beetles and ants

[vince45]

today was a great day for fly fishing in upstate new york, i had my best luck with elk hair caddis , black ants and especially beetles,.. i have had a allot of success this summer with beetles,.. i wanted to pass this along in hopes in might help some one else..vince

 

[Fly Ty R]

Beetles work most often when other flies don't.

 

[theartoflee]

Art Lee once said his favorite fly ice out to ice in would have to be the McMurray foam ant.

 

[CUBBY]

I was out this morning. Seen lots of fish rising but only got 2 on caddis's.I have been doing really well with differnt types of caddis flies over the last few weeks. Today I tried every fly in my box but couldnt get a strike to save my life. I noticed under trees is where most of the fish seemed to be rising. After 3 hours of very little luck I seen what these fish were after. Little black beetles falling out of the tree's. I will be returning soon with some beetles in my flybox for sure!

 

[Fly Ty R]

Something as simple as this will bring you LOTS of strikes:

Takes about 2 minutes to tie, if you are a slow tyer. I whipped up around 10 of these for a trip to a PA limestoner and had good action all day long, when nothing else would work. I've used beetles on lots of other streams in NJ and NY with good success. Don't be afraid to fish them wet style, too.

:dizzy:

 

[CUBBY]

do you sell them and if so how do i contact you?

 

[kayderossZ]

You ANT kiddin'!!!!!!!!

I love fly fishing but I usually stick to the spring and the fall; I never really had any luck during the summer. However, having a couple free hours this morning I decided to hit the old 'Ross this morning. No luck with beetles and then I tried an ant pattern. Just like that I landed two beautiful browns. All in all, I gaveit a go this morning b/c of all the terrestial talk on this site. Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming.

 

[AKSkim]

AK Best has a very good beetle in size 14, at the fly shows he praises the heck out of that one pattern. You maybe able to find it on line.

One very good pattern that I use in the summer and I have had such good luck with is the Black Letort Cricket by Ed Shenk in size 14 & 16.

Letort Cricket

I have used this up alongside the bank and had brookies attack it from long way off. Ants and beatles are one thing, when I fish this pattern, I always get a hit.

Ed can be found from time to time at the Cold Spring Angler's fly shop in Carlisle, PA. He filmed his fly tying video there and as of last week he had a 5.5 ft (4 or 5 wt. I forget??) rod designed for the Letort up for sale that he made.
Cold Spring Anglers fly fishing shop home of the Letort Spring Run, Yellow Breeches Creek, and the Big Spring Creek.

One of my favorite PA fly shops.

As always, like fishing the Letort with an Ed Shenk pattern.

AK Skim

 

[Fly Ty R]

do you sell them and if so how do i contact you?

No, that's just a picture from the internet. Yes I tie, but only for my own fly box. I can't get into doing it commercially.