Sparse Grey Matter

For dries and emergers, I've used George Harvey's slack leader formula for years. I use all soft mono - I want the entire leader to move with the water surface flow, not fight it. I understand some folks feel the stiffer butt sections in a leader help it turnover, but IMO if your casting mechanics a...

Sorry to hear that, Ed.

I learned a ton from his books and still use them as references.

R.I.P. Eric

I agree with all that's been said. One thing I would like to add is that today, pheasant tail nymphs are usually tied with thread. Such flies certainly work, but something is lost when Sawyer's wire is replaced by thread. In my opinion, it's not just weight or balance, it's the glitter of the wire ...

Well, my Winter 2018 issue of Fly Tyer arrived today, and it stumped me! :? As a young kid, aspiring wannabe fly fisher/tyer back in the turbulent '60s two wet flies that caught my attention were the Gray Hackle Yellow and Brown Hackle... something I attribute to Ray Berman's Trout and his discussi...

Speaking of Tricos and the Henry's Fork, earlier this week they came off well followed by the PMDs and Flavs. We did great fishing "usuals" - sparse snowshoe foot guard hair wing and tail, thread abdomen and dubbed thorax to stand wing up. Here's a pic I took of my fly rod Tuesday AM - there were a ...

I love the Roman Moser Power Silk - the 10/0 is virtually UNBREAKABLE....... and the thicker version will tow a car !! The 10/0 is very strong, don't try to break with your fingers, it will cut like a razor! Found out the hard way trying to break off the tag end after starting my thread. :oops: Matt

On Saturday my good friend Steve Ohman was fishing and dropped his favorite fly box in the drink. It was his "hatches" box and its been with him for decades. It had his name on it and an Ossining NY address. He lives in Ohio now and makes the 7 hour drive a few times a year to fish the upper Delawar...

Following up on my go-to hendrickson emerger - the soft hackle pheasant tail fished dry. Here in NJ the hendrickson hatch is nearly over, but enough were on the water today that the trout rose to just about every one that drifted over their lair. Took 3 rainbows and 3 browns on this fly fished off a...

Ed,

The hackle is a speckled hen back feather - golden brown in color. Two turns. BTW - The thorax on it is touch-dubbed medium brown Aussie Opossum - it looks real buggy and helps float the fly thanks to the wax.

Matt

The soft hackle pheasant tail tied on a dry fly hook is my go-to emerger for the Hendrickson. Fished in/on the film just as you would a dry fly - dead-drift.