As many of you know from some of my previous posts/threads I’ve been disappointed in the performance of my large Kaufman’s Stone Nymphs......and have been looking for an alternative.
I sat down at the vise yesterday and started tying up a few ( like a dozen; no use going crazy if they aren’t going to be effective). As I have ( again) a well-documented aversion to chenille ; as I believe it to be about the most lifeless material in our tying arsenal; I tie my Pat’s Rubberlegs with an underbody of ZMented .025 lead free wire, and spanflex for the tails, legs, and feelers, and a body of either Kaufman’s black or brown stone dubbing......or a version with peacock herl for the body ( wrapped right into wet Zment for the underbody). We’ll see how they do.........but, realistically they simply can’t do any worse than the Kaufman’s or large Black Copper Johns have done for me this Fall.
Dave M
Dave it may not be the flies. Overall I have heard and experienced a less than stellar catch rate this fall. Things seem to have fell off the cliff about mid September and never got better. I'm sure others are experiencing the same thing.
Stumbled upon Pat’s Rubberlegs while fishing the Rio Grande headwaters around Creede, CO during a salmonfly emergence. dynamite performance that gave this pattern a permanent spot in my nymph boxes. have done quite well in Maine at times with it as well. prefer purple for color
Dave
Been trying to reply to your post for a while. Been using my phone but login wasn't happening. The Pat's Rubberlegs has been my success this fall on LL's. The end of the season trip with Foley it kept me from going fishless. And a couple weeks ago on my last trip to the EO a very respectable LL broke me off. A Pat's and a #20 PT came up missing so not totally sure which it was. But have plenty more tied up in both for another go tomorrow. The weather outlook maybe some baetis, but I won't hold my breath on them. Haven't seen any when out this fall. One can only hope