How fast are Skwalas ....

… considering it is over 2,000 miles from Virginia to the Bitterroot, and these guys made it in just over 40 hours …

… something like 50 mph without a break !!

These are slightly modified versions of Scott’s flies that I have been fishing on the Bitterroot River. The modifications, in the way of the hi-viz foam indicator and the hi-viz parachute post, are to improve visibility.

Scott’s skwalas have done very well, with another test coming up next week on Rock Creek. Maybe he will jump in here with the recipe and some comments on tying this pattern. Of course, tying these as well as Scott does would be another challenge altogether !!

Thanks again, Scott.

John

:roll:They probably hitch hiked on the backs of some coots:roll:

those are some good looking bugs!

John,

You’re very welcome. That was fast, I mailed them Saturday afternoon; thanks USPS! The recipe for the Bulletheads is pretty simple:

hook - 2xl dry (like a Tiemco 5212)
thread - yellow monocord
egg sack - black foam strip (tied down then doubled over to create the sack; also acts as underbody)
body - olive adhesive-backed Furry Foam
rib - yellow Uni-Stretch
wing - weed block fabric trimmed to shape
head/wing - olive deer hair tied as bullet head (tips should extend to hook bend - looks like they didn’t quite make it on the fly on the right); trimmed underneath
legs - barred Sili legs (pumpkin-green/orange)
indicator - yellow 2mm foam

I was afraid the ribbing might be too bright, but it seems to blend well when wet; might have to look through my wife’s DMC floss selection for something a little more subdued. The fly with the para-post is still in the developmental stage for me; have to play around with the placement of the post to get the right balance.

Regards,
Scott

ps - also thanks to Larry (sagefisher) for some great suggestions on skwala patterns

young coots. 'Cause us old coots sure ain’t that fast, Duck.

John

Pains me to agree John but yes they do look very nice…

What size hook ?? They look really nice. I wonder if they would work around this side later when bugs are bigger

Those were tied on #8s and #10s.

Regards,
Scott