Dukes Creek Flies

[Tyme Keeper 0]

I've reserved a spot for myself and a friend to go fishing at Dukes Creek in early August and I will be tying flies for both of us to use while we are on the water. My friend doesn't have any trout flies so I intend to tie everything he will need for the day. I know about a lot of the popular trout flies and have tied many, but I am trying to gather comprehensive list of both wet and dry flies to take with me. All of your suggestions are welcome, I will probably be tying up 4-6 of anything that is suggested. I'm not necessarily looking for anything "Dukes' Specific" because it is just trout fishing after all, but more along the lines of what your favorite brown and rainbow flies are. Nymphs, streamers, classic dries, weird attractors, interesting wet flies to consider?

[FlickNdip 0]

Try tying some flies from different regions or different variations. I do not fish there often, but I throw prospecting rigs of 3 flies to cover all water depths. I have caught fish on streamers down to size 20's. Remember those fish see everything so bring a lot and each of you throw different flies. I like soft hackles personally like size 16-18 and black stones. Not sure about August though. I know because of water temps they are only doing morning sessions. And remember stay barbless.

[sammothner 0]

check out ngto. lots of stuff about dukes there. i personaly have done best with sub 20 flies with hot spots. try using patterns that they probly havent seen b4 because of all the pressure. stones are always a good choice with aa small soft hackle dropper

[vicrider 0]

Just read a neat article on Dukes Creek. Sure wish it wasn't half a country away from me. You might like this and some good tips in here.

 

https://www.gon.com/article.php?id=3184&cid=118

[troutguy 0]

There is a spot on Dukes Creek where the stream goes through a rock channel. It gets very narrow and deep. It gets action but then most move on thinking nothing is there. The entire stream goes into a split of a large rock and for maybe 100 feet is in this rock. That run is very deep. Regular weight and techniques can not get your fly down deep enough with the current.

 

Bring some dime sized split shot and large #6 or #4 or even #2 streamers or large dark stonefly nymphs or hellgramite imitations to dredge that run and you will be rewarded.

[Tyme Keeper 0]

Thanks for sharing that article vicrider. Troutguy, thanks for the advice. I'll bring some big weighted streamers and some split shot for that part of the stream if I make it there. I've heard there are four different sections and they limit which anglers go to any of the given sections.

[troutguy 0]

If I remember correctly, the rock cut might be section three. They do limit people and they do not screw around with barbs. Most of the stream was small, very technical. The advice about different flies, small flies and big flies is true.

[FlickNdip 0]

Just a FYI. Dukes is closed this week due to water temps.

[Tyme Keeper 0]

Thanks troutguy, I've been tying just about everything I can think of. I'm working with all barbless hooks just because I didn't want to mess around with mashing the barb and not getting it just right. The lady I spoke to said the game warden used a cotton shirt and if it snags you're hosed.

 

FlickNDip, thanks for the heads up. I called this morning and they said they will have the final word on it on Monday or Tuesday. I have a morning slot on Wednesday and they said since there have been cooler evenings (last night) and maybe tonight, that odds are the morning slot will stay open and they will close the afternoon.

[vicrider 0]

TK, myself and friends used to take a lot of big fish, steelhead and salmon mainly, from runs like troutguy mentions. We did not fool around. Forget about controlled drift in a spot like that. We'd put hunks of lead we poured ourselves anywhere from 6- 18" in front of a bright streamer. We would literally clunk the bottom with the weight and lift it just to drop it a little further down the hole. Some of the hits we'd get from fish other people never had a decent shot out at would like to tear the rod out of your hands.

 

I have, in clear water, hung a streamer or yarn fly in front of big salmon that many people had drifted over. Patience. Lift it slightly a few time and all of a sudden he'd have enough and smash the thing. This is NOT the pretty cast, mend, drift we all dream of but it caught us many big fish others had passed over.

[Tyme Keeper 0]

Vicrider, thanks for the story and fishing technique. Just got off the vise with a half dozen big streamers weighted as much as I could manage. I'll be bringing the split shot with me as well. I sincerely hope a half days fishing doesn't blow by as fast as I think it will.

[DavidR 0]

Make sure every fly you have on you is barbless ...they will fine you per fly if they barbed.

[Tyme Keeper 0]

Hey David, thanks for the heads up! I bought a bunch of barbless hooks about two weeks ago and have been tying with only those. They have their own box so I don't get confused with them. I don't like fines of any sort, and enjoy fishing within the regulations.

[DavidR 0]

Oh and if it rains and the water has color in it - go big and nasty with your flies and leader/tippet.

[sammothner 0]

that run is in section 3. Just down stream of where shakleford crosses the creek is whats called the "bend", there are 2 30" trout in there along with tons of 20"+ and countless 15" fish. just up stream is a slow deep pool. light tippet, small flies, stealth, and no drag are how you catch them. almost every run has 20" fish inch, most have a couple.