North Country Flies Hot off the Vise

Why don't we fish soft-hackles (or North Country flies) more often for trout here in the USA?  There is a cult following swinging wets to steelhead. And, each year more and more folks are swinging big nasty streamers to stream trout.  But, it has been my experience few folks are fishing soft hackle wets to trout on a regular basis.  If you don't believe me just open your next fly shop catalogue and look for soft-hackle wet flies…. if you find any there will usually be just a few compared to dozens of types of nymphs and dries.

As I tie more soft-hackles, it is becoming apparent many of these little flies can be down-sized and simplified versions of salmon and steelhead flies.  This leaves a lot of room for imagination.  And the fact that I can make them from materials I harvested in the fall (upland birds, ducks, small game, etc.) make them fun and meaningful to tie and own.  And then there is that whole history thing…. some of these patterns date back to late 1400s Yorkshire (hence the North Country nickname these flies hold).  I guess what I am saying is soft-hackle flies are damn cool.  

Below are some soft-hackle wets I tied today.  I can see these working on North Shore freestone streams and also thought more than once about fishing them to spring whitefish in wilderness-lake river mouths (maybe it's because I look at whitefish as grayling without the sail and these types of flies are notorious grayling getters in Europe).    

Spruce Grouse Aftershaft and Yellow

Spruce Grouse Aftershaft and Yellow
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  6/0 Yellow
Tag:  Gold Wire
Body:  Yellow Silk Floss
Ribbing:  Gold Wire
Hackle:  Spruce Grouse Aftershaft
Head:  Yellow Thread

Ruffed Grouse and Pheasant Tail

Ruffed Grouse and Pheasant Tail
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  8/0 Black
Tag:  Gold Wire
Body:  Pheasant Tail
Rib:  Gold Wire
Thorax:  Peacock Hearl
Hackle:  Ruffed Grouse
Head:  Black Thread

Bufflehead and Olive

Bufflehead and Olive
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  8/0 Black
Body:  Olive Z-Lon
Thorax:  Peacock Heal
Hackle:  Bufflehead Drake, Black
Head:  Black Thread

Bufflehead and Red Wire

Bufflehead and Red Wire (Brassie)
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  8/0 Black
Body:  Red Ultra Wire
Thorax:  Peacock Herl
Hackle:  Bufflehead Drake
Head:  Black Thread

Ruffed Grouse and Copper

Ruffed Grouse and Copper
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  8/0 Black
Body:  Copper Wire, Fine
Ribbing:  Copper Wire, Fine
Thorax:  Peacock Herl
Hackle:  Ruffed Grouse
Head:  Black Thread

Bufflehead White and Yellow

Bufflehead White and Yellow
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  6/0 Sulphur
Tag:  Silver Wire
Body:  While Silk Floss
Ribbing:  Silver Wire
Hackle:  Bufflehead Drake White
Head:  Sulphur thread

Bufflehead Black and Dun

Bufflehead Black and Dun
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  8/0 Black
Tag:  Silver Wire
Body:  Black Thread
Ribbing:  Silver Wire
Thorax:  Dun Dubbin
Hackle:  Bufflehead Drake, Black
Head:  Black Thread

Ruffed Grouse and Orange

Ruffed Grouse and Orange
Hook:  Size 14
Thread:  6/0 Orange
Body:  Orange Silk Floss
Hackle:  Ruffed Grouse
Head:  Orange Thread

A Day for Soft-Hackle Flies

Left to Right:  Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse and Bufflehead

It started today when I went to the freezer to get an early lunch.  I opened the door and scanned the contents for anything edible.  Then, my eyes stopped… fixed upon a bag stuffed with wings and tails of upland game birds shot this past fall.  My appetite became second thought.  Ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, and bufflehead feathers all waited patiently in a deep freeze for a chance to be born again, to come back to life and catch a trout.  I reached for the bag, dusted off loose frost, and walked it over to the table.  There, I opened it and curiously inspected the contents, carefully pulling apart wings frozen together.  I began to remember each bird and the day of the harvest.  I examined the plumage.  Next, my eyes panned to the fly tying bench.  And then I went to the fridge, opened the door, and scanned the contents for something agreeable to wet the palette with.  My eyes found something quite delightful.  The next move was easy; I happily reached in for a locally brewed Northern Porter.

It was all starting to make sense now.  A London style Northern Porter made locally; along with, all the feathers one needs for tying traditional soft-hackle fly patterns dating back to 1400s Northern England… and "harvested" locally.  These went together way too well.  At this point, I had both in hand; and, an idea was about to hatch from the association between items.  "Cool, I'm going to tie soft-hackles today", I thought.   The traditional soft-hackle flies known as "North Country" flies in the UK were now on their way to creation Prairie Wood Angler-style from birds harvested in the North Country of northern Minnesota.

Here are a few of the patterns I tied today.  Each one representing a species of game bird harvested this past fall in Northern Minnesota.

Ruffed Grouse and Peacock

Ruffed Grouse and Peacock
Hook:  Size 14 or 16
Thread:  8/0 Black
Tag:  Gold Wire
Body:  Peacock Herl
Ribbing:  Gold Wire
Hackle:  Ruffed Grouse
Head:  Black thread
Note:  I could see fishing this anytime, and just might go for it over a Prince Nymph someday.

Spruce Grouse and Yellow

Spruce Grouse and Yellow
Hook:  Size 14 or 16
Thread:  6/0 Yellow
Body:  Yellow Silk
Thorax:  Hare's Ear Dubbin
Hackle:  Spruce Grouse Hen (wing underside)
Head:  Hare's Ear Dubbin
Note:  This would be killer during a PMD / Sulphur hatch.

