Fly Patterns By Brad Berlin

SUCKER SPAWN
By Brad Berlin

HOOK - Dai-Riki #135 size 10 - 18 SCUD OR STANDARD
THREAD - 6/0 color match the yarn
WEIGHTED - optional
TAIL- Crystal Flash (optional)
BODY- Angora yarn or similar, colors: cream, bubble-gum, champagne.

TYING INSTRUCTIONS
Start thread behind eye.
Optional tail, Tie in 4 strands of Crystal Flash, Cut ¼ to ½" behind bend.
Wrap thread covering the hook and flash to the bend of hook.
Tie in the Angora or similar material.
Depending on the size of the hook will depend on the size of the loop.
Rule of thumb is, size 10-14 hook, ¼" loop and smaller loops for smaller size hooks.
Make your loop and tie off on top of hook with 2 wraps of thread tight to the start of the loop. Make another loop and tie off the same way. Continue the loops toward the eye, tie off and your done. Remember, the loops don't need to look perfect.
This is a very simple and quick pattern to tie and very effective this time of year. I'm sure the steelhead fly guys and girls have used this pattern too.
In the spring if you spot suckers in the creek or stream and fish lined up behind them, try this fly. The first day of trout in PA, my son Chris and I fished this pattern on the Little Lehigh; both of us picked up 4-5 trout each on the cream color pattern.
Fish this pattern dead drift with just enough weight to let it roll and float along the bottom. Moving your weight up or down from the fly helps to achieve this. I personally don't like to weight this fly. It takes away all the natural movement.
One more helpful hint, soak this fly by rubbing it between you fingers under the water before you make your fist cast. Especially if you're using Angora rabbit material.
Tie some up and give them a try. I bet you will keep a couple in your fly box.
Tight Lines,
Brad

ESTAZ EGG SACK

By Brad Berlin

HOOK - Mustad 37132 or equivalent Size 10/8/6/4
THREAD - Monofil 004
WEIGHTED - Tungston or gold/black bead head
BODY - Estaz
EGG SACK - Dyed Pearl Diamond Braid

TYING INSTRUCTIONS
Wrap mono to rear of hook.
Tie in Estaz and make one wrap and let hang.
Tie in the Diamond Braid on top of the hook.
Make a small loop with the Diamond Braid and secure with one wrap of mono.
Repeat last step 3 or 4 times. Do not make the loops to big and keep them close together. Remember your imitating an egg sack. Stagger the loops. One on top, one to the left, one to the right and so on.
Tie off the last loop and secure.
Take the Estaz you left hanging come under the egg loops and make 2 or 3 wraps in front of the egg loops toward the eye. Remember not to crowd the eye.
Tie off and secure.
Note: If you want to weight this fly. You can use a Tungston or lead bead head.

I used Blue Estaz and Pink Diamond Braid for the pictured fly. Estaz comes in every color imaginable.
The Diamond Braid comes in pink, salmon and chartreuse. I'm sure they have other colors available but, these are the colors I have seen and used. Try different color combinations like pink Estaz and chartreuse Diamond Braid. I know I have said this before but, Experiment with different color combinations and then pick the ones that produce the fish. Like the original Estaz Egg this one works for Browns, Steelhead, Salmon and Trout.
Fish it the same as the Estaz Egg. Get your weight right so the egg is rolling along or just off the bottom. The most important key to fishing egg patterns effectively is a drag free drift. Your line should follow the current or flow. Add or remove weight on your leader too achieve a drag free drift. Once you get the drift right, any time your line hesitates, stops or moves differently set the hook.
The slightest hesitation of your line on the water could be a strike from that trophy fish you have been searching for. Remember, get the egg down and rolling along the bottom with a drag free drift. Once you get the hang of it you will increase your fish catching average by, well I better not estimate that one.
This variation to the original Estaz Egg just might get that fish not eager to take the Estaz egg he has seen pass him by 1000 times before. Gives them something different to look at.
It's a very simple fly to tie after you get the hang of making the loops and tying them off. So add some to your egg box and when the Estaz Egg isn't producing, tie on one of these and give them a try.

Tight lines,
Brad Berlin

PINK LADY
By Brad Berlin

HOOK - Mustad SL53UBL or 36890 sizes 8 to1
THREAD - 6/0 3/0 color to match fly.
WEIGHTED - Optional.
TAIL- Pink Krystal Flash.
BODY - Florescent Pink Fine Ultra Chenille.
HACKEL - Pink (light).
WING - Florescent Pink Marabou.

TYING INSTRUCTIONS:
Wrap thread to rear of hook.
Tie in a short Krystal Flash tail.
Tie in the Ultra Chenille for the body and wrap forward.
Leave enough room for the hackle and wing.
Tie in 1 pink hackle and make 3 tight wraps.
Tie in a small amount of florescent pink marabou on top of the hook.
For your wing and secure.
Make sure you tie off and secure the marabou.
Build your head and secure.
Note: If you want to weight this fly. Wrap thin lead wire .015 the length of the hook. I also like to use a light colored hackle so the Ultra Chenille body shows thru when wet.
This is just a variation I tie for others and myself for Salmon and Steelhead.
It also works for trout and a bigger version works well for smallmouth Bass.
This is a very easy, simple and quick fly to tie. So you can fill up your fly box fast.
I used pink for this fly but as you know purple, chartreuse, yellow and well just about any color or combination will work providing the fish cooperate and want to dine on your color of choice.
How to fish this fly, there is no real set way. You can fish it like a nymph, dead drift, or slow, fast figure eight retrieve. Or like a streamer with short, long. Fast, slow strips. You'll have to experiment and find what works best. As you all know it can change by the day or hour.
So, tie some up in different colors and give them a try. I guarantee, (well I better not) you will catch fish.

