Trout Fly of the Month – September

The Yellow Sally, an imitation of a small yellow stonefly, is the Fly of the Month for September 2006.

Recipe:

Hook: TMC 100 (Sizes 12-22)
Butt: Red Thread or Dubbing
Thorax: Yellow Dry Fly Dubbing
Wing: Elk Hair
Legs/Hackle: Yellow Dry Fly Hackle

Fishing Tips

When the small golden stoneflies are still coming off, tie on a Yellow Sally, choose a riser, and try to make a delicate presentation! More often than not, if your approach and presentation are right, the trout will take. In all dry fly fishing situations, drag is everything – well, actually, the lack of drag is everything! All flies (natural) float with the current, not against it, and not faster or slower than it. This is why it is so crucial to remove any drag from your fly line and leader – this slack often allows for bellying of the fly line or leader, which WILL result in an unnatural drift of the fly. I wish you good luck and tight lines! JB

Tying Instructions:

1. Place hook into vise.
2. Attach red thread.
3. Form a base for the fly by wrapping over the rearward 3/4 of the hook shank.
4. Form a small thread ball at the rear, as shown in the photo.
5. Perform three half hitches at the rear of the hook, and detach the red thread.
6. Attach yellow or cream thread.
7. Dub the thorax (body) of the fly with Yellow Dry Fly Dubbing. Dub up to approximately 5/8 of the hook shank, leaving enough room to complete the fly.
8. Tie on a wing of Elk Hair. The wing should overlay the body, and extend no further than 1/8 of an inch beyond the hook shank.
9. Tie on two Yellow Dry Fly Hackles directly in front of the rearward facing Elk Wing. Palmer hackle in close increments up to approximately 1/8 of an inch behind the hook eye. Tie off.
10. Form a small head by whip finishing directly behind the hook eye. Be careful not to crowd the eye.

Photo Courtesy Hill’s Discount Flies (www.hillsdiscountflies.com)