Angler Reveals Secret Fly

I am a new member of the Alpine Anglers; however, I am not new to Estes Park. I moved up here full time last June, but I've been spending my summers up here for the last 13 years.

I was asked to write about a favorite day fishing. Well any day on the water is my favorite day, but I think back to last year and a day in September where I caught one fish after another on the Upper Big Thompson. Not only was this a gorgeous fall day fishing with a dear friend, we both fished with one fly only all day. In fact, I fished with just this one fly all summer long.

A friend of mine in Texas introduced me to the Bob Wyatt book “What Trout Want”. His philosophy of simple flies and only a few patterns to catch trout anywhere in the world . I was intrigued.

I tied a box full of Deer Hair Emergers, Snowshoe Hair Emergers and my summer fishing box was set. He also uses a soft hackle I like as well.

That day in September, I tied on a size 14 Deer Hair Emerger and it never came off for the next four hours. Hooking up on almost every cast, I caught browns, brooks, rainbows. Some larger than I expected hunkering down a hole in the middle of the stream. They loved this fly.

It is a simple tie and very buggy looking. I highly recommend the book and the fly for your fishing adventures this summer.

Deer hair emerger.jpg

I’m heading for Yellowstone this summer and my Bob Wyatt box will be the first thing I pack.

I hope to see you on the River this spring and summer. You know what will be tied to my line.

Tight lines

Susan