Emergers - to shuck or not to shuck ?

[Brit in a Bothy]

Don't emergers have shucks ? I see so many emerger patterns tied without shucks that I am beginning to doubt myself !

Nigel

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by Brit in Bahrain

Don't emergers have shucks ? I see so many emerger patterns tied without shucks that I am beginning to doubt myself !

Nigel

if its emerging.. its got to emerge from something other than the water
so skins/shucks are on every emerging insect..
it depends what stage of emerging you want to imitate

[Brit in a Bothy]

Hi emerger1981,

Surely, even if the emerger has actually struggled out of the shuck / skin and sits on the surface film ready to fly - the shuck will still be right there, immediately underneath the emerger (we are talking stillwaters here !)

That strikes me as logical but of course it may not always be the case...hence this post.

The day we stop learning is the day we die !

Nigel

[mot]

I suppose the real question is, is the presense of a shuck important to the trout? During a heavy hatch there are thousands of spent shucks on the water, the trout dont eat them, so perhaps they are not an important trigger point for them even when associated with a hatching/hatched fly on the water. Or maybe they are and we should all be tying our emergers with shucks

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by Brit in Bahrain

Hi emerger1981,

Surely, even if the emerger has actually struggled out of the shuck / skin and sits on the surface film ready to fly - the shuck will still be right there, immediately underneath the emerger (we are talking stillwaters here !)

That strikes me as logical but of course it may not always be the case...hence this post.

The day we stop learning is the day we die !

Nigel

no it isnt the case.. not underneath, it comes out at an angle.. the creature hatches, wether it be (stillwater or not) the shuck floats away aswell as the fly moving from it.. so if anything the skin/shuck is hanging off it A**e end then floats away..
have a look on youtube (midges chapter 5 of the bugs of the underworld'')
this should help.

whats with the day we stop learning phrase calm down..
or if your being smug should i not bother like everyone else hasnt?

[Brit in a Bothy]

Hi Emerger 1981

whats with the day we stop learning phrase calm down.
or if your being smug should i not bother like everyone else hasnt?

I obviously didn't make my posts very clear for which I apologise.

To answer your questions...I actually believe in the "day we stop learning" bit and I am not being smug ect - I honestly don't know the answer and am trying to learn....

Thanks for the information re the "youtube (midges chapter 5 of the bugs of the underworld'') It is appreciated. I will take a look.

Mot,

Thanks for the reply, the unlikelyhood of the shucks being a trigger point makes sense !

Nigel

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by Brit in Bahrain

Hi Emerger 1981



I obviously didn't make my posts very clear for which I apologise.

To answer your questions...I actually believe in the "day we stop learning" bit and I am not being smug ect - I honestly don't know the answer and am trying to learn....

Thanks for the information re the "youtube (midges chapter 5 of the bugs of the underworld'') It is appreciated. I will take a look.

Mot,

Thanks for the reply, the unlikelyhood of the shucks being a trigger point makes sense !

Nigel

no hard feelings then mate..
the day i stop learning is the day i crack open a bottle of champs and
thank God im a wiseman
theres alot of dun and caddis flys tyed with shucks hanging off..
it can be a trigger point to the fish as it looks like a fly having problems hatching or a cripple.. fish go for empty shucks only to turn as there is not enough body for it to feast on, example; why have a chicken skin when you can eat the whole bird but you dont spit out the skin ..aslong as theres a meal worth eating they wont turn it down
(shuck or not) the shuck adds movement,visual,and aids balance and buyoncy
if you mean putting a little pearl shuck tag on klinks and the likes, this is a visual more than anything.. what is it your tying?

[Brit in a Bothy]

Emerger 1981,

I am tying up some non-specific CDC biot loop emergers, small sizes in various colours (they have worked quite well in the past !)

Perhaps the pearl type tag is the way to go ?

Nigel

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by Brit in Bahrain

Emerger 1981,

I am tying up some non-specific CDC biot loop emergers, small sizes in various colours (they have worked quite well in the past !)

Perhaps the pearl type tag is the way to go ?

Nigel

give it a try bud rib wire over the tag aswell for the segment look..
if your using biots you'll have to tye the wire off before you tye the biot in
and consider the extra weight if your using fairly heavy hooks..
compensate with an extra cdc plume if need be
did you watch the youtube vid?

[Brit in a Bothy]

Hi emerger 1981,

Yes I viewed the youtube video - very interesting. Thanks for the tips re the tag...off to the tying bench to give it a try !

Nigel