Your Fly on DePuy Spring Creek MT

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Early next April, thanks to FAOL and BB member ohiotuber, I will spend a couple days fishing DePuy Spring Creek south of Livingston MT. Follow the links below for more information on the experience I can expect while I am there. That time of year, the main hatches should be midges and baetis, and there could be some scud and streamer fishing in the mix.

While spring creek fishing is outside my comfort zone, having the opportunity to go there and face the challenge of that kind of fishing would not be possible except for the folks on this Bulletin Board, who are the reason that I joined FAOL and participate on the BB regularly.

Since my time on DePuy will be so distinctly an FAOL thing, I would like to invite you all to participate. Rather than fish flies that I could tie for the occasion, I would like to fish the flies that you would tie to fish there if you were given the opportunity that I now have.

For the next several months, I’ll be kind of bouncing around as we find a home in Missoula and get settled down. But starting sometime early next year, probably February, I’d like all who want to participate to tie one fly they would fish on DePuy and send it to me so I can fish it for you. The only criteria will be the kinds and sizes of flies listed in the “Hatching Chart” on the DePuy Spring Creek website ( link below ) for midge and baetis life cycle flies, scuds, and sculpins.

Feel free to jump in now with a commitment for a fly, or wait until we get a little closer to the event. As a practical matter, there will be a limit on how many flies I can fish in two or three days. My thought is to fish each fly that meets the “Hatching Chart” criteria until it catches a fish or one half hour, whichever is the shorter time. If it catches a fish, it will be featured in a “Reader’s Cast” article wrapping up what will be for me a unique experience, and highlighting what the fly tiers on FAOL can do.

John

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/journal/journal20090803.php

http://www.depuyspringcreek.com/

P.S. Posting the name and description of the fly you want fished, with a photo, if possible, will help minimize duplication of flies, and could make for a very interesting continuing thread on the subject of spring creek fishing.

2

so you want us to be limited to ONLY the flies listed in the link vs flies (other than whats in the link) we have had success with??

3

I definately want to contribute. I’ll tye up what worked for me next door at Armstrongs. A black WD40 size 20. Slayed them when i was there.:wink:

Rich

4

Hi John,

I’m in for sure. I’ve had a read through their hatches, and it seems to me that they recommend a lot of small flies. They seem to recommend caddis and midges. So, I put together the following, partridge and yellow with a hare’s mask dubbing, tied on a dry fly hook, size 22.

I’ve tied a few very wee spiders on these hooks for myself recently for spring creek fishing back in NZ. Basically, if the fish are taking just below the surface cast this a few feet above and beyond a rising fish. Give a bit of a tug just as it lands, otherwise it won’t break the surface. After that, it should drift towards the fish and will probably be an inch or two below the surface at most given the light wire hook. I have a feeling this will be effective if you get some bright sunny conditions. Given the clarity of the water you’re fishing, I figure the fish will be relectant to take off the surface, but might be tempted to feed on midges or tiny caddis just below it.

Also, you just might want to tie this to some tippet before getting to the water, and then attach it by a blood knot when the conditions are right. I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to tie these on streamside myself, and I’m thinking preparing them ahead of time might be good for the sanity!

Will get this in the mail tomorrow if I can.

  • Jeff
5

Popped the beast from above in the mail today. Should arrive at your current address by the end of next week, or early the following week. The sign in the post office said 4-6 days, and I’m assuming they don’t count Saturdays and Sundays, and there’s a good chance Mondays are out too.

  • Jeff
6

Jeff -

That fly could conceivably get me into a “22/22” club - 22" trout on a size 22 fly ??!!

Haven’t fished anything that small before, except a size 20 2XS which is about the same as this one.

Looking forward to getting it and storing it in a safe place until next spring ( creek ).

Thanks.

John

P.S. I’m thinking that I will get a fly box just for this event. And when it is over, send it along to Mike ( ohiotuber ) with all the flies that weren’t lost or shredded.

7

John, count me in. I’m gonna take a look at your links and let you know what fly I decide on. Great idea, thanks!

John

8

It will be very impressive to get into the 22/22 club with this. The eye is very small, and you’ll have to use some light tippet as well. See, the US should have gone metric, a 22/22 is easier in centimeters! :slight_smile:

  • Jeff
9

I was bored tonight and decided to try for a spring creek fly. I have a #22 olive snowshoe comparadun I’ll send you if you P.M. an address. I cannot get my camera to focus on anything that small so picture. Oops! That’s too small for April. I should have checked the hatch chart first. I’ll do a #20. That might come out a little better anway.

10

John,

I’m a HUGE fan of cripples. Seems like it was my go-to fly for 2009. When all else failed, it seemed like I could always get a take, a hit, or at least a rise on a cripple. So, here 'ya go bud. I’m sending you some baetis cripples for your adventure on DePuy. Hope you do good, and we’re all waiting for your reports!

John

11

John,

My wife and I used a size 20 Gray CDC Emerger last year and did well.

12

John, I’m glad someone bumped this up, I had missed it, and want to put my two cents in - I’m sending my rendition of Kelly’s No Tellum creek rig - in the spirit of what goes around, comes around. Not having any secret spring creeks around southern NM(well, only one), that is the only thing I can think of, as I don’t think the Birch cr. flies qualify. PM me with your address so I can send them.

13

John,

PM me a mailing address. Will send a little red midge that I tied a few years back. Was planning on using nothing more then red thread but wanted to do something a little different so I added a very small piece of black chenille just behind the hook eye. Hence a “Collared” midge. Never used it for a long time till one of those tried everything you have days and might as well throw the whole box at 'em. Was fishing the Jackson River in Alleghany Co., VA just below the dam and was about to pack it in for the day. Decided to pull the “Collared” midge out and wet it a few times. Proceeded to C&R 6 beautifully colored rainbows on about 6-8 casts. Wife was reading a book at the riverside picnic table and she was able to grab her mini video recorder and tape about 5 of the catches. No one seemed to be doing any good and right after that lucky streak three fellows way below me hollored back and asked what I used. Got out and waded down to them and gave them each a couple of midges. As I was leaving shortly afterwards they waved to me from the river and yelled thanks as they had 4 total caught so far.

14

Karen, thanks for the nod! I was worried I scared you off completely with the sticky mud and torrential gully-washer of a day. Glad you approved of the method. I think it’s a real sweet setup for any spring creek situation. Hope John will think so too.

Kelly.