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Quote of the Month
Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn. ~ Chuck Clark
Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn. ~ Chuck Clark
May 2007
We are looking for fishing news and photos from across Canada that will benefit or be of interest to the fishing enthusiasts we reach worldwide. Read more >
May Issue 2007
© Sport Fish Canada Newsletter 2007
Guidelines for the Selection of Salmon Flies
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Guidelines for the Selection of Salmon Flies
By Squirrel Tail Vickers
Anglers who have not fished the Miramichi for several years wonder, “Are their any new patterns I should buy?” I will attempt to answer these questions unencumbered by social, political, or economic restraints.
First, there is no one size-fits-all fly for Atlantic salmon rivers. Yes, the salmon in a particular river seem to prefer a certain color. For example, Miramichi salmon have always hit predominant black patterns, for example the Black Bear or the Undertaker. Twenty years ago, these same fish admitted to a second love, green, in the form of the Green Machine. Soon other predominantly green patterns (Miramichi Cosseboom, Green Highlander, and Roger’s Fancy) were found to be productive. In the Cains River, a major tributary of the Main Southwest Miramichi, the most productive colors have been gold and orange, for example the Copper Killer, the Chief, and the Alley’s Shrimp. Conversely, the salmon in the Restigouche River have preferred green and yellow, while the salmon in the St. Jean in Gaspé, black and white.
The faster the water is, the larger the ideal fly will be. The clearer the water is, the smaller the ideal fly will be.
The higher the river level is above normal, the larger the ideal fly will be.
These are some reasons why you will need several sizes of the same pattern.
Re printed with permission from Martyn Vickers and Miramichi Salmon Assoc.
By Squirrel Tail Vickers
“What flies should I bring?” This is the most common question asked by anglers on their maiden voyage to fish bright Atlantic salmon on the Miramichi. The anglers who have fished other salmon rivers in Canada, the British Isles, or Russia ask, “Do I need to buy any special flies?”
Anglers who have not fished the Miramichi for several years wonder, “Are their any new patterns I should buy?” I will attempt to answer these questions unencumbered by social, political, or economic restraints.
First, there is no one size-fits-all fly for Atlantic salmon rivers. Yes, the salmon in a particular river seem to prefer a certain color. For example, Miramichi salmon have always hit predominant black patterns, for example the Black Bear or the Undertaker. Twenty years ago, these same fish admitted to a second love, green, in the form of the Green Machine. Soon other predominantly green patterns (Miramichi Cosseboom, Green Highlander, and Roger’s Fancy) were found to be productive. In the Cains River, a major tributary of the Main Southwest Miramichi, the most productive colors have been gold and orange, for example the Copper Killer, the Chief, and the Alley’s Shrimp. Conversely, the salmon in the Restigouche River have preferred green and yellow, while the salmon in the St. Jean in Gaspé, black and white.
There are flies and then there are flies. What experienced fly fishermen want are flies with character. Character starts with the fly tier who has spent time on the river. He has learned how flies move through the water, what makes them sink or ride up on the surface, and which flies work. He brings this knowledge to his fly tying bench. He knows how heavy to dress a fly, what particular shades of a color to use (for example the shade of green on a Cosseboom), how full he should make the body, and how stiff the hackle should be on a particular fly. The great fly tiers are consistent in their patterns and the quality of their flies. The flies of second tier tiers will vary. One Black Bear might be more heavily dressed than another, or perhaps have more hackle than another. In this situation, select the fly that is more sparsely and symmetrically dressed. The novice fly tier will dress his hooks for a dance; the pro will dress them for work. Salmon aren’t looking for beauty, they’re looking for food or to chase away a life-like intruder.
Carefully inspect the form of the fly. Choose the fly that will offer less resistance to the current, the one that will move quickly through the swing. For example, poorly tied Green Machines will have fat bodies with long willowy hackle. The good ones will have close-cropped bodies with rigid hackle. These babies will sink. Then look at how the head and tail are finished. Has the head been sealed with a smooth coat of lacquer? If it has a large, untapered head, move on to the next fly. Is the tail or butt near the bend in the hook or opposite the tip of the barb? In low water the butt and tail should be well ahead of the beginning of the bend in the hook. Finally, ask yourself, “Will this fly endure the beating of my cast and the battles with Mr. Silverside?” Do a little tugging on the hair, hackle, and feathers.
Some purists emphasize the importance of the materials used to create the fly. Artists use the exotic feathers and hackle. Master fly tiers use material that is available and that does not cost an arm and a leg. It is the final product that is critical, not its various components. Then comes the size of the fly. Several general rules apply:
Complicating your choice of a pattern is the fact that salmon tend to change their preference for certain flies. One year the Black Bear with green butt will be productive. The next year it will be the Black Bear with red butt. One year it will be the Green Machine with a red butt, but the next year it will be the Green Machine with a green butt. This change of preference can occur even on a weekly basis. That’s why master fly tiers are busy lads during the winter months in preparation for the coming season.
(Squirrel Tail Vickers is MSA Director Martyn Vickers, M.D.)
Re printed with permission from Martyn Vickers and Miramichi Salmon Assoc.
