Sparkle Wing RS2 12/13/2023 Photo Album

Once again I made a modification to the sparkle wing RS2 pattern. I replaced the antron wing with fluoro fiber, and this resulted in a narrower wing than that which resulted from using antron. I’m not sure if the narrower profile will be more to the liking of wild trout, but I plan to find out in the upcoming season.

On previous posts on the sparkle wing, I noted that my reliance on this synthetic version of the classic RS2 was increasing with each season. During 2023 I felt that the trend leveled off, and I caught just as many fish on the classic RS2 as the sparkle wing version. Nevertheless, I settled down at my vise and churned out four new sparkle wings with two going to my friend Nate.

For excellent background information and a materials table click on this link to my 1/21/2011 post.

Super Nova PMD 12/12/2023 Photo Album

My post of 12/02/2022 will point you toward additional information on this fly. It was designed by Juan Ramirez, and I have mostly replaced the pheasant tail nymph with this easier to tie and more durable fly.

Ramirez offers a tying video on YouTube, but it is for the super nova baetis. To make the pale morning dun nymph replica simply adjust the color of the thread and thorax materials.

I pumped out five new super novas, and I donated two to my friend, Nate. I should be adequately supplied for 2024.

Iron Sally 12/11/2023 Photo Album

I continue to maintain that this nymph is one of the prettiest in my collection. The gold wire abdomen, krystal flash back and legs and the brass bead combine to give this fly excellent flash, a realistic look, and the weight to sink to the depths. All in all, the iron sally represents one of my favorites, and it has grown in usage over the last five years. I would not wish to be caught without some during a yellow sally or golden stonefly emergence.

My post of 11/28/2023 covers all the bases, so I encourage the reader to check it out. It also contains links to similar posts further back in history.

My count of the current supply revealed that it needed replenishment, so I knocked out four new size 12’s and four new size 14’s. Bring on the golden stoneflies and yellow sallies.

Bright Green Caddis Pupa 12/08/2023 Photo Album

My post of 11/29/2020 is fairly representative of the scenario I faced in December 2023. I counted my inventory of bright green caddis pupa, and I discovered that I had adequate quantities for the upcoming season. I have mostly replaced the bright green body version with the go2 caddis that utilizes a brighter and flashier diamond braid body material. Nevertheless, I occasionally revert to using the classic LaFontaine pattern, but I have so many in stock that I simply live off the old supply.

A quick check of my unraveling and damaged fly inventory, however, revealed that I had two bright green caddis in need of repair, so I completed the necessary steps and added two to my old inventory. One cannot have too many green caddis pupa during the spring caddis hatch.

12/08/2023 Go2 Sparkle Caddis Pupa Photo Album

The history of this fly is contained in my post of 11/20/2022. It is a hybrid of a bright green emergent sparkle pupa from Gary LaFontaine and a go2 caddis pupa from Rick Takahashi. My favorite time to deploy these flashy fish attractors is during the dense caddis emergences of April and May. Dragging, jigging and lifting are highly recommended movements while fishing the go2 sparkle caddis emerger.

My count revealed that I needed to tie two additional flies to bring my total to the desired quantity. I approached the vise and churned out the additions along with two bonus flies for my friend, Nate. Bring on the spring caddis hatch.

Emerald Caddis Pupa 12/08/2023 Photo Album

My post of 01/01/2012 provides the background on my introduction to this fly as well as a materials table. Check it out. This fly continued to be a workhorse fly in my arsenal. When I hit an extended lull in action, I often tie on an emerald caddis pupa, and quite often it delivers results. It is both a great imitative pattern and a solid general attractor. I attribute the attractor status to the emerald body color, as I’ve seen caddis larva of that color, and I believe the color stands out and represents a trigger for trout.

I produced seven emerald caddis to restore my fly boxes to targeted levels. I found three unraveling flies in my recovery canister, and these are among the seven newly completed flies I am certain that the emerald caddis pupa will shine during 2024.

20 Incher 11/29/2023 Photo Album

The 20 incher has evolved as a workhorse fly from my fly box, especially during the early spring season, when I desire deep drifts on an indicator nymph set up. I weight all my 20 inchers, and that, combined with the heavy wire 2X long hook produces a fly that sinks rapidly. I like to pair a 20 incher with an RS2 in the early going.

I encourage the reader to click on this 11/24/2020 report on the 20 incher, as it contains additional links to older posts with a materials table and background information on my introduction to this classic fly created in Colorado.

When I counted my 20 incher supply, I realized that I needed to tie two more to increase my inventory to my desired level. I tied two additional models for my friend.

Ultra Zug Bug 11/27/2023 Photo Album

For more in depth background information on the ultra zug bug, I suggest clicking on this link to my post of 12/07/2014. This fly is very simple and easy to tie, yet it can be amazingly effective at times. I particularly like to deploy it in the early season from March through early May, before run off sends me to stillwater locations.

During 2023 I only depleted my supply by a modest amount, so I tied six additional UZB’s for my storage boxes. I kept four for myself and donated two to a friend. Give this simple fly a try, and you will not regret it.

Salvation Nymph 11/25/2023 Photo Album

For the last two seasons the salvation nymph has been unequivocally my top producer. Historically it ran neck and neck with the beadhead hares ear nymph, but during 2022 and 2023, the salvation nymph clearly moved to the top of the list. I have written a report on the salvation nymph every year, as I tie a new supply, and these posts contain much information about this outstanding fly. I suggest you start with last year’s post, and that report provides links to other years.

Occasionally someone asks me why they are unable to find this fly, when they perform an online search. If you type tungsten salvation nymph, you will find photos of this fly and online sources to buy them. My version is the same except that I typically use a brass bead rather than the more expensive tungsten. I actually just completed a Google search, and I found a very well done tutorial on tying the tungsten salvation nymph on YouTube by walkyourlinedesigns. I watched it, and it is quite well done. Give it a look, if you are interested in tying a salvation nymph.

When I counted my supply of this productive fly, I determined that I had 76 remaining in my various storage compartments. I approached the vise and cranked out another 24 to reach 100, and then I added five for a friend. I can say with certainly that this fly will catch a bunch of fish in the coming year.