Ice Flies

[TheApprentice]

Is anyone tying up some ice flies for this winter? If so I would be intersted in buying some from you. I used some last year that were killer. PM me if you are interested in selling me some, and I will describe the ones I had huge success with last year. Maybe you will learn to tie a new killer fly.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Ed Stringer]

I'm a dropper fly freak :p I buy most of my flies thru The Fly Shack about 3 years ago, at .75 a piece. They may have a web site now.

[scottyhoover]

An olive or tan parachute took a couple of the biggest gills for me last year...on the dropper of course!

[ozzgood2001]

time to tie up some larvae!! worked great last year

[TheApprentice]

Can any of you post a pic of the flies you are using? Do you tie the dropper right to the hook of the top fly? I like to tie a leader and use the tag created on the top for my droppers. I am just curious about other fishermans techniques. Also are you guys using extremely flexible rods? I am looking for one, but I can't seem to find what I have seen other guys using. I see some of the older guys using 3-4' rods that are so flimsy that they barely move their wrist to jig and the tip does most of the work for them. I am pretty sure that they don't sell them in stores and that they are actually homemade rods sanded down from blanks. I just don't know anyone that makes them.

Ryan

[9mmruger1]

I get my flies from here. Search around. Great buys.

http://www.flydealflies.com/catalog5.html#Olive%20Scud

[Bassbug]

Parachute flies are, of course, dry flies. The hackle that is wound around the post is designed to help the fly land softly as it's cast over open water.

How do you use parachute flies for ice fishing?

I understand that most people use some sort of dropper rig, but wouldn't it be more effective to use a wet fly or nymph (even if they're dressed with some type of floatant to prevent tangling with the dropper line).

I tie my parachute flies with deer or elk hair and even if I tried to sink them, they'd be reluctant to behave well under the ice.

I must admit, though, my limited knowledge of using flies for ice fishing definately qualifies me as an idiot about this technique.

Laughing my a-- off at myself - - - LMAOM,

Paul

[scottyhoover]

you can sink a dry fly....you just use a jig below it to pull it down.....then it just hangs straight out off a dropper and the wings 'breath' in the water, very nice. Tip: orient it on the dropper so the hook points up.

[Ed Stringer]

Find it today!! www flyshack.com I like a size 16 hook with a black,olive or tan parachute gnat body with white wings sweet...... :D I tie a leader to my main line and with the tag end I tie in the fly with a small snell knot some guys use a blood knot. Make sure the hook is facing or it will get hung up in the hole. It takes practice to get the knot tying down. I use a Thorne Bros. 30 inch panfish rod, fast tip strong back bone.

[deputy865]

Ryan,

I'll tie a few and we can use them at the outing and see which ones you like, therefore i can tie more for you!

Shane

[scottyhoover]

Ed you and me think alike. white wings...swimmin in the water....triggers a fish like no other sometimes. They lose all fear and when they suck water, it comes in too :)

[TheApprentice]

Ryan,

I'll tie a few and we can use them at the outing and see which ones you like, therefore i can tie more for you!

Shane

Thanks Shane that sounds great, I just need to see if those dates will work for me. Being that I am in Elkhart, IN it is a pretty far drive, so I have to make some sort of plans for where I am going to stay the night. Are there some good motels in the area? If so maybe I can get someone to go along with me to help split some of the expense. I sure wish someone would put together an outing near my neck of the woods. Maybe somewhere in Cass County. I just don't think there are enough guys from this site near my area. It seems like most are from the middle of the LP on up.

Ed that sounds like a nice combination, I will have to give it a try this year. Thanks for the replies guys. Now I just need someone to offer to tie me up some flies for some loot.

Ryan

[scottyhoover]

BWO spinner!

[DaveW731]

I tie a leader to my main line and with the tag end I tie in the fly with a small snell knot some guys use a blood knot. Make sure the hook is facing or it will get hung up in the hole.

My icefishing "project" this year is to learn the dropper/fly approach. Any additional words of wisdom would be appreciated. In particular:
*How far above the dropper do you put the fly?
*How long of a line off of the main line do you use for the fly?
*Do you fish a dropper/fly setup in the same way that you fish a setup
without a fly?
*I tightline with yellow Stren and no bobber: does this approach work with
dropper/fly, or should I use a spring bobber or float?

Thanks for the help,
Dave

[TheApprentice]

My icefishing "project" this year is to learn the dropper/fly approach. Any additional words of wisdom would be appreciated. In particular:
*How far above the dropper do you put the fly?
*How long of a line off of the main line do you use for the fly?
*Do you fish a dropper/fly setup in the same way that you fish a setup
without a fly?
*I tightline with yellow Stren and no bobber: does this approach work with
dropper/fly, or should I use a spring bobber or float?

Thanks for the help,
Dave

I usually go about a foot to 18" above the dropper, and usually go around 3" off of the main line. The best way to fish a fly in my opinion is to tie a lighter srping on the end of your rod. make sure you angle the spring off at a 90 degree angel and feed the ling through the srping. This will help you to detect even the most minute bites. Do not use a bobber or float, tightlining is the best way as far as I am concerned. When you jig you only want to use your wrist and only jig up about an inch slowly raising your rod as you jig, but very slowly. Start jigging with your rod tip almost in the water and slowly jig up until you are at about 3-4 ft., then slowly jig back to the starting position. You will be amazed at how many more fish you will catch with this technique.

If I missed anything or anyone else has something to add please speak up. Maybe you guys have different techniqes that work well for you, if you do I would love to hear.

Ryan