Emergers
Tying Jeff’s Hare’s Ear /Sheep Fly Emerger
Emerger patterns are a mystery to a lot of folks. They aren’t sure what type of pattern that is being referred to; not sure what types of patterns fall into this category; and with these things said, how do we define ‘emerger’ pattern.
Emergers refer to any pattern that can be used to imitate a stage of any insect that is in the process of emerging or hatching- – - that is leaving its normal place of life on the bottom and making its way to the surface film, splitting its skin or nymphal shuck, breaking through the rubbery meniscus or surface film that separates the two worlds of air and water. That describes the process…..the other thing to consider is at what point does an insect become known as a emerger and what flies might we used to imitate them?
First off, lets mention nymphs. When a nymph leaves the bottom (nymph meaning generally a mayfly, caddisfly, midge, etc.) and makes its way to the surface it is considered an emerger…..it is an emergent nymph- – - so the fact that it is headed toward the top makes it an emerger. Thus, a nymph fished on bottom prior to a hatch, between the bottom and the surface film and in the surface film , any of these places make a nymph an emerger. Once the nymph reaches the top inch or two of the water column it begins the actual process of splitting open the shuck or casing it is in, breaking through, and crawling out either just underwater or in the surface film. Thus, a fly in the process of struggling through this whole ordeal is called an emerger. So we may find flies that are traditional wet flies, soft hackles, flies with a short wing on them- – -whatever they are- – -they may be effective in imitating an emerging insect.
Then of course there’s the surface film. Enter this particular pattern. I happen to believe that the surface film is a particularly troublesome place for insects…its the rubbery membrane separating air from water, and its the toughest place for the insect to pass through and make flight from the surface. In fact, it is sticky, and is constantly changing with atmospheric /weather changes….so there are lots of variables. These characteristics are what make it possible to create a killer fly pattern, one that is neither wet nor dry, but both. A half n half, half sunken, hard up, who knows if its going to live insect is a hard one for a fish to pass up. And its actually far easier imitated than most folks think. I sometimes think our waterlogged flies accidentally imitate this stage. This fly we are about to tie, though, imitates it on purpose. And it is very effective. It was devised by Doug Swisher and Carl Richards, co-authors of Selective Trout, and Emergers , and it can be fished subsurface, fished as a dropper, greased and fished in the film, or powdered/greased and fished in the film .
This fly is a new twist on combining two patterns, a classic hare’s ear wet and a local NC Mtn favorite the Sheep Fly.
MATERIAL LIST
Hook: Daichii 1530 sizes 14-20 (If I were tying one size it would be a #18)
Thread & Head: UTC 70 Black
Ribbing: Oval Tinsel Gold, Small
Abdomen & Thorax: Hare’s Ear Dubbing
Wings: Grizzly Hen hackle tips
Collar: Grizzly hen feather, 2-3 wraps, tie feather in tip first
TYING DIRECTIONS for Jeff’s Hare’s Ear /Sheep Fly
Lay a thread base and tie in about 6-8 grizzly hackle fibers in for a tail.
Tie in small oval tinsel at the rear as shown and secure with several thread wraps.
Dub the abdomen with hares ear dubbing and create the first 3/4 of the fly body as shown. I also use a gun cleaning brush to 'fuzz' up the body.
Wrap oval tinsel forward as shown, only about 3-4 turns, and no more. We want this to be just an accent and not overpower the body.
Choose two hen hackle tips, these are grizzly, and put them back to back so they curve toward each other.
Mount the wings slanting back as shown. Make several tight thread turns. Trim excess.
Select another hen hackle, tie it in tip first, trim excess, then wrap the hackle about 2-3 turns but no more.
Tie the hackle off, trim excess.
Use the tying thread to make a neat thread head.
Whip finish and cement. The finished fly.
2012 All Rights Reserved Jeff Wilkins Fly Fishing 2012
