Early Spring Confidence Flies

[Patroutfly]

Sucker spawn, egg flies, squirmy worms, buggers

 

[mt_flyfisher]

Got a recipe for this tie?

x2 - Asking for a friend....

I used a Mustad 37160-BR size #6 for this fly, but you can go larger or smaller as you wish.
I usually under wrap the hook with lead wire, and you can vary the amount of wraps depending on how fast you want this to sink, and the type of water you’ll be fishing. (I normally want it to sink fast.) Next tie in a sufficient length of stout monofilament near the bend of the hook using red thread, and leave the tag end hanging loose. Next, wrap the entire body with thre red thread up to the eye and tie it off. After that, wrap some pink or yellow thread in a ball shape around the middle of the hook and tie that off. Then carefully overwrap the entire fly with touching wraps of the monofilament, and tie it off just behind the hook eye. Finally, coat the entire fly with lacquer. You might want to add a second coat to make it look real shiny…or slimy. 😃

I began tying these flies many years ago, and originally thought I may have been their originator. Then, I ran into a guy who had one that was nearly identical, but in green. We both caught lots of fish with our “creations”, and have been close friends ever since.

 

[JimNovo]

I used a Mustad 37160-BR size #6 for this fly, but you can go larger or smaller as you wish.
I usually under wrap the hook with lead wire, and you can vary the amount of wraps depending on how fast you want this to sink, and the type of water you’ll be fishing. (I normally want it to sink fast.) Next tie in a sufficient length of stout monofilament near the bend of the hook using red thread, and leave the tag end hanging loose. Next, wrap the entire body with thre red thread up to the eye and tie it off. After that, wrap some pink or yellow thread in a ball shape around the middle of the hook and tie that off. Then carefully overwrap the entire fly with touching wraps of the monofilament, and tie it off just behind the hook eye. Finally, coat the entire fly with lacquer. You might want to add a second coat to make it look real shiny…or slimy. 😃

I began tying these flies many years ago, and originally thought I may have been their originator. Then, I ran into a guy who had one that was nearly identical, but in green. We both caught lots of fish with our “creations”, and have been close friends ever since.

Jump into the next fly swap with that one please…..

 

[rustbeltwilds]

My go to all year..

 

[Roofin' Trouter]

Is early spring March to pre green up? If so, I like France Fly (olive and black), Walt's worm ( rainbow, natural, and olive), perdigons, and a few torch variants.
On some of the cricks I fish, purple patterns consistently put fish in the net. On others, it's blue, and some others pink gets it done.

 

[Dave_W]

Large heavy stonefly nymphs and a light pink SJW (red if the water is cloudy).

 

[Bamboozle]

I used a Mustad 37160-BR size #6 for this fly...

I began tying these flies many years ago, and originally thought I may have been their originator. Then, I ran into a guy who had one that was nearly identical, but in green. We both caught lots of fish with our “creations”, and have been close friends ever since.

I used the 37160 hook back in ancient times for all of my curved shank creations, especially cress bugs and caddis larva. It used to be referred to as an "English Bait Hook."

...I began tying these flies many years ago, and originally thought I may have been their originator. Then, I ran into a guy who had one that was nearly identical, but in green. We both caught lots of fish with our “creations”, and have been close friends ever since.

Nice fly!!

I whipped up something similar on size 12 & 14 straight shanked hooks minus the clitellum back in the 1980's to imitate the small red manure worms that used to find their way into the Ditch at Falling Springs. For my version I used horse hair from a violin bow that I washed until it was perfectly clear (learned that trick from Vince Marinaro) and dyed red.

Another difference between my and your version, I didn't catch squat at the Ditch on my fly. 😉 Later when I relegated it to "failed fly creation" status, I discovered it was a killer fly for bluegills.

I still tie my version for sunfish but abandoned the horse hair first in favor of dyed mono (which is harder to dye but more durable), then red Swannundaze boiled and stretched to make it thinner and finally today I use the small size of D-Rib.

 

[JeffK]

Egan's Red Dart has been good with stocked rainbows in the early spring for me. Later I like to drift simple nymphs - Walt's worm, simple thread nymphs, olive perdigons mostly in 16 or smaller. Pat's rubber legs can be good early too. Use smaller yarn for smaller versions, 12 0r 10. A mop fly in tan or chartreuse is often a good choice and is good paired with a smaller nymph trailing it.

 

[dryflyguy]

Early spring doesn't require me to carry much in the way of patterns
Midges and BWO's
I do carry some stonefly patterns, but rarely get to use them.
Pretty rare to find fish taking them.
But does happen occasionally

 

[dudemanspecial]

Plain old original style walts worm
Dark pheasant tail nymphs
Midge and BWOs
Small parachute adams
Sucker spawn
Nuke eggs
Blood dot eggs
And I always have confidence with size 10-12 hares ear parachutes, regardless of the time of year.