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My favorite flies. . .EGG FLIES!
Fall is here, and you know what that means. . .those big browns that we've been waiting for are on the prowl for any loose eggs that escape a redd. One thing I've learned this year fishing the Great Lake Tribs, is that big fish eat little eggs!
What material do you prefer? McFoam, Yarn, Estaz, Antron?
Do you have more success with the blood dot tied in?
What sizes?
What colors?
Favorite variations?
Here's my egg pattern called "APRIL FOOL'S MAYHEM", after last year's opening day at the UFZ (Salmon River, Pulaski, NY).
Hook: Tiemco 2457, sizes 8-12
Material: egg portion: orange, with a multicolored blood dot of hot pink AND light blue (MCFLYFOAM)
veil: 1/8'' thick, 2'' long strands of "Egg" colored GLOBUG YARN
tail: crystal flash (three strands)
Thread: Danville's 210 Denier, FLAT WAXED NYLON (Light Pink)
I'll try to post a pic soon.
Dave, I don't tie a lot of these, but my two best materials are McFly Foam and Angora yarn. I think sucker spawn should also be considered a must have, and Torrey told me about a version called "Crystal Meth" that sounds deadly. How is that fly? You prefer the 2457 to the 105? Thanks.
I can vouch for the effectiveness of sucker spawn. It's my #1 goto steelhead fly. I like them specifically in Peachy King, which is a pink with a slight tinge of orange in it. White would have to be my #2 color, nearly equally as effective.
Definitely, I agree that sucker spawn are incredibly effective. In fact, the only reason I didn't mention it was because I was going to start a whole thread on them and the different variations! I remember last January using SS in CT and having a great day.
I know you guys both to be expert SS tyers!
I used the "crystal meth" pattern last spring, and it was a producer. Brookie gave me a Erie tribs Bible, John Nagy's Steelhead book and it has so many great patterns, including that one in several variations. Scrambles Eggs is another classic Erie trib killer, from what I've read.
I'll try to post a pic of a "crystal meth".
Dr. D,
Does sucker spawn work in the farmington? Last year in the fall I used a small pink egg as a dropper which worked pretty well for me. Can they be tied with lead to be used czech style? Or maybe just float them along with an anchor fly pulling them down into the zone.
Dave-
For the poll, are we talking resident stream trout or Lake Run steelhead & browns?
And how could you leave Oregon Cheese off the list???
OK, for steelheadGlo-Bugs it would be Oregon Cheese #1, and then a toss up between chartreuse, orange (Steelhead, Lt. Roe, Apricot),and pink (Baby, Cerise). Lots of people swear by Lt. Blue, esp. in clear water & heavy fishing pressure.
For resident stream trout, paler, more natural colors win- apricot, Oregon cheese & egg.
I usually leave the blood dots off, but do put them on sometimes. Usually it doesn't seem to matter. I do have a few "secret" combos.
I prefer to tie "normal" size patterns with Glo-Bug yarn, as it's more translucent and has a sheen to it. For micro eggs, McFly Foam wins because it's way easier to tie small with.
I love Sucker Spawn, they are a deadly, natural looking variation. I tend to tie those in pastel colors that look natural- they are sort of my "finesse" egg pattern, for clear water & pressured fish. Pale yellows, pinks, creams & oranges, tied with red thread usually, sometimes fire orange.
I've probably caught more steelhead on Oregon Cheese Glo Bugs than all other flies combined.
Estaz flies can be deadly, there are a few colors that look almost exactly like a real egg when they are wet.
As far as fly sizes, I generally favor tying them on the smaller side. I often use big hooks, esp. for steelhead, but tie a smaller fly on them. My steelie ones are usually tied on #8-12, and for resident trout #14-18.
Magnet-
Sucker Spawn work on the Farmington and any other place where trout eat eggs- read that as everywhere!
If you want to weight your egg flies for Euro nymphing add a tungsten bead before tying them. Or, as you said use an anchor to get them down. Or a split shot!
Hey guys, thanks for all the info on materials, colors and hook sizes. I have a question, I'm going up to the Salmon river on Oct. 22,23 and 24th. When tying the egg flies what can I use as a reference as to roughly the size the egg should be? Like a bb shot or should they be bigger? Thanks, Mike
Mike/Black Ghost-
I never measured my egg flies, but using Trout Beads as a reference, I would say around 8mm is a good all around Steelhead size, but I would tie some smaller, more like 6mm for lower/clearer conditions, and some about 10mm for higher/murky water. Overall, focus on the 6-8mm. When in doubt about egg sizes, go smaller. For smaller flies, the McFlyfoam is easier to tie nice looking eggs that are round with no "bald" spots. There is also a Glo Bug Tying Tool that you can use to tie them with no waste of material, I think I may still have one or two in the store, I'll look. They come out very tranlucent that way. Look also on Charlie Craven's website, he has a tutorial for a really cool way to tie egg flies using Glo-Bug yarn and a dubbing loop. I thought I invented that style until I saw his tutorial. Damn. Here's the link:
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/fly...fm?parentID=27
BIG! Dime sized eggs or bigger. I'll use SS as big as nickles in the fall. #6 and #8 hooks. Toto's not in Kansas anymore :)
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Hey guys, thanks for all the info on materials, colors and hook sizes. I have a question, I'm going up to the Salmon river on Oct. 22,23 and 24th. When tying the egg flies what can I use as a reference as to roughly the size the egg should be? Like a bb shot or should they be bigger? Thanks, Mike
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