The magic of the partridge

Posted by rusty on October 15, 2007

     Well it is now cooling off and the trout are starting to feed on some very interesting flies.  Some people will do well on the tradition egg pattern, some will stick to the old stand by, the San Juan worm (Philip), and others will hopefully find the magic of the soft hackle.

     The soft hackle to some people looks like a sparsely tied nothing, and I agree, but how the fish look at it is another story.  This time of year a lot of the trout are taking some odd presentations, and I’m about to tell you another one that works great for all eastern trout.  The traditional way to fish a soft hackle is on or just beneath the surface film, well pinch on some split shot and start to dredge.  Yes, I know it doesn’t sound right, but a soft hackle drifted deep and slow can pick up some large trout this time of year.

     Now all you need to do is pick a natural and productive color from the past and give it a shot.  The best way to tie a soft hackle is with partridge, but various other birds will work as well, like starling and chukar. The abdomen of the fly should be thin and not to bushy because the soft hackle on the fly will give off plenty of movement  in the water.  Just remember when tying a soft hackle that it doesn’t have to look appealing to you, but to the trout.  It’s pretty simple, fish them like you would fish any of your favorite nymphs and I believe you’ll be surprised by the results. 

     And as for now and always “tight lines”

     Rusty Foreman