In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Charlie Craven with Charlie’s Fly Box ties a dry fly that every angler will wince at the sound of, the Mosquito.
Learn How to Tie This Fly:
Difficulty: Intermediate
March has begun and with it comes hopes of warm weather and productive days on the water. As temperatures rise, trout will become increasingly happier and much more willing to expend energy to feed. While warm weather and happy trout sound like heaven on Earth, these days create one incredibly large nuisance, mosquitos. These blood thirsty insects may be annoying for us, but they are also a consistent food source for our fishy friends, which is why the Mosquito fly pattern is one you must master as we approach spring.
For tyers who work with dry flies consistently, this pattern shouldn’t cause too many issues on the vise. If you have tied a classic Adams dry fly or similarly built dries, you’ll be able to master this one in no time. There are few things as satisfying as a trout coming up for a dry fly, especially when you have put in the effort to tie yourself. Spend the time mastering the Mosquito, as its profile is one of the most consistently producing in dry fly history.
With mosquitos and other adult insects coming in various sizes, it is best to be prepared with a range of flies that also matches this trend. Pairing these with a nine-foot tapered leader in 3-5x, depending on how picky the trout in your waters are, will be the ticket for eats. Adding a second dry fly, bigger or smaller, is a fantastic way to cover fish wanting different sized menu options. Fish the Mosquito this spring and summer and never pass up the opportunity to target happy trout looking up.
Ingredients:
- Hook: #12-20 Tiemco 100
- Thread: Black Veevus 14/0
- Tail: Grizzly Hackle Fibers
- Body: Stripped Grizzly Feather
- Wings: Grizzly Hackle Tips or Hen Hackle Tips
- Hackle: Whiting Grizzly Rooster Cape
Now you know how to tie the Mosquito!
Video courtesy of Charlie’s Fly Box.
