Smoky Mountain Candy
Fly of the Month 03.22
Smoky Mountain Candy was originated by Walter Babb who lives in Sweetwater, Tennessee. This Wulff-style fly pattern is appropriately named by the proof of its effectiveness on the many streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park both in Tennessee and North Carolina. The fly has the buginess of the mixed brown and grizzly hackle of the Adams fly pattern. The floating power of the upright and divided hair-wing along with the tail of moose body hair. Such floating power is much needed in headwater cascades and the high gradient streams of our Southern Appalachian mountains. However, the real secret is the dirty yellow body which give the fly a hint of yellow rather than standing out unnaturally.
Smoky Mountain Candy
In the Southern Appalachian mountain streams, wild trout are opportunistic and always somewhat desperate for food. Aquatic insects are sparse due to the annual flooding that scours the habit all too often. The pH of the water is neutral to acidic due to the predominance of granite and the scarcity of limestone rock. Given the right conditions, wild trout will strike almost any fly pattern as long as they do not sense any danger. That is, if you are stealthy enough on your approach, cast and presentation.
Most experienced local anglers and fly tyers would agree that the color yellow by far attracts our wild trout most effectively as compared to other attracting colors. With that logic, most fly tyers set out to create their own fly pattern using yellow in an attempt to perfect the most effective Southern Appalachian fly pattern possible.
Walter Babb has achieved near perfection with his creation, except in a very different approach from most fly tyers. The Smoky Mountain Candy fly pattern is a unique and creative derivative of a Wulff fly, but with a dirty yellow body that subtly matches the sparse hatching insects in the Southern Appalachians.
Walter Babb is a lifelong angler, rod builder and fly tyer. If you would like to meet Walter, attend the next Fly Tyers Weekend in Townsend, Tennessee which is typically scheduled for the first weekend in November. The annual event is sponsored by Little River Outfitters. You can purchase Walter’s fly SKU: 11566 at www.hollyflies.net.
Fly of the Month 03.22
Smoky Mountain Candy
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
Smoky Mountain Candy was originated by Walter Babb who lives in Sweetwater, Tennessee. This Wulff-style fly pattern is appropriately named by the proof of its effectiveness on the many streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park both in Tennessee and North Carolina. The fly has the buginess of the mixed brown and grizzly hackle of the Adams fly pattern. The floating power of the upright and divided hair-wing along with the tail of moose body hair. Such floating power is much needed in headwater cascades and the high gradient streams of our Southern Appalachian mountains. However, the real secret is the dirty yellow body which give the fly a hint of yellow rather than standing out unnaturally.
Smoky Mountain Candy
In the Southern Appalachian mountain streams, wild trout are opportunistic and always somewhat desperate for food. Aquatic insects are sparse due to the annual flooding that scours the habit all too often. The pH of the water is neutral to acidic due to the predominance of granite and the scarcity of limestone rock. Given the right conditions, wild trout will strike almost any fly pattern as long as they do not sense any danger. That is, if you are stealthy enough on your approach, cast and presentation.
Most experienced local anglers and fly tyers would agree that the color yellow by far attracts our wild trout most effectively as compared to other attracting colors. With that logic, most fly tyers set out to create their own fly pattern using yellow in an attempt to perfect the most effective Southern Appalachian fly pattern possible.
Walter Babb has achieved near perfection with his creation, except in a very different approach from most fly tyers. The Smoky Mountain Candy fly pattern is a unique and creative derivative of a Wulff fly, but with a dirty yellow body that subtly matches the sparse hatching insects in the Southern Appalachians.
Walter Babb is a lifelong angler, rod builder and fly tyer. If you would like to meet Walter, attend the next Fly Tyers Weekend in Townsend, Tennessee which is typically scheduled for the first weekend in November. The annual event is sponsored by Little River Outfitters. You can purchase Walter’s fly SKU: 11566 at www.hollyflies.net.
Fly of the Month 03.22
Smoky Mountain Candy
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
Smoky Mountain Candy
Hook : Dry Fly, 1x long, size 10, 12, 14, 16, Tiemco 100 or equivalent
Thread : 8/0 Uni or equivalent in Rusty Brown
Tail : Deer body hair
Body : Yellow Rabbit dub mix (1/3 yellow, ⅓ tan, ⅓ tawny)
Wing : Calf Tail
Hackle : Coachman Brown rooster and Grizzly rooster
Directions :
Hook : Dry Fly, 1x long, size 10, 12, 14, 16, Tiemco 100 or equivalent
Thread : 8/0 Uni or equivalent in Rusty Brown
Tail : Deer body hair
Body : Yellow Rabbit dub mix (1/3 yellow, ⅓ tan, ⅓ tawny)
Wing : Calf Tail
Hackle : Coachman Brown rooster and Grizzly rooster
Directions :
- Wrap thread one third back from eye, starting one to two eye lengths from eye, let bobbin hang
- Select calf tail hair and cut from tail. Clean underfur thoroughly and stack in the hair stacker. Tap several times and remove with your right hand, pinching the tips between the index finger and thumb, maintaining alignment. Place the calf tail on top of the hook, with the length to be tied in, about the same length as the hook shank tips toward hook eye. Wrap softly at the one third back mark and release the grip with the right hand. The wraps should be very close together working toward the hook bend. This is only to position and judge the height of the wings. Once you are happy with the wings, tie in firmly and trim the hair making a diagonal cut. Now the calf tail can be secured by binding the diagonal with firm wraps. Advance the thread immediately forward of the hair and lifting the bundle of hair on the top of the shank with your left hand, pull the thread against the base of the tie in, on top of the shank and pull the thread away and toward the hook bend. When you pull the thread in a straight and parallel (to the hook shank) fashion the hair will stand straight up. You can augment the lift to vertical using a thumbnail if needed. Make several turns immediately in front of the hair. Take the thread and divide the upright hair clump into two fairly even sections. Use a figure eight wrap to divide and shape the wings. Once secure take the thread to behind the diagonal cut of the hair (the hair on top of the hook should be pretty well covered by thread now) and let the bobbin hang
- Select a small clump of deer hair, for the tail clean and tie in on top of the hook shank. Length should be about the same as the hook shank. Cover the hair by taking tight touching turns of thread to the wings and return the thread to the tail. Let the bobbin hang.
- Mix yellow rabbit dubbing by combining one third yellow with one third tan with one third tawny. Blend thoroughly either by hand or use a coffee grinder. Wax the thread and dub with tight and small amounts of dubbing forming a slight taper from the tail to the wing. Advance the dubbing to the wing and let the bobbin hang. Remember for dry flies the dub needs to be a tight noodle. Tip, use a small plastic bag (from some material bought previously) to store the new dub mix. Label the bag listing the pattern, type of dub and the mix colors and ratios.
- Choose a Coachman brown rooster and a Grizzly rooster hackle with barbs about one and one half the width of the hook gape. Expose about a one quarter inch of stems and tie in behind the wing, trimming any excess. The hackle “shiny “ side should be facing the eye. Advance the thread to the front of the wing and let the bobbin hang. Begin wrapping the hackle in tight and touching turns. About three wraps behind the wing and three wraps in front. Leaving sufficient room for the head, tie in and trim excess. Form a head, and apply head cement.