Cutty Flies
I was just wondering what your guys favorite flies are for those ghostly cutts . I have found that there a couple that they cant resist. One of my favorites is a blue/green streamer and a mickey finn.Rolled muddlers also work well.
Hope everone had a good Christmas and New Years.

Ian

Ian,in mid winter(Jan-Feb) when there is little food for the Cutties, when you find them, it almost doesn't matter what you throw at them, they'll take. Within reason of course. Blue/Green Bucktail Streamer is always a good choice, Mickey Finns, Christmas Trees,small black Stonefly Nymphs, Halfback Nymphs, Woolly Buggers, olive green and black (a shrimp pink color has been deadly for me lately) and of course Epoxy Minnows.Later in the spring when the fish key in on fry, they will turn their nose up on almost everything, but a well tied Epoxy Minnow. Dave.

I've done well for cutties using an Egg-Sucking Leech around this time of year in years past, as well as in the summer....go figure.

Dave - my experience on the Fraser above deroche and on some smaller valley streams contradict what you've found. As a general searching pattern a good minnow pattern is generally the best though a glo-bug can be productive right through January. Winter trout often take nymphs and even dries at times and become fairly selective. I've worked runs with minnow patterns, wooly b's etc and drawn little only to notice nymphing flashes - switch to a Gold rib hare's ear and taken a half dozen or more fish in a half hour or so. In many of the Fraser backwaters mid hatches can be quite strong from mid-Feb on - it's like chironomid fishing in the interior though you need smaller imitations - #16's or smaller. Some of those midges are tiny(!) - like a size 20.

I don't use Mickey Finn's much after Oct and prefer them for the Sept - Oct period when the water is reasonably warm. After that I go for more realistic and somber toned flies. My favourite minnow is the Something Else but I bet any thing like a mallard and silver etc will do as well.

Soft hackles are a good pattern to use if there is a bit of a hatch on the water - try a standard Hares hear soft hackle with a bead head #12 or #14. Smaller stones - brown or black are also good.

Ralph H, I did forget to mention Glo-Bugs, they can be very effective at this time of year(certain systems).Though, I have found Mickey Finns to be very effective(for Cutties)at almost anytime of year, but they are especially good Sept thru end of October for Cutties and Coho. Cutthroat in the fall thru winter (for me) haven't been so selective unless they've been pressured hard.If it is mild, like this mid Dec and Jan, you can get some hatch activity. In such a case, I like to use a Half Back Nymph.Also, a small black body less Caddis pattern(dry) tied with black moose hair can be very good as well. If they won't take a streamer or minnow pattern(which is rare) I'll chuck that at them. This winter has been o.k. for Cuttie fishing, most of my fish have been fooled with Blue/Green Bucktail Streamer and Epoxy Minnows. Dave

What is everyones favorite style of tying a epoxy minnow? i'm loking for some new ways to try

Ralph H.

Could you share the recipe for the patterns that you mentioned - the Something Else and the mallard and silver. Sounds like you may have had some real success with them.

Travis: If you check Decembers issue of B.C. outdoors, the fly tying page Phil Rowley has a pattern that is partly expoxied and it looks good. If you also check his patterns on the bcadventure site he has an epoxied pattern there.

The Something Else:

hook: Mustad 3906b #6
Underbody: white thread
Body: pearl mylar tube overwrapped with clear vinyl rib
Throat: red thread
Wing: white polar bear with folded lemon wood duck flank over that. Keep it sparse. Add some cyrstal flash as desired
Head: olive
Eyes: painted

simple fly but tricky to tie. Using two bobbins helps.

Mallard and Silver is an old English Pattern

Hook: your choice generally 3xl #6 through 12
Body: silver tinsel
Wing: mallard flank folded or rolled

Back to Fly Fishing Page