Fly Fishing Q&A with Jerry Kiesow - March 2012
Casting For Answers - March 2012
Fly Fishing Q&A with Jerry Kiesow of On Wisconsin Outdoors
Submit your questions to Jerry via email at flyfishing@onwisconsinoutdoors.com
When tying the wing of the Mickey Finn, is there a formula for the amount of hair used? - Matt
Great question, Matt. The simple answer is yes. Here is how I instruct my students:
After tying off the oval tinsel on the body, take a small bunch of yellow bucktail and tie it on the top of the hook, allowing room for two additional tie-ins of hair and a proper head. Overlay the yellow hair with an equally small bunch of red bucktail. Tie in so the red overlays the yellow but is connected to the hook shank just ahead of the yellow. Then take a second bunch of yellow bucktail which is equal in size to both of the previous layers of bucktail. Tie it so it overlays the red, connecting to the shank of the hook just ahead of the red. Note: The key here is the proportion of the two small bunches of hair followed by the one bunch of hair that is the same amount as the first two—check out the photo.
To get the complete story on how to tie this fly, go to my website: www.jerrykiesowoc.com, look under WORDS - Other Stuff. You will find an illustrated story
I will be giving the early, catch and release, trout season a try this year. Any suggestions of the patterns that I should use? - Glenn
That’s a loaded question Glenn. Are you fishing in March or April? Where will you be fishing? There are a lot of streams and rivers open for this season. Here are a few suggestions.
Generally, early season means fishing small flies. 16s or 18s are not uncommon. Also, nymphs are favored over anything else. Now, that said, with the way this year has been, and presuming it remains warmer than normal, if small is not working, go bigger. I will even drift a few streamers. After all, minnows don’t hibernate. Why? The water temperatures may be warmer than it has been during normal winters/early spring, so the underwater critters may have started to grow a bit earlier and faster than normal.
Patterns? I stick to the old reliable: Prince, Pheasant tail, Hare’s ear, Pink Squirrel. I have also had success with my own Rapids Nymph pattern, size 12. See the photo. The one on the left that you do not recognize is my RN. Email me if you want the recipe.
And it is always a good idea to check with the local fly/sport/bait shops to see what is catching fish when you are there.
Steelhead should be coming into the tributaries soon. I have never fly fished for them before. Any suggestions? – John
Well John, it just so happens that I have a story in the March/April issue of On Wisconsin Outdoors. Read that and you should have what you need to get started.
If you don’t have time to get those details right now, here it is in brief, very brief: Eight weight rod/line or heavier; 2X or 3X five to seven foot leaders/tippets;
Nymphs, streamers, and eggs; slow and deep early, sight fishing when they are on the redds.
As a side note, if you tie your own flies, I have a steelhead fly tying class on April 15th at Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg. You can check that out at my website: www.jerrykiesowoc.com or the RNC website: http://www.riveredge.us
Good luck! Look for me. I’ll be out there somewhere.
That’s it for this issue. Thanks to those who asked the questions. I hope the answers were helpful. Keep a good thought!