outdoors international

Fly of the Month – Modified Zebra Midge

Late fall has arrived and a short flurry of snow here today reminded me that winter is on its way. Unless your favorite fishing location closes for the winter though you don’t need to hang up the fly rod just yet. I have a pattern that has become a favorite of mine from late fall through the early spring months. It is simple, and it works as a great midge pupa imitation.

I fish it a variety of ways. Often I will fish it with a double nymph rig as the bottom fly fishing it deep with the aid of split shot. In the spring I like to use it as a dropper off an adult Skwala Stonefly pattern on rivers that have that hatch and fish it in the top foot of the water column. It will work all year I am sure but my focus during the summer seems to shift to the many other hatches that take place and my use of this midge pattern takes a back seat.

Midges though are a popular winter staple for trout as they do hatch in many locations all year. Even on a cold winter day, the mid day sun can warm things up enough to bring about a midge hatch that will bring even the most lethargic of cold blooded trout to the surface.

This pattern is basically a Zebra Midge with a few slight modifications. It’s simple to tie, and has for the last couple years been my top fish catching pattern on a variety of rivers.

Figure 1-I usually tie this pattern on hooks size #18 or smaller. This one is on a #18 TMC 2457.

Figure 2-Push a 2mm nickel bead onto the hook.

Figure 3-Lay a base of black thread then I tie in a short tail of a few grizzly hackle fibers. Midges do not have a tail like a mayfly but I tie this with a few fibers at the end as I like to think it gives a little wiggle to the end of the fly.

Figure 4 – Tie in a short section of fine silver wire and advance the thread to the head of the fly building a slight taper with the thread as you go.

Figure 5 – Make evenly spaced wraps with the wire up to the head and tie off with the thread.

Figure 6 – Tie in a small loop of Iridescent Krystal Flash. Then whip finish and drop some head cement on the head and a little on the body of the fly.

Figure 7 – The finished product.

This article by: BaseCampLegends.com

See the original article at GotHunts.com

outdoors international

Muck Boots Get a Thumbs Up!

I wanted to take a second to write a quick review about the Muck Boots I got from Hanks Clothing. I ordered the Muck Woody Max Cold Conditions Hunting Boot, and from the first time I put them on I knew that they were going to become my “old reliable” pair of boots. They were durable, good looking and best of all, they fit and were comfortable. They’re not going to work for chasing elk around, but for pretty much everything else I can’t think of a better “fit”. I’ve had slip on boots before and they were great for quick chores around the house, but not much else. That’s not the case with my new Muck Boots. They’re good for both work and play. I do wish I had gotten them 1/2 size smaller though because there was a tiny bit of slip. That would be my only advice for somebody buying a pair. I solved that problem be just wearing an extra pair of thin socks. No big deal and I usually wear two pairs anyway for just that reason.

The first chance I got to wear them was on a recent pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota. I was surprised at how comfortable they were when I wore them all day. I was hunting with Dave Olsen from Pheasant Phun and I noticed he was wearing a pair of Muck Boots as well. I asked him about them and he gave me a rave review and told me that he had been hunting in his pair for four years and they’re still going strong.

Here in Idaho, my favorite place to pheasant hunt is a cattail slough below my house. This place is thick, muddy, nasty and tough on boots. The biggest problem is the muck. It just sucks the boots right off of your feet. I thought that Muck Boots would be the same way, especially since they are slip-ons, but I was wrong. I’ve tromped all through that swamp all season and my socks come home white every time. The pheasants sure aren’t happy about it though.

I’m looking forward to wearing them goose hunting this winter. I’ve always struggled with the right kind of boot for hunting in the fields. I have a good pair of leather boots that keep my feet warm, but they’re not the best in the mud and slop. I think my Muck Boots are going to be just what the doctor ordered for goose hunting. Warm and dry.

I don’t do a lot of tree-stand hunting, I’m mostly a spot-and-stalk type of guy, but I think that this is what most people would use them for and I’m sure that they would be great for that. As soon as I get a chance to try that out, I’ll let you know. In the mean time, all I know is that I’m going to have a lot of fun trying to wear them out.

See the original article at GotHunts.com