Mammoth and an Old School Fly

I recently spent most of the week roaming around the Eastern Sierra, mostly at hike in high country lakes. I did take a couple of hