| Turkey Tail Emerger (by Doug Christian) |
| Hook: |
Size 18-22 dry fly |
| Thread: |
Tan Danville 6/0 |
| Tail: |
3-4 wood duck dyed mallard fiber tips |
| Body: |
3-4 turkey tail fibers. Wind counter clockwise then rib with the tying thread |
| Hackle: |
3 turns of premium domestic hen hackle. I particularly like the rusty dun. A faded furnace color is also OK. Size the hackle carefully to the size of the hook. |
Comments:
This is a style of midge soft hackle that has been my most effective trout fly over the last 10 years. Domestic turkey tail that is dyed is now available and I have experimented with some variations but not with the same success. When blue wing olives are expected to hatch, using pheasant tail fibers with brown or olive thread and dark dun hackle has been very effective. The recipe pattern seems to imitate the many micro caddis available in our area.
I choose this fly when the trout are suspended below the surface, usually in slower water. I fish these straight across and down. I start with very small twitches as it flows down with the current. A pause between twitches is sometimes useful. There have been occasions when very definite short fast twitches were necessary and sometimes dead drift with the current. The strike comes frequently as the fly starts to swing and is surprisingly hard. Use a slip strike or you will break off the small tippets needed.
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