Rock Candy

This bead head caddis imitates the cased caddis throughout our river system has been very effective on the wild Upper Delaware River 'bows in the fast riffles when tied tandem with an emerger. They are available in #12, #14 and #16.

HENDO

One of a series of emergers that I tie with snowshoe rabbit for the wing, Z-Lon for the shuck and a tannish dubbing for the abdomen. This pattern imitates the early spring hatch - The Hendrickson - which makes its appearance in late April through mid May during mid to late afternoon..

March Brown Emerger

Another excellent snowshoe emerger pattern which the trout find real buggy and irresistible. I tie this pattern large - either in size 10 or 12 and will fish this tandem with a bead head pattern on top. 

The Admiral's March Brown

One of my favorite hatches is the March Brown - a large mayfly in size 10 or 12 which will hatch in the Catskills / Upper Delaware River region from mid May through early June depending on how cool and wet our spring has been. This fly is a Sparkle Dun with Coastal Deer Hair along with a sparse tuft of Z-Lon for the wing, Z-Lon for the shuck and a ribbed tan body to complete this juicy fly.

Sparkle Sulphur

Early June is Sulphur time on the Big D.! And this dry has caught many wild browns and rainbows when the hatch is in full swing. I'll tie this fly in size 14 through 18 and will also vary the color of the abdomen since sulphurs will change from a lemon yellow to a pinkish / orange cast depending on the river location. Z-Lon for the shuck.

Uncle Wabbit's Snowshoe Sulphur

Well, the name may sound silly, but this fly tied in 16 and also in 18, is like candy to the wild rainbows. The Big D. has some major sulphur hatches in the spring, summer and fall and most times the fish will key on the smaller mayfly like this sweet sulphur. This fly is pattered after Fran Better's "Haystack" and "Uusal" with a Z-Lon shuck and Spectrum Dubbing for the body and snowshoe rabbit for the wing.

The Admiral's Sulphur Spinner

The third and last stage for any mayfly is the spinner. These spinners grow translucent wings, their tails become longer and they fly back to drop their eggs over riffles and then die. The spinners then drift down to tail-outs where they are an easy meal for the trout and are devoured. Spinners, either Rusty or Sulphur, are a must in every anglers flybox at dusk.

The Admiral's Dress Grey Caddis

'Ten hut! One of the most successful Caddis patterns in recent times is The Dress Grey Caddis. The pattern resembles the X-Caddis with a few turns of grouse or partridge for the legs, Coastal Deer Hair and a dubbling to match the caddis that's on the water. Grey, Olive and Tan are all great colors in size 12, 14 and 16.

The Admiral's Olive Parachute

The Blue Wing Olive, or Baetis, is a staple throughout the fishing season on the Upper Delaware River and all Catskill streams. I find that they appear on overcast, and drizzly days - humid with no wind is the best, and depending on the time of year are a variety of sizes. You'll find the larger size 14 Cornutas in June and smaller species of the BWO's like 18's and 20's in the fall. The fly pictured is The Admiral's Olive Parachute, which is a great pattern since it is easy to see with a nice white Z-Lon post and this pattern sits flush in the film presenting a vulnerable meal for the wild trout on the feed.

Baetis Greatis

Similar to the Sulphur Sparkle Dun is Baetis Greatis. The only difference is the color of the abdomen and body which is olive grey to match the natural on the water.  I'll tie these flies from size 14 through 20 and are very effective on selective trout that are cruising the large deep pools that the Upper Delaware River is known for. Some of the largest fish that our guests have caught have been on size 18 BWO's like the Baetis Greatis as well as BWO CDC's and Comparaduns.

Rusty Spinner

This old standby is the Rusty Spinner which can be tied from size 12 all the way down to size 18. The spinners are the last stage of the maylies life cycle and they're great patterns at dusk or overcast days when the trout are sippin'. Most maylie's bodies will turn a rusty burgundy color and their wings become translucent like glass. I use a sparse amount of white crinkly Z-Lon for wing tied splayed and Microfibbetts, also splayed downrigger style for the tails.  A little ice dub for the thorax works like a charm and seems to turn even the most fussy fish on.

STONED

One of the first flies that hatch in the Catskills and that trout look up in the early spring is the Early Black Stonefly. It's really a dark brown and is tied in a size 14 and 16. This pattern has been very effective using a brown CDC for the legs, Moose for the tail, Grizzly hackle folded over to make the elongated tent wing and some black/grey dubbing material to round out the fly.

The Admiral's Revenge

Here's another Baetis pattern which has proven over the years to be very effective on the browns and rainbows on the Upper Delaware River. It's a hybrid - using snowshoe rabbit for the wing and Microfibbets for the tail along with a nice tapered body in an olive dubbing. I've added a touch of green icedub within the olive dub for the thorax which seems to turn the fish on. Fish On!

Little Sulphur

If there were two mayflies that you would want to have in your fly vest throughout the trout fishing season, one would be the Blue Wing Olive and the other would be a Sulphur. Here's "Little Sulphur". The same receipe as "The Admiral's Revenge" on the left but this time the body and thorax are a lemon yellow with a tad of ice-dub to complete this fly pattern.

