If you need a dry fly for all occasions, this is your baby! Randall Kaufmann’s X-Stimulator can resemble insects ranging from a caddis fly to a stonefly to a grasshopper. It floats well and works great in moving water presented as a terrestial slapping it as a bug would hit the water after the wind grabbed it! This was my first attempt at tying one and will continue to put a few of these in my box, Tight lines! PM

I give you my latest creation! A streamer pattern designed after the Matuka. Originally the name Matuka came from a species of bird in New Zealand whose plumage was first used for this pattern. The term Matuka is now used for this particular style of streamer wing. Tied like a dorsal fin running the length of the fly’s body, the wing produces an attractive silhouette and plenty of movement. The main advantage is that the wing cannot wrap around the hook bend like a standard streamer wing so it always swims perfectly! A body made of chenile, a material that produces a chunky effect, enhances the dense outline. It is a versatile pattern that can suggest anything from small fish to larger invertebrates!

I love this season for flyfishing for several reasons. First of all the summer crowds have died down since school is in and it’s still before ski season leaving fantastic open rivers with little fishing pressure. The fish are consuming a ton of insects as they prepare for winter and that means more catches! I have been tying a few flies that I’m excited to try including the October Caddis. The season closes for many of our rivers on November 15th so it’s time to get out there and fish now while opportunity knocks! Tight lines! PM

I tied this pattern today and have used this fly frequently up on some of the rivers around Yosemite. It works well, but I have never tied it and used one of my own. Now it’s time to see how well my own version works. Last time I went out the Caddis pattern I tied worked really nice so I am jazzed about adding another fly to my repertoire!