Deer hair skaters.
 

Hello all I've been hanging round reading but this is my second post.



Deer hair skaters



I remember seeing these in a Lee Wolfe book I was browsing one time I been
working on them they fish fine.

Anyone ever fished skaters they are usually made with over sized stiff
hackle but its hard to get any more because the hackle now days are very
good but smaller sized.



You could really get a rainbow interested you skate and dance it across the
surface. It's effective at times.





Link to flies

http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...loneskater.jpg



http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...mg=skater1.jpg

Deer hair skaters.
 

"G. J. Z." wrote in message
news:_bOJg.2025$Xw6.1005@trndny02...
Hello all I've been hanging round reading but this is my second post.

Deer hair skaters

I remember seeing these in a Lee Wolfe book I was browsing one time I been
working on them they fish fine.

Anyone ever fished skaters they are usually made with over sized stiff
hackle but its hard to get any more because the hackle now days are very
good but smaller sized.

You could really get a rainbow interested you skate and dance it across
the surface. It's effective at times.

Link to flies

http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...loneskater.jpg

http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...mg=skater1.jpg


Interesting flies, but those weren't what I was expecting. A very common fly
in the Scandhoovian regions is a "Skating Caddis", something which as of
yet, seems rare in the shops I have looked into. The folks at LLBeans had
never even heard of it, yet it was the most productive fly at both Lapland
Claves I attended. I still use it as my 'secret weapon' when I fish in New
England because I'm quite sure the fish have never seen one before.

http://www.fish4flies.com/Dry/Sedge/..._Black.Gallery

--riverman

Deer hair skaters.
 

riverman wrote:

Interesting flies, but those weren't what I was expecting. A very common fly
in the Scandhoovian regions is a "Skating Caddis", something which as of
yet, seems rare in the shops I have looked into. The folks at LLBeans had
never even heard of it, yet it was the most productive fly at both Lapland
Claves I attended. I still use it as my 'secret weapon' when I fish in New
England because I'm quite sure the fish have never seen one before.

http://www.fish4flies.com/Dry/Sedge/..._Black.Gallery

--riverman


For anyone interested in the tying instructions for this "secret weapon".....

http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10235.htm

It is a good fly.

/Vaughan

Deer hair skaters.
 

"Vaughan Hurry" wrote in message
...
For anyone interested in the tying instructions for this "secret
weapon".....

http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10235.htm

It is a good fly.

/Vaughan

Interesting that G.J.Z, Myron and you are all talking about deer hair
skaters and provide illustrations that show three entirely different flies.
The first thing that popped into my mind on seeing yours was "muddler." If
memory serves, there are references to using a muddler as a dry fly in the
literature. I've tried it myself with small ones but without notable
success. As a matter of fact, I've never had much luck with muddlers at
all, regardless of how, when or where I've used them.....despite glowing
reports from many others. Go figure.

Wolfgang

Deer hair skaters.
 

Wolfgang wrote:

Interesting that G.J.Z, Myron and you are all talking about deer hair
skaters and provide illustrations that show three entirely different flies.
The first thing that popped into my mind on seeing yours was "muddler." If
memory serves, there are references to using a muddler as a dry fly in the
literature. I've tried it myself with small ones but without notable
success. As a matter of fact, I've never had much luck with muddlers at
all, regardless of how, when or where I've used them.....despite glowing
reports from many others. Go figure.


I have done well fishing for LM Bass with Muddlers, but I don't remember
catching any trout with them. Perhaps because there are other go to
patterns that get down faster.

Regarding the deer hair caddis. One of my favorite flies for fishing
turbulent mountain streams is the Goddard Caddis, aka G&H Sedge. It
seems to be an irresistible temptation for less educated mountain trout,
but is probably laughed at on waters that see more pressure. Vaughan's
link resembles that pattern and it definitely could be used for skating.

Crane flies seem to be the only other dry pattern I can think of that
actually needs some action. A tactic for lake fishing in the UK is to
tie on a "Daddy Long Legs" and strip it in fast. I also was shown a
similar tactic on the Beaverhead, MT, chucking a big Crane fly to the
bank and lifting the rod to the vertical to impart the action. The guide
counted over 100 fish that moved to that pattern that day.

