Brown Drake Emerger
My favorite river has a fairly heavy hatch of Brown Drakes that
begins around July 4th and lasts for a week or longer. During the
first few days of the hatch, nearly any large dry fly will take fish,
but as the hatch continues the fish get more selective. This pattern
was developed during those times when the fish began to refuse more
generic offerings. I believe the key to this fly’s success to be
the slender, segmented abdomen, as changes in hackle color, tailing
material, and even wing color, seem to have little positive or negative
effect on the pattern’s appeal. An added bonus is that the fly seems
to outperform any specific spinner pattern during the spinner fall.
Materials List:
Hook: Dai-Riki #270, Size 10 or 12.
Thread: Brown 3/0 or 6/0.
Tail: Brown Speckled Hen saddle fibers.
Wing: Dun Poly-yarn or Float-Vis.
Rib: Brown Floss.
Abdomen: Tan Antron blend dubbing.
Thorax: Brown nymph dubbing.
Hackle: Brown and Grizzly mixed.
Originally published December 13, 1999 on Fly Anglers Online by Arnie Wiese.