snail patterns

[devin olsen]

A lot of the fish I have pumped lately have had snails in them. I have been working for the last couple nights on tying something reasonably like a snail pattern but I haven't had much success. If anyone has any snail patterns or tips I'd appreciate it if you'd share.

[Fred]

From what I understand (and don't quote me on this), the double renegade was originally created as a snail pattern.

[Jason]

Try a single renegage in a size that would match the size of the snail. When I was up at Mantua a couple weeks ago I took a throat sample of one of the trout I caught and it was full of snails. They were probably about a size 18-16 hook size and dark olive. That was the only thing this fish had been eating. I wish I had a renegade with me because they tend to fish well for snail eating trout. Like a Fred said, a double renegade might work as well.

[carpman]

Also try a renegade with both hackles brown and tie it on a curved hook.

Brown hackle, peacock herl, brown hackle. On a TMC 2457. This fly has worked for me. Also Kaufmann's simulator is a decent snail pattern. Not a stimulator but a simulator. Look for it in your favorite pattern book or the umpqua encyclopedia............

[kingfisher]

Devin,
Why would you waste your time tying snail patterns when you could just use a small gob of olive powerbait?

[Phlyfisher]

I saw some snail patterns out at fishtech that looked good. I couldn't figure out how they made them, but I was in a hurry and didn't spend much time trying to figure it out. It looked like an actuall snail shell.

[Larry S.]

They could have been Rainey's snail patterns. My granddaughter used to tie them for her. They were a pain and she hated them. Never used them myself.

Gary Borger has a snail pattern I read about a couple years ago in a mag that is similar to what carpman describes. I've tied some of those but haven't used them either. Not much for stillwater I ain't.

That's an interesting pattern suggested by LBM. I remember reading about those San Juan fish several years ago.

[K.B.]

A snail pattern I've tied, but not yet used, came from a book I found at the SLC library by a fellow from New Zealand, who's name escapes me. It's basically a peacock herl body in a cone shape with a soft hackle collar. For a weighted fly, first build up a very pronounced cone shaped underbody out of wire or other material covered with thread. For a floating fly, the author recommend shaping a piece of cork or hard foam and gluing it to the hook.

For a size 14, I tied 6 or so strands of herl at the hook bend, make a loop of thread somewhat shorter than the strands, and then twist the herl and thread like a dubbing loop. Put some cement on the body and then wrap the herl "brush" forward. Tie off and add a soft hackle collar.

Curiously, at a lake I was fishing last summer there where snails everywhere. You could watch the fish cruising around, and I never once saw a fish take one of the snails.

Ken

[LBM]

http://shop.flyfishing.about.com/fly_archive/details/752.htm

Here is a quick and easy snail pattern. I've never used it, but it should work. Two weeks ago at Daniel's, seemed like most of the fish I caught were spittin snails. I've always used the peackock body, double hackle types in the past and have done good in the spring and fall. I'm going to tie some up and head back to Daniel's Sunday. As a side note, when they first built the Navahoo Dam on the San Juan, the fish below the dam were called "Rattlin Rainbows". Supposedly, they ate so many snails their bellies rattled when you picked them up.


Larry

[Jose Fevereiro]

I'd try some times tis pattern in transparent pink and pale red colors and I'd catch some fishes in deep and still waters. Try it! Who knows if it is what you are looking for!

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw/92198fotw.html

[]s

jmsf

[Larry S.]

Welcome to UTOF, and all the way from Brazil!

That is the pattern from Rainey's I was referring to earlier.

Now if we could just get Vladimir Markof to visit and post could you imagine how interesting the "Other Waters" section would be ?

[Jose Fevereiro]

really, I like so much share information... here we don't have so much information about enthomology (mainly acquatic)... so... we have to guess what will work to the fish!
I try what I feel to work and so I make some modifications like legs on a montana, or stone, eyes on o nimph and so on...
[]s

jmsf