In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Tim Flagler with Tightlinevideo ties a classic dry fly that every angler should be practicing this winter in preparation for next summer, the Yellow Humpy.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Difficult
The past few weeks have focused on patterns for fall and winter trout fishing, often times being subsurface. Although that may be the most useful right now, it is nice to think back on warmer days and trout inhaling dry flies. There is something special about seeing a fish come up to eat a bug on top and whether size 4 or 24, forgetting that moment is difficult. One pattern to consider when trout are looking up is the Yellow Humpy, a classic natural pattern that will produce on small streams and large rivers alike.
This fly won’t be the easiest to tackle for novice tyers. Working with natural materials and wrapping hackle, while getting correct proportions, is a skill that takes years to master. That being said, taking your time and following Tim’s instructions will give you the tools necessary to find success. The Yellow Humpy may cause headaches for some tyers, but its productivity makes every second on the vise worth it.
Pairing this pattern with another large dry fly makes for a great summer double dry rig. On small streams for wild and native trout, fish this as a single while technically targeting pockets. Thankfully, you’ll be able to practice this fly all winter in preparation for next seasons prolific hatches so you’re prepared when trout begin looking up again. Enjoy the process of working with natural materials and slow burn tying sessions with the Yellow Humpy between those nymph batches in the coming months.
Ingredients:
- Hook: 1X-long dry-fly hook (here a Dai-Riki 300), size 16
- Thread 1: Yellow, 8/0 or 70-denier
- Underbody: Yellow rabbit-fur dubbing
- Tail: Moose body hair, cleaned and stacked
- Wings: Elk hair, cleaned and stacked
- Back: Elk hair, cleaned and stacked
- Body: Bright Yellow Uni-Stretch
- Thread 2: Yellow, 8/0 or 70-denier
- Hackle: Brown and grizzly hackle, slightly undersize
Now you know how to tie the Yellow Humpy!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Tightlinevideo.
