Killer Rock Worm with Lou DiGena

 

Hook:        Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/3qlSsIY​)
Size:         10 - 16         
Thread:     UTC Ultra Wire, Black in size Brassie (https://amzn.to/37gXKhj​)      
Body:        Green Yarn (https://amzn.to/2LOSw4Q)
Head:        UTC Ultra Wire, Black (https://amzn.to/37gXKhj​)
 
The "Killer Rock Worm" a variation of Frank Sawyer's "Killer Bug." Using black wire and green yarn.   Change yarn and wire color to mimic the caddis larva in your waters.

The Killer Bug is famous in the U.K. and Europe and recently has this pattern gained a following in the U.S.  This fly is renowned for its catching fish and the mythological properties of Chadwick's 477 wool used in its construction.

Frank Sawyer was a river keeper on the River Avon at Lake in Wiltshire in the U.K., along with being a writer and inventor of such flies as the Pheasant Tail Nymph.  

The killer bug was developed by Mr. Sawyer to manage the grayling numbers on the River Avon.  Then Grayling considered a coarse fish and undesirable as a food or game fish.

If you're looking for an available substitute, Semperfli Chadwicks 477 Substitute (https://amzn.to/3de9ll5​) is an excellent choice.

 

Fly Tying Gear:

    Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)
    Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)
    Cohen's Sculpting Scissors
    Tiemco Ceramic Bobbin (https://amzn.to/3u7Gkxv)
    Matarelli Whip Finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)
    Solarez Bone Dry (https://amzn.to/3m3o4jn) 

 

Camera Gear:

    Camera: Panasonic GH4 (https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)
    Lens: Panasonic 30mm Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)
    Ring Light: Neewer 48 Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)
    Fill Light (3): Aputure H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)
    Battery: Wasabi Power Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)
    Backdrop: Dark Grey & Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3) 

 

Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you, thanks.

 

© 2021 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved. 

 

#loudigena #flytying #flyfishing

 

South Branch of the Raritan Bug Sampler

Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions posted this great video with a sample of he bugs found in the South Branch of the Raritan.

First appearing is a willow nymph, or early black stone fly nymph.  The early black stone is makes it's first appearance in February and March when temperatures start to rise in the late afternoon.  This hatch offers some great winter dry fly fishing, but don't forget the nymphs which are in the stream all year.

Next is the Isonychia bicolor, also called Iso, Slate Drake, or Lead Wing.  Found in fast moving  riffles in highly oxygenated water, these nymphs are fast swimmers that dart along the stream bottom. These mayflies start emerging in midsummer and hatch in to the fall.

Followed by one of my favorite bugs the scud because they are very abundant an in the streams year round.  Tim's video show how prominent the orange is in the natural.

Then there are two may fly nymphs one from the genus Ephemerella (Sulpher) and the other  from the genus Maccaffertium (March Brown or Cahill).

Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are next on the scene with Hydropsyche, which is a free living net builder, which are important because they get dislodged from time-to-time and drift down stream during times of behavioral drift.  

Finally a Gastropoda or snail which float and crawl most of our streams.

The one bug I did not mention was the Water Penny, which is a beetle larva that the Sulpher nymph was riding.  I don't know the type of beetle it becomes, but a cress bug imitation should represent this bug quite well.

Tim's South Branch Sampler 1/17/14 is a wonderful sample to the food available to trout in our streams in New Jersey and a great reference to use when designing fly patterns.

I recommend you check out Tim's other videos at Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

John Collins ties his Swimming Rhyacophila

John Collins is lifelong resident of New Jersey and a long-standing member of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild. He got into fishing at the early age of five and like most fished for what ever and using any method.  He calls many of the rivers in NJ, NY and PA home, most notable are the South Branch of the Raritian, The Little Bushkill, and Beaverkill. 

He started his fly tying adventures under the mentorship of George Kolesar who was a commercial tier for several shops in the Catskill region.  After mastering the traditional Catskill style, John started to incorporate modern methods, materials and took creative liberty in combining materials to create his best know patterns.  Some of these patterns are the J.C.'s Iso PT, Electric Style Sparkle Pupa, J.C.'s Electric Steelhead Stonefly, JC's Copperhead and arguably most well know pattern his Electric Caddis.

John won’t introduce patterns to the public domain unless he catches fish on them, his motto is “Fly’s that Catch Fish, not just Fishermen.”

I hope you enjoy John’s latest creation the Swimming Rhyacophila, filmed at the 2012 International Fly Tying Symposium.