Caddis Snowshoe Sparkle Pupa

The Main Stem of the Upper Delaware River has plenty of Caddis. Look underneath the small rocks in the river and you'll find plenty of cased caddis. In May, these bugs dislodge from their cocoon and make their way to the surface. Gary LaFontaine designed the Sparkle Pupa back in 1974 and this adaptation uses a little green floss tapered to a strip of green UV Chewy Skin for the body, crinkly Z-Lon for the gassy bubby and snowshoe rabbit for the emerging wing.  Don't forget to pack this fly!

Caddis Beadhead Snowshoe Sparkle Pupa

This is the same recipe as the the fly on the left, but sometimes the fish prefer a little flash so we put a beadhead on this Snowshoe Sparkle Pupa plus it gives the fly a little weight if you're using it trailing a pheasant tail, Brassie, Copper John or Prince Nymph in the riffles for the wild Upper Delaware rainbows. Size 12 through 16.

Snowshoe Hendrickson

The first mayfly hatch in the Catskills which is anticipated eagerly by all dry fly anglers is the Hendrickson. This meaty fly starts out as a size 14 and as the hatch progresses into May will drop down in size to a 16. Either the Red Quill or the Hendrickson are excellent patterns tied either in CDC or snowshoe rabbit. The hatch begins in late April and the flies will be on the surface starting at 3:00pm. This hatch is so reliable that you can set your watch to when the bugs come up. A hatch not to be missed!

Snowshoe Red Quill 

The male bug of the Hendrickson is the Red Quill which appears during the same time period as the lighter female (to the left). It's best to have both the male and the female on the water since the fish can, at times, be fussy. Here's a great pattern using red quill for the body segmentation and a light dun showshoe for the wing.

Big Bad Red

And yet another pattern of a Red Quill mayfly which will hatch with the Hendrickson in the Catskills from late April through mid May.  I tie these in size 14 and 16. The difference in this pattern from the Snowshoe Red Quill seen above to the right  is that this wing is a darker dun of snowshoe rabbit and the thorax is twisted strands of pheasant tail which has a rusty brown cast. They both work.

The Majesty

Here's an early season pattern which is the first mayfly to arrive in mid to late April. The diminutive size 18 Blue Quill. We see this hatch appear around midday and many times wild trout will turn on to these morsels. They're small...but they are effective and will bring some 20+ inch brown trout to the surface! Blue Quill for the body, grey Hare-Tron dub for a nice built up thorax and snowshoe rabbit for the wing with a trailing shuck.

The Majesty (Alternate Wing)

Another version of "The Majesty" but this time I've used a lighter dun color for the wing as opposed to the dark dun / medium grey found in the above right photo. Depending on glare, contrast, foam lines and light conditions, a lighter wing might make the difference in hook ups so why not make the same pattern with a slighty lighter wing color. FISH ON!

ESP

This is an alternate take on Gary LaFontaine's Emergent Sparkle Pupa of the common caddis that the Upper Delaware River has plenty of. These bugs hatch in April through the month of May are are very common on the Main Stem where there are blizzard hatches. I've used some pearl tinsel for the body which glistens as well as ultra fine Z-Lon for the emergent bubble for the pupa.  Sizes: 12 through 16.

RF Caddis

Here's a simple but very effective pattern which simulates a caddis dry. Tied in sizes from 12 through 16 and the body can be either green, tan or grey to imitate the abundant naturals. The RF Caddis, hat tip to Rich Strolis of Connecticut, uses snowshoe rabbit for the wing as opposed to elk or deer hair but has much more buoyancy in the riffles and runs of the Main Stem UDR.

X-Caddis

The X-Caddis was designed by Craig Matthews at Blue Ribbon Flies in Montana to simulate the vulnerability of the caddis with the trailing shuck of Antron or Z-Lon.  This time I've used a sparse amount of Coastal Deer Hair for the underwing and then a sparse amount of snowshoe for the emergent wing.

Vary the size from 12 to 16 along with the body in tan, olive and grey to match the natural. A bit of ice dub for the thorax and you're ready for the water!

Tan X- Caddis with / without Egg Sac

I'll tie those X-Caddis in three basic colors for the body dubbing: tan, grey and green to imitate the natural that's hatching on either the West Branch or the Main Stem. Around Mother's Day in early to mid May, you'll find the Grannom laying eggs so it's always a good idea to tie a few alternates as well.  These patterns have sparse Coastal for the wing and a little bit of snowshoe.  Sizes: 14 and 16.

Breakout Hendrickson Emerger

This pattern, "Breakout Emerger", was originated by Loren Williams and can be tied on a scud hook - here a Daichii 1150 - in different sizes and body colors to match a specific mayfly.  I've tied this pattern to tie an early season Hendrickson in size 14. Body is pheasant tail with strands wound like rope and then overwrapped with fine gold wire. Dun snowshoe for wing and fine Z-Lon for the loop wingcase. Partridge: legs and tail.

