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Tricos in the morning
by Brian McKinley/Wayne Bartz |
Tricos are small mayflies. In Selective Trout, authors Doug Swisher and Carl Richards write that “the fly is 3 to 6 mm long” i.e., sizes #18 to #28. There are many species of the genus Tricorythodes but only three species are of interest to the fly angler: Tricorythodes attratus, stygiatus, and minutus. Male and female, dun and spinner, standard Trico imitations match all species. In all species the male spinner is smaller that the female.
Tricos hatch in voluminous numbers. Male duns emerge late in the evening and transform into spinners by the following morning. Female duns hatch in the early morning, often before dawn on hot, summer days and later on cool days. They change into spinners within minutes after they emerge; they then enter the mating swarm.
Size, color, shape and presentation are variables that fly fishers have to consider when matching the Trico hatch. Female Tricos have green bodies and the male have black bodies. The wing color of the duns of both sexes changes slightly during their transformation, becoming lighter, pale dun or almost white in the spinner. No one we talked with in researching this hatch thought body color of the imitation mattered.
Gary LaFontaine and Eric Peper have discussed “triggering characteristics” in their writings for more than 20 years. Triggering characteristics are attributes that are visually identifiable on the natural. In the case of the Trico spinner, most anglers agree that the triggering characteristics are wing silhouette, long tails, a slender abdomen and a thick thorax. Tails should be spread wide and long — up to two and half times the length of the body.
When fishing for trout during a Trico hatch, presentation is critical. Slack-line deliveries, efficient mending techniques and proficiency in the reach, puddle and “S-curve” casts are the order of the day to achieve drag-free floats. Use a long leader — a minimum of 10 feet long — that turns over efficiently. Tippets should be light (6X, 7X or 8X, depending on water conditions). supple and at least two and a half feet long.
Trico spinners on the water are either dead or dying and are at the mercy of the current, dead-drifting. The fly should be fished without movement to represent the naturals. Drag will result in rejection.
Trico spinners on the water are either dead or dying and are at the mercy of the current, dead-drifting. The fly should be fished without movement to represent the naturals. Drag will result in rejection.
Wayne Bartz, Midwest Fly Fishing’s southeastern Minnesota field editor, insists on being able to see his fly on the water. He fishes only two patterns, a parachute Trico and Eric Peper’s Trico spinner.
PARACHUTE TRICO
Thread: 8/0, black or olive. Hook: #20, #22 quality dry fly hook Tails: 3 barbules, white, dry fly quality
Body: Synthetic or fur, or mixed, black
Wing: White Antron, clump
Hackle: White, dry fly, quality
Directions:
1. Tie in upright wing of Antron at thorax position, secure with several
wrappings of thread.
2. Tie in barbules at bend of hook.
3. Dub thin, slightly tapered abdomen.
4. Prepare dry fly feather, tie in concave side down, trim butt.
5. Dub thorax, stopping shot of hook’s eye.
6. Wrap hackle parachute style.
7. Tie off at hook’s eye and add head cement.
ERIC PEPER’S TRICO
Hook: Sized to match the natural, quality dry fly
Thread: 8/0, black
Tails: Either pale dun hackle fibers or Bett’s Micro Fibbets tied long and split.
Abdomen: Black thread
Hackle: Palest dun, tied in at the thorax, and clipped to form a 180-degree arc.
Thorax: Fine-textured dubbing to match the natural.
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copyright Midwest Fly Fishing™ Magazine 2003
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