Swimming Rhyacophila

Hook: Daiichi 1770  Size 8 - 12
Thread: Dark Green and Olive Benecchi 12/0
Claspers: Green Antron Yarn
Abdomen: Chartreuse Ultra Wire inserted into Clear Stretch
                  Tubing rapped over a base of tying thread.
Thorax: Brown Ostrich Herl
Wing-case: Clear Cure Goo Brushable

Bubble Pupa

The big caddis hatch everyone can't wait for is the Mothers Day Caddis or Brachycentrus.  The Brachycentrus is a cased caddis that lives in just about every stream.  This is a prolific hatch and trout engorge themselves on this abundant insects. This hatch in the east starts in May around Mothers Day and can go well in to June, making it an important hatch to fishers.

There are many outstanding patterns to imitate the pupa (it's most vulnerable stage).  The best well know is LaFontaine’s Sparkle Pupa.  Again I'd like to point you in the direction of Matt Grobert's video Tying the LaFontaine Sparkle Emerger  produced by Tim Flagler aka Tightline Productions for instruction on tying this classic pattern.  Another notable pattern is Barr’s Graphic Caddis.

My take on the Mothers Day Caddis is simple, like most of my patterns, mainly because I want to spend more time fishing than tying (the real reason is I'm lazy).  With most of the patterns I develop the golden rule is Keep it simple, Stupid.  For those who don't know the K.I.S.S. rule it's attributed to Kelly Johnson, lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works think spy planes Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird. 

This patterns is developed from observation. I always have a small seine net and will do a kick sample of the stream I fishing to see what bugs and numbers.  If you look at my Popular Posts you'll see that "Emerging Caddis Pupa" is one of my most popular post and those are the images and video I used as reference.

I must give inspirational credit to Davie McPhail videos where I pick-upped using Flashabou for the rib and tinting it with a permanent marker to create a darker but flashy rib.

Bubble Pupa

Hook: Light Wire Caddis Hook.

Size: 14 - 16

Thread: Brown 6/0 or 8/0

Tag: Flashabou

Rib: Flashabou tinted with olive permanent marker.

Abdomen:  Hareline Dubbin HD13 (Insect Green)

Gas Bubble: 1/8" Micro Foam (used to protect electronic)

Legs: Hungarian Partridge

Thorax: Brown Squirrel Dubbing

Start thread and tie in Flashabou.

Wrap tag tie off and dub abdomen.

Tint the inside of the Flashabou and rib abdomen.

Tie in micro foam 1/8" wide.

Tie in Hungarian Partridge by tip.

Wind Partridge tie off and fold over wing case.

Dub Thorax and whip finish.

Your finished Bubble Pupa.

This pattern is a impressionistic pupa designed to be fished in the film. The micro packing foam helps it float and allows light to pass through to mimic the gas bubble of the pupa.  Hence the name Bubble Pupa. This pattern can be tied in various colors to match the caddis coming off on your stream.

Top Water Caddis Action

Here in the east we're experiencing a very mild and dry spring. I'm concerned with low water and rising temperatures, that our waters will heat up and stress the trout.  This is normally not a problem for this time of year because the we usually get a fair amount if rain keeping our waters at good levels.  Only time will tell how the rest of the spring will play out, but for now the fishing is hot.

Since the spring opener bugs are popping and the trout are on them.  Mainly caddis, Grannoms to be exact are all over and the trout are looking up.  Several of my last outings I've be dry fly fishing, not once did I set-up a nymph rig.  The two main patterns I've been fishing are my CDC UV Caddis (with and with out an egg sack) and Craig Mathew's of Blue Ribbon Flies, Iris Caddis (Check out Matt Grobert video Tying the Iris Caddis produced by Tim Flagler aka Tightline Productions).

I usually present the fly with a down stream reach cast and dead drift it over holding water and feeding lies, at the end of the drift I'll dance the caddis across the surface mimicking a caddis breaking through the film or a egg-layer depositing her eggs.  Most of the time I'm fishing to rising fish, but I do just as well prospecting and inducing a rise.

The result is some of the best dry fly fishing I've had in years, in fact it's been HOT!

Here are some photos (trout porn) from my outings, enjoy.

One well chewed fly.

October Caddis Time

Leaves are starting to turn. There's a crispness in the air, and the last of the big bugs are about to pop.

It's fall - October caddis time.

Here's a weighted wet-fly patten that I use during the fall. It's a great addition to your Euro-nymph rig or fished alone. Make sure you swing the fly at the end of the drift and hold on.

