3 Sucessful Naugatuck (salmon) Flies

[pork]

Trying to inject some life back into the tying part of the forum...

Here's a pic of three flies which have hooked Naugy salmon for me so far this season (sorry for the bad pic).

http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/data/507/thumbs/3_Naugy_Flies.JPG (http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2211)

From top to bottom:

Mickey Finn (variation) #6

tip: oval silver tinsel
rib: oval silver tinsel
body: embossed silver tinsel (this stuff is GREAT. I can't speak highly enough about it. It sparkles and reflect light like crazy)
wing: yellow, red, yellow dyed polar bear
head: black

The Priest (variation) #2

tip: oval silver tinsel
tail: light dun hackle fibers
rib: oval silver tinsel
body: white sparkle yarn
throat: light dun hackle
underwing: pearl krystal flash (not used in original)
wing: natural white polar bear (original uses either calftail or goat hair, can't recall)
head: white


Ally's Shrimp (slight variation) #4

tip: oval silver tinsel
tail: sparse orange dyed polar bear and pearl krystal flash (original uses orange bucktail)
rib: oval silver tinsel (some use gold)
body: rear half, florescent red floss; front half, black floss
wing: grey squirrel tail both on top and underneath hook shank
wing veiling: golden pheasant tippet
hackle: orange, tied collar style
head: black (should be red)


Seems like the polar bear is the common denominator, though I'm sure that just a coincidence. That said, it's some good stuff (though most of the quality is poor...it's taken from old rugs). It's nature's krystal flash, but more subtle. Oh well, the flies still fish great...

I have some other patterns that should be winners if I ever get a chance to fish again this year. :confused:

[The Fisherman]

Hopefully things will pick up tying-wise once winter sets in. I know it does for me. ;-)

As always, nice work.

[labtrout]

Thanks for the recipes. The Mickey Finn has always been one of my favorite streamer patterns and a go-to fly in the fall, but I really like the looks of that Ally's Shrimp. I think I'll tie up a few of those for the Naugatuck. Maybe that'll be "the one."

[MuddlerMinnow]

Any reason for the up- versus down-eye hooks? Is it just tradition, or does it really affect the way a fly rides through the water?

[pork]

Thanks for the recipes. The Mickey Finn has always been one of my favorite streamer patterns and a go-to fly in the fall, but I really like the looks of that Ally's Shrimp. I think I'll tie up a few of those for the Naugatuck. Maybe that'll be "the one."


Ally's Shrimp is a killer regardless of species. I tied a little one at the beginning of the season and caught trout on it pretty much all season long (until I cast it into a tree on the Wood River). Browns didn't seem too interested, but rainbows took that fly like crazy.

The only time I fished for largemouths this year, that was the fly they took the best...just pummeled the thing. My nephew got his first fish/bass ever on an A.S.

I never tried one for stripers, but I can't see why it wouldn't work. It's just an all around fish catcher.

There are a ton of different variations on it too. Google Ally's Cascade. I haven't caught anything on one yet, but I figure it's only a matter of time.

[pork]

Any reason for the up- versus down-eye hooks? Is it just tradition, or does it really affect the way a fly rides through the water?

Well, I have the hooks for fishing wild salmon, so there's that. They're a heavier wire...they'll sink a bit faster than say a normal streamer hook of the same size. Also, they're less prone to straightening, which I doubt is much of a concern on the Naugatuck.

As far as the eye goes, I don't know why they evolved like that. Some flies are tied on down eye hooks as per the pattern (i.e. The Same Thing Murray). Most people use a turtle knot on an up-eye hook. I think it pulls the fly in a straight line better. Unless you're fishing the Greased Line or the Patent method, traditionally speaking, you want your fly line to hit the water in a straight line so the fly starts "swimming" as soon as it hits the water. That's what bright fish seem to like. I dunno...I'm still trying to figure these broodstock fish out.

Does anyone know if and where they move on a raise of water? Upstream or down?

[Jon]

I never tried one for stripers, but I can't see why it wouldn't work. It's just an all around fish catcher.

I took an early season bass on a red Cascade. I have a bunch of these flies left over from salmon fishing in Scotland, where they're arguably the most popular selection (certainly up there with the Ally's). Last year a yellow cascade was very popular with local shad.

This sort of thing....
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/Kirkaig/allys-cascade.jpg

Jon

[pork]

I took an early season bass on a red Cascade. I have a bunch of these flies left over from salmon fishing in Scotland, where they're arguably the most popular selection (certainly up there with the Ally's). Last year a yellow cascade was very popular with local shad.

Jon


Well there ya go! Ally & variations will take anything that swims. They're fun to tie too.

Do you guys you use many traditional shrimp patterns (like Wye Bug and the like) in Scotland? They're more of an Irish thing, right?

[Jon]

Do you guys you use many traditional shrimp patterns (like Wye Bug and the like) in Scotland? They're more of an Irish thing, right?

I'm not very sure. The River Wye is in England (and Wales).

By the time I took up salmon fishing (maybe 20 years' back?) the Ally's was fast becoming a very popular fly. Fly preference seems to be very regional though; for example on the back-end rivers like the Tweed, the approach is for heavier tube flies tied in trad styles (Willie Gun, Thunder and Lightening, Stoats Tail, among many!) and perhaps for Waddington style flies (are you familiar with Waddingtons?). On the Dee, the style seems to be for smaller doubles. There are a lot of rivers in between!

