Recent Patterns

[Dornug]

While floating one of my favorite trout rivers this fall I noticed some sort of large bug flying too far away for me to identify. This bug was so large (approximately 3 inch wingspan) I couldn't help but watch as it flew near the water surface. As the beast of a bug reached approximately 4 inches above the water a beautiful rainbow of about 15" cleared the surface to take the bug back to the murky depths for dinner.

I have always told that flies with rubber legs (Michigan skunks -dry and streamer) work well on these waters. On this day I only had some small size 10's with me and they didn't seem to be enough to bring any fish to the surface.

In the Fall of 2004 American Angler Scott Sanchez did a story about X style or bullet head flies. Between my growing admiration for Sanchez patterns and the story above I knew these flies were necessary for my boxes next year.

The proportions are difficult to get down but after a couple of flies I have the hang of it. See the magazine for step by steps. Here are the results:



Now I'm off to begin replacing my streamers that rusted from a bad box (new streamer box on the way) before working on the spring/summer hatches.

[ridderbos3]

I am a big sanchez fan too. He has a book coming out next march.

john

[MIKE*A]

I tied up a bunch of "X" style bullethead flies last winter in anticipation of the Brood X cicada hatch this past spring/summer.......unfortunately all my area rivers were too blown out to use them. I wonder if they will keep for 17 years? I am going to tie up some larger dark green ones this winter to imitate the larger annual cicadas that show up in August every year. i had one drop out of a tree almost on my head while i was wading this Summer.......It made quite a ruckus when it hit.

Mike