kausboy

Hopper: They still use M80 flies, but mostly at night, and on the lower river. They work well during deer hunting season because the noise doesn't seem out of place. They are the loudest damn flies, but very effective. As previously stated, I think the Manistee gets more of that.

I believe the previous responses have covered the fish flies pretty well. The green caddis and various egg patterns are old standards but any fly presented in a manner to irritate enough should draw a strike. Even Buggers swung just right work. Try to get access to the PM Club property, which is the lower section of "flies only" and starts just below the first Clay Bank. You either a) need to know someone, or use a boat to get there. The members don't fish is much except on weekends. Don't forget the old tried and true.......the heavily leaded treble hook dragged through the holes. Many of the locals have used it for years.

I just returned from a glorious week in the Missoula area and fished many of the local waters. The hot fly, particularly on the Blackfoot, was called the Purple Haze. We purchased it as a #12 and it was an Adams type parachute tie, with an elk hair tail, calf tail post and mixed grizzly/badger hackle. The body, however, was some kind of purple floss substitute that was great. I also saw several other attractors using the same material in different colors. Can anyone identify what this material might be?

It is that time of year to catch the big guys on a skipping dry imitation of the October Caddis. I could always tie a #8 or #10 orange elk hair caddis, but does anyone have a good, proven pattern they can share?

I use the ball of thread at the end and the piece of tying thread pulled back with varying success is splitting mayfly tails. I use mostly fibbitts but will use hackle tips on occasion. My tails send to rise up or are generally uneven. Any suggestions?

Does anyone have a pattern/patterns for the various stage of this very important Midwest mayfly they could share?