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I've recently read a couple articles on best nymphs for catching whitefish. One article included the results of an angler survey where they asked a few hundred fly fishers what nymph pattern is best for whitefish. The answer was Hare's Ear and Prince nymph.
A few years back when I was doing a little professional fly tying, I had an older gentleman send me a sample fly with a note asking if I could reproduce it for him. He said it was the best whitefish fly he had ever used and the local shop was out and were not getting anymore. I recognized the fly immediately. It was a LaFontaine Tan Sparkle Pupa. He said he was not a traditional fly fisher and used spinning gear with a little weight and a bobber to cast the fly out. I tied a couple dozen and sent them to him. He liked my work, and for a few years, he would send me a couple orders every fall and winter. I received an order or two from one of his friends too. Eventually, I believe both men became too old to fish and both have gone around the bend in the river now.
I mention this story because these two gentlemen who were not traditional gear fly fishers had figured out a way to fish a fly with other gear. And more interesting to me is how they determined the tan sparkle pupa was all they needed out of all the nymph patterns out there. I don't think I ever asked them. I assume they tried a few patterns or was told by the shop owner to give the sparkle pupa a try and they had success. I remember the gentleman that sent me the pattern had no knowledge of the history of the fly and the theories behind it when I shared both with him.
Kind of makes you want to go out and fish one and see how the whitefish respond.
What nymphs have you found that seem to be the whitefish's favorite?
A few years back when I was doing a little professional fly tying, I had an older gentleman send me a sample fly with a note asking if I could reproduce it for him. He said it was the best whitefish fly he had ever used and the local shop was out and were not getting anymore. I recognized the fly immediately. It was a LaFontaine Tan Sparkle Pupa. He said he was not a traditional fly fisher and used spinning gear with a little weight and a bobber to cast the fly out. I tied a couple dozen and sent them to him. He liked my work, and for a few years, he would send me a couple orders every fall and winter. I received an order or two from one of his friends too. Eventually, I believe both men became too old to fish and both have gone around the bend in the river now.
I mention this story because these two gentlemen who were not traditional gear fly fishers had figured out a way to fish a fly with other gear. And more interesting to me is how they determined the tan sparkle pupa was all they needed out of all the nymph patterns out there. I don't think I ever asked them. I assume they tried a few patterns or was told by the shop owner to give the sparkle pupa a try and they had success. I remember the gentleman that sent me the pattern had no knowledge of the history of the fly and the theories behind it when I shared both with him.
Kind of makes you want to go out and fish one and see how the whitefish respond.
What nymphs have you found that seem to be the whitefish's favorite?
