I've said it before, but almost everything cool that I find somehow has a nexus first to Instagram. I recently started following Sean Mitchell, a.k.a.
@the_hangdown, and really impressed with both his tying ability and the photography that he is sharing through his profile.
We started a conversation a week or so ago and since spring is kinda in the air where steelhead swim, I asked if he'd put together a short list of favorite swing patterns. Sean came through with a great write up, images and recipes to tie your own. Read, take notes and then hit the vise.
Sean wrote...
"With the rising popularity of tying flies with composite loops, tiers around the world have begun to take their own artistic license with the technique. Stacking ingredients in a loop can be seen in dry flies, soft hackles, and even nymphs. The way the composite loop inspired me was to take the classic patterns I love and give them a facelift. I wanted them to hold less water while retaining a substantial profile. My favorite tying material, hen hackle, is much sparser when spun in a loop. Also, the technique is much more durable than simply palmering hackle feathers. Finally, blending materials in a loop can be more natural looking and less bulky than trying to alternate materials. I love taking natural materials like chickabou and pairing it with just a little touch of sparkle, such as ice dub. This gives the fly a subdued shimmer that closely resembles the natural fauna in the water. With water temperatures on the rise, hungry trout are on the hunt for these shimmering large meals like a dace or trout fry.
With the coming of early Spring, our rivers swell with muddy run off and Spring showers. Major hatches like the Hendricksons will not arrive for weeks or even months from now in some places. Where I am, in Vermont, dry fly season doesn’t really take off until June. However, crane fly larvae and leeches emerge in the Spring. Hold-over fry from the summer before and sculpins are being tossed about in the fast, murky current. This puts the swung fly at an advantage this time of year. Not to mention Spring run steelhead are about to ascend the great rivers of the Pacific Northwest. So, naturally, now is the time to choose a handful of flies to add to your box that you feel confidence in.
The system I use to choose and create flies can be summarized by two words: simplicity and versatility. I want a few patterns that I can use in several different scenarios and I want those bugs simple enough to where you can tie them in 25 minutes or less (taking my time). I have shared my selection of five patterns with you all to hopefully inspire you to go out and swing a fly this Spring. Three are inspired by the Intruder style fly, but they are by no means true intruders. I rig with wire rather than tubes or wire insulation connection. I basically do this to minimize tail fouling and to reduce swing weight on a hooked fish. They are also not tied with rhea or ostrich and, while sparse, are bushy in comparison to the real deal. The other two pull heavy inspiration from my two favorite tiers, Jack Gartside and John Atherton. They are as follows..."
“STOP, HAMMER TIME”
"STOP, HAMMER TIME" RECIPE
HARDWARE
25MM Senyo Intruder Shank
Standard Senyo Intruder Wire
SM/XS Lead Dumbbell Eyes
Gamakatsu 2557 #6-#2
FORWARD HACKLE
Mottled Gray CDL Hackle
Cobalt Rubber Legs
UV Dun Ice Dub
BODY
Silver Braided Tinsel
TAIL
Krystal Flash
The “Stop, Hammer Time” is an Intruder Inspired pattern with a single forward hackle comprised of CDL hackle, ice dub, and rubber legs all spun into a composite loop. This fly has a substantial shoulder, which moves a lot of water, especially considering the fly’s smaller size. Use this with a slack-line presentation around mid-depth to deep structure with a s5-s6 tip on cloudy days or throw on the 8s-9s tip with a broad side presentation deep in buckets when the suns out.
“CLUCK NORRIS”
"CLUCK NORRIS" RECIPE
HARDWARE
25MM Senyo Intruder Shank
Thin Senyo Intruder Wire
Gamakatsu 2557 #8-#4
FORWARD HACKLE
Olive Brahma Chickabou
Olive Rubber Legs
Pheasant Tail Ice Dub
BODY
Gold Braided Tinsel
TAIL
Krystal Flash
The “Cluck Norris” is a VERY sparsely tied fly. It is meant to be fished either at or just under the surface with either a Scandi head or a Skagit with a 2s-3s tip. This fly has a great “jiggly” swimming motion when swung through medium-fast current and flashy yet subdued by a shroud of natural materials. Simply designed to catch a fish that is looking up. Also, a great fly to sink on a tip and strip out of trenches. Watch for the take near the bank.
“GHILLIE SCULPIN"
"GHILLIE SCULPIN" RECIPE
HARDWARE
25MM Senyo Intruder Shank
Standard Senyo Intruder Wire
XS-MD Lead Dumbbell Eyes
Gamakatsu 2557 #4
FORWARD HACKLE
Dark Mottled Gray CDL Chickabou
Dark Mottled Gray CDL Hen Hackle
Burnt Salmon CDL Chickabou
Olive Brahma Chickabou
Red Rubber Legs
BODY
Gold Braided Tinsel
REAR HACKLE
Burnt Salmon CDL Hen Hackle
Olive Brahma Chickabou
Ice Dub Steelie Blue
TAIL
Krystal Flash
The “Ghillie Sculpin” is a bucket dredger. Plain and simple, sometimes you need to get down. It’s just flashy enough to have some iridescence when near the darker riverbed. All of the feather stacking in the shoulder along with the short rubber “gills” gives this fly a ton of structure and maintains a broad shoulder even when stripped with the swing (a favorite tactic when the fish are very active). I won’t lie though, it’s not a fun fly to tie.
“LETHAL WEAPON NO. 7”
“LETHAL WEAPON NO. 7” RECIPE
HARDWARE
25MM Senyo Intruder Shank
Senyo Thin Intruder Wire
Gamakatsu 2557 #8-#6
BODY
Dark Mottled Gray CDL Hen Hackle
Burnt Salmon CDL Hen Hackle
UV Dun Ice Dub
The “lethal Weapon No. 7” is the last in a series of flies. All seven flies are tied in different variations of spun dubbings and feathers found on a hen hackle with chickabou cape. The No. 7 is one of my favorites in the series because of its versatility. Desiccated, an angler can target top feeding fish with a skated presentation. The fly is neutrally buoyant when soaked, allowing the angler to utilize this bug anywhere in the water column with any sink tip. A favorite way to get down and dirty with the No. 7 is to chuck it on an extra fast sink tip. Cast straight across, well above where you want to present the fly. Immediately mend upstream and pull the line toward you 6-10 feet. You are trying to allow the sink tip to dive and dig into the subsurface currents. Count to three and give one aggressive strip in. This strip will drag the fly into the lower part of the water column, in line with the sunken tip. This also takes out any remaining slack in your line, engaging your swing. The best take using this method is right after the strip. It never fails to startle the hell out of me.
“LETHAL WEAPON NO. 5”
“LETHAL WEAPON NO. 5” RECIPE
HARDWARE
25MM Senyo intruder shank
Senyo Thin Intruder Wire
Gamakatsu 2557 #8-#6
BODY
Olive Brahma Hen Hackle
Pheasant Tail Ice Dub
The “lethal Weapon No. 5” is tied with brahma hen. This makes it smaller and less sturdy in fast water than the No. 7. I tend to fish this like I would fish a woolly bugger. Mid water column, slower water and, in this case, smaller waters. Because of its light weight, this fly could easily be thrown with a 4-5 wt single hand rod and swung for second year hold-overs in your trib out behind the house. Best of all, all seven Lethal Weapons are easy and cheap to tie. Add a cone head or lead-free wire if you like; I like how they swim without weight more though.
Want more? Follow Sean on Instagram at
@the_hangdown.