Bufflehead and Orange

Bufflehead and Orange
Hook:  Size 14 or 16
Thread:  6/0 Black
Body:  Orange Silk
Thorax:  Peacock Herl or Black Hare's Ear Dubbin
Hackle:  Bufflehead Drake (naturally black)
Head:  Black Thread
Note:  Little Black Stones… need I say more.

I agree with most positive things written about soft-hackle flies.  Their simplicity, elegance, and bugginess are second to none.  Their tradition takes you back to the very early days of fly fishing.  And the ability to tie them from local game bird species make these patterns all the more fun.  Furthermore, combinations of body and hackle seem limitless to the imagination.  There is definitely a space in my fly box for these patterns and I'm giddy to give them a try this season.

Cheers!


P.S. Here's a few soft-hackle links:

• Jack Gartside's "The Soft-Hackle Wet Fly"
• Tying a Grouse & Gold River Wet by Davie McPhail
• William's Favorite "Soft-Hackle Patterns Lists"

   

The "Filthy Thirteen" Selection of Flies

If you read my last post you know I forgot my nymph box up North and have feverishly been tying a new fly box up for the early trout season.  160 flies later and my nymph tying mission is mostly complete.  I was reminded artists are willing to suffer for their work; and, suffer I did… tying most evenings after a full day in the office during the last two weeks.  Don't ask about current events during this period… I haven't a clue; other than the Super Bowl is later today and some ape in a zoo in Utah picked the Seahawks to win it.

Everyone has their top ten lists of flies and so on.  I am by no means a master tier but thought I'd share mine for the early season… the "Filthy Thirteen" I call it.  These have been reliable choices over the last 20 or so years waving the long rod on driftless area and karstic streams in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The lost fly box has been rebuilt.  

 The Filthy Thirteen (in no particular order):

1. Gold-Bead Hare's Ear, Tan - Sizes 14-18
2. Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear, Olive - Sizes 14-16
3. American Pheasant Tail - Sizes 16-20
4. Prince Nymph - Sizes 14-18
5. Zug Bug - Size 14
6. RS2, Blue Dun - Sizes 18-20
7. Gold-bead Brassie, Red - Sizes 18-20
8. Serendipity, Red - Sizes 18-20
9. Serendipity, Olive - Sizes 18-20
10. Zebra Midge, Black - Sizes 18-20
11. Zebra Midge, Red - Sizes 18-20
12. Higa's S.O.S. - Sizes 18-20
13. Al's Rat - Size 24

This selection of flies will cover most subsurface mayfly and midge activity on the stream at any given time.  I did not include scud patterns on this list but have found messy Olive Hare's Ears do a fine enough job imitating them.  Caddis pupa are represented in this selection by the Olive Serendipity as well as the Zug Bug, which imitates nicely a cased pupa in addition to being an ambiguous nymph pattern.  

As I write this we are currently in another wind chill advisory with values expected today at -20 to -30 degrees F.  Hopefully, this weather turns around soon so I can hit the stream and send the Filthy Thirteen into action.

  

Learn more about the real Filthy Thirteen here.

Classic Flies for the Winter Trout Season

The special winter trout season is now upon us here in Minnesota.  Whimsically, I hit the stream today in below zero temperatures however without my favorite winter flies (those are up North… along with my 5 weight nymphing rod).  But, I gave it a go anyways finding a short 4 weight I had leaning against a bookcase.  For flies, I rummaged up a handful of tiny, but heavy, Copper Johns that were laying around near the fly-tying vise (my non-toxic shot is up North, too).

Arriving at the creek, the water was low and clear like vodka.  The trout insanely spooky.  Each crunch of snow underfoot, even the slightest careful shuffle, sent 10-12 inch browns into a manic state--dashing about pools and runs in disorganized formations like geese flying without their flock leader.  This meant I needed to go stealth and use my best micro winter trout flies.  Unfortunately, I was without them to no fault of my own (my crazy impulses to go fishing today...).  Don't be that guy.  Here are some classic ties every winter angler shouldn't be without.


Point Flies
I like to fish these Size 16; but, depending on conditions and your dropper you may want to go up or down a size.


Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.


American Pheasant Tail Nymph from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.


Prince Nymph from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.


Simple Scud from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.


Droppers
Sizes 18-22 seems to work just fine.  The same flies noted above work as droppers so long as they're down-sized within range.


Brassie from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.


Serendipity from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.


Needless to say, when I returned home from a good arse kicking on the stream today I poured a double Irish Whiskey, pressed some hot coffee, and hit the tying bench.  It's days like these that serve as wake-up calls.  Like the Eagles getting beat by the lowly Vikings late in the season, I'm now shaken and ready to string some good games together.  The weather will be nicer Saturday and by then I'll have a proper selection of flies tied up.

A good fly selection will limit the damage done here.  Eliminate your demons by tying good flies and making good casts.

Carp Short from The Fly Collective

Long Shot from The Fly Collective on Vimeo.

Farm Bill -- Stand Up and Protect America's Prairie

Single Digit Lows Have Waterfowl Going, Going, Gone?

These geese were flying out to feed this morning.

The lakes in Minnesota are pretty much locked up in ice due to a recent cold front.  Most of the ducks have left the state save for hardy northern mallards, common mergansers, and goldeneyes that overwinter on the river.  In Minnesota, we are fortunate to have a large Canada Goose population willing to stick around during the winter months.  These geese will roost on the larger rivers and lakes receiving warm water discharges; and, offer field hunting opportunities in the morning and evening hours when they journey to cornfields to stuff their crops with spillage.

Click the following to learn more about goose hunting.

• Minnesota Goose Hunting Locations
• Minnesota Goose Hunting Tips
• Minnesota Goose Hunting Regulations
• Ducks Unlimited Goose Hunting Tips & Tactics
• Back to the Basics for Geese