Hook: Standard Dry #14 - 10
Thread: Rusty Brown 8/0
Tail: Synthetic Fibers Dun
Body: Goose or Turkey Biot Rusty Brown
Wing Case: Dun Medallion Sheeting
Hackle: 1X Short Dun
Wing: Clear Medallion Sheeting
Thorax: Rusty Brown Superfine
(Pattern From Shane Stalcup's, Mayflies "Top to Bottom")
Notes on the Fly
Over the last season this fly has out produced every spinner pattern I have ever tried. Have you ever wondered why a standard Rusty Spinner has no hackle, but standard 'Real Spinners' have legs? There are three things that really set this fly apart from others in it's class. The Medallion wings are very realistic, unlike other synthetic fibers, gathered hackle, or hen tip wings. The biot body gives off a nice buggy appearance with natural segmentation, and the flush short hackle gives the all important appearance of legs.
Most early season spinner falls are very productive for the average fisherman, because of the hungry trout and shear numbers of spinners on the water. This I believe, is the reason for the very basic patterns people tie/buy, and fish with. However, even with these relatively 'easy' conditions I have witnessed some veteran fisherman getting practically skunked on the water during an intense early season spinner fall. So far this pattern has worked every time, even when others are not hooking up.
The only thing I would caution when using this pattern is the poor casting qualities of it's spent medallion wings. These can cause some major leader twisting so beware. One way I have over come this issue is smashing up the wings, or even slicing them up. The fish do not care, and if you examine a real spinner on the water they rarely look perfect, because after all, they are dead.
Give this pattern a try. It takes a little longer than a basic rusty spinner, but trust me it is worth the extra effort.
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