In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Brig with Fly Fish Food ties a green drake nymph that belongs in fly boxes both in the eastern and western United States, Brig’s Tiny Turtle Drake.
Learn How to Tie This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
Green drakes are one of the most well known mayfly hatches in the fly fishing community. In waters that run clean and cold year round, these hatches are likely to be a seasonal event and should naturally lure anglers from their homes to the river. Trout will gorge themselves on this larger food item both on top and subsurface, creating a time of excitement that will bring you back for years to come. Taking the time to experience prolific hatches on waters that still are intact is worth a drive and sometimes even flight. For green drakes, it will behoove you to bring Brig’s Tiny Turtle Drake for days when subsurface is key regardless of time zone.
Spending time behind the vise in preparation for these hatches is critical. When the weather is good and bugs can pop off on any given evening, the last thing you want to be is unprepared. Winter provides just the season for many anglers and is just on the horizon. Practice your tying skills with both naturals and synthetics, as both will have their applications and times to shine. Enjoy tying batches of bugs during the cooler months and there is no better to practice on than Brig’s Tiny Turtle Drake.
Tactics for targeting trout during mayfly hatches should differ depending on location. Larger nymphs can be suspended under large dry flies, but under certain circumstances and conditions. For calmer waters, it may be beneficial to implement a dry dropper during a green drake hatch, but in stronger current these heavier nymphs can drown your adult imitations. Spending time on the water is the best way to discover what is practical and will increase your knowledge and skills as an angler. Fish Brig’s Tiny Turtle Drake with confidence in your next green drake hatch and don’t forget that being ready is vital to making the most out of your time during the peak seasons.
Ingredients:
- Hook: Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless Hook – 12
- Bead: Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten Beads – Old Gold – 3.8 mm
- Thread: Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread – 6/0 Bulk Spool – Pale Olive
- Tail: Ringneck Pheasant Tail – Olive
- Body: Dirty Bug Yarn – Dirty Dark Olive
- Rib: UTC Ultra Wire – Medium – Sculpin Olive
- Ecdysial Line: Fulling Mill Flex-Floss – Fl. White
- Legs: Fulling Mill Flex-Floss – BWO
- Thorax: Fulling Mill Tactical Microflash Dub – Bronze Peacock
- Wing Case: Fulling Mill Scud Skin – Micro 3mm – Brown
- Resin: Loon UV Clear Fly Finish – Thin (1/2 oz)
Now you know how to tie Brig’s Tiny Turtle Drake!
Video courtesy of Fly Fish Food.
