by Gila Trout » January 8th, 2012, 9:52 pm
Soft Hackle Wet Flies
Hook: TMC 200R, 3761
Size: 14 or 16
Thread: UNI - Thread, size 8/0, color: black, neon orange, olive
Body Material: Sparkle Braid: size, midge or small, color: olive, orange, purple, peacock, black
Rib:(optional) Ultra Wire: small, color: silver, red, black, orange
Thorax:(optional) Hares ear dubbing or 2.3mm Brite Bead, black, silver, gold, copper
Hackle: 1 to 1.5 turns of soft, webby saddle feather, with the fibers extending to the bend of the hook. Color: grizzly, olive, brown.
Head: built up thread or a Brite Bead
Soft hackles are fun to tie and are real fish cathers. They are very effective for trout, bass and panfish. They can be weighted and fished under an indicator, fished with a greased leader in the flim during a hatch in a lake or a stream or in the traditional way, down and across or quarting the stream with a swing at the end of the drift. I have had great success on the East Walker in the fall with an orange and grizzly soft hackle during the early evening. My most successful fly at lake Perris for big bluegill and red ear is a size 14 soft hackle with an olive sparkle braid body, red rib, Brite Bead(black) thorax and a light brown hackle fished under an indicator. Be creative and try different colors, sizes and hackle combinations.
Enjoy,
Lanny