It is just a 1/2 hitch (or more?) tied to the side of the hook to keep the head of the fly drifing head first?
Please give tying instructions if I am confused.
Jim is probably right! After you tie the tippet to the fly you simply make a loop in the tippet and work it onto the fly’s head just in front of the wings (wet fly naturally). Then when you swing it through the riffles the drag of your line is supposed to cause it (the fly) to swim erratically.
I could be wrong but it may have been Jim Liesering who is credited with it.
To me, it’s just a wind knot that ended up on the fly’s head instead of along the length of your leader. If truth be known JC is probably right on!
I use a riffling hitch when skating dry flies for steelhead. It does cause an erratic movement in the fly (wet or dry).
According to what I’ve read, the hitch originated when British sailors would fish for Atlantic Salmon on the eastern coast of Canada. In those days the gut hook eye would wear out pretty quickly. As the flies neared the failing point the British sailors would give the flies to the guides or local fishermen. Being of a frugal sort, they would continue to use the flies, but added the hitch behind the gut eye for security and lengthened the usable life of the fly.
Just my .02.
REE
Noahsboy has the correct answer. From what I have heard anyway. You put 1 or 2 half hitches over the head of the fly. Whatever side of the river you are fishing you put the hitches off of the same side I think. Works best in glassy areas of the river. Very popular in Newfoundland for Atlantic Salmon. It is supposed to cause wet flies to make a V wake behind them.
[This message has been edited by Ed Woodsworth (edited 09 October 2005).]
It keeps your fly in the strike zone longer especially in situations of heavier current, I think is probably most effective on a short cast and leaves a larger wake as stated, it also causes your fly to ride with the head pointed upward when used on a wet fly.
later
Mike
I agree with NoahsBoyz and Ed. In his book, “Atlantic Salmon”, Lee Wulf described it as the portland creek hitch.
Fishing for Kings and Steelhead in Lake Ontario tribs, it sometimes produces results for me when nothing else will. Then there are other times(Like this morning)when nothing seems to work.
Dick
Time spent FLY fishing is not deducted from one’s life
…
You learn something new every single day of your life. If you don’t, you weren’t paying attention.
Found another source. Read Art Lee’s book “Tying and Fishing the Riffling Hitch”. Concerned mostly with salmon. Some history there too. A small bit on skittering dries too. Although thee North Atlantic Salmon Fund booklet/card shows the loop/single half hitch at the rear of the fly’s head up against the wing, Art’s book shows flies tied specifically for this method with a space left between the eye of the hook and where the head begins…and that is where he shows what looks like a double half hitch. I’ve had a signed copy of this book for 6 or more years and have never read it because I don’t salmon fish. Found it again while looking for something else…lol…Ain’t that always the way! It’s like Christmas when that happens!
[This message has been edited by mantis (edited 12 October 2005).]