Midges

Charlie Mann's Smelt Patterns

Years ago in the New England area, there was the World Fly Fishing Expo that was held at the Shriner's Auditorium Wilmington, Massachusetts. It was a show similar to the Fly Fishing Show but a little smaller but just as good if not better (I think it was better than the national show). It promoted all of the latest and greatest the fly fishing industry had to offer. It also showcased some of the best New England area fly tyers. This is where I stumbled upon a tyer named Charlie Mann. I watched him for an hour or so tying up some unique smelt fly patterns that I had never seen before. He was also offering a handout for $3 describing his smelt fly recipes and tying instructions so I bought one for myself.

I had scanned his handout onto my computer hard drive and completely forgot about it. While cleaning out some folders on the hard drive I discovered that file and now that I'm retired, I am going to tie up all of the smelt patterns in that handout in a step-by-step format.

Charlie Mann's Smelt 

Step by Step

Step 1: Measuring the under body

I have temporarily attached the STIM-U-DENT to the top of the hook to show the basic placement and where to trim. 

After cutting the STIM-U-DENT to the desired length, shape the front end to a rounded configuration.

Step 2: Tie in shaped STIM-U-DENT under body leaving approximately 1 eye length of bare shank behind the eye.

Step 3: Tie in marabou for the tail.

Step 4: Tie in Bill's Body Braid or equivalent for the under body color.

Step 5: Measure a length of medium size Pearl mylar piping and slip it over the body to the rear of the hook and tie it down with the waiting thread.

Step 6: Attach black thread at the eye of the hook and secure the mylar piping. Trim off any little stub ends of the mylar piping and start building the head.Its OK if the frayed end of the mylar piping extends beyond the waiting thread as they help to form the tail.

Step 7: Attach 20 or so strands of Pearl Krystal Flash at the eye of the hook. Twist the Krystal Flash in a counterclockwise direction to create a rope and tie down directly to the top side of the hook shank.

Step 8: Repeat step 7 using Black Krystal Flash. This will complete the back of the fly. 

Note: The Black Krystal Flash should lay directly on top of the Pearl Krystal Flash.

Step 9: Trim all flash materials even to your desired length. 

Apply head cement to the thread areas of the fly.

A painted eye may also be added if you desire.

Mann's Smelt

Hook - Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread - White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail - White marabou

Body - Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Silver mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping - Pearl Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Additional Recipes

Mann's Smelt Green Tail

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Kelly Green marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a silver mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Pearl Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Mann's Rainbow Smelt

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Purple marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a rainbow mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Rainbow Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Mann's Smelt Purple Tail

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Purple marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a purple mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Purple Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Mann's Smelt Orange Tail

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Orange marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a silver mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Pearl Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

The Goblin

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Bright orange marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a silver mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Fire Orange Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Yellow Jacket

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Yellow marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Fluorescent Yellow floss, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Hot Yellow Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Gold Rush

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Yellow marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Gold mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Orange Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Red Satan

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Red marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Red mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Red Krystal Flash topped with Pearl Krystal Flash

topped with Red Krystal Flash

Merrimack Return

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Fluorescent Lime Green marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Fluorescent Lime Green floss, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Chartreuse Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Gray Phantom

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Gray Ghost Gray marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Pink mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Gray Ghost and Smolt Blue mix Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Green Hornet 

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Kelly Green marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Green mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Peacock Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

McKrystal Finn

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Red marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a silver mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Hot Yellow Krystal Flash topped with Red Krystal Flash

topped with Hot Yellow Krystal Flash

Blue Back Smelt

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Silver Doctor Blue marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Blue mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Pearl Krystal Flashtopped with Smolt Blue Krystal Flash

Governor Angus King

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Black marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Purple mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Pearl Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash (sparse)

Kennebec Wizard

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Gray marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Blue mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Gray Ghost Krystal Flash topped with Peacock Krystal Flash

Forge's Krystal Marvel

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Red marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Gold mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Gold Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Suz-E-Q

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Gray marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Silver mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Pearl Krystal Flash topped with Peacock Krystal Flash

Ricks Landlocked Special

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Gray marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Red mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Pearl Krystal Flash topped with Red Krystal Flash 

then with a few strands of Black Krystal Flash

                            

Golden Prince

Hook: Mustad R79-94720, size 2 to 6

Thread: White thread at the bend, Black at the head

Tail: Orange marabou

Body: Shaped Stim-U-Dent, covered with a Gold mylar braid, 

then covered with Pearl medium mylar piping

Topping: Pearl Krystal Flash topped with Black Krystal Flash

Tying Notes

At any point in tying these flies, it is totally acceptable to use head cement, crazy glue, half hitches to create a durable fly.

