SHOP NOTES | C.J. BOVA RODS

  Every spring the big brown variegated mayfly commonly referred to as the Fox comes out and they are very prolific in many waters here in the Midwest and East Coast. Some of the largest hatches of Fox (scientific name Stenonema Vicarium) I've experienced were in Canada on the Grand River. These are very athletic mayflies having large abdomens, wings, and legs. The movements are much more erratic than the graceful summer specimens. The trout take these mayflies with a certain verve and typically the takes are splashy and abrupt. I've modified the pattern over the years using CDL Pardo Medio feathers for tailing fibers that are stiff and have wonderful barred amber and black segments. For wings I use my usual hen tips dyed ginger, and for the abdomen I use a rusty tan peacock quill coated with varnish. Barred ginger hackle really sets this fly apart because these mayflies have a lot of variegation probably more so than any other mayfly. Barred ginger hackle mimics the fine varie...

photos: Clint Bova Many waterborne specimens in the spring are slightly darker shades like the Hendricksons and caddis. They are often a dark steely dun and on a value scale maybe a 70 or 80% gray. The small Olive Mayfly comes off the water in a darker value than its counterparts during the midsummer months. Tying Mayfly micropatterns can be challenging not because of the specific techniques involved but because of proportion and uniform scale. If you don't already have the book by Darrel Martin “Micropatterns”  get a copy it is a wealth of informative insights and creative tying techniques that will stretch your creativity. The below sequence uses basic fly tying techniques that will allow you to knock out dozens of these little guys very quickly for your early season stash. Using waterproofed Antron in a cream color lightly singe a tag end on your spool card (only a few fibers) less is more length should be around half the length of your hook shank or  slightly less, ti...