FLYMPH FORUM

I know there are dozens of these posted around and I've done a number of versions in the past. This past week I sat down with a couple of Bill Shuck's sulphur emerges and transition soft-hackles on my desk. I'm a slow learner and I should have jumped on the band wagon a few years ago after watching him clean up using sulphur emergers, nymphs and his favorite comparadun.

I wanted to shed my boxes of the bulk of the patterns that have been successful, but lack the rationale, reproducibility and consistency that I see other masters at the craft carrying in their boxes and landing trout all day long. Watch Bill outfish us during a March Brown hatch, or a Green Drake hatch, or late season when all they want are ants. Ask him what he took that last nice one on...sulphur flymph. sulphur emerger. little yellow comparadun. In Montana in mid June while trying to sort out what fish were taking I watched him land some beaut's in big water and of course when I get down to him, "what did you get him on?" "He took the little sulphur nymph behind the emerger, but the last one took the emerger." Of course.

I'm looking forward to casting a few of these out this season, and I certainly don't want to be on the water without a few. Comparaduns either. I've learned my lesson. 1. It's the fisherman and the presentation and not the pattern (nothing I can do about that but watch and learn) and 2. trout love these sulphur emerging softies.

This transition soft hackle of yours should be an extremely successful pattern just prior to and during the early stages of a sulfur hatch, William. The dark ribbed abdomen/light thorax combo is what the fish are used to seeing from this particular mayfly, and the hackle collar (is that plover?) has just enough barring to suggest expanding immature wings. Beautifully tied.

Makes me pine for spring already. Tie enough to go around.

Beautiful fly William! I really like the overall look and the hackle is superb.

Thanks fellas. I'll have a handful of these with me all season. Spring hatches sure seem a long way away.

William Anderson wrote:Thanks fellas. I'll have a handful of these with me all season. Spring hatches sure seem a long way away.

FWIW, I took a trout yesterday on a Lil Dorothy. There may not be any sulfurs around, but the trout seem to remember what they look like.

That's interesting Bob, a "Lil Dorothy". This time of year I mean but then I have heard of a fellow taking trout in Iowa on a hopper in January. Now that I think about it he may have nearly said it the same way you did. The trout remembered what they looked like. Speaking of remembering, thanks for reminding me of our friend Mark Libertone and his "Lil Dorothy".

Regards, Jerry

That is a great looking pattern William, I am sure if you do your bit and get the presentation near enough the trout will not hesitate.
Pretty sure I have seen similar style/colour pattern flies from Eric, perhaps he might chime in with his experience?

William,
Excellent post and the pattern is unbelievable! I just cannot believe how good this fly looks! You really are one of this countries best tyers! Please keep a steady stream of your wonderful patterns coming our way! Wow!
Yours in the Den,
D.

You tie a beautiful fly Will. One of the things I love about your flies is how purposeful they are, you always seem to be distilling your patterns down into their purest form and function. You're a real inspiration mate