Sticklebacks & flies

[Brit in a Bothy]

Last year in Scotland I caught a brownie on a Cove nymph - when I examined the stomach contents I found FOUR full sized sticklebacks....all swallowed tail first !!!!! (amazing, because for the last 50 years I had believed that predators fish would only swallow fish with hard spines - like sticklebacks & perch, head first !!!!)

Anyway, is there a 'stickleback' fly ? Found loads of 'minnows' etc, but nothing designed to represent a stickleback.

Nigel

[Scratch]

Here's a famous one Nigel... The Polystickle

[ACW]

Originally Posted by Brit in Bahrain

Last year in Scotland I caught a brownie on a Cove nymph - when I examined the stomach contents I found FOUR full sized sticklebacks....all swallowed tail first !!!!! (amazing, because for the last 50 years I had believed that predators fish would only swallow fish with hard spines - like sticklebacks & perch, head first !!!!)

Anyway, is there a 'stickleback' fly ? Found loads of 'minnows' etc, but nothing designed to represent a stickleback.

Nigel

I find a goats toe works well on stickle backers 1

[saracen]

Hi Nigel,

I always find a large (size 8) hare's ear nymph with a thick gold rib works well for me, when they are on sticklebacks.It actually looks quite like one when wet.

Saracen