Headlight Sally- Size 14 or 16
As far as small Stoneflies go, Yellow Sallies are not overly prolific in the Yakima system. Farmlands and upper river(Cle Elum) have decent hatches of these brightly colored and easily spotted aquatic insects.
Like all Stoneflies, the Yellow Sally migrates to the shore, crawls onto land where they hatch and mating takes place in the bushes. The egg laying flights occur at or around mid-afternoon to evening. The female is egg laden, hence the red "butt" on most adult patterns. As they drop to deposit the eggs, the stonefly will often become another food source for hungry trout. Of course, catching one and matching it's color is the best way to fool wary trout. However, a lot of production flies are a decent match for the Sallies around here.
One of the elements I like best about the Headlight Sally is the opal tinsel body. Opal tinsel is just plain awesome for any fly, be it a traditional dry, an opal elk hair caddis, a midge emerger or as flash on the ever popular Dolly Llama streamer.
I might try adding some recipes, since we are a tier's shop, to the fly of the month posts. Eventually, I hope we can have some photographs or videos too, as the blog develops.
Headlight Sally
Hook- Dai Riki #300 14-16
Thread- Yellow Veevus 8/0 or 10/0
Post- Upright white calf tail or for a variation, some hi-vis poly or 1/16th dia. yellow foam cylinders. ( foam being used for extended tail/body and post)
Hackle- Light Ginger wrapped parachute
Wing- Hairline Clear Wing
Body(hook) - UTC Opal Mirage Tinsel, Med.
Thorax dubbing- Nature's Spirit X-tremely FIne Natural Dubbing- #13 Sulphur Yellow
Extended Body- 1/16the Foam Cylinder or Hairline Fine Chinelle in Fluorescent Yellow ( Burnt to create taper)
Butt- Red permanent marker
River Update:
While the river is still fishing pretty good, the USBOR has dumped an immense amount of water into the system! The river rose close to 1000 cfs from yesterday to today. Also, due to our spring like weather this summer, we have unbelievably cold water. I was told by Aron, one of our guides, that the river was 48 deg. F in the morning and only got to 52 deg. F at lunch. Crazy cold water for July and one reason we have a truly year 'round fishery on the Yakima. The telling story about the picture to the right is one of numbers. Looking at the dam releases we see close to 4600 cfs being released in the headwaters but as little as 700 in the lower system! This is all OK with me, since I tend to be one of those people who like to eat food and drink high hopped beer. Both food and hops being grown in abundance throughout the lower valley. The good news is fish are still being caught, the weather is perfect for fishing- overcast, no wind and mild temperatures.
WBFC Staff
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