Gary

Deer hair skaters.
 

"G. J. Z." wrote in
news:_bOJg.2025$Xw6.1005@trndny02:

Hello all I've been hanging round reading but this is my
second
post.



Deer hair skaters



I remember seeing these in a Lee Wolfe book I was browsing
one
time I been working on them they fish fine.

Anyone ever fished skaters they are usually made with over
sized
stiff hackle but its hard to get any more because the hackle
now
days are very good but smaller sized.



You could really get a rainbow interested you skate and dance
it
across the surface. It's effective at times.





Link to flies

http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...s.php?i=486284
&img=lones
kater.jpg



http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...s.php?i=486283
&img=skate
r1.jpg







I have a few that I keep in a Sucrets tin in my vest. Neversink
Skaters invented by Edward Ringwood Hewitt. I tied mine with
Badger hackle. The best day I had with them was on Falling
Springs Creek in Chambersburg, PA. There were Butterflies all
over the place so I tied on a skater and started catching
trout.
rt

Deer hair skaters.
 

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

Interesting that G.J.Z, Myron and you are all talking about deer hair
skaters and provide illustrations that show three entirely different
flies. The first thing that popped into my mind on seeing yours was
"muddler." If memory serves, there are references to using a muddler as a
dry fly in the literature. I've tried it myself with small ones but
without notable success. As a matter of fact, I've never had much luck
with muddlers at all, regardless of how, when or where I've used
them.....despite glowing reports from many others. Go figure.

Wolfgang


My first catches of Arctic Lake Trout on the Arolik Lake in Alaska were on
the muddler after trying six different surface and subsurface patterns
without success. I switched over to my 8wt which had the sinking line, tied
on the muddler, let it go deep and gave it a few short twitches as I
retrieved very slowly. That was the first time I ever caught anything on a
muddler pattern. What's funny, it was the last pattern I purchased for
Alaska. I've heard of fly fisherman working the muddler on the surface,
something I would love to try someday.
fwiw,
-tom

Deer hair skaters.
 

GM wrote:
Wolfgang wrote:

Interesting that G.J.Z, Myron and you are all talking about deer hair
skaters and provide illustrations that show three entirely different
flies. The first thing that popped into my mind on seeing yours was
"muddler." If memory serves, there are references to using a muddler
as a dry fly in the literature. I've tried it myself with small ones
but without notable success. As a matter of fact, I've never had much
luck with muddlers at all, regardless of how, when or where I've used
them.....despite glowing reports from many others. Go figure.


I have done well fishing for LM Bass with Muddlers, but I don't remember
catching any trout with them. Perhaps because there are other go to
patterns that get down faster.

Regarding the deer hair caddis. One of my favorite flies for fishing
turbulent mountain streams is the Goddard Caddis, aka G&H Sedge. It
seems to be an irresistible temptation for less educated mountain trout,
but is probably laughed at on waters that see more pressure. Vaughan's
link resembles that pattern and it definitely could be used for skating.

Crane flies seem to be the only other dry pattern I can think of that
actually needs some action. A tactic for lake fishing in the UK is to
tie on a "Daddy Long Legs" and strip it in fast. I also was shown a
similar tactic on the Beaverhead, MT, chucking a big Crane fly to the
bank and lifting the rod to the vertical to impart the action. The guide
counted over 100 fish that moved to that pattern that day.

Gary



FWIW, I saw the version Myron posted and the one I posted a link to as variations on a theme and as
the streaking caddis is the common variant in these parts I assumed it was the pattern Myron had
acquired while here - but perhaps I was wrong. Either way, I agree with the suggestion that it has a
lot of muddler genes in its ancestry, and I have on many occasions used a greased muddler as a night
surface fly for trout and grayling, with good results. The streaking caddis is also perhaps fished
more as late evening fly but also brings up good fish during the daytime in summer, even on sunny
days. Perhaps our fish are not so edumacated but it would surprise me if these large, actively
fished flies would not work for trout anywhere there were big caddis about.

/Vaughan

Deer hair skaters.
 

