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

 

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

UV Chewee Rock Worm

UV Chewee Rock Worm

Hook – Any Heavy Grub hook
Size – 8 - 12
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black or Olive
Head – Black Tungsten Bead
Thorax – Hairline Black UV Ice Dub
Abdomen – Caddis-Green UV Chewee Skin
Rib – .32 gauge Green Parawire

While tying at a CJTU meeting I started playing around with UV Chewee Skin.  I've seen it on the web and at the shows, so I've decided adapted it with one of my most productive patterns (Green Rock Worm).  Rhyacophila larvae are abundant in most freestone streams and because of behavioural drift they are always breaking free from the bottom and tumbling down stream.  This pattern and all Rhyacophila patterns work great in a Czech/Euro nymph set-up.  It's a quick pattern to tie and follow the K.I.S.S. rule.

 1. Mash down barb, slide on bead and secure in wire.

 2. Tie in UV Chewee Skin.

3. Wrap UV Chewee Skin forward.

 4. Wind wire forward to create a ribbing.

5. Dub Thorax and whip finish.

Good afternoon with fly and fin.

The northeast was hit with another snowstorm on 2/26/10, which dumped about 12" on top of the 24" from the last storm in my area of New Jersey. After digging out on Friday, I'd promised myself to do something nice on Saturday.  So I went out on Saturday to wet a line.  It was a great day, air temp was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the water temp was 38 degrees Fahrenheit with cloud cover.  The water was high but crystal clear, and the trout were hungry.  I only took two Browns who took the Green Rock Worm, the rest of the trout were Rainbows and they took all three the Rock Worm, Tan UV Caddis and CDC Purple and Orange dropper.



This was the first time I fished the CDC Purple and Orange and the bows slammed it.

 

Water was high but wade-able.

 

The Point.

 

The Anchor.

 

The Dropper.

Took the Green Rock Worm.

  

The Release.

 

Another on the Rock Worm.

 

On the dropper.

 

The Release.

 

The Fight

 

And Release

  

The last fish of the day.

Rock Worm

There are Rhyacophila larvae in every freestone stream.  It is an abundant food source for trout.  So abundant while nymphing I've impaled larvae, not once but many times.  This is a simple an effective pattern.  You can add a shell back but I've not notice the difference in hook-ups.  You've may notice that I don't have the partridge hackle sweeping back, this is to give the legs more action.

It is a dead simple pattern and very effective.  Bob Jacklin's version landed him a 10 lbs. Brown Trout on the Madison between the lakes.

 

Hook – TMC 2457 or any heavy Grub hook

Size – 12-18

Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black

Body – Hairline Insect Green #13 Dubbing or Chartreuse dubbing
Rib – .32 gauge Green Parawire or any green wire
Head – Black Brass or Tungsten bead
Legs – Hungarian Partridge

  

 

 1. Mash down barb and secure in wire.

 

 2. Apply Dubbing to thread.

 3. Wind dubbing forward.

  

 4. Wind wire forward to create a ribbing.

  

 5. Tie in Partridge.

  

 6. Wind on Partridge, secure and whip finish.