Jig Head Trout Flies/Opinions

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

I don’t know if it’s all in my head, but it seems I don’t have much success fishing jig head trout flies. Is it a matter of confidence or don’t they fool as many fish? I want to like them because they’re less likely to snag the rocks. All help and opinions are urged an appreciated. I’ve fished with some millenials that only fish suggestive jig head patterns and they seem to do fine–at least they’re satisfied.
Than

2

This past summer, the East Walker River, which has endured almost 5 years of drought, was weed choked and off color. My son and I were fishing in the
“Miracle Mile” section just below the dam…

Jig patterns in #16 - #18 were the only flies that seemed to work well, dredging them through the open slots. I will continue to tie and use them:

Steve Parrott’s Blue Devil Jig…

PT/TB :wink:

3

I’ll give them a shot, PT. Did you get much rain during the past year? It seemed like parts of California got some needed water.

4

Nice jigs!!!

Can you give us a recipe ?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

5

Chris,

On this one, I pretty much stayed with the original recipe:

[https://vimeo.com/90651225

I](https://vimeo.com/90651225) used a black faceted slotted tungsten bead instead of silver and for the rib I used Sulky Silver Metallic Thread - Royal Blue #8052 - which is stronger and more durable than flashabou:

http://www.sulky.com/catalog/sub/sulky-sliver-metallic-thread-royal-blue

PT/TB

6

Wow! I was looking at photos on Ken’s Sport Shop web site on the East Walker River. You guys got some beautiful trout to fish over on that river. Did you get any rain in that area last year?

7

I’ve tried quite few and like them ok. I’ve used them for Sexy Walt’s and a variant of the Pink Squirrel among others. You can adapt just about any pattern for the jig hook, so tie whatever works on your local waters.

One thing I don’t like about them is that all of the hook models that I know of are completely barbless. I prefer barbless flies and routinely smash the barbs on my hooks. However I also typically fish “tandem” nymphs with a small trailer fly tied to the bend of the larger lead fly. If I use a barbless jig fly as my lead, the trailer tied to the bend slips off on occasion. With a smashed down barb this doesn’t happen.

I’ve also heard that it’s really the heavy tungsten bead that makes the hook ride point up. So if you put a decent size tungsten bead on a conventional nymph hook, say TMC 3769, it will ride point up just like a jig hook.

Guess I’d suggest that the tungsten bead is probably more important than the hook style.

8

I have been fishing the East Walker since the 70’s. The past five years of drought ( including last year) have really done a number on the EW - both in terms of number of fish and size of fish. In 1987 the reservoir that feeds it was completely drained. No one was given a head’s up prior to this happening and there were tons of quality Browns, Rainbow and even some Brook Trout that were wiped out. It took almost 15 years for that fishery to return to something resembling it’s glory days. Jim Reid, who owns Ken’s, is someone I have known for a very long time. He is very active in a group that is putting smaller Trout back into the river. This year, there should be enough water to flush the system. A lot depends on the farmers downstream in Nevada who control the flows coming out of the Res.

PT/TB

9

John,

Try the Daiichi 4640:

http://hareline.com/d4640.html

…or the Daiichi 4647:

http://hareline.com/d4647.html

…or the Daiichi

Both have barbs, but a longer shank…I use a Uni. knot for hanging a trailer off the barbless jig hooks and have not lost a little guy - yet…

PT/TB

10

Thanks for the info on the fly!

This one is going into my fly box for next spring.

Chris

11

Thanks PT. Lots of hook models to keep track of these days. You seem to keep on top of all of them.

12

Hi PT,
I tied up some Blue Devil Jigs last night. Is there another color that works particularly well for you? I realize I fish on the opposite coast, but most times the flies translate well. I think I have Umpqua jig hooks and the gap between the point is very narrow. I need some of those longer shank hooks.

13

Gold Devil Jig…#12 - #16…

[](http://s305.photobucket.com/user/planettrout/media/SMATTERING/GOLD DEVIL JIG_zpsd3hc9gft.jpg.html)

There are a ton of potential color variations…Use UTC or Danville thread

Consider using this for ribbing:

https://www.sulky.com/catalog/sub/thread/metallic/sliver/

…or this:

https://www.sulky.com/catalog/sub/thread/metallic/holoshimme/

For the thorax, I like these dubbings:

http://www.azflyfishing.net/proshop/home.php?cat=262

http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/fly-tying-materials/dubbings/wapsi/wapsi-slf-squirrel-dubbings

For tailing: Coq De Leon, Lemon woodduck, teal, Pheasant tail or natural and dyed Partridge

PT/TB

14

Thanks, PT

15

I’ve had good luck on stocker rainbows with a black wooly bugger pattern tied on a 1/80th oz gold or nickel headed jig.