Wiggly tails in today's Post box.

David, these thing are just too cool; my child like imagination is running a muck with what I can do with these things for Steelhead flies.

In 'fly only' waters, they may be illegal.

Fred Evans

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous

Pleased they turned up
Now then be a good boy and Santa might have some more
What my flys illegal ( your on the stop)
That's why I have said in the posts check with the fishery owner first
I've only had one place say no so far ( which is fair enough )

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Topcat on gameangler .eu
Home of the toxic flys the unofficial agitators

Hi Fred
I'm presuming you are referring to waggle tails. Waggle tails and waggle tail flies have been around for over twenty years. The first waggie lures were pioneered by Fred "waggy" Wagstaffe on Rutland in the early '80s. After a bit of argy bargy they were accepted as 'flies'.

I haven't used this type of fly for years but when I did they were very successful.

BK

BK have a look at some of toxics posts in the fly tying forum. I ahve never seen waggle tails quite like these before.

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http://eclecticangler.blogspot.com/

Indeed I am BN, indeed I am.

TE's was the first pass I've ever seen using this type of tie/tail. The use a 4 - 6 inch pink plastic worms under a float is a very common way (British Columbia in particular) for winter fishing. If you've got a heavy bolder bottom I'd be darn lucky to make more that one swing (lead for weight) through that before you hung up and broke off.

The use of the float and 'worm' hanging a foot or two below is frequently a 'game maker.' Odd part is 'plastic worms' come in a 100 different sizes, configurations, colours, etc., but 'pink' is preferred over any other.

David's tie from a few weeks back was an eye opener of what could be done with a 'fly.' Well, even under our regulations the end result would be considered to be a 'lure.'

fae

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
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Hi DanielP

You're absolutely right I've never seen anything like Toxic Evo's flies. They look like something out of a horror movie. Do they catch fish or just frighten them to death?

They look like an extreme form of Aps. You're right nothing like Waddle Tails.

BK

Here's (from one of our PNW Boards) an example of how we'd presently tie up a 'Pink Worm.'

steelhead/salmon pattern - Fly Fishing Photo Gallery

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
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Hi Fred

I like the Pink Worm pattern I've never seen anything like it before is it successful?

BK

The answer is 'yes and no.' With a one hander rod, yes, with a 2-hander 'no.' Reason is the long floppy tail has a great tendency to wrap up on to the leader. End game is you have a highly water resistant (right word?) blob on the end of your leader.

Only a guess here, but I suspect, bit of context here first, these long bunny strip flies are rather neutral in density when they're on the swing, but out of the water weigh a heck of a lot when soaked with water; when the fly finally pops out of the water on the forward stroke of a 2-hander cast the fly doesn't just come out the water ... it pops forward like on a spring. Ergo the wrapping up the leader.

A very slow casting stroke will minimize, but not eliminate the problem. As the 'plastic worms' Dave sent me are non-water absorbent this will minimize the 'problem,' if not actually 'eliminate' same.

But to respond to your direct question (effective?) ... The can be VERY effective. In concept these things are all 'Leach' patterns, but the Guys in Washington and BC do get carried away with these things. One's called a "MOL," or Mother of all Leaches; these things can be 6 or more inches long. What makes them work is 'Skagit Casting' (2-hander) with a heavy sink tip. As the Skagit Cast is a very slow, full on, water loading cast this allows the fly to straiten out below the sink tip.

Where these things will (typically) be used is on large rivers where you're trying to cover a lot of water with something "BIG" to catch attention/p-ss them off. It works, just not my 'cup of tea.'


fae

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous