These are some attractor patterns that I use. When no Trout are rising, when the water is off-color, when it (or I ) is/am very cold, I pull these guys out of my boxes and affix them to my tippet…
KERN RIVER EMERGER (KRE) Variation
HOOK: TMC 5262, # 10- # 18, (or similar hook)
WEIGHT: Non toxic lead substitute
BEAD: Gold , Copper or Black Tungsten
THREAD: UNI 8/0 or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Black
TAIL: Pheasant Tail Fibers, quantity dependent on hook size
RIB: Gold or Silver Tinsel
ABDOMEN: Peacock Herl
WINGCASE: Razor Foam 2mm., Red, Orange, Green, Yellow, Pink or Black
THORAX: Olive/Brown Ice Dub ( Pink Ice Dub…yessss)
LEGS: Optional, rubber, variegated
A pattern developed by Guy Jeans for the Kern River in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. It imitates Stone flies and some May fly species that inhabit that sometimes brawling freestone fishery. I have found this pattern to be effective throughout the Western US. I have caught many nice Trout on the East Walker River fishing this fly with a pink wing case in May…This is a good one for swift pools, behind and alongside boulders and through tail outs – fished deep…
Guy Jean’s famous Kern Emerger pattern
Hook: TMC 5262 # 10 -18
Thread: Uni 6/0 or 8/0
Tail: Black Hen feathers
Rib: Gold tinsel, ( I use XSM gold wire for # 18 )
Abdomen: Peacock herl
Wingcase: Razor foam, pick yer’ color!
Legs: Here ,black Raineys rubber,but one could experiment!
Thorax: Peacock Ice Dub,Peacock Herl, SLF Prism Peacock or Arizona Peacock dubbing
Bead: Tung with lots of lead or non toxic sub. on thorax
Check out the Kern River Forum. Those guys up there use this fly throughout the year with great success. Guy Jean opened up his shop in Kernville several years ago and is a champ when it comes to doing good things for the Kern River and other local waters. Drop in and see him!
Here is another version that is beadless:
BEADLESS KRE
TURKEY VAC (OLIVE)
TURKEY VAC (TAN/BROWN)
HOOK: Mustad CO68, TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, # 12- #18
THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Black, Brown or Olive
BEAD: Gold, Copper or Black
WIRE: Chart. for Olive, Red for Tan/Brown
ABDOMEN: Olive Mottled Turkey Tan/ Brown Mottled Turkey
WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, White/Clear or White Zelon
THORAX: Peacock Herl or Peacock Ice Dub
A Walter Wiese pattern out of Park’s Fly Shop in Gardiner, MT where Walter guides. This pattern was developed as an improved Shop Vac to imitate emerging Caddis Pupa.The original Shop Vac came out of BRF in West Yellowstone, MT. These flies will take Trout when offered at the proper time to imitate both Hydropsyche and Braychycetrus…I have found these patterns to be very effective and employ them everywhere…
THE ORIGINAL SHOP VAC
Hook: TMC 2457,2487 or Diiachi 1120, 1130 # 16-20
Thread: Danville # 47, 6/0
Wire: Gold, xsm
Wing: Strand of White Zelon, clipped
Thread at head: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Black
Bead: Tung or Metal, Gold
The original- fish vaccum via BRF, Craig Matthews and designer Rowan Nymen. I also tweak this simple pattern with 3 strands of midge pearl flash under the wing and I tie it using UTC 70 Olive for the body. Faux Shop Vac here.
HULA PRINCESS
HOOK: TMC 2457, Mustad CO68 or other Scud hook, # 12 – # 18
THREAD: UNI 6/0, 8/0, or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Dark Brown
ABDOMEN: Peacock Herl
RIB: Fine Gold or Copper wire
WING: White Zelon
THORAX: Brown Ostrich Herl
BEAD: Gold or Copper
Another Wiese fly pattern. Peacock Herl is one most effective material to incorporate into a searching fly. Weight may be added via a tungsten bead or non toxic wire wraps under the thorax. I have found that fish will take this guy fished dead drift or swung…the Zelon wing acts as a trigger…
LEFT OVER KLINK
Hook: Partridge 15BN, #16-20
Thread: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, or Benechi 12/0 brown, olive or black
Tail: brown, olive or black hen neck
Abdomen: Wapsi UTC 70, brown, olive-brown, rusty- brown, olive or black / covered with clear micro tubing or color desired.
Rib: Wapsi x-sm gold, copper or silver
Thorax: (Behind a copper, gold or silver bead) olive brown, UV black or peacock Ice Dub
Wing/legs: brown, olive or black hen neck
So I have these remaining Klinkhammer hooks and what to do? I like it better in the available small sizes than the TMC 200R – superior gape. The fish seem to like it ( think Flav, Mahogany etc…) Rust bites back on the Stillwater!
And, here are two more in different color combinations…this pattern is one of my favorites..,
OLIVE / BROWN LEFT OVER KLINK
OLIVE LEFT OVER KLINK
JEREMY’S ARIZONA PRINCE
HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68, # 10 -# 18
THREAD: Uni. Olive, 8/0 or Gordon Griffiths 14/0 Olive
BEAD: Copper, Gold or Black
TAILS: Brown Goose Biots
RIB: Gold or Copper wire
BODY: Light Arizona Peacock Dubbing
THORAX: Natural Peacock Arizona Dubbing
WINGS: White Goose Biots
A Jeremy Davies designed fly. ANYTHING that he designs catches Trout. This is his simpler version of the Prince Nymph tied on a curved hook. Many years ago, Jeremy had a link to a plethora of flies that he put together for the Bow River. That link no longer exists…however, I wrote all the recipes down…I now know why I did that…
ICE WEEVIL
HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68 or other scud hook, # 12 – # 18
THREAD: UNI 8/0 Olive or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Olive
TAIL: Pheasant Tail Fibers, Olive
RIB: Chart. or Metallic Green Wapsi wire
ABDOMEN: Caddis Green Ice Dub
THORAX: Olive/Brown SLF Prism
OVER ABDOMEN 1.: Optional, Pearl mylar or Black Krystal Flash
OVER ABDOMEN/WING CASE 2.: Olive Thin Skin or Scud Back
WINGS: Brown Goose Biots
BEAD: Copper or Gold
Some minor tweaking on Jeremy Davies’ venerable “EVIL WEEVIL” series.This is a flashy tie for early Spring and high, cloudy water…
BLACK WEEVIL (TOP VIEW)
BLACK WEEVIL
HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68, # 12 – # 18
THREAD: UNI 8/0 Black or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Black
TAIL: Black Rabbit, long hairs cut from mask, underfur combed out
RIB: Silver wire or Silver Mylar tinsel
ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask ,#4
OVER ABDOMEN 1.: Pearl Mylar
OVER ABDOMEN 2.: Clear Scud Back
THORAX: Black Ice Dub
WINGCASE: Clear Scud Back
WINGS: White Goose Biots
BEAD: Black Tungsten or Black with non toxic lead wraps
Another tweak on the “EVIL WEEVIL”, fished deep, in the Spring, where and when Stone Flies are present and moving towards shore…
HOT GO 2 PRINCE
HOOK: TMC 5262, #12 – # 18
THREAD: Uni 8/0 Black or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Black
TAIL: Ginger Furnace Hen Hackles
RIB: Metallic Red Wapsi wire
ABDOMEN/THORAX: Peacock Herl
WING: White Zelon
HACKLE: Ginger Furnace Hen
BEAD: Spirit River, Hot Orange
A combo soft hackle, combo meaning that designs from Rick Takahashi and “Pop” from “Let it Fly “in Pagosa Springs, CO influenced the final tie…This one will get a work out on the East Walker and Lower Owens..Michael gets to try it first ( then just let me try to pry the box out of his vest – good luck)…
EVIL WEEVIL
HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68,or other scud hook, # 12 – # 18
THREAD: Uni 8/0 Black or Gordon Griffith 14/0, Black
TAIL: Pheasant Tail Fibers, Natural
OVER ABDOMEN/ OVER THORAX: Olive Scud Back or Thin Skin
RIB: Gold or Copper wire
ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask, Olive # 3
THORAX: Peacock SLF PRISM
WINGS: Rusty Brown Goose Biots
BEAD: Gold or Copper, Tungsten or Brass
Another “Evil Weevil”…as one can see, numerous variations and possibilities…this is a good early Spring pattern…
NEU COWDUNG AMBER
HOOK: Alec Jackson, North Country, # 13 & # 15
THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Brown
ABDOMEN/THORAX: Amber Hareline Krystal Dubbing
WING: Amber Zelon
HACKLE: Natural Partridge
BEAD: Glass Bead, Metallic
NEU COWDUNG OLIVE
HOOK: Alec Jackson, North Country, # 13 & # 15
THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Olive
ABDOMEN/THORAX: Olive Krystal Dubbing
WING: Grey Sparkle Emerger Yarn
HACKLE: Hen neck, brown
BEAD: Glass Bead, Metallic
Both the above flies are Wiese soft hackle Caddis imitations meant to be swung in the current with a lift and drop at the terminus of the swing. I particularly like to use this method on the Stillwater and Madison Rivers in Montana in the evening during hatches of the respective species these colors imitate…
I would be remiss if I did not put up this pattern. It was the first nymph that I tied out on the water, on the Madison River at Valley Gardens in August 1975, not the best time to be FF down in the channels section above Ennis Lake. This fly appeared in Fly Fishing Magazine in early 1975. It is called the “Mink Thing”…I have tied it on a wide variety of hooks with beads and without – with hackle and without. I have mixed sable into the blend. I still use this pattern in shades ranging from light tan to dark brown. The mink ( and sable) retain air bubbles which adds to the effectiveness of the fly…no Frogs Fanny needed!!! I weight the body of the fly heavily…it is one of the BEST early Spring, cold water imitations I have ever used…
“Mink Thing” at Valley Gardens on the Madison River 1975…
It is right here, in this Nymph box, that I still use…
I have a few more that I am working on that will be posted soon…
PT/TB 
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WHITE MILLER SOFT HACKLE # 15… Wiese/Matthews
FLUTTERING WHITE MILLER…Wiese…side view…
FLUTTERING WHITE MILLER…Wiese…top view
WAKING WHITE MILLER IRIS CADDIS…Matthews…Side view
WAKING WHITE MILLER IRIS CADDIS…Matthews…Top View
SNOWSHOE WHITE MILLER – EGG LAYER…Me…
WHITE MILLER SUPER PUPAE – Wiese…( Tied Ed Story / Crackleback Style) 
PLANETTROUT: Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and LIFE
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