GM typed:
snip
Regarding the deer hair caddis. One of my favorite flies for fishing
turbulent mountain streams is the Goddard Caddis, aka G&H Sedge. It
seems to be an irresistible temptation for less educated mountain
trout,

.. . . a fond memory is you and I making little trouties shoot for the sky
while skating the caddis flies in the riffles of that feeder stream to the
Batten Kill. Much fun.
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Deer hair skaters.
 

"riverman"
Interesting flies, but those weren't what I was expecting. A very common
fly in the Scandhoovian regions is a "Skating Caddis", something which as
of yet, seems rare in the shops I have looked into. The folks at LLBeans
had never even heard of it, yet it was the most productive fly at both
Lapland Claves I attended. I still use it as my 'secret weapon' when I
fish in New England because I'm quite sure the fish have never seen one
before.

http://www.fish4flies.com/Dry/Sedge/..._Black.Gallery

--riverman

Thanks Riverman I'm going to add the "Skating Caddis" to my arsenal.

Deer hair skaters.
 

Tim J. wrote:


. . . a fond memory is you and I making little trouties shoot for the sky
while skating the caddis flies in the riffles of that feeder stream to the
Batten Kill. Much fun.

I only got up there once this year, but took a couple of dozen browns
and brookies from that same spot and up. Some were a nice size too. Yes,
last year was a fun time. If it wasn't for the t-storms blowing out the
river it would have been much better!!

Deer hair skaters.
 

All interesting and worthy fly variations posted....

Following is a link to a site showing many Steelhead flies, the Bomber -Tri,
in various colors is the type of skater/waker that I have used.

http://www.cowichanriverflyfishing.com/index.php?id=25 (no affiliation to
the outfit)

In regards to the Muddler, I've had very good luck fishing the fly dry
(primarily during an October caddis hatch when I have ran out of orange
stimulators) , I have never run in sub-surface... Might give it a shot
through some deep holes sometime...

Thanks,
JT

Deer hair skaters.
 

"Vaughan Hurry" wrote in message
...
...Perhaps our fish are not so edumacated but it would surprise me if
these large, actively fished flies would not work for trout anywhere there
were big caddis about.

One can hardly dismiss out of hand the contention that the jerk on one end
of the line's frequent failure to experience one on the other end can be
imputed to an intellectual stalemate but, alas, our trout up here are not
all that well schooled. :(

Wolfgang

Deer hair skaters.
 

riverman skrev:

A very common fly
in the Scandhoovian regions is a "Skating Caddis", something which as of
yet, seems rare in the shops I have looked into. The folks at LLBeans had
never even heard of it, yet it was the most productive fly at both Lapland
Claves I attended. I still use it as my 'secret weapon' when I fish in New
England because I'm quite sure the fish have never seen one before.


IMHO, the streaking caddis is a good imitation, but if we speak about
"deer hair", "caddis" and "skating" in the same sentence I do prefer
the Elk hair caddis. It floats high, leaving just the tiniest of wake
behind it, imitating the natural in soo many ways. In our neck of the
woods, "Scandahoovia" as Myron (riverman) prefers to call it, we tend
to fish the caddis more often than just about anything else. I'm going
to quote myself and my first ever post on ROFF "Fly fishing for trout,
arctic char and grayling is mainly done with different sedge (caddis)
imitations, pupae's as well as fully developed insects". I was speaking
of Myron's Scandahoovia and the fact that living extremely far north
tend to limit the range of available insect species. But, to conclude,
since all caddis "skate" in a manner, there's very little reason to
fish this fly in a dead drift, other then extending the fishable drift
further by letting it float drag free at first, hence all the
streaking/skating patterns. What I'm saying, and yes, I'm rambling
after a bottle of Shiraz and Jean-Marie's excellent 40 year old Cognac,
is that the efficiency of the skating caddis is not only a documented
fact but also the plain truth. So, it doesn't surprise me to hear that,
after the Lapland claves, Myron considers this his secret weapon and I
do believe that Vaughan uses this type of fly on a regular basis. The
general idea of the skating/streaking caddis is to imitate the the
action so commonly seen by the caddis on the surface of the water, and
further I think that most fish (predators) react to the
streaking/skating caddis due to the movement and that this movement
makes them less careful and more aggressive than usual. The method is
somewhat related to the induced take.
Sorry guys, I'm a bit drunk and when drunk I tend to repeat myself. It
is not that I think you don't understand what I'm saying, more that I
have to convince myself that I'm saying the right thing ;-)

BR/ Roger

Deer hair skaters.
 