Tight lines,
Brad Berlin

By Brad Berlin

HOOK - Size 16 to 8 Mustad 3906, B, wet nymph or sproat - 2x or 4x
THREAD - Black 8/0 - 6/0 (depending on hook size)
WEIGHTED - Optional
TAIL - Two goose biots dyed black
BODY - Black dubbing or Stonefly blend
RIBBING - black v-rib or larva lace
THORAX - Black dubbing or Stone fly blend
WING CASE - Dark turkey Quill or flash wing material
LEGS - Optional black hackle
ANTENNA - Optional small black goose biot

TYING INSTRUCTIONS
Wrap thread to rear of hook bend.
Tie in goose biots, (tips pointing outward).
Add weight (optional 0.15 lead).
Tie in the V- rib.
Dub in a black or stone fly blend body (abdomen).
**(Leave enough room for the wing case and thorax.)
Wrap V-rib over body in the opposite direction of dubbing and secure.
**(Keep flat side of v-rib down)
Tie in a dark turkey quill or flash wing material.
Dub in a black or Stonefly blend thorax.
Pull wing case over thorax and secure.
**If you prefer a double wing repeat the last 2 steps.
**Remember To shorten your body (abdomen) length to allow for the wing case.
**Don't crowd the eye!!!!
Tie in legs on each side of hook optional. I use my dubbing needle and pick out some of the thorax dubbing on both sides.
Tie in Antenna, tips pointing forward of the eye.
Build a neat head tapering from the thorax to the eye and tie off.
Like most Nymph's, the buggier it looks the better. FISH LOVE BUGS!!!
**Note: For the stonefly I tied for this article, I used a flash wing and prism dubbing for the thorax.
The traditional Stonefly nymph is a great early season spring nymph but don't stop there, you can fish it all season long. Experiment with different colors and materials. Some fly tiers I know use a chartreuse abdomen and black thorax tied with crystal flash. This looks nothing like the traditional Stonefly but they hammer it. Why is still a mystery, so use your imagination?
Nymphing is an art in itself and a great way to produce fish. Wether your fishing close, bouncing right along the bottom dead drift or retrieve. Don't be afraid to experiment and try different tactics.
Good luck and Tight Lines this season.
Brad

Cactus Chenille Woolly Bugger - AKA- CACTUS BUGGER

HOOK - Dai-Riki 710 size 8
THREAD - Uni thread brown 6/0
BEAD HEAD - optional
TAIL - brown marabou w/ root beer crystal flash
BODY- root beer Estaz or Cactus Chenille/medium or large (trim high strands for a round body)
RIBBING / HACKLE - palmered, grizzly saddle hackle

The Cactus Bugger is a very versatile fly for a variety of game fish. It works well in all water conditions. But, slight off-color water on the rise or fall seems to be the best. Fish it quartering the stream, dead drift, or with a palm or strip retrieve. Vary your speed and length of retrieve 'till you find that sweet spot the fish want.
The Cactus Bugger can be tied on hooks size 10 and up, weighted or unweighted. Estaz, Cactus Chenille and Crystal Flash come in a wide variety of colors. So use your imagination and experiment. Find a pattern that works best for you on your local stream or river.

Picket Pin - A forgotten "WET FLY"
By Brad Berlin

HOOK - Mustad 3906B size 10-6 or equivalent
THREAD - 6/0 color black
WEIGHTED - Optional
TAIL - Brown hackle
RIBBING - Brown hackle (palmered)
BODY - Peacock herl
WING - Grey Squirrel tail
HEAD - Peacock herl

TYING INSTRUCTIONS
Wrap thread to rear of hook
Tie in tail
Tie in the palmered hackle
Tie in 3 strands of peacock herl
Keeping the strands together, wrap the peacock forward to the eye. Be careful not to crowd the eye, and secure. Spiral the ribbing around the body (remember to keep your spacing) and secure.
For the wing, cut and stack a small amount of grey squirrel tail. Tie in the wing and secure.Tie in 1 strand of peacock and build the head, covering the cut off wing to the eye, tie off and secure.
Note: If you want to weight this fly, wrap thin lead wire (.015) the length of the hook.
I have fished this pattern weighted and non - weighted with great success. You can fish this the same way you do a streamer or wooly bugger, upward across stream cast with a figure eight or strip retrieve.
This fly is a little harder to tie, but will produce great results for trout or bass. I tie this fly on the larger hooks for small mouth bass on the river. Tie a couple up and give them a try. I'm sure this forgotten fly won't let you down and will be one you keep in the fly box.