On the Fly: Five subsurface flies for fall and winter
Scott Spooner/Taylor Creek Fly Shop
As dry fly hatches begin to ebb, we will need to focus below the river surface to remain effective. Complex summertime hatches will narrow down to only midges and blue winged olives after Halloween, so we need to roll with the changes. Listed here are subsurface flies we never leave home without:
Jeremy Stott’s Mercury Raisinette
For those in the know, Jeremy ties exquisite baetis nymphs on strong hooks, and they are utilized by guides all over the valley. The Raisinette is a sturdy gray nymph with a small mercury bead, which adds a bit of flair to this popular fly.
The BMW Foam Top RS2
Flies don’t have to be super-exact, and we dub this fly the BMW because it imitates “baetis, midges, whatever.” Simply tied in gray or black versions with a square-cut white foam top, the BMW is a go-to nymph here in the colder months and can be fished wet or dry. Rim Chung doesn’t get the credit he deserves for creating this ubiquitous fly and probably wouldn’t approve of the foam-top version, but it gets the job done.
John Barr’s Black Back Baetis Emerger
John ties a bunch of patterns available the world-over, and this newest offering has fish making bad decisions across the Rocky Mountain West. It’s basically a dressed-up, grayish-brownish Barr’s Emerger with a glossy black thorax, similar to his Copper John. We fish the no-bead version around here.
Pat Dorsey’s Mercury Pheasant Tail
We sell more Pheasant Tails than any other fly, hands down. Available in a myriad of styles, the Mercury version fishes very well during the winter months. A close second place is the skinny and plain version with no beads or flash.
Charlie Craven’s Jujubee Midge
Charlie has more patterns in the catalogs than anybody, and his tried-and-true Jujubee is the cream that rises to the top. The Jujubee has a slim and ribbed look to it, and it fools fish all over the West. This fly is available for many hatches and in many variations, but the simply tied black-gray midge version fishes well around here. I’d wager Charlie makes better “mailbox money” than many musicians and actors.
Other flies to stock up in your boxes should be Mysis shrimp, small egg patterns, pulsating midge emergers, Don Kings, Tungsten Two Bead Nymphs, Heng’s Autumn Splendor, and Davidson’s LED Midges.
Have fun out there, and enjoy the fall beauty for a few more weeks!
This report is provided every week by Taylor Creek Fly Shops in Aspen and Basalt. Taylor Creek can be reached at 970-927-4374 or TaylorCreek.com.
