/0 - such fine thread is not strictly needed at this scale, but allows for total control of profile and enables you to build a densely dubbed thorax with guard hairs locked-in to the tie which aids resilience. 
Shuck: This comprises 4-5 strands of Niche Shuck Yarn at the butt, and extends in to a section dubbed with Fly-rite Poly Dubbing (I prefer light shades, you may want to add an orange, or deeper red hue to suggest blood). There's no need to dub the thread too tightly, so the shuck has a little movement and catches the light.
Abdomen: Peccary bristle provides stunning segmentation, and is almost indestructible.
Thorax: The Uni Trico thread allows you to build a dense thorax. Roy Christie got me in to blending, and this is an example of what I've learnt so far. The blend is based on mink underfur - the deep reddish brown is highly imitative of the emergent stage of most upwing flies where sub-surface blood features strongly. The addition of mink guard hair (trimmed to 10-15mm) and hare's mask guard hare (from around the cheeks) imitates emerging legs - the dense dubbing adds to the crazy legs effect. A little chopped, clear Fly-rite antron is added to the blend to add sparkle and fizz.
Before dubbing the thorax, add a tiny drop of Watershed to the area you are about to dub. A dense thorax comprised of mainly natural materials will take on water - we want the thorax to sit both in and just below the surface film (with crazy legs flailing in the current) and the Watershed treatment seems to aid floatation in this crucial zone.
Hackle: You can afford to hackle more densely on this pattern, the fish are less cautious and you want to ensure the fly rides high despite the dense thorax. When sizing hackle, use the abdomen as a guide rather than including the shuck - this makes for an attractive profile. And treat with Dilly Wax at the tying bench.

If you check out the selection of Roy's flies at Han's Weilenmann's Fly Tier site, you'll see how he's influenced my appreciation of colour. There's so much to understand and learn on this subject, I'll be interviewing Roy this Autumn on the subject of dubbing and colour - his insights are staggering. He's also tempered my obsession with neatness, in the interest of creating a bugged-out approach to tying emergers.

A subdued wing post looks natural and is highly visible, particularly when my eyes are trained on fishing much smaller patterns throughout the season.