The Whitlock Red Fox Squirrel nymph is listed as a standard in a lot of places, including Dave Hughes’ Trout Flies. But the material doesn’t seem to be that easy to obtain. I’ve never seen it locally, and an internet search only turned up a few places – none that I’ve traded with before.
On the other hand, the colors in the photographs seem to approximate an GRHE nymph.
I claim that you could tie a Fox Squirrel nymph with hare’s mask dubbing, and that there’s no reason to carry both flies.
Dave Whitlock, showed me how to tie his Red Fox Squirrel Nymph. Interesting note, Dave does not have a threaded head on his pattern (beaded or regular), nor does he use a normal whip finish tool. Dave uses the Red squirrel tail hair for the tail of the nymph, the Red body hair for the abdomen on the nymph, and the brown body hair for the Thorax and Head.
After securing the Thorax tie-off using a half hitch lock, he dubs more of the Brown body hair onto the thread, and wraps the dubbed thread onto the hook, with a spare loop of thread beneath the wraps. Once the hook is wrapped a couple of turns, the line is pinched (to keep tension), then cut. The tag end of the thread is slipped through the loop, and the looped thread is pulled out from under the wrap, creating a whip finish.
Tying Tips has an article that better explains the concept…
I was fishing on Duck Lake in Montana one time when a b.h. red fox nymph was THE fly. I didn’t have any and didn’t have the official materials to tie them, either. I substituted amber/orangish rabbit/antron for the abdomen and dark hare’s ear for the thorax - the fish seemed to like it just as well as the “real” thing. If you really have to have the squirrel, I’d second the vote for Feather-Craft, or check on E-Bay.
In Michigan it is open season on “Red Squirrel” all year!! They drive other male squirrels out by ahhh, well, er, (Can’t say it here!!) removing thier manhood maybe!?. Get them in your attic and they will eat your house!! Anyway the next time I “remove” one I’ll save the hide and tail. My other squirrels are entertainment. I have a Black Squirrel that will eat peanuts out of my hand!! He’s got a nice bushy tail with a white tip!!??
Cactus
[This message has been edited by Jack Hise (edited 15 March 2005).]
BigFlatBrook,
I agree with your statement. Mix in some antron with the Hares Mask. In fact with all do respect to Mr. Whitlock and his other patterns, The Red Fox Squirrel nymph is one of the biggest “spin off / copy flies” I know of.
It surely came from the century’s old March Brown Spider …which pounds fish.
Just had a better marketing plan.
