Fall Nymphomania

"In books and love, the mind one end pursues,
And only change the expiring flame renews."
John Gay 1685- 1732

  No question early to late Fall is my favorite time of year to prowl rivers and streams without rubbing shoulders with the unwashed mass’s... Because of unusually low rain fall most California rivers are running low, though my trip up north beginning with a day working the majestic Truckee River that runs through the town of Truckee ending near Reno Nevada was splendid! This river is well cared for and sustains a quality fishery with high counts of Rainbow, some Browns and constant insect hatches. I tied my new pattern, "Nuclear Nymph" a large gaudy hard to resist Uber Nymph on steroids. This pattern drove the bigger fish crazy and they hit it within seconds of hitting feeding lanes! I wore out two of these new flies in three days of hard action on two rivers. Deep slow pools and obvious feeding lanes were the targets. I used nine to ten foot leaders, size 6 tippets and my crazy over weight splashy golden nuclear nymph, on top either a Grasshopper or Bee or Ant pattern. This setup is deadly Pilgrims, you will fool large and surface feeding trout, you will?

  Crisp mornings and chest high wading from early morning until lunch working many fine reaches from just outside of the historical town of Truckee. This is great fly fishing for those who want a bit of luxury and a special little river town that ain’t small no more! Good news is the spirit of historical Truckee lives in places like: "The River Street Inn" located on the Truckee River! My hostess Wendy Smith and her husband created a excellent Inn on the river highly recommended! www.riverstreetinntruckee.com Phone 530-550-9290. Many good restaurants and antique stores will keep the Ball & Chain, Brats happy while you chase trout.

  Short Line Technique

  This time of year between late August up until early November wading the shimmering green waters of the Truckee is easy as the water flows are down and the current gently pushes instead of rapid fire slams as one concentrates mastering proper Short Line or rather No Line on the water Nymphing... On several quiet pre Labor Day weekend mornings I waded up to my chest in this wonderful cold clear water and looked for currents or shady tree over hangs or brushy river edges where deep undercuts might hide fat trout. The idea is to cast short distance and then quickly pick up or gather in as much fly line as possible holding fly rod high and following the drift watching for any bump or tightening, then a quick gentle wrist flick and your hooked up and working a trout! It is easy to learn and simple to understand, clear water means no camouflage for you or your fly! One has to maintain high stealth in Fall clear waters which is why most civilian bug throwers only throw streamers that are easy to work with practice in the Fall?

  Two Fly Set Up

  If you become familiar with tying two flies when searching or working new waters your odds for success will triple! Simply remember up top your dry fly ought to be substantial enough to draw attention when no hatches are happening. Grasshoppers, Bees, Dragonflies, Gaudy Attractors, anything terrestrial will do nicely. Tie the under water or nymph fly to the round section of the top water dry fly hook and allow at least four to five feet depending on water depth for the under water fly. The underwater fly must be weighted as well. My new Nuclear Nymph is weighted and big and ugly enough to draw pissed off what is this hits from bigger trout for sure! It was amazing how quickly it was hit, great fun! Throw your two fly rig until it gets second nature, your going to tangle, it will take patience, it is worth learning. I did not invent this, wish I did...

  Exact Nymph Presentation Theories

  Many seasoned Deep Nymphers I have known and fly fished with, Walt Powell included felt and practiced natural as possible presentation by first getting as close to the bottom of the river/stream and then allowing the current to move the nymph bumping along as real life nymphs practice. Another popular theory contents if one were to find a good tall perch like a tree limb or tall rock and not allow the nymph to move more then ten or fifteen feet in the same area near the under edge of boulders or rocks is deadly! High sticking explained above allows stealth habits to dictate your presentations as I feel one must always endeavor no matter what! If your used to working easily reached often hammered fly waters? You pilgrim need all the help you can get, comprende? First take your over weight TV watching big ass on a long walk and find a place few ever throw flies on your next fly trip (One or two trips a year maybe?) you have already changed your fly fortune as the native fish will allow your inept self to possibly actually catch one or two? Imagine that! Other wise my average fly reader dreamer go on and mow that dying brown lawn or take the 200 pound bride on a lap or two through the local burger palace and maybe you’ll get lucky there Mr. Esoteric fly fisher dreamer...

  Now of course if you’re a pretty regular practitioner of the art of the Long Rod? You already know stealth or sneaking, crawling, hiding your shadow, maybe climbing a tree to get perfect fly placement near a waterfall, going very early or late after the world goes home! Or maybe walking a distance to find peace and quiet and willing non spooked trout. This sort of fly fisher is careful to keep shadows and line off water and he moves slowly not over working a reach until its dead. He has mastered nasty Go Away eye contact just in case another human arrives for whatever reason other then bird watchers and cute Blonds of course.... This kind of fly fisher is in shape and lives by the Marine Corps creed, "Adapt, Improvise, Overcome" Semper Fi all journeyman bug tosser’s you.

Nuclear Nymph

Hook: Streamer #10 - #20 Barbless or you make it Barbless sportsfan!

Thread: Brown ancient monks robe fibers ( hard to find Cowboy!)

Weight: Wrap strip of your favorite non-toxic weight.

Tail: Pheasant tips split or splayed.

Body: Wild Roadkill Fox facial hairs carefully matched and mixed with noted fly tier Jay Fair’s Gold Tinsel. Gold Tinsel is wrapped ala Over-body with a taste of belly exposed.

Wingcase: Not needed as bulky size of two body wraps makes it obsolete because of large size! Were going for nuclear fission here Pilgrim’s BIG & Gaudy!

Thorax: Several wraps of copper wire add to realistic underwater light catching ability. Finish off fly with one wide wrap of iridescent green thread to secure. Use glue where possible. Shiny green thread enhances underwater light catching.

*This pattern tested in two rivers in last three weeks. It works fast. Tie it, try it. Caution radioactive! Better wear special gloves when operating.

**Famed Fly tier Jay Fair can be reached at www.eagleflyfishing.com