Favorite Flies for after ice-off in the merrit area...

[stapler]

Hey:

I'm looking to get some good feedback from those who have fished the lakes in and around merritt after the ice-off! what are your favorites, your good old stand-bys etc.

[Ruger]

i did pretty well on Peterhope with micro-leeches. i would stick with leeches and attractor patterns until you can see a hatch coming off, then fish the hatch.

[stapler]

Thanks Ruger

Those micro leeches and wolly buggers seem to work everywhere! i guess i'll start tying a whole bunch of those up....black, olive brown?

[Sawmill]

I like black my self, but have had awesome luck on red or purple micro leeches....might look like a big fat blood worm

[Ruger]

i was doing well on black. but i carry a selection of olive, black and brown. my dad even has some red ones. we did well in fall at Hihium with red micro leeches. for attractos, a green or red Doc Sprately is a winner.

[professori]

Begining of the season, you can't go wrong with micro leeches. Black and olive are good, but don't leave homw without a bunch of maroon leeches znd micro leeches. Dragons and scuds can also produce, but remember, chironomids are available to trout almost year round and in the spring (especially right after turn over) bloodworms are also in abundance.

[Ruger]

i forgot about maroon micro leehces. i just looked in my fly box, and i've got more maroon than olive. probably a good reason!!

[Islander]

When you tie a micro leech how small of a hook is it on? I use buggers all the time, but I've never fished a micro leech. Do you fish it with a float like nymphing?

[johnk]

When you tie a micro leech how small of a hook is it on? I use buggers all the time, but I've never fished a micro leech. Do you fish it with a float like nymphing?

My micro leeches are tied on a size 12-3xl. My personal patterns, like the one I submitted to the swap are tied with alpaca which is almost as soft as rabbit and breathes very well in the water. I do quite well fishing them under an indicator. Early spring and late fall I cast and retrieve using a Cortland Ghost Tip line.

[Islander]

Thanks johnk, that's great to know I had just tied a couple little buggers on size 8's thinking that they were small enough but I guess I have to go smaller. Do you dub the fur on?