Classic Wet Fly: The Pass Lake
Hook: Wet Fly or Streamer Hook, sizes 8 to 16
Body: Black Chenille (use ultra-chenille or dubbing for small sizes)
Tail: Brown Hackle, alternatively golden pheasant tippets
Wing: Calf-tail (traditionally), antron used here
Collar: Brown Hen Hackle
Popular history says that this fly was originated by a Clintonville, Wisconsin minister in 1938. It is a versatile pattern and can be fished wet, “damp”, and dry. Although the most popular method seems to be to fish it on the swing, with the strike coming just as the fly finishes its downstream drift and begins to swing across the current. Tie them in sizes ranging from large to tiny, and tie weighted and unweighted versions so that you can probe every part of the water column.
Ross Mueller, author of “Upper Midwest Flies that Catch Trout, and How to Fish Them,” (R. Mueller Publications, 1995), says:
“The Pass Lake Wet has not been dislodged from my fly-box for over thirty years.”
Mr. Mueller’s book is a wonderful book full of great patterns and advise. It shouldn’t be restricted to the bookshelves in the Upper Midwest.
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