Hey Dano!

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Dano,

Now, that I've converted and have started using the soft hackle, what would you suggest for Taney? I've tied up some green-butts that did so well at Bennett but would like to have a few other patterns in the box. Thanks ahead of time for the suggestions.

John

[Danoinark]

John,

I think the most effective soft hackle color on Taney is a light olive. What I do is use Lt. Olive floss,(Uni-strech) tying in about 5 turns back from the hook eye, wrapping back to about the hook point, again wrapping forward and tie off.

Tie in a very small amout of fine brown dubbing (no more than 2 turns)and then two turns of partridge hackle. Voila. They work great in standard olive also. I also fish the same pattern with red, black and orange floss too. A size 16 and 18 dry fly hook seems to work the best for me. Sometimes I will add a brass or copper wire rib just for effect. I fish these without any additional weight and fish them dead drift, on the swing and short strips. If I notice fish hitting on top, I grease them up and fish them as a dry. Soft hackles are very versatile as you can see.

Dano

[flyfshn]

Dano/KFF, do you use an indicator when you fish the soft hackle? Sinking leader or regular?

[Danoinark]

fshn, I never use an indicator with a soft hackle. I try to fish them just below or in the surface film. The ideal wet fly swing is where the soft hackle is cast quartering upstream, give a good tug to get the fly below the film, as you mend upstream, the fly will begin to go deeper. Just as the fly line passes your position and begins to straighten, mend downstream to put a belly in the line. This causes the bug to begin to travel toward the surface. I have found that many strikes occur as the soft hackle is on its way to the surface. So be prepared for a MASSIVE take. If you don't get a strike, then let the fly hang in the current for up to 5 to 10 seconds. Many times strikes occur as the fly "hangs" in the current. Another technique is to grease all but about the last 6 to 12 inches of leader / tippet. Use Muscilin for best results. This ensures the fly stays near or in the surface film. If you don't get a strike at that point, begin to strip the fly back to you. I use this rhythm. short strip, stip, strip, pause, short strip, strip, strip, etc. Hope this helps. I love the soft hackle for its versatility, ease of use, and the tradition.

Dano

[flyfshn]

Thanks Dano! I have tied them in the past, but really did not know how to fish them....just put on an indicator and let them drift. Didn't realize they were supposed to stay closer to the top. Guess that is why I have not had any luck with them!

[Danoinark]

Mike give them another try. It's amazing how hard the strikes are.

Dano

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Thanks for the info Dano. I've already tied up some green-butts. They were a KILLER at Bennett during the last gathering. I'm anxious to give them a try at Taney. I'll also tie up some of the colors you mentioned. As for fishing them; I found; what worked for me at Bennett was to cast quartering downstream, keep the line tight and let it drift to the point it was straight downstream. Most of the hits came at or very near the end of the drift. And you are right, they were MASSIVE.

John

[jjtroutbum]

* Typing like a Zombie* "Must be apart of a soft hackle discussion."

CAUTION !!!! Light tippets require a very soft or sparse hand set and or lift. Not a traditional set of the hook if even required at all.

They are great method for communing with nature nature.

1.Chuck that sucka out at a across and down, some say thirty degrees is ideal. However I try not to do any things requiring numbers while on the water.

2. Then forget about it and chat with a fellow angler, watch the funny looking tailless squirrels, the giant fish at your feat even though your very careful not to shuffle. Or maybe just the changing of the leaves.

3. Then snap back into reality as the line that has been sitting in your hand almost forgotten suddenly tries to free its self.

Most of all throw'em they work.

JJ

[Don]

Thanks Dano! I have tied them in the past, but really did not know how to fish them....just put on an indicator and let them drift. Didn't realize they were supposed to stay closer to the top. Guess that is why I have not had any luck with them!

Mike,

There's still quite a bit of truth in your statement. Most people have never fished a soft hackle with an indicator and a 6 or 8 sinker 8-12" above it like a nymph. Trouts want it that way sometime.

Don

If you don't get a strike at that point, begin to strip the fly back to you. I use this rhythm. short strip, stip, strip, pause, short strip, strip, strip, etc. Hope this helps. I love the soft hackle for its versatility, ease of use, and the tradition.

Dano

Dano,

As an amateur soft hackler, I have mostly fished them as you described.

Something I was taught on the Little Red one day:

When stripping patterns don't work while bringing the fly back try this. When the line is fully straightened out downstream after the swing, start with the tip near the water and sloooooooowwwwly lift the rod tip upward creating an emerging effect. I have also had results with a small finger controlled gathering strip by pinching the flyline between your thumb and index finger and bringin home one inch at a time.

Don

[Danoinark]

Mike,

There's still quite a bit of truth in your statement. Most people have never fished a soft hackle with an indicator and a 6 or 8 sinker 8-12" above it like a nymph. Trouts want it that way sometime.

Don

If you don't get a strike at that point, begin to strip the fly back to you. I use this rhythm. short strip, stip, strip, pause, short strip, strip, strip, etc. Hope this helps. I love the soft hackle for its versatility, ease of use, and the tradition.

Dano

Dano,

As an amateur soft hackler, I have mostly fished them as you described.

Something I was taught on the Little Red one day:

When stripping patterns don't work while bringing the fly back try this. When the line is fully straightened out downstream after the swing, start with the tip near the water and sloooooooowwwwly lift the rod tip upward creating an emerging effect. I have also had results with a small finger controlled gathering strip by pinching the flyline between your thumb and index finger and bringin home one inch at a time.

Don

Great advice Don and the "lift" you described is spot on. That technique also works in small riffle water where high sticking is appropriate.

Above i said I never add weight, but on review I do have to admit I have tied soft hackles with beadheads before. I just have never had as much luck with a weighted soft hackle. Using the soft hackle is very effective when sight fising. You can time the drift and the eventual "emergence" to occur right in front of the fishes nose. One other tip that I have noticed is that soft hackles seem more effective during a slight chop on the water. I would presume that the chop causes more back and forth undulations of the soft hackle causing it to appear more life like.

Dano