Fly Tying Foam
Fly Tying Foam
Fly Fishing Terrestrials – Why You Should Give Them A Try by Ian Hugh Scott
Terrestrials can be a major food source for a variety of species of fish including rainbow trout, small and largemouth bass, pike and more. You might want to give them a try one of your Fly Fishing trips.
Although most fly anglers are familiar with dry flies, nymphs, wet flies and streamers, many are hesitant or seldom use terrestrial type patterns. Terrestrial fly patterns are those that mimic life that is not aquatic, but sometimes a fish will still eat if given the opportunity. For example, ants do not live or spend any part of their life in the water, except if they’ve fallen in and are drowning. But many fish including trout will take ants, and they can be imitated by the fly tyer and used to catch fish.
What other terrestrials will fish readily eat? Conventional spin and baitcasting anglers know that pike will take terrestrials as large as mice if given the opportunity, and there are mouse fly patterns available that have successfully tricked pike and other species. Even large brown trout are known to eat mice, although mouse patterns are seldom used when targeting trout. Perhaps you may want to remember that mouse are nocturnal creatures, so when Fly Fishing at night for large trout, a mouse pattern may be just the ticket.
What about grasshoppers? Grasshoppers will sometimes find themselves jumping along the bank of a river or lake and suddenly find themselves struggling in the water. Grasshoppers make a hefty meal for many fish and provide a lot of energy and calorie value as prey to the fish that sees the grasshopper struggling while in the water.
There are many excellent patterns that represent hoppers and that you can use to catch fish if your nymphs and dry flies are not working. As well as trout where streams flow through grassy areas, Mark Donahue’s Glo Bug Hopper is a pattern you may want to have in your fly box. Jason Akl’s Flopper, also called “Fallen Hopper” is another suggestion.
Years ago in some parts of North America, the Japanese Beetle which resembles our native Ladybug, was inadvertently introduced. Although it can cause damage to some flora, it’s also an insect that fish seem to enjoy eating. When the Japanese Beetles are out in full force, why not, instead of cursing them, tie up a few of John Guldin’s Japanese Beetle pattern which uses a coffee bean for the body?
On the subject of beetles, it is not only the Japanese variety that our fish will take. A wide variety of beetles often find themselves struggling on the surface of the water trying to keep from drowning only to end up providing a game fish with a meal. Such beetles can be imitated with the use of foam such as Jack Miller’s “Harry Foam Beetle” (which may also imitate a hopper) and Bill Brothers’ “Hi Vis Foam Beetle.”
There are other terrestrials that you can try when Fly Fishing as well, including bumble and honey bees, moths and butterflies, all of which many species of fish will eat.
When you’re first learning how to fly fish, it might be easy to get in the habit of only using the most popular flies like nymphs and dries. Don’t be afraid to try out some other patterns, many of which can be tied up using materials that you can be creative with. While you’re at it, learn more about Fly Fishing techniques and fly tying in general.
About the Author
Ian has been enjoying fly fishing for almost 30 years and loves to write about the subject along with this adventures with his sons.
Montana Fly Tying Foam Hoppers
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Tying Flies With Foam, Fur, and Feathers Harrison R. St $55.53 |
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Tying Foam Flies Skip Morris $23.63 |
