Tim Jacobs Fly Fishing

Hook: Mustad 3906B or TMC 3761
Thread: 6/0 (70) Olive
Weight: 0.015 Lead Wire
Rib: Fine Gold Wire
Tail/Wing Case/Legs: Moose
Gills: Dark Gray Ostrich Herl
Body: Olive Brown Nymph Dubbing

Introduction

Doug Swisher and Carl Richards introduced the idea of super hatches in in their book Selective Trout in the early 1970’s and Western Green Drakes were included on that list. Being the largest mayfly to emerge in the Roaring Fork Valley river system this mayfly belongs as part of this group. The trout on the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork really key into this mayfly. They usually begin to appear in late June or early July. The hatch then moves up river and is in the Frying Pan during early August. This year they were still present in earlier October. As an angler, once you see a few green drakes you can usually begin fishing your green drake patterns and have success. Often green drakes will hatch simultaneously with other insects, especially pale morning duns. During these complex hatches, the fish will usually respond to green drakes, although having your PMD patterns is a good precaution for those fish that are keying on that mayfly. This is the premier hatch on the Frying Pan and some of the best fishing of the season can be had when this mayfly appears.

Fly Tying Seminar

In this tying seminar I will be tying the green drake patterns that have been effective on the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork rivers. I tend to tie my green drakes in a slightly smaller size that a lot of the commercially available sizes. Most of the flies I will be tying are a size 10 but you could easily tie the same pattern in a size 8 as well. I have always considered myself a student of angling. As anglers we owe a great debt of gratitude to the many angling writers who have come before us. The reading list includes some of those writers.

Green Drake Nymph