It is also acceptable to substitute materials if you do not have the original materials at hand.

I didn't have blue or pink mylar braid so I used silver braid and a blue & pink sharpie marker.

I also used Bill's Body Braid for the under body covering (I don't think Bill's Body Braid was in existence when these flies were originally designed).

The shaped under body can also be fabricated from plastic, lead/aluminum tape, copper wire etc. Use YOUR imagination.

I followed the tying directions in Charlies handout. There is always a different or better way of doing things. Find and use what's best for you!

If you are lucky enough to have the mylar piping that has a core of zlon type material vs the old butcher twine core, save that zlon type material for making wing posts, spent wings etc.

There is also an "improved version" of these flies that simply adds another shaped Stim-U-Dent to the top side of the hook shank. All tying instructions remain the same as shown above.

San Juan River

White Ghost

White Ghost Marabou Wing

Hook: 6xl – 8xl streamer

Thread: Black

Tail: Yellow hackle fibers

Rib: Oval silver tinsel

Body: Flat silver tinsel

Throat: Yellow hackle fibers

Wing: White marabou

Barbara Cotton (Variant)

Barbara Cotton

Smelt Imitation

Hook - 6xl - 8xl streamer

Thread - Black

Tail - Hot pink rabbit fur

Tag - Red thread

Underbody - Pearl braid, wrapped

Body - Small silver mylar piping

Throat - Golden pheasant crest

Topping - 6 strands of peacock herl

Cheek - Large jungle cock eyes

Notes: Originated by Kenneth Welch of Concord, New Hampshire. This fly was named for Mrs Barbara Cotton of Laconia who, with her husband Mert, has operated the Opechee Trading Post for 50 years. The fly was the first-place entry in a fly-tying competition sponsored by the New Hampshire Flyfishers' Association in 1995.

Variation: Not having every recipe item on hand, I used pink calf tail, silver holographic piping and yellow hackle for the original recipe items.

Barbara Cotton, Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire Master Angler (lake-winnipesaukee-travel-guide.com)

Royal Coachman

Royal Coachman Marabou Wing

(Variant)

Hook - 6xl – 8xl streamer

Thread - Black

Tail - Golden pheasant tippets

Aft body - Peacock herl

Mid body - Red twisted wire

Fore body - Peacock herl

Throat - Brown hackle fibers

Wing - White Marabou

Montreal Whore

Montreal Whore

Hook - 4xl - 6xl streamer

Thread - Black

Ribbing - Flat/embossed silver tinsel

Body - Fluorescent orange yarn

Underwing - Red and blue bucktail, separate or mixed (depicted)

Wing - White marabou
Painted eyes (optional) - Black over white

Reference - Forgotten Flies - Schmookler and Sils

Roach River Robber

Roach River Robber

Originated by Dan Legere

HOOK: 6xl streamer

THREAD: Black

BODY: Red Uni-stretch, yarn, floss etc

THROAT: Natural brown deer back hairs (sparse)

WING: Gray Squirrel tail hair

Variant = 3 Strands of twisted red ultra wire for the body

Moosehead Belle

Moosehead Belle

Hook: 6xl - 8xl streamer

Thread: 6/0 red

Tail: Yellow hackle fibers

Body: Red Floss

Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel

Throat: Yellow hackle fibers

Under wing: Mallard dyed Ginger

Wing:White marabou

Smelly Buck Tails

Every now and then you may end up with a smelly buck tail that wasn't processed correctly leaving on some flesh that is turning rotten and starting to smell.

