Fishing Emergers

[Autodave]

On my last trip I tried fishing some new flies that I have never used before. I was using this Cripple Emerger pattern: http://www.theflystop.com/fly-fishing-f ... wing-olive
What is the proper way to fish this fly?

[midger]

The one in the picture you linked isn't going to fish dry very well without a lot of floatant. It appears to have ostrich or marabou gills which absorb water and therefore cause the fly to sink. I'd fish it in or just under the surface on a dead drift and use Aquel to waterproof it (somewhat) before fishing it. Like an RS2, if it sinks and you slowly draw it to the surface at the end of the drift, you'll often get strikes as the fish take it for an emerging coming to the surface. With my RS2s, I Aquel them and about 3-4 feet of tippet so they'll float in the meniscus. I usually have a dry fly adult about 2 feet up the tippet and I use that as an indicator--if it sinks, SET. If a fish takes the dry, of course, SET.

Just my .02

[fly addict]

Fishing emergers and cripples can make the difference between an ok day and a great day. I tie both of these and have had good results with them. Barr emerger,
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox ... arentID=51
Rene Harrops last chance cripple,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhNHG4rYbiY
And one I tie up,

And one with a foam,

[Autodave]

Thanks for the advice. I did try it with a lot of flotant, which kinda worked. I like the looks of the Barr Emerger and Last Chance cripple. I think I will give those a try.

[planettrout]

On my last trip I tried fishing some new flies that I have never used before. I was using this Cripple Emerger pattern: http://www.theflystop.com/fly-fishing-f ... wing-olive
What is the proper way to fish this fly?

AD,

That is the Quigley Cripple designed by the late Bob Quigley..Steve talks about how to fish it here:

http://stevenojai.tripod.com/quigcrip.htm

If ya' tie, this is an excellent resource for Emerger/Cripple patterns for Mayflies, Caddis, Midges and one Stone:

http://www.amazon.com/Tying-Emergers-A- ... 1571883061

There are also a lot of winging material options which may be used for Cripple/Emerger patterns that float in the film with their abdomens suspended below the surface that are variations on the Quigley pattern...CDC, Foam, IP Trigger Point Int'l Fibers, Zelon, Poly Yarn...etc...










PT/TB

[acorad]

And one with a foam,

Dang, that looks so good I'd be tempted to eat it!

Andy

[BrownBear]

I've fallen into using Klinkhammers for emergers, though there might be "better" imitations around. In fact, often the Klinks are better than dunns right in the middle of a hatch, especially for BWO's, but also for March Browns. Hooks are only available as small as #20, but by cheating a bit I can get the flies down to #22.

Best of all for me, they're easier to see on the water and I don't need to use a dropper. Smaller than #22 I have to resort to a CDC emerger/cripple, but they're so danged hard to see I almost always fish them behind a larger dropper.

[clee]

Fish it like a dry. The fly is supposed to partially sink at least the bottom portion. It floats upright not traditionally horizontal so only the hackle and deer hair should be dressed.

[BrownBear]

That's more like it.

The one in the original link is hugely overdressed in body and tail. Nothing that couldn't be fixed by concerted plucking with the fingernails, but I wouldn't fish it as-is on a bet.

[Autodave]

@Planettrout: I was reading Steve's site, which gave me the idea to pick up a few. I like the ones you did with foam, they seem highly visible. I almost always see a BWO hatch go off where I fish...I want to use a good fly for that time. I'm trying to get out of the habit of using the same fly too often.

@BrownBear: I also used some Klinkhammers for the first time and had good success. When I received the cripple I linked I thought they were really "thick". I did not even think about thinning them out.

[BrownBear]

When I received the cripple I linked I thought they were really "thick". I did not even think about thinning them out.

They appear to be tied with marabou rather than ostrich, so that may explain them needing a diet. In fact I use my fingernails to "barber" lots of marabou flies such as the Lake Leech. Just takes a second, which makes me wonder why the company didn't do that for the photos, or for that matter, the tyers before delivering to the company.

[clee]

or for that matter, the tyers before delivering to the company.

Because 8 year old slave labor kids don't care. They are only worried about making their quota so they get their daily helping of gruel and don't get beat up. Look at the price of those flies, pretty sure they aren't tied by local tiers that's for sure.