upside down flies

[albertabowhunter]

Hopefully someone can help me.. Last week I tied some brooks stoneflies. When I tried them this weekend they rolled over on retrieve and went belly side up. How can I fix this... Or do I have to tie them upside down with the hook at the top.... I made them with a tungsten bead head to get them down fast.... would this cause the problem???

 

Richard S. Doucette

[dave robinson]

I thought that Brooks Stones were to be tied "in the round"

so it didn't matter which way was up on the drift.

Joe Brook's idea was that natural stones didnt drift upside down and sideways

and since you couldn't ensure the artificial always drifted right side up

if you tied them with no top or bottom, the fish wouldn't notice.

[RangerBob]

If it drifts upside down, you won't get snagged up in the weeds and rocks.. and it will hook a fish easier. So, I don't see a downside here really, do you?

 

No worries!

 

http://www.reelanglermagazine.com/worth_their_weight.html

 

 

Worth Their Weight

By Phil Rowley

 

It’s early July and for many lower mainland fly fishers it is time to exorcise the dry fly demons that have accumulated since this time last season. Sedges should in full scamper and the Skagit is now open for business.

 

Although generally sunny and warm quite often the Skagit is still running high still suffering the effects of seasonal run off. Dry fly opportunities may be limited. In most cases, like it or not, bouncing and swinging weighted nymphs through the deep swift runs is often a better bet. With trout feeding up to ninety percent of their time beneath the surface dry fly might be seen as the low end of the spectrum at the best of times. Still it is tough to beat the visible swirl of a trout to the fly, my personal introduction into this magnificent sport are well entrenched in this vision.

 

Amidst the bubbles, refracted light and current trout can’t and quite often won’t move far for an offering not in their strike zone. In order to successfully plumb the rubble within a stream nymph patterns need to be weighted in order to do their job. Weighting a fly is often the first step in tying as the balance of the fly is constructed around whatever mode of mass is selected.

 

The first method available to the fly tyer for adding weight is lead wire substitute. Sold on spools in diameters ranging from .010” to in excess of .035” lead wire is an easy material to work with. Placing the lead wire onto a wide barreled floss bobbin makes this operation even simpler, simply wind the lead wire onto the hook shank as though it was tying thread.

 

Once the desired amount of lead is in place pinch of the lead using the thumbnail. If the evening’s tying calls for a dozen or so flies complete this step on all hooks prior to proceeding, it knocks minutes off the finish time.

 

As for what size lead wire to choose is? Use the hook shank diameter as a guide, the larger the hook diameter the larger the lead wire. Of course specific fishing conditions play an important role as well. Once wound on the shank the lead wire creates a natural drop off that must be managed. Left unattended this drop off can become a royal pain. Take the time to lock the lead into place with tying thread by creating thread ramps fore and aft of the lead. For larger patterns try substituting dubbing for thread for quicker results.

 

Some fly patterns such as mayfly nymphs need to be weighted and skinny, a fly tying oxy moron of sorts. One method is to take a length of lead wire and squash it flat using a pair of flat nose pliers and then tying it in place on top of the hook shank as a first step. X-Ray lead or wine bottle lead is an excellent source of already flattened lead. Don’t forget a dab of red nail polish or model paint at the hook eye to quickly identify weighted from unweighted patterns. Amongst the jumble that is most fly boxes weighted and unweighted soon become inseparable.

 

There are many interesting curved shank hooks available to fly tyers today but for those contemplating heavy patterns they need to be cognizant of the “keel effect”. Weighted curved style hooks now have their center of gravity at their highest point the apex of the curved shank and as a result roll upside down when put into action. This effect shouldn’t negate the use of curved hooks and actually can be incorporated into the fly’s design to help make it snag resistant enabling one to crawl the crevices where trout prefer to lie. Simply tie the pattern upside down, a great strategy for bouncing obese stonefly dressings through deep rubble.

 

Besides the somewhat traditional lead wire approach there are other hefty alternatives to consider. Since their introduction from Europe metal beads have been a welcome supplement to just about every nymph pattern. Every popular common nymph has benefited from a bead head. The Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear and the Pheasant Tail are just two that come to mind. Depending upon the stream or river depth and current speed fly tyers have the choice of brass, lead or tungsten beads.

 

Besides the weight the color of the bead can also be incorporated in the patterns design as an attraction point or to simulate the trapped air and gases many insects use during their emergence accent. Metal beads are easy to slide onto the hook shank and because their weight is evenly dispersed around the hook the keel effect isn’t a concern.

 

The third most common alternative to weight a fly are lead or bead chain eyes. More commonly associated with baitfish or steelhead patterns lead or bead chain eyes compliment many bottom bouncing designs. As with lead wire weighted curved shank hooks patterns incorporating lead or bead chain eyes tend to roll a fly upside down when tied on top of the hook shank. A trait innovative fly tyers can use to their advantage by creating snag free, bottom-hugging designs.

 

As with metal beads there are a wide range of weights, sizes and colors available for tyers to choose from. Tying lead or bead chain eyes in place is straightforward. Form two thread balls two eye widths back from the hook eye and then using figure eight wraps secure the eyes in place in a perpendicular manner between the two thread balls. Try using a number of horizontal post wraps around the base of the eyes to further tighten and secure. A final coating of crazy glue or epoxy isn’t a bad idea either. Obviously preparing a number of “pre-eyed” hooks prior to a nights tying session makes sense.

 

Despite the allure of a dry fly and the visions and memories it can evoke consistent results fishing streams often means bouncing the substrate. Knowing what methods and options are available at the vise allows for creative solutions to traditional approaches. Perhaps providing pressured trout a look they haven’t seen before, especially if it is on their level. Flies such as these are definitely worth their weight.

[albertabowhunter]

I should have mentioned that these were tied with tungsten beads at the head. So I dont really understand why it flips....??? I guess tying the next batch upside down will have to be. Thanx for the help.

 

 

Can you tie the hook upside down on a dry? Or would that be just plain silly?

 

[Scratch]

Dries are often done that way, and it's usually referred to as being tied "reverse" - I'm sure there are other names for the technique. It's also an effective solution for creating weedless flies.

[albertabowhunter]

Thanx for the info

[DennisS]

Gary Lafontane Has a dancing caddis pattern that is tied on an up side down hook that is suppose to very good. I believe you will find that pattern in his book Caddis Fly.

 

Tight Lines Always

Dennis S

NLFT&F

[albertabowhunter]

thanks I'll have to look for that one.... do you know who may have it? I'd like to see it.

 

I always thought that it was the hook part that made the dry fly stand upright. Turning the hook upside down, wouldnt that land the fly up side down? or what controls that?