The Lordville Poo-Pah

The Poo-Pah was originated by Tim Fox on the Sacramento River in California and also works very well as a caddis imitation on the Upper Delaware River on those wild and strong 'bows. I will tie these patterns in sizes 12, 14 and 16.  Body colors are in tan, green and grey to imitate the naturals that our river has plenty of. Peacock herl is used for the collar and micro chenille for the body.  Partridge for legs and an underbody of pearl tinsel with fine gold wire segmented. Fish these patterns in the oxygenated riffles and pockets either solo or on a tandem rig with an emerger or attractor.

The Lordville Poo-Pah (sans perle)

Here's the same fly pattern as on the photo on the left, which has been a great nymph / emerger (depending on the weight of the fly) on the Big D with the wild rainbows tied this time without the bead.  A side view and top view.  I've added some black ice dub touch dubbed loosely for the thorax before adding the peacock herl rope collar giving it a buggy scraggly look.

Miss Mary Meeker

Nymphs play an important role in any flyfishers success astream. Throughout my years on the Upper Delaware River, my three favorite nymphs are: Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail and a Copper John. I usually tie these in sizes 12 and 14 along with a gold bead since the river is big and the velocity is swift which means you've got to get these nymphs down in the water column and they have to be large enough for the fish to eat. An adaptation of these three patterns is "Miss Mary Meeker" which employs Pheasant Tail, Peacock Herl / Ice Dub, Partridge and fine red wire weighted with a gold bead.

Prince of the Upper Delaware

Besides a Pheasant Tail pattern, another great nymph pattern is the Prince Nymph.  Tied either with a bead or without, the fly has taken more than its share of feisty wild 'bows in the riffles on the Big D.  I believe the success of this pattern is the peacock herl which can also be found in Brassies, PT's and Copper Johns as well. I tie these weighted in sizes 10, 12 and 14. Just looking at this fly reminds me of the many stoneflies that get dislodged and eaten by the trout. Make sure to have a few of these in your flybox!

Goldfinger

Here's a spin-off to the Prince nymph.  Same configuration except I use a Czech braid instead of peacock herl for the body. This fly is a great imitation for the Yellow Sally, a small golden stonefly that makes its appearance on Catskill streams and rivers like the Big D in late May and early June. That's not to say that you can't fish it on a tandem with the standard Prince early in the season since the fish sometimes want variety and this pattern provides it.  I tie these weighted with and without a bead using a gold biot and fine green wire in sizes 10 through 14.

Doctor Copper

A hat tip to John Barr who designed the Copper John, one of the best nymph patterns that I've used in the Catskills and Upper Delaware River for many years.  The above photo is a slight adaptation to Mr. Barr's bead head nymph using a longer hook, a Dai - Riki #270 3X Long.  I try to make the peacock herl  thorax a bit larger and fuller and the body of either fine red copper wire or gold copper wire slimmer.  This fly is made in sizes 10 through 16.

Poor Fred.

Every angler knows about the Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear - it's a staple in every beginning flyfishers kit. Why? Well, because it's a time proven pattern that works! Here's my version of the GRHE called "Poor Fred".

I tie this nymph weighted with and without a bead in sizes 10 through 16. Turkey flat for the bulging shuck, fine gold ribbing with Hare-Tron dubbing for the sleek body, lemon wood duck for the tail and a mix of hare's ear and a dark brown buggy for the thorax, the ever present partridge for legs and  topped off with golden brown ice dub to give it little sparkle which is one thing Poor Fred doesn't have.  Tie one on this spring!

Purcell's Fancy

This is a very effective mayfly nymph pattern that is tied either with or without a bead. It's an offshoot of the venerable Pheasant Tail created by Frank Sawyer in the U.K. The patterns calls for four pheasant tail fibers for the tail and body with fine gold wire wound like rope and also peacock herl for the thorax. For the shuck, I've switched to mottled turkey wing which is more subdued and added partridge for the legs topped with a bit of orange ice dub for the head. You can also fish this tandem with "Poor Fred" or "Prince".  Sizes: 10 through 16.

More hand tied Upper Delaware River / Catskills flies will appear throughout the winter and spring (when I'm not on the river).  If you have any questions or would like to order a few to try out this coming 2013 season please feel free to contact me at:

tony.ritter@gmail.com

or:

845.701.3894 - cellphone

845.252.3657 - home / office

Tight lines!

Tony Ritter

Gordo

"Gordo" - a very successful parachute style tie which incorporates a trailing shuck made of Antron, quill dyed blue / grey, grey dubbing, a white Z-Lon post and dun rooster hackle. The hook can be any dry fly style. I use a Tiemco T100 on a size 14. Quill Gordons are the first large mayflies to appear on very clean oxygenated rivers before the Hendrickson / Red Quill hatch and are the same size, but the QG coloration is more grey and they have two tails whereas the Hendrickson has three tails and a more distinct reddish / tan / grey cast. A hat tip to Theodore Gordon - the yank that started it all!