Although called a gnat, this is actually a great all-purpose dry fly, effective either on rivers or lakes. It works best in smaller sizes where it suggest all sorts of small creatures trapped in the surface film. It also makes a very good representation of small chironomid midges in a mating ball.
In its basic grey and silver form, the Zonker makes a fine representation of a range of baitfish species. However, it may be tied in a wide range of colours from black, white and orange to purple, the latter being very effective for various species of pacific salmon.
With the basic profile of a caseless caddis larva, the Czech Nymph is extremely effective when trout and greyling are feeding hard on the riverbed.
Developed by Czech anglers, the combination of heavy hook and lead underbelly ensures that the pattern sinks extremely quickly, making it ideal for fishing in deep or fast-moving water.
The Shuttlecock buzzer is a great emerger pattern for fishing on the top to rising fish.
Created by Sid Knight, it was designed for use in dams, reservoirs and stillwater fishing. Cast this fly to feed channels and drift on still waters.
The Flipper fly was first tied in South Africa and is effectively a top-water fly or a popper. It imitates a wounded baitfish struggling on the surface. It is often used as an attractor with a smaller fritz or small clouser minnow fly behind it.
Also known as the Thunder Creek Silver Shiner, the Thunder Creek Minnow is one of a large group of themed patterns that makes a robust and effective imitation of a small baitfish. The Thunder Creek range was devised by American Tyler Keith Fulsher to imitate a whole variety of fish species.
Jim Misiura’s Cicada fly is a great summer-time dry. There are many versions of it but it is a most effective fly to use when the cicadas are around often the bush is filled with the noise of the cicadas indicating this is the time to use these flies.
Del Brown’s Merkin Crab is an old standby fly that’s been around for years. You can’t beat this pattern for sight casting to permit, but don’t limit this all purpose crab fly to just this species.
Try it out any time you find fish crabbing.
Since the introduction of foam into fly tying, many tiers have been quick to take advantage of this material case in point, the Suspender Buzzer.
The Suspender Buzzer imitates a small, hatching midge and sits with only its thorax floating in the surface film.
See also: Fly Fishers' Republic - Booby
Instructions can be found on
pages 203- 204 of The Fly Tying Bible.
Materials
- Size 6-8 hook
- Marabou feathers for tail – colour of your choice, white, black, olive, etc.
- Estas Chenille – pink, green, red.