The Complete Fly Fisherman – August-September 2019

where a rana frog has grown its back legs
but has not yet transformed into a true
frog. It’s been very effective on a number
of stillwaters and we tie them in two
colours: black/silver belly and brown/
white belly.

SENYO MINNOW:
RAINBOW TROUT, BROWN TROUT,
SILVER DARTER
These three minnow patterns are
designed for larger trout when they are
chasing minnows, but can be effective
anytime of the year. Craft Fur is used
in the body of the minnow and the
head/body are constructed using the
same method as above. The patterns are
finished off with dome eyes and Copic
marking pens. Tied on the Kona BGH or
the Gamakatsu SL45 short shank, wide
gap hooks are best for these patterns so
the minnow swims correctly and does
not wrap. A number of our clients have

fished the rainbow and brown trout ver-

sions with great success, and we have just

added the Silver Darter. I combine any of

these patterns with an Atomic Worm,

Beady Bloodworm or buzzer pattern. Tie

the second fly into the system either on a

dropper or New Zealand style.

RIVER AND STREAM CANDY

I have only covered three patterns for

rivers, but if you tie a variety of colours

and sizes you will cover a host of may/

midge emergers, hoppers and mayfly

nymphs – all major food groups in any

river or stream.

KLIPSPRINGER MAY/

MIDGE EMERGER

Klipspringer was originally used to tie

the DDD and this scruffy-looking dry has

accounted for more trout than most local

dries. Klipspringer has beautiful barred

markings and is very buoyant, but it’s not

74 | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 | TCFF

that durable. The Klipspringer Emerger

has accounted for a number of trout and

yellows on rivers and streams as well as

stillwaters. Combining CDC, klipspringer

and high-quality dry fly hackle makes for

a very effective pattern. It can be tied

from #18 to #10 and in various colours to

suggest a multitude of mayfly and midge

emergers.

RUBBER LEG KLIPPIES

’N FOAM HOPPER

A good hopper pattern is a must in

any river fisherman’s box. Klipspringer

is combined with foam, rubber legs and

micro flash to offer a low-floating, buoy-

ant hopper that you can easily see. There

are a number of effective hopper patterns

available but I must say I’m partial to

buggy-looking, scruffy patterns. This fly

is very buoyant so you can hang a small,

lightly weighted nymph below it.

RUBBER LEG NYMPH:

GRHE, OLIVE OR BLACK

Nothing drastically new about this

particular nymph, but I include it in this

selection as I’ve used it in three colours

(black, olive and GRHE), from #18 - #12

beaded and nonbeaded. The nymph is

a standard Flashback May with one

additional material: fine Flexi Legs. A

sparse, long tail tied using Coq de Leon

or stiff badger hackle, fine copper wire

and a thin strand of UV Pearl Flash for

the wing case make for a great all-round

mayfly nymph for rivers. You could add

a few in tan and brown to cover all the

various mayfly options.

Left: Jacques Hammer with an 8-pounder.

SENYO MINNOW – SILVER DARTER KLIPPIES MAY KLIPPIES HOPPER

RUBBER LEG MAY – OLIVE RUBBER LEG MAY – BLACK RUBBER LEG NYMPH – GRHE