"Purple Nurple Killer Bug"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
larryg
My wife is (due to my age) starting to request that I fish stillwaters for now. Although I am not a Tenkara purist (with rods/flies/line) I do use some of the flies.
The question is what Tenkara flies do you find most 'rewarding' in catching fish? I am in the Mid-Atlantic (MD) is that is helpful for your replies. Thank you for your helpful suggestions.
Well, I have to say that I'm not familiar with the Mid-Atlantic states, but my wife and I really enjoy using "purple nurple" killer bugs that we tie. We use a size 12, style 1120 Daiichi scud-style hook, about 8 wraps of .015 lead-free wire, chartreuse thread base, with purple haze yarn over that. (You can get the yarn from Chris Stewart at TenkaraBum, plus some other sources.) I also wrap the bug with small chartreuse wire, finished with the chartreuse thread as a "hot spot." Don't know if purists would call it a "tenkara fly," but we've caught lots of fish with it under a variety of conditions. It has a moderate sink rate, and the chartreuse plus purple colors seem to work well. I'd say any kind of Utah killer bug or old-style Sawyer killer bug is a nice go-to fly.
Would a better word description work?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
flyfishbeck
Hey HeartO'TX, any chance you could post a photo of the Purple Nurple? I just bought some purple haze and I think I've got an idea as to your pattern but a photo would be great.<br>
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Thanks!<br>
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-FFB
<br><br>Sorry to report that I'm "in-between cameras," as they say, right now. But let me see if I can do a better job of describing the fly: 1. First, I start with the size 12 style 1120 Daiichi hook. 2. I wrap 8-10 wraps of size .015 wire toward the front of the hook. 3. I then cover the lead-free wire and hook with 6/0 chartreuse thread down to the bend of the hook. Make sure that you have created a nice, tapered body of chartreuse thread. 4. Next, I catch in the purple haze yarn at the bend of the hook and also catch in a 4" piece of small chartreuse wire. 5. I advance the chartreuse thread to the eye of the hook and secure with a couple of half-hitches so old fumble-fingers here doesn't unravel the thread over the eye. 6. Then, I wrap only one layer of the purple yarn forward and secure with a couple of turns of the thread. Be sure not to crowd the eye of the hook so you can leave room for the "hot spot." 7. Next, wrap the chartreuse wire forward over the yarn and secure with the thread. (I don't "counter-wrap" the wire, though you could, and I probably should. I just go in the same direction as the yarn with about 6 wraps of the chartreuse wire.) 8. Finally, I create a nice, generous chartreuse hot spot with the thread, whip finish, and apply a dab of head cement to the hot spot. Hey, maybe someone WITH a camera can try to follow my directions and post a picture! Hope this helps at least a little. It's a great version of the killer bug that's been very effective in our warm, stained waters. After bluegills chew on it a little, the chartreuse thread shows through the yarn, and the fish seem to like it even better. <br type="_moz">