I never saw anyone fishing with the very trad patterns that you tie (they seem to be either framed or shown off on the lapels of old ladies at church!), but most salmon flies (like the ones named above) have a fairly long history. The Cascade is much more recent, I think. It seems to have come about because anglers moved away from the more heavily dressed versions of the Ally's Shrimp, preferring the sleeker profile of the cascade (plus a wee bit sparkle!) Tied on double hooks they swing very nicely.

A fly that has taken the country by storm is the Sunray Shadow. I'm not sure of its origins, but it looks a lot like the traditional Collie Dog - an elver imitation. All I know is that I've never seen salmon react with such fury as to the Sunray Shadow. Google it and tie some up for your next Gaspe trip!

Jon

[pork]

Jon, I am familiar with Waddintons, though I have never tied one. They kind of strike me as a predecessor to the tube fly. I'd like to get some Waddington shanks eventually. When I get some time, I'd like to tie a fly like a Green Highlander or Silver Doctor in as many forms as I can think of...hairwing, featherwing, waddington, tube, dry, etc.

I started fishing the Sunray Shadow this year. I have heard the stories! I heard it was invented by a Brit while fishing in Norway. I didn't move any fish with it, but it was because there were barely any fish to move this year! (timing seems to be everything and ours was poor...got one, so not a total loss). I have used the Sunray Shadow here. I managed a nice brown on one a couple weeks ago. Seems like it might work in the salt too. I tied some little ones for the trout box, though the brown I got took one about 3"-3.5" long. It always struck me as the antithesis of normal salmon flies. Other than a San Juan Worm, it's about the easiest fly to tie that I can think of. A SJ worm might even be tougher..at least it has a body kind of.

I planned on tying up a bunch of small classics (not blind eye)...enough to fill a small metal fly box. Then, in the off season, display the box on my bookshelf. That ended up being too much work, however. I did manage to tie a few...Silver Doctor, Jock Scott, a little #12 Black Dose (which was a PAIN!). I know a few guys who fish 'em and catch fish with them, but I think everyone does better with hairwings for the most part.



Have you ever seen the traditional elver fly? Very cool looking!

http://www.fishermensfeathers.com/usa/image/ar3.jpg

[Jon]

They look very nice indeed. I'm sure they'd work well for stripers!

The Sunray is a phenomenon that divides opinion. To some it is not a fly at all, but a kind of 'cheat'. All I know is that every time I've fish one it has provoked the most amazing reaction from so many fish (assuming there are any around!) If there's a downside, it seems to be that this fly generates a lot more interest - salmon boiling to it etc - but conversion to hooked fish is lower. Personally I think it's a great fly to find out who's home.

For the benefit of others, here is the story of the Sunray, and how to tie it (I think even I could manage this one....)

http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/sunray-shadow/index.php

[pork]

I'd like to try a Gurgler to find out "who's home". Seems like it might have a similar effect.

[Rich Strolis]

Pork,
Waddingtons are ok in my opinion, you can make your own with a wire bending tool, and the right size wire of your choice. Honestly, as you stated the tubes are much nicer and they require the fisher-person the luxury of adding whichever hook they want to the pattern, as well as supplying a pattern that will last on average 10 times longer than a standard hook tied fly.

[pork]

Rich, that's interesting about bending my own Waddington shanks. I never thought about it before. I should pull the wire out of our crappy old piano!

As far as having the luxury of using whichever hook you desire....isn't that just as possible with Waddingtons as it is with tubes? (assuming the eye was wide enough to fit the wire through it). Having never tied on one, maybe that actually is an issue...I dunno.

I've read a little about them, but I haven't really explored them at all. Like I said, I'd like to tie one pattern in as many different formats as possible, so I'll have to deal with Waddingtons eventually.

[pork]

Add this one to the list for this season...this is the most popular dry fly used for atlantic salmon

Bomber #4 (mine was chartreuse/brown...the one pictured is machine green/brown...I didn't tie this one)

http://www.wwdoak.com/flies/BomberGrWh1.JPG


Bomber:

Hook: Size 2-6 (3XL or 4XL)
Wing: White calftail (divided)
Tail: White calftail
Hackle: Brown
Body: Deer hair, spun and clipped; cigar-shaped (original dressing uses natural colored deer hair)
Head: Black


Some spin and clip the deer, then tie off the thread, before tying in the hackle (you'd have to reattach the thread). I tie in the hackle, then spin and trim the deer hair, then tie off and clip the thread. It's less bulky, but you run the risk of razoring off the hackle. Once the body is clipped, the thread can be reattached, the hackle palmered up the length of the body, then tied off. Build a small head, whip finish, and then apply lacquer.

It's a simple fly, but I hate tying them! Thank goodness they're durable and they float forever.

[Rich Strolis]

Pork,
great fly, love it. As for the tube vs. waddington debate. Matter of preference merely. I like the tubes meself as they require me to build no bulk into the pattern as the size of the tube will help produce the larger profile. Plus, once the shank is covered in a waddington shank fly, its done. The tubes allow you to add new hooks anytime. More versatile in my opinion. Oh, let me know when your up in the area soon, I have a couple of tubes for you try out on those salmon.