On Tue, 5 Aug 2008 10:55:23 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Dave, do you recall the particular mouse pattern? Im putting together
a box just for hog patterns, crawdads, mice, etc. No need for duckling
patterns however :-))

It is the same one I used successfully in Labrador for big brookies
and pike. It is on a size 6, 4 or 2 hook, and is spun deer hair
clipped to look like a mouse. I always amputated the buckskin tail
because it *always* fouled the hook.

http://www.argentinachileflyfishing....rns/mouse.html

http://truformfly.com/patterns/flies...Rat+-+Natural/

http://www.schmidtoutfitters.com/ind...duct_id=21 36

I don't know whether the ears, eyes, and whiskers are necessary. I
hate spinning deer hair so I always bought my mouse patterns (and
Goddard Caddis too). Cut off any weed guards if you buy the above
patterns.

When you fish it, Dave, be ready to strip the fly as *soon* as it hits
the water. In Kamchatka the big rainbows (27 to 32 inches) were
underneath the foam patterns found in small eddies along the bank. I
would plop the mouse in the foam as close to the shore as I could get,
and while the thing was in the air, I was ready to strip immediately
as it hit the water. If you let it hit and then start stripping, the
fish would not take it. I guess the actual animal starts swimming
before he hits the water and the fish can tell the difference. (??)

In Labrador I would cast past the spot where I thought a fish was and
swim the pattern through the water making lots of noise.

When you see the take, hesitate just a second longer than you normally
would to set the hook. As big as the Labrador and Kamchatka hogs are,
it takes them awhile to get the hook in their mouth. When we missed a
take in Labrador, it reminded me of a toilet flushing. The guides
smiled and said that is what they call it when you miss.

Damn, I need to go to Russia again......

Dave