Tag Archives: PMD

Spring Creek Techniques . . . The Book

Posted on 11/27/2010 by admin

John and Suzanne Mingo are long time residents of Montana.  I have had the pleasure of getting to know them over the past few years and have the privilege of tying many of the flies they use while fishing the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks.  John has developed some unique methods for catching selective and difficult trout, he has honed his skills by spending untold days amongst some of the toughest fish on the planet.

He has written and excellent book describing and detailing his techniques for tricking selective fish to eat one of our imitation insects.

5709-1-fly-fishing-montana-john-mingofront-cover

This book is the definitive textbook to teach techniques to catch difficult and pressured trout.

John and I have modified some of the tried and true time tested patterns to come up with a new flybox of innovative flies to consistently deceive selective trout, whether they are lying in Depuy’s Spring Creek, the Missouri River, or in your backyard.

This book is available online, but please contact me if you are interested in a signed copy that includes a free fly….. I still have some remaining copies available.

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The Perfect PMD Parachute

Posted on 11/27/2010 by admin

My favorite Pale Morning Dun imitation: The Hi-Vis PMD Parachute.

parachute6a

This fly is the perfect indicator that fish also eat!  I use this fly constantly on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks with another fly trailed behind it.  Rather than use an indicator, a nymph or emerger may be tied directly off of the bend with 6x or 7x tippet.  I usually keep the distance no more than eighteen inches.

Materials:

  • Standard Dry Fly Hook TMC 101, Dai-ichi 1310, Dai-Riki 305, etc.
  • Microfibbets
  • Turkey Biots
  • Antron Yarn
  • Hackle (I prefer bleached grizzly)

Step 1:

parachute1

Attach thread and tie on a microfibbett tail (6-8 Fibers) a little shorter than 1 hook length.

Step 2:

parachute2

Tie in the post.  I use Orange Antron Yarn, but pick a favorite color.  Don’t forget black for those low-light days.

After figure-eighting the post I tie it upright.  Make sure to bring your thread wraps high enough to wrap the hackle on—-this is critical.

Step 3:

parachute3

Tie in the turkey biot, I use a pale olive, but match to your local color.  I have seen and tied PMD’s the color of a Cheeto!

Step 4:

parachute4

After wrapping the turkey biot forward to the edge of the post, tie on a bleached grizzly hackle.  Notice I strip the hackle about the length of a hook gap.  This allows you to start your first hackle wrap at the top of your thread wraps on the post.

Step 5:

parachute5

Dub a small thorax around the post, leaving plenty of room to tie off hackle.

Step 6:

parachute6

Wrap hackle on the post downwards, starting at the top, and tie off.  One tiny drop of head cement, and then take a little time to trim post in a small semi-circle.  (Or just whack it off straight like any other commercial-tied fly)

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