"best" Salmonfly nymph

[Larry L]

I have two adult patterns I use and have great faith in, but seek advice on
SalmonFly nymphs

In my experience these are subject to a high loss rate so I'm interested in
easy to tie, yet effective pattern(s) ...suggestions? links?

I plan to be in places where such patterns will make great sense, early next
season, so I'm looking to tie up some now.

[Tom Littleton]

Larry, as noted, big stone nymphs tend to be lost to the bottom when fished
properly.
I usually use(for our eastern P.Dorsata, similar to salmonfly and for several
large
golden species) heavily weight in-the-round type nymphs. They work. A rough
pattern menu might be:
Hook--#2-8 4xl
Rib--copper wire
Abdomen--thickly dubbed mix of
1/3 rabbit, 1/3 angora goat, 1/3
sparkle yarn. Rib with several turns
of wire.
Thorax--loop with above mix with dark
guardhairs(muskrat,coyote,etc) mixed
in. Pick out legs in full circle around
thorax when dubbed.
Head--thread

Easy to tie, easy to vary in colors, no sweat to lose!!
Tom

[Larry L]

"Tom Littleton" > wrote>

> Easy to tie, easy to vary in colors, no sweat to lose!!


a tie after my own heart ... thanks

[Willi]

Tom Littleton wrote:
> Larry, as noted, big stone nymphs tend to be lost to the bottom when fished
> properly.
> I usually use(for our eastern P.Dorsata, similar to salmonfly and for several
> large
> golden species) heavily weight in-the-round type nymphs. They work. A rough
> pattern menu might be:
> Hook--#2-8 4xl
> Rib--copper wire
> Abdomen--thickly dubbed mix of
> 1/3 rabbit, 1/3 angora goat, 1/3
> sparkle yarn. Rib with several turns
> of wire.
> Thorax--loop with above mix with dark
> guardhairs(muskrat,coyote,etc) mixed
> in. Pick out legs in full circle around
> thorax when dubbed.
> Head--thread
>
> Easy to tie, easy to vary in colors, no sweat to lose!!
> Tom


Sounds just like the pattern I use. They don't look very good dry, but
wet they look like they're alive. The dubbing blend is important, IMO,
but I play it by ear and don't know the proportions I use. Tom's
suggestion sounds good.

They're not only much easier to tie than the fancy patterns out there
but I think in the heavy water where they're most effective, the "in the
round" tie is more natural. I generally weight the pattern with lead
wire. It's the only nymph pattern that I use weight.

Willi

[Tom Littleton]

tails, tails, I forgot tails!!!!

for those, I either use bunches of coarse hackle fibers(for a true in-the-round
format), or more frequently, goose or turkey biots,
paired and splayed. The latter look pretty, the fish don't care either way.
Like Willi said, for deep bombing with stonefly nymphs, the simpler the better!
Tom

[Kevin Vang]

In article >,
says...
> I have two adult patterns I use and have great faith in, but seek advice on
> SalmonFly nymphs
>
> In my experience these are subject to a high loss rate so I'm interested in
> easy to tie, yet effective pattern(s) ...suggestions? links?
>
> I plan to be in places where such patterns will make great sense, early next
> season, so I'm looking to tie up some now.


Try Woolly Worms, in the appropriate sizes and colors, or Carey
Specials. They don't come much easier than that.

Kevin

[Salmo Bytes]

The Somore is the best salmon fly nymph--in a class by itself.
It's the only soft, squishy salmon fly nymph known
to the (uncivilized) universe.
Fish byte these flies and then don't let go.
They often swim around chewing these flies after
first tasting them.
That's an advantage none of the (previously) mentioned
patterns have.


http://montana-riverboats.com/static_pages/Flies/Sandy_Pittendrigh/Nymphs/Somores/Somores.html

....one of the best ways to fish this fly is to drag it behind an
unsinkable adult, like the MaidenRocker:

http://montana-riverboats.com/static_pages/Flies/Sandy_Pittendrigh/Salmon_Flies/MaidenRocker/92-done.html

or like a related sub-species, the Pternonarcys Channel Fly:

http://montana-riverboats.com/static_pages/Flies/Sandy_Pittendrigh/Channel_Flies/Pteronarcys_Californica/Pteronarcys_Californica.html

[Larry L]

WAAY cool

Several times, I've "thought about" using artificial sponge as a nymph
material, but open cell foam is the same idea. "My" Holy Water Stone is
started on a needle, then moved to a hook, , and has sewn in rubber legs,
so this nymph would be a natural mate to share a fly box.

I'll be sure to tie and try

[Tom Littleton]

Sandy,
One wicked looking nymph, but, to go back to the start of thread, it was the
problems of loss to the streambed and quick-tied patterns that were sought.
Yours strikes me as a wee bit more time consuming, and for drift fishing,which
you often do, I think bottom hangups are less frequent than wade fishing.
Having said that, a few Somore variations in golden shades may just pop up in
my stonefly box this season<g>
Tom

[Willi]

Tom Littleton wrote:

> tails, tails, I forgot tails!!!!
>
> for those, I either use bunches of coarse hackle fibers(for a true in-the-round
> format), or more frequently, goose or turkey biots,
> paired and splayed. The latter look pretty, the fish don't care either way.
> Like Willi said, for deep bombing with stonefly nymphs, the simpler the better!
>

I usually use biots too and sometimes I also tie in a couple biots at
the head. Don't know if the fish care, but I like the look.

Willi