Juices World
The Stinger 0
The stinger necessitates itself when presenting flies in a swung fashion. The swing presentation is characterized by a side and then tailing away fly profile. This presentation elicits a lot of follows that result in investigative grabs and complex eats as a result of the sheer volume of fish that see the fly. Because of this, the hook is most effective when it is positioned at the rear of the fly. Traditionally, the only way to position the hook point at the rear was a long-shanked hook. Long-shanked hooks are notorious for premature releases due to the leverage the shank provides to the fish. Luckily, for the modern angler, there are two different ways to achieve this position without the use of a long-shank or a tube. In addition, we can have the hook in a ridged or free swinging conformation - depending on the rigging style.
Both free swinging and ridge hook positions have their merit.
The ridged hook position is achieved with wire. The main benefit to this style of rigging is the hook is always oriented to - well - hook things! No matter what happens to the fly (bad cast and it fouls on itself, etc.), the hook will always be exposed and poised to “kill.” The “sacrifice” an angler makes when using this style of bug is there is no camouflage for the hook and wire, something a trout could see and potentially refuse.
By utilizing a braid material and Jerry French’s twisted hitch, we can affix the hook to hide. If you don’t want to hitch your braid to the tail material, the hook can always be tied the traditional way to the hide. This camouflages the hook and braid and also provides a softer, more lifelike substrate for the fish to grab. The downside to this rig is it has a tendency to foul, and a fouled bug is not an effective one.
Here is a video from Waters West in Port Angeles on how to rig the twisted hitch: In my eyes, no rigging is superior, by integrating both styles into your box you will always have a fly that fits the situation.
I really like the OPST hook, especially the six, in conjunction with braid.
Reccomended Hook - OPST Swing Hook
This hook works well in conjunction with stinger wire, the six is nice.
Recommended Hook - Gamakatsu Octopus Hook
Some other materials to check out:
- Pierce Oja
- Tags: Fly Tying
Don't Poke Me 0
Perhaps the most overlooked fly feature by fly tiers, or even consumers of tied goods, is the actual hook. At the end of the day, we are all really out there to catch a few fish, not count the number of bumps we racked up. While an actual hook set may aid some anglers, the hook and its position might help you poke a few more fish.
Disclaimer: While the choice in hook, style, and position is cornerstone to any well-designed fly; the entirety of this post and subsequent posts will focus on streamer hook, style, and position. This week, we will look at a singular bug style fished one way.
The harsh reality is that not all hooks are created equal, therefore not all bugs are created equal. This begs the question: What makes a good bug? Insane amounts of flash? A designer name next to it? I venture to say a provocative profile and an effective hook will always make a great bug.
Then what makes a hook effective?
Before we can address the effectivity of a hook, we must think about how it will be fished and ultimately consumed. While a plethora of ways to fish a streamer have been conceived, they all boil down to two styles preformed two ways: Stripped or swung from the boat or from the wade. The way a fly is fished dictates how the fish will see the fly: speed, angle, depth, etc. In addition to that, we must evaluate what our offering is mimicking. The profile of the fly is the first thing a trout sees when the fly is presented. First impressions are everything, after all. I would wager that this first impression heavily influences how a trout will proceed; this includes the all-important eat.
Once we have an idea how the fly will be fished and consumed, the hook’s effectivity can be determined through its unique anatomy. By understanding the various parts of a hook, we can optimize our hook selection, thereby creating the ideal platform to construct each pattern. Moreover, we can move the hook throughout the pattern with the use of wire, braid, or fluoro. The orientation of the hook can also be changed.
For stripped minnow patterns from a boat, I prefer a short shanked, wide-gap, straight eye hook. A stripped minnow from a boat generally shows the fish a side or quartering-side profile between 90% and 100% of the time it’s being fished. This means the fish downstream are seeing a minnow’s profile. The majority of the time, fish will approach a fly in one of two ways. The first being a T-Bone style attack where it’s grabbing to investigate or kill. The second being a true head-first eat. I can hear a genuine California Couch Guide yelling at his iPhone now, “Minnow patterns get followed and short struck all the time!” Of all the follows, only a percentage of those actually elicit a true short strike. So while the fish is behind your fly, it really doesn’t matter unless he touches it. The fish is primarily targeting the middle to the head of the fly, thus we have a short shank to keep the point of the hook where the action is going to happen. In addition, a short shank hook also lessens the leverage the fish has through the shank, keeping him buttoned up more of the time. The longer the shank, the more often a fish will “throw” a fly. Minnow patterns generally increase in bulk from tail to head. Because of this, we want a wide gaped hook to keep the effective gap large. The effective gap is the amount of gap actually there to hook and hold the fish. The weight contained in the bend of the hook provides the keel for the fly- while this can be manipulated to ride “hook up” I find the traditional “hook down” approach provides a much more consistent bug. I prefer the straight-eye to the down or up-eye in most situations because cones and beads orient properly against them and I love the effect a singular tungsten bead has.
A few of my favorite hooks -
Ahrex NS172
Ahrex TP610
Daiichi 3111
GAMAKATSU B10-s
Partridge Attitude Extra
- Pierce Oja
Juices World - No Name Bugger 0
Pierce "Juice" Oja tying his No Name Bugger at East Rosebud Fly & Tackle
Material List
Juice's World - Trico Tying Tutorial 0
Bighorn River guide and long time East Rosebud friend Pierce Oja tying a simple yet effective Trico pattern.
