Tag Archives: Opening Day Flies

Dispatches From Opening Day

Day 1

Unlike many regions with large natural reproducing populations of Trout, New Jersey has something of a spectacle for “Opening Day.” Normally, anglers prefer to fish in peace and solitude, especially when seeking the illustrious Trout. If you are seeking quiet, relaxation and seclusion, Opening Day is something to be avoided. Realistically, it’s as if the nation’s most densely populated state, hosts a riverside party one-day a year. Once you accept Opening Day for what it is, a spectacle, its actually quite enjoyable.

Waiting for the starting buzzer.
Waiting for the starting buzzer.

The MKFF crew arrived early to find upwards of twenty people assembled in one of our favorite holes. On numbers alone, we were able to establish dominance at the pool, effectively holding the “worm dunkers” at bay as they coveted the prime territory our troops were holding. Nick was hysterical, issuing minute-by-minute updates as to how close we were to 8AM.

Thirty minutes of casting into a moderate sized hole with ever increasing numbers of bait fisherman is enough to drive you mad. The cool temperatures in the previous week had also made the fish a little slow. We quickly voted to move on to less traveled waters.

Not bad for the first Trout of the day.
Not bad for the first Trout of the day.

Around mid-day Mark was able to cast off the skunk, pulling in a nice Brook Trout. Simultaneously, several miles and a few towns over, Mike caught his first New Jersey Brown Trout since moving to California mid-way through last year.

Posing with his cutie.
Posing with his cutie.

Once every bit of water in the state had been walked through uncountable times we decided to stop by Dr. Ed’s party for lunch. Every year he puts together a delicious lunch of Jambalaya, Smoked Trout and Jameson Whiskey. This year Mark added his Brook Trout to the smoker.

Trout getting delicious.
Trout getting delicious.

Day 2

While everyone else slept, (after a long night of Opening Day festivities) I headed back to where we started. There may not be as many fish in the river on day 2; this is fine considering there are many less people. The weather was more cooperative, two days in the mid-sixties really livened up the Trout.

Stockie Number 1
Stockie Number 1

I took the time to set up a quality nymph rig out, using a Flashback Hare’s Ear Nymph and a Pheasant Tail, weighted with a small to medium sized sinker, the Trout wanted to feed! My rig quickly pulled up several small Brown Trout and more surprisingly a Perch!

Stockie Number 2
Stockie Number 2

As I was standing there, taking in the solitude, two children about 10 years old, walked to the other side of the river from me and took a cast. They watched quietly as I pulled up a Trout, no sooner had a minute gone by and they had a Trout on too! The one kid, wearing a pair of short Muck Boots, walks out into the stream and SPLASH, he face plants!. I chuckled to myself, it happens to the best of us, take a bath to land that Trout (He emerged from the water unharmed and holding his Trout).

Perch on the Fly
Perch on the Fly

Stay tuned for updates from Weekend 2.

Brassie

A very simple fly to tie, the Brassie is a requisite in your arsenal for opening day fishing exploits. Tied in the small size I demonstrate here (sz 20), it imitates a midge. You can adjust the pattern to mimic a Caddis Larva as well. The Brassie is effective due to the copper wire weighting down the fly to where the fish are feeding on its own. Further, this is my favorite dropper as it stays down but will not pull the lead fly down.

Materials

  1. Mustad – Nymph Sproat – Size 20
  2. Black Ultra Thread 70
  3. Copper Ultra Wire
  4. Black Rabbit Dubbing
Step 1 - Size 20 Hook
Step 1 – Size 20 Hook

Carefully place your hook in the vise. You can de barb the hook at this point. I do not go through the hassle for such a small hook, any bit of hold you can maintain on the Trout’s jaw is worth it.

Step 2 - Base Layer
Step 2 – Base Layer

Start your thread an eye width’s behind the eye. Careful not to crowd in this step as you will need to dub and whip finish later. Work the thread down the shaft to the hook bend and then back to your starting point. This creates a base layer and prevents the copper wire from slipping later.

Step 3 - Tie in wire
Step 3 – Tie in wire

Now we tie in the wire. I like to start with the wire partially perpendicular, underneath the hook eye and wedge it in there good with a few turns. Then pull back the tag end under the wrappings you just created, this will make a nice, clean starting point.

Step 4 - Cover the Wire
Step 4 – Cover the Wire

Wrap your thread down the shaft and back up to your tie in point. This creates a firm base with which we wind the wire up the shaft back to the tie in point.

Step 5 - Wind wire
Step 5 – Wind wire

Wind the wire in tight wraps back up to just before the tie in point. Make four twists of thread over the tag end of the wire. Helicopter the tag end off and locate your dubbing.

Step 6 - Apply Dubbing
Step 6 – Apply Dubbing

Apply as small amount of dubbing to the thread and twist. Do not apply too much,  this is after all a size 20 hook. You can always add more dubbing later, it is more difficult to remove once applied. Some tiers will change the color of the dubbing, a red head looks neat.

Step 7 - Whip Finish
Step 7 – Whip Finish

Finish dubbing and whip finish in front of the dubbing. If you spaced your tie in part properly, there will be room to get in four turns. Be careful and do not mash your dubbing.

Finished
Finished

Opening day in New Jersey is next weekend. I plan on deploying this pattern in my nymph rig outs first thing in the morning. The Brassie is both easy to tie and highly effective at any time of the year. When fish are not taking the nymphs you are presenting, it generally means they are too big. Downsize, get the fly down deep and try again!