October Caddis

Hook: Standard Wet Fly Hook (Mustad S80-3906 or similar)
Size: 8 - 12
Head: Black Tungsten Bead sized to hook
Thread: Brown 6/0 or 8/0
Rib: Red and Gold wire (.32 gauge Parawire or UTC Size BR)
Abdomen: Equal parts, Hareline Ice Dub Orange, Tan UV Ice Dub,
and Hareline Rabbit Dubbin HD15 (Hand blended)
Thorax: Hairline Ice Dub Peacock
Rib: Gold Wire
Legs: Hungarian Partridge

CDC UV Caddis - Caddis, Caddis Everywhere...

Caddis are abundant on most rivers, but the Madison and other rivers in Yellowstone country there can have blizzard hatches.  Never leave home with out a caddis pattern in your box. Here is one that is quick, easy to see, and floats like a cork.

CDC UV Caddis

Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook Size 10 - 10
Thread: Tan

Body: Hairline Tan UV Ice Dub
Under Wing: Natural CDC (3-4 feathers)
Wing: Elk or Deer Hair

This is a another pattern which follows the K.I.S.S. rule. It's simple, fast to tie and works everywhere. You can variety the color of the body to match the caddis in your area, the UV dubbing adds some nice sparkle to the pattern, you can also substitute the UV dubbing with an Anton blend for similar results.

While fishing in Yellowstone country this past July this was my go to caddis pattern if I wasn't throwing large Salmon Files.

It caught selective trout in the Henry's Fork, Brook Trout, Rainbows and Grayling in the park.

Attach your thread.

Dub the body.

Tie in the CDC under wing.

Tie in your Deer hair.

Trim Deer hair and whip finish.

 Below are some of the trout taken with the CDC UV Caddis.

Yellowstone Brook Trout

Henry's Fork Rainbow

Madison Rainbow.

Caddis, Brook, Brown and Rainbows

The month of May here in the east has been wet, and gray (Chicago gray).  On the upside when the water levels are good and when wadeable the fishing is stellar.

One of the patterns that's been working well this spring is my Anchor Caddis.  A variation on Hans Stephenson "The Bomb."  It's a generic Caddis Larva that I tie with or with out legs.

Anchor Caddis

Hook: Mustad 3399 Size 6 - 10
Head: Tungsten Bead to Match Hook
Weight: .032 Non-lead Wire
Thread: Olive 6/0
Tail: Natural CDC
Ribbing: Green Wire
Abdomen: Olive Squirrel Dubbing
Hot Spot: Hairline Hot Orange UV Ice Dub
Thorax: Hairline Black UV Ice Dub
Legs*:  Hungary Partridge or any Hen Hackle.

Here are the results:

Your results may vary.

Open Day Weekend

Opening day of trout season one can say is no different than any other day on a trout stream. After all the trout and the bugs don't know what day it is, they are in the business of survival and sex. While we also concern ourselves with sex and survival we add rituals help us mark time and remember.

One ritual I and many other anglers partake in is opening day of trout season. Some states have longer close season so trout may reproduce and the young of the year have a fair chance of developing. Whether your streams are closed for three weeks or several months opening day opens the possibilities of trophy trout, socializing with friends, and enjoying nature.

We pass on these traditions and rituals to our offspring sharing experience and memories. Here are some photographs of this years trout opening day weekend. I only guided my oldest son this weekend and didn't wet a line once. With the smiles on his face there was no need.

First cast, eyes on the drift.

Caddis focused on one thing.

"Caddis Porn"

Trout to the net.

Grip and Grin

Grip and Grin take two.

Fish of the day, need I say more.

With all the caddis on the rocks the trout were readily taking a Hare's Ear Nymph and Hare's Ear Winged Wet on the swing.

Caddis Larva based on Bugs of the Underworld - Ice Pink Larva

This pattern owes it's inspiration to  Ralph and Lisa Cutter's DVD "Bugs of the Underworld".

Below is a photo off my TV of the Caddis Larva this pattern is based.  As you can see it is the pink abdomen, cream yellow thorax and black head, also this Caddis has white gills at the tail.

      This image is from "Bugs of the Underworld".

Hook – TMC 2457 or any heavy Grub hook

Size – 10-16

Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black

Head – Hairline Ice Dub Olive Brown and Black Brass or Tungsten bead 

Thorax – Squirrel Blend Sulphue or any Yellow dubbing blend

Abdomen – Hairline Ice Dub UV Florescent Hot Pink

Rib – .32 gauge Amethyst Parawire or any purple wire

Shell Back – Hairline 1/8" Tan Scud Back

Gills – White CDC

 1. Mash down barb and bead and secure in wire.

  2. Tie in white CDC for Gills.

 3. Tie in Tan Scud Back.

 

  4. Dub Abdomen.

 

5. Dub Thorax.

6. Dub Head.

  7. Pull Shell Back over the top and tie-off.

  8. Advance your wire creating the rib.

 9. Secure wire and whip finish.