Fly Of The Week

The Flashback Pheasant Tail

Without a doubt this is a favorite pattern of the fly-angler on Blue River. Personally, it is one of my top five flies to use in battling bows.

It's an easy tie consisting of pheasant tail fibers, fine copper wire ribbing, peachock herl, and flashback material, along with black thread.

The Flashback is a variation on the classic pattern and the only thing different is the flashback material itself. Pearl is best because it simulates trapped air or gas bubbles but I've had good success using green flashback material.

It's best fished drifted either alone or as a trailer. Beadhead offerings in this pattern have become quite popular to get the fly down in water column. Often it is also necessary to add split to get the fly down quickly.

Fly Of The Week

Although the Prince Nymph is not one of my favored flies, I have indeed caught a good deal of trout at Blue River with this pattern.

Having a body of peacock herl, in my mind, makes this fly an effective pattern. Peacock herl is simply buggy looking. Then there are the goose biots and they too are pretty buggy looking causing this fly to have the profile of a stonefly nymph.

Fly fisher Chris Adams loves the Prince Nymph and has caught all kinds of species at Blue with the Prince.

It's a fairly easy tie...just a little time consuming and placement of the biots can at times be a little trying.

Usually I fish this pattern with a gold beadhead to get it down in the column.

Fly Of The Week

The Brassie

They say dynamite comes in small packages and this saying is particularly true when it comes to this simple pattern the Brassie.

The Brassie is simple in design and quite easy to tie. Consisting of only two materials - fine copper wire and dubbing, this fly will cause an explosion of activity in the trout community.

Having a body of copper wire adds weight to the fly and gets it down into the column. The Brassie can be nymphed alone or used as a dropper or trailer.

Originally the Brassie was tied as a copper body fly but now with the introduction of colored wires it can be tied to produce a varied scheme of colors and possibilities.

Tie this pattern in sizes 12 to 20 for best results. I use a curved caddis hook for the Brassie.

Good fishing!