Flavs & Tricos

[nightfish]

A friend asked me to tie up some of these for him. Anybody have any links to patterns?

On the Flavs, do you like them lighter or the same shade as Green Drakes? What is the size range for UT/MT waters?

For the Tricos, I've searched a bit, and found that females have a green abdomen. Anybody ever used a green/black scheme? A size range for these would also be appreciated.

I have to admit I've never tied or fished for either one of these hatches. Shameful, I know, but I plan to make amends for my oversight.

[flyty]

I tied up a white and black female trico spinner that the fish on the Green went nuts for when a scum of trico spinners washed downriver. Usually with that many fish rising and so many spinners on the water, I can't get a fish to look at my fly, but they attacked this pattern:

Hook: size 24 TMC 101
Tail: micro fibett triple split tail. Split the tail with some scrap thread to keep from having a tail area that is too bulky.
Body: black thread with sparse white dubbing so the the thread shows through.
Wings: white antron tied spent style 1 1/2 - 2 times the length of the body.
Thorax: Black dubbing.

[Fishtech]

I like the Flavs the same color as the Drake. Usually size 14-16.

The Trico is one of my favorite hatches to fish. I fish them in sizes 18-26. 22 being the most common. I tie some with an off white thread body and a small amount of dark dubbing between the spent wing. I also tie them in complete black. I prefer using Z-lon spent wings and microfibbet (sp?) split tail.

Fishtech

[nightfish]

Interesting dubbing idea. I'll try that. How long do you tie in the tails?

Fishtech, thanks. I was planning on doing the wings with antron/z-lon.

[Fishtech]

In my experience, antron does not have the floating characteristics of z-lon, so I personally don't use it on dry's. Just my opinion though.

Respectfully,
Fishtech

[carpman]

Nitefish.......

Flavs are commonly mistaken for Green Drakes (although they are a bit smaller) so I'd stick with a darker body. For the Trico, Umpqua has some great patterns. Check www.umpqua.com then click on the fly gallery............

[flyty]

"Interesting dubbing idea. I'll try that."

I read an article about tricos in the Sept. 2002 issue of Fly Fisherman, and they had a picture of a female trico, and its body was white with black flecks, so that's the look I was trying for, but I think the article said that even though females are on the water for the majority of the time during the spinner fall, there is no evidence showing female patterns out fish the all black male patterns. In fact, I've read that a black ant will do well during trico falls.

"How long do you tie in the tails?"

The length of the entire hook, as per AK Best's teachings. The most noticeable thing about the naturals I saw on the water was how much bigger their wings are compared to their bodies. The first time I saw them, I went home and threw out all my trico patterns and retied them with longer wings. The natural's wings are also very wide right next to the body. I know some people tie in double wings to get that wider look near the body, and then shape the tips with scissors.