Lake Placid Fly Guys

Fly of the Week

GIBBY'S HE ISO PUPA

I developed this fly to add to my HE series and I am very pleased with the resaults. The fly was designed to fit a nitch, I wanted a fly that would fish well during the down time, at a time of year when the Isonycchia hatch was going off. This fly is basically a caddis pupa that can double as an Iso nymph. The bead is heavy and this fly was a dream to fish without having to add a bunch of weight. Enjoy!    - Matt

 

Hook: Daiichi 1150 #10 Heavy Wide Gape Hook

Thread: UNI-Thread 6/0 Camel

Bead: Nymph Head 2.4mm Stonefly Nickel

Abdomen: Small "Rust" V-Rib

Stripe: Lagartun Oval S-Strong Medium Poly-Tinsel

Collar: Brown Psuedo Hackle

Dubbing: Brown Ice Dubbing

Step 1: Tie in the V-rib and the Tinsel at the head and wrap the thread down the shank making sure you create an even tapered body.

Step 2: Wrap the V-rib forward evenly and pull the tinsel over the top and tie down. Apply a small amount of glue to the stripe to keep it on top.

Step 3: Tie in the psuedo hackle open side down. The best way to achieve this is to cut the hackle at an angle to create a better tie in point.

Step 4: Wrap the psuedo hackle forward evenly and tie down.

 Step 5: Dub the head and color the eyes with model paint or a sharpie and voila! The Iso pupa is done.
 
 
 

 

Good Fishing To Be Had

The onslaught of winter has a lot more to offer than gloom and doom. One local expert on a recent outing on the Ausable managed to find a nice pocket of hungry trout. Fish responded well to streamer patterns and dry flies. Low water tempuratures did not turn these fish off and in the end ten fish came to hand, the largest going eighteen inches. Dont let the oncoming winter discourage you from getting out and enjoying the great weather we have had, there is still some very good fishing to be had in the north country. Hot patterns have been black ghost streamers, olive and black zonkers, and blue winged olives.

Fly of the Week

GREY GHOST

This fly is a staple pattern in many people's fly boxes. The number of fish that have succumbed to this pattern over the years is unimaginable. This fly is best fished trolled in my opinion but stripping is an effective method as well. One note on this method of tying this fly, notice that I use orange thread throughout the tying process until I complete the head. This is unnecessary but it does help while working with the body because it prevents the black color from bleeding through the body when wet.    - Matt

 

Hook: Orvis 28G1 7X Long Streamer Hook or equivalent

Thread: UNI-Thread 6/0 Orange and Black

Abdomen: Orange floss

Rib: Two sided gold/silver mylar tinsel

Wing: Matched grey saddle hackle feathers

Cheeks: Matched Silver Pheasant feathers

Optional: Jungle cock nails over the cheeks

 

Step 1: Tie in the mylar tinsel gold side down and tie the orange floss on top of that. Wind the floss evenly forward and wrap the tinsel over that. 

Step 2: Tie in three to four peacock fibers for a throat and kink them downwards or tie a thread ball behind the tie in point to coax the fibers downward.
 

Step 3: Tie in two grey saddle hackles side by side equal in length.
 

Step 4: Tie in two matched silver pheasant feathers for the cheeks making sure that they match when held at eye level. 

Step 5: The last step is simple. Whip finish your orange thread and wrap an even tapered head with black thread. Whip finish and/or glue to complete the fly.

 

 

Reminder

Just a quick reminder that tommorow at Jones Outfitters we will be conducting a fly tying demonstration. Many different tying techniques, styles, and flies will be covered. Stop by and check it it out! We also have a lot of other things going on in the store such as rod and boat sales!

Looks like its going to be another incredible day in the Adirondacks. Starting out with a nice layer of frost and ending up in the mid fifties. Thats pretty nice for up here even if it were May. The West Branch is at a great level and is calling to any of you who can take advantage of this bonus day.
A black ghost streamer on one of the new sinking leaders would be my choice. These leaders are going to change your life when it comes to getting flies down. They sink fast and turnover like a dream, much more pleasant to use than split shot.

Fly Tying Demonstrations

Stop in the store and check out a fly tying demonstration at Jones Outfitters every friday at 4:00pm. The demo will be held by Matt DeLorenzo or another Jones Outfitters associate. Matt is a tyer on the Nymph Heads pro staff and several flies tied during these demos will utilize these materials. These demonstrations are perfect for those of you interested in learning to tie flies and for those of you who are curious to see the craft.

Jones Outfitters fly tying video on YouTube

Check out this video by Matt that gives instructions on how to tie a very easy caddis pupa pattern. Filmed in low resolution with no audio for your downloading ease.

Congrats !

Our good friend Bob landed this nice steelhead on only his second trip to the Salmon River! Pictured with Bob is Jones Outfitters guide Kevin Margosian.

Warm spell, nice.

The weather recently has all the skiers in an uproar, warm days , warm nights and no snow.  What it means to the fisherman is a last chance to get out and enjoy the waters. We're talking mid fifties today. The West Branch of the Ausable jumped up a bit this morning but is still fishable, a bonus day to swing a streamer in the catch and release area. Olive nymphs have been still catching fish, fish a stone fly on the point to help get it down and you have an effective twosome. Get on the water, somehow. Fish, paddle do something! Keep in mind the new PFD regulations requiring you to wear a life jacket when a boat is underway are in effect as of Nov 1, 2009

Fly Of The Week

Fly tying season is finally here (if there is such a thing)! In an attempt to share our favorite patterns with you we have decided to add a new segment to our blog "Fly Of The Week." This section will feature a new fly every week in a five step process with photos and instructions, so check back every week to pick up some of our favorite patterns. Without further delay we give you the fly of the week.

GIBBY'S DISCO BALL

I developed this fly as a salmon/steelhead fly for the salmon river with the idea in mind that the fly would fish well for trout as well. I am pleased with the final result although its trout applications are admittedly limited. I have fished it successfully in the spring and fall for trout and done very well with it on salmon and steelhead on the salmon river as well as several western New York tributaries, enjoy!    - Matt

 

Hook: Daiichi 2441 #6 Traditional Salmon/Steelhead Hook

Thread: UNI-Thread 6/0 Black

Eyes: Bead chain eyes

Tail: White EP Fiber or Polar Fibers

Abdomen: Danville Mylar Tinsel - Gold

Wing: Sparse Pearl Krystal Flash

Collar: Pink & Purple Saddle Hackle

STEP 1:Tie in the bead chain eyes just behind the eye and lock them down with figure eights. Apply an even thread base to the bend of the hook and tie in your tail.

STEP 2: Tie in a piece of mylar tinsel, if the tinsel is two sided tie it in with the gold side down so when you begin to wrap with the gold showing the mylar doesn't kink. Wrap the tinsel evenly forward and tie off, you can cover the tinsel with your choice of adhesive for durability if you choose.

STEP 3: Tie in your Krystal Flash wing behind the eyes, be cautious not to build to large of a thread base over the wing that would interfere with your palmering in the next step.

STEP 4: Now its time to add your first Saddle Hackle. Try to choose a piece of hackle with a thin stem to keep the bulk down and also choose a piece with fiber length around 1 to 1 1/2 hook gape. Wrap the hackle forward almost all of the way to the eyes.

 STEP 5: Tie in the purple hackle and wrap forward all the way to the eyes. Secure with a whip finish or two being cautious not to build up to much bulk with the thread and viola! The Disco Ball is finished.