Material List
16 Do’s and Don’ts of Winter Fishing 0
Ah yes, winter has come and all of the “riff raff” is off of the ‘Horn, leaving behind mostly out of state guides and of course, Californians. So why not venture out and enjoy a day of winter fishing on a truly unique and special river.
A prime example of a quality winter fish. This fish, in particular, was caught under and indicator on a small midge pattern.
1) DO Enjoy “fresh tracks” at nearly any access on the river. There is no better feeling than cresting the hill out side Fort Smith and seeing a beautiful vail of snow covering the boat ramp. Typically, this sight is accompanied with a “game on” feeling.
2) DON’T Get stuck when trying to take out at the end of the day. I have seen it all too often, especially at the Bighorn access or 13 mile. You've just had a great day pulling bugs and your tires don’t seem to purchase the slick ramp. I think chains are a little extreme but are an effective tool nonetheless. Personally, I keep a section of rope with a carabineer for such situations and use Rainier fueled strength and pull the boat out, with the help of others.
3) DO Enjoy some of the most gentle sippers on the river, especially early and late winter. Water temperatures reach optimal levels for midge emergences and the fish don’t stray away from eating these bugs. I recommend fishing a buzz ball, one of the easier midges to see, and a smoke jumper. A dry dropper rig is also effective. I can't tell you how many times I have regretted leaving a dry rod in the truck.
4) DON’T worry about anything but fishing to these rivers, you’re here and they are here so why not make the most of it?
5) DO Learn to swing flies. I know you enjoy your singled handed rod or you are primarily a nymph fisher. GIVE UP THE BABY BLANKET LIONESS! It’s a relatively affordable set up and it is extremely effective especially for the trout we have on the ‘Horn. This is also nice when the temperatures cool below freezing and ice forms in the guides. The running line will still shoot effectively and often clear the ice. Keeping your hands dry.
6) DON’T bring one pair of gloves when fishing. I will bring two to three pairs, depending on how long I plan to be on the water. I highly recommend the Simms extreme gloves. They come in a variety of styles and a wide size range. They are expensive because they are a quality glove that will insulate even when wet. That’s important when you are surrounded by… water.
A nice brown caught on a tight line swing at dusk.
7) DO Enjoy whatever style of fishing you prefer, if that is chucking meat, go for it! if it’s fishing an indicator set up, you bet! If its swinging flies, of course! It all works this time of year and that is pretty neat.
8) DON’T Belittle others because they don’t want to throw a chunk of rabbit all day. Fishing is fishing and if you think that you’re above the guy methodically working a run with an indicator you’re just kidding yourself. Plus, it takes some pretty big man or lady balls to venture out into the arctic conditions to fish, both anglers are equally hard core.
9) DO Walk in and fish the water at 3 mile. A drift boat is a nice tool on the ‘Horn, however, it is not necessary to catch fish. Some of my best days in the winter have happened on walk wade days.
10) DON’T Forget hot coffee and beer. This magical combination seems to keep winter anglers more than happy throughout the day.
11) DO Take a moment to look around. I hope you get the chills and realize how lucky you are to be on open water in December. Moreover, you are likely catching fish and having a great time. That’s pretty special and not a lot of people get to experience that.
12) DON’T Forget a wading jacket. Not only will this piece of clothing keep you warm and out of the wind, but it could save your life. The primary design of the jacket is to keep water out. This means if the draw cord and cuffs are tight and you fall in it will act almost as a life jacket. Pretty cool huh? Bonus, you’ll probably be dry after the ordeal and continue to hammer fish on your method of choice.
13) DO Bring your camera. Inevitably you will find yourself with a big fish in your hands and your buddies won't believe it unless you’ve got the evidence! I like to keep fish in the net for these winter time photos. I’m sure you can find some cool ideas for “glamor shots” of your trophy on any of the social media sights.
14) DON’T Drop fish, not only is this bad for the fish but it’s bad for you. If you subscribe to the idea that fish karma is real, and I assure you it is, you won't drop fish if you plan on catching any more that day.
15) DO Spend time with your closest buddies in the winter season. Some of my most fond memories of fishing are in the winter with my dad. I know that many other anglers have similar memories that they too cherish.
16) DON’T Fish to spawning fish. I understand that they are right there and you can see them, but do not fish them. If fish are in 6 inches of water the are probably spawning meaning they are vulnerable. Do not be that guy who preys on an easy target, it is not becoming of a sports man. So if I see your claim that you caught a hundred fish and they are all browns and your boots aren't wet, I’m going to call you out because fishing spawners is horse shit. You’re better than that. Move on. And if you can’t catch anything but fish of redds, maybe you should find an easier hobby like tenkara or lawn darts.
Angler Russel Ness sharing a victory drink shortly after landing a large 'bow caught on a home tied streamer pattern. Beer is also considered another layer.
Angler Russel Ness sharing a victory drink shortly after landing a large 'bow caught on a home tied streamer pattern. Beer is also considered another layer.
Winter is truly an amazing time to experience the Bighorn or any river for that matter. I highly recommend getting out and experiencing it if you haven’t, and if you have, maybe you can try something new. Tight Lines, stay off the redds ~ Pierce Oja
About the author:
Pierce is an up and coming guide and a former employee of East Rosebud, He enjoys fishing and long walks on the beach, he is also a Taurus.
- Pierce Oja