Dry Flies

I've been tying mostly jigs and clouser type flies. I tied up some dry type flies and bead flies this weekend for gills. Do I need some kind of wax on them ? I have only used poppers in the past.

Floatant will help keep the dries on top. There are different types available. "Gink" is a good one.

Warning: gills will chew up trout dries pretty quickly.

Ditto the 'Gink', good stuff, reapply to fly as needed as you're fishing.

Thanks guys. Whats a good gill pattern? I've just been making up some buggy looking patterns and wooly boogers.

I've been doing well with a beadhead nymph that I tie.
Hook: TMC 2302 #10
Tail: wood-duck fibers
Body: peacock lite brite

Thes guys thought it looked good
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3/IMG_0543.jpg

and these
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3/IMG_0539.jpg

Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sticksteer

Whats a good gill pattern?

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You can't go wrong with WB's. You might try tying some smaller ones in size 12, 14, and maybe even 16.

Traditional trout nymphs work great, too: pheasant tail, gold-ribbed hare's ear, and prince.

You guys use a float of any kind or just gently strip it in? I use some soft hackles and nymphs from time to time, just casting and twitching it back, but I've nver messer much with strike indicators or floats when flyfishing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by INGrandad

You guys use a float of any kind

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For trout, yes. For gills, never.

I just use a slow, hand-twist retrieve. This keeps the line tight and helps you to feel the bites.

For topwater, I've made some tiny spun hair flies that work very well and you don't need any flotant. Trimming the little things can be a pain, but doesn't take much to float the fly. ;)

I actually prefer to use sinking nymphs, the larger gills seem to be a bit deeper. Last weekend was catching crappie as well on nymphs. The biggest time I use floaters is if they are holding in very shallow water.

thats an impressive catch Okie, how about pic of that fly ?

stick,
I'll try to take a pic and post it when I get home from work this evening.
Steve

stick,
Here's a pic of the nymph that has been working for me
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3/IMG_0551.jpg
Steve

Thanks for the pic Okie. I tied up something simular with some olive ice chenile after seeing yours. I'll try it out tomorrow and let you know how it works.

I use a strike indicator a majority of the time and it works really well for my. I use it when I fish my Aunt Sarah's Homely Daughter Nymph and my FLY Nymph.

I will have to try the strike indicator, I caught 2 small bass on my creation, may have had more hits and didnt know it.

I've never like the strike indicators, JMO. Always end up with knots in my leader, probably just don't know how to cast it right. lol Oh well, I still catch a few.

Get a good pair of sun glasses if you have some decent clear water. You will see silver flashes from crappie strikes. Getting the reflex time right to hook them before they spit it is my big problem.

I screw up every time I can see a fish flash at the fly, I'm much better off not looking and just waiting for the tap.

heres my versihttp://i691.photobucket.com/albums/v...chersh/003.jpgon of that fly Okie

stick,
I'm sure that will catch some fish.

The Best Trout Dry I ever had was a Montana Buck tail with a Bright yellow body. The 'Deer hair' mustache keeps them afloat very well.
Watch bugs on the water and you'll see how to make the Bucktail move. Slowly, screwerlly but keep him moving just enough to make the water ripple away from him.

Those daggoned Nymphs on a dry line are tough because you dont see the hit. If you dont feel it, they are gone before you see the strike indicator move.

I never considerd that kinda fishing for Crappie or BlueGills.

Ditto the pic of that fly !

I like a hairsear nymth for crappie and gills. I use a spider pattern 98% of the time on gills. Floating line with both patterns.

How far do you cast to the Gills?
I like to keep it under 30'

I don't think I ever got a rise out of a spider or a Dragon fly.

With Rainbow, you want to keep the fly small. I dont know about the hook size or Fly (Gob) size with Gills.
But Crappie are what I'm after. She'd deep fry those pesky little Gills if I brought them home, but its like trying to eat a Porky Pine. All spines!
Show a photo of a couple of your Gill Dries.

Reading about fly fishing gives me the itch to try again as it is always fun to try. I would amagine I need to change the line as it is about 5 years old. I just changed the line on my regular poles after a cat fish broke my line twice.

I doubt if the Fly line would break but you'd sure want a new Tippet and leaders.
I test them on the boat, hook something and rear back with it to see what gives first. You always hope the drag or you fingers are smart enough to give just in the nick of time.
Be sure you re-tie the knot at the fly after you test.

strike indicatiors ,poo.