On Fri, 1 Sep 2006 07:44:50 -0500, "Wolfgang"
wrote:
If memory serves, there are references to using a muddler as a dry fly in the
literature.

I've had some luck fishing a muddler dry. One day on Spring Creek a
nice fish was sipping something too small for me to see, although it
was only about 15 feet away.

Since I couldn't imitate it, I tried a #12 muddler. The 15-inch trout
took it on the first cast.

Try that sometime.

vince

Deer hair skaters.
 

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 1 Sep 2006 07:44:50 -0500, "Wolfgang"
wrote:
If memory serves, there are references to using a muddler as a dry fly
in the
literature.

I've had some luck fishing a muddler dry. One day on Spring Creek a
nice fish was sipping something too small for me to see, although it
was only about 15 feet away.

Since I couldn't imitate it, I tried a #12 muddler. The 15-inch trout
took it on the first cast.

Try that sometime.

vince

Don't overlook taking Muddlers and fishing them dry when you go warm-water
fishing. In sizes 6-12 at dusk, I've floated them around brush and
stick-ups in ponds and caught some explosive strikes from bass up to 5
pounds and Warmouth well over a pound. My best guess is they are mistaken
for fat, juicy grasshoppers or cicadas, but who really knows what the fish
is thinking?

-Doc

Deer hair skaters.
 

"Vaughan Hurry" wrote in message
...
riverman wrote:

Interesting flies, but those weren't what I was expecting. A very common
fly in the Scandhoovian regions is a "Skating Caddis", something which as
of yet, seems rare in the shops I have looked into. The folks at LLBeans
had never even heard of it, yet it was the most productive fly at both
Lapland Claves I attended. I still use it as my 'secret weapon' when I
fish in New England because I'm quite sure the fish have never seen one
before.

http://www.fish4flies.com/Dry/Sedge/..._Black.Gallery

--riverman
For anyone interested in the tying instructions for this "secret
weapon".....

http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10235.htm

It is a good fly.



Oh yes, that's the one. I couldn't find a link to the exact one I have, but
its one that either you or Roger gave me last clave. I love that fly. Your
link will be bookmarked...

--riverman

Deer hair skaters.
 

Interesting I've had good luck on trout lakes attracting fish to chase and
hit when caddis flies hovering about laying their eggs, but not to many
rises.

Yes I used to fish the neversink skater on the East branch of the Delaware
flat water with luck on windy days.

That streaking caddis is one I must try though. I've never fished diving
caddis either, and don't know too much about them except that they dive to
the bottom to lay their eggs there is an imitation for them. perhaps it's a
wet fly.



wrote in message
...

"G. J. Z." wrote in
news:_bOJg.2025$Xw6.1005@trndny02:

Hello all I've been hanging round reading but this is my
second
post.



Deer hair skaters



I remember seeing these in a Lee Wolfe book I was browsing
one
time I been working on them they fish fine.

Anyone ever fished skaters they are usually made with over
sized
stiff hackle but its hard to get any more because the hackle
now
days are very good but smaller sized.



You could really get a rainbow interested you skate and dance
it
across the surface. It's effective at times.





Link to flies

http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...s.php?i=486284
&img=lones
kater.jpg



http://www.savepic.com/freepictureho...s.php?i=486283
&img=skate
r1.jpg







I have a few that I keep in a Sucrets tin in my vest. Neversink
Skaters invented by Edward Ringwood Hewitt. I tied mine with
Badger hackle. The best day I had with them was on Falling
Springs Creek in Chambersburg, PA. There were Butterflies all
over the place so I tied on a skater and started catching
trout.
rt

Deer hair skaters.
 

G. J. Z. wrote:

That streaking caddis is one I must try though. I've never fished diving
caddis either, and don't know too much about them except that they dive to
the bottom to lay their eggs there is an imitation for them. perhaps it's a
wet fly.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flyt...12901fotw.html

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.