Showshoe & UV Finish Emergers

The flies above are the result of some experimentation I've done with #16 Klinkhamer hooks and snowshoe hare's feet wings. Both bodies were finished using Loon's Clear UV Finish - Thin. On the left, I spiral-wrapped dun WonderWrap with UV Pearl Flashabou wrapped between the WonderWrap spirals. On the right, I used a grizzly hackle quill. The idea is that the bodies will easily sink below the surface, with the super-boyant showshoe hare keeping them afloat in the surface film.

West Branch Report

I spent a couple of hours on the waters between Walton and Delhi tonight and while there were definitely bugs out and about, there wasn't nearly the surface activity I expected. I netted a few Red Quill (male hendrickson) spinners and saw quite a lot of small dark dun caddis (Chimarra, I believe) and slightly larger greed caddis (apple?) out and about, but the fish seemed to be feeding elsewhere. Perhaps I arrived too late for the main feast. Even so, I did manage to hook up with a few small browns. I'm guessing the stocking truck came through recently because the fish I caught were in the 6-8" range and were pretty pale.

Once again, the dark dun CDC emerger was a killer, as was the Madison Guide Cripple in red quill coloring. While the CDC Emerger is deadly, it's tough to fish in that it's hard to see and a little fish slime pretty much trashes it. I fish it mostly as a dropper off of a larger, more visible fly (a Hendrickson or klinkhamer for example) unless the water is fairly calm. Last night it was my go-to for sight-casting to a rising trout. I stuck with the MGC for prospecting in the faster water since the parachute made it easier to track and it's far more durable.

Red Pheasant

An attempt to imitate the male Ephemerella subvaria or Red Quill (aka male Hendrickson) without red rooster quill. I will also be tying a few parachute style to fish as a truer emerger. Should be fun to see which performs better. 

Hook: Daiichi 1160 (klinkhamer) #14

Thread: Brown

Tail: Pheasant tail (4-5 fibers)

Body: wrapped pheasant tail

Rib: gold wapsi wire counter wrapped

Thorax: UV cinnamon ice dub

Wing: Mallard flank or woodie

Hackle: Natural dun

Elk Hammer

I'm a bit infatuated with the klinkhamer, I admit. This is another modification I'd like to try out this May. Elk body hair for the tail and abdomen to give it hopefully a Hendrickson look. I haven't seen elk hair used for body wraps much so maybe it's a mistake, but added wire counter wraps should make it more durable and I love the look. 

Hook: Klinkhamer 14-16

Thread: brown

Tail: elk body hair

Abdomen: elk (same as tail)

Rib: Wapsi wire (used silver and wine so far)

Thorax: March brown or Hendrickson pink dubbin

Wing Post: poly yarn or calf tail

Hackle: natural dun