Don’t Leave Home W/O Them.
Posted By Kent Klewein on February 16, 2010
For anglers that have been in the sport for a while this is a lesson that was probably learned long ago, but for beginners, its a quick tip you should take note of. Don’t leave home without a nice selection of soft-hackles nymphs.
The thing about soft-hackles is they due a great job of imitating multiple bug species as well as, life stages. They can be dead-drifted in a tandem nymph rig or swung on a dry/dropper rig. They’ve got good pulsating action in the water, and they work in all sizes. I’ve probably caught more trout on soft-hackles than any other pattern.
Stock your fly boxes with soft-hackles of all sizes. The most common size I use would have to be a size 16, but I carry them from 12-22 all year long. Experiment with different materials when tying them. Use synthetic materials for the body along with natural materials. I also like to thread a tapered body and overlay it with floss. Then I finish up the body with a coat of “Sally Hansens 30 second” hard as nails fingernail polish to give it a nice shine. With all the available materials out there, your options of tying combinations, and colors are almost limitless.
Keep it Reel,
Capt. Kent Klewein Reel Job Fishing, LLC www.kent-klewein.com
Is the fingernail polish from your personal collection?
What are you making the bodies out of?
Murphy,
These I used silver flat tinsel with red copper wire, and Olive Flashabou with green wire.