A good tip to remember is if it stinks in the fly shop it stays in the fly shop.

If its necessary to buy from an online retailer, most of them them allow for comments on the ordering page. Just specify that if the buck tails stink do not send them in your order.

Balsa's Not Dead

Fly Tying Hook Brands

Being retired and having virtually nothing to do, I decided to find as many "fly tying" hook brands.

After an exhaustive 2-3 hour search on the internet trying to find as many hook brands as I could find, I managed to create the following list (most likely incomplete). I tried to find as many "freshwater" brand of hooks. Of course some brands contain "saltwater" hooks, one brand contained only 1 "freshwater" hook, some brands I have never heard of but most of them I have. Some are "fly shop" brands and some are personal brands. Some are offshoots of popular major brands. I did not list brands that only made treble hook for salmon etc.

So here is the list of the brands I found

A. Jensen
Akita
Alec Jackson
Allcock
Allen
Bergman
Blue Heron
Cabelas
Castor
Charles Jardine
C'ultiva
Daiichi
Dai-Riki
Demmon
Dohiku
Dragonflies Competition
Drennan
Eagle Claw
Elite
European Barbless Hook
Fly Tying Boutique
Fulling Mill
Gaelic Supreme
Gamakatsu
Green Caddis Outfitters
Grip
Hanak
Hayabusa
Hends
Heritage
Herters
Hook and Hackle
J:son
Jstockard
Kamasan
Ken Sawada
Knapek
Kobe
Kumho
Lazer sharp
Leeda
Lightning Strike
Maruto
Matzuo
Maxcatch
MFC
Mustad
Orvis
Osprey
Owner
Partridge
Saber
Sakuma
SFFT
Skalka
Spear-It
Sprite
Stealth
Stewart Forster
Sundridge
Syndicate Comp Hooks
Talon
Targus
The Fly Shop
Tiemco
Togen
Topfly
Trokar
Tunca
Turrall
Umpqua
Varivas
VMC
White River Fly Shop
Wizard

If anybody knows of other brands please post them in a comment and I'll add them to this list.

Articulated A. P. Nymph

Profile Plate

A profile plate helps to reduces glare, eyestrain and blocks out the busy background on the tying bench. The plate is also perfect for providing a plain background for photographing your flies.

But they can cost $$$ depending on the vise manufacturer

So here is my cheaper alternative

I bought a typists document holder for $5 + free shipping

Insert a 39 cent piece of your favorite color craft/scrapbooking paper in the holder

Then place it behind your vise to block out the mess and clutter on your bench and you'll see what youre tying much better

Please note: this is just one way of making a profile plate. There are many more clever and elaborate ways of making one

Thanks for looking

Norm

Alexandra

Alexandra

Winged Wet Fly

Tag - Dark red floss*

Tail - Peacock sword

Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel*

Body - Silver tinsel

Hackle - Deep wine, dark claret or black

Wing - Peacock sword - may have a dash of scarlet on each side

Trout - Ray Bergman

Forgotten Flies - Schmookler and Sils

*The recipe in Bergman's book lists the ribbing and tag as optional

The Alexandra exists in numerous variations. It is a fly of English origin that was supposedly banned in fishing competitions at one time because of its killing effectiveness.

Trout Fishing and the Color of Wet Dubbing

http://www.scribd.com/doc/142144696/Trout-Fishing-and-the-Color-of-Wet-Dubbing#scribd

Folding Feathers

Every now and then there is a need to to have that swept back look with hackles and other feathers

Here is one way out of many to achieve that look

This is a simple fly tying technique someone might want to learn

Yes it adds time to tying your fly but who cares!

http://globalflyfisher.com/tie-better/folding-feathers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U8IZ6GLdns&t=149s

Alpine Emerger

Alpine Emerger

Hook - Standard wet style

Thread - Gray

Tail - Dyed blue dun barred mallard fibers tied sparse

Body - Dubbed blue dun synthetic

Legs - Same as tail fibers

Popular Fly Patterns by Terry Hellekson

With a lifetimes supply of teal feathers, 

I substituted these for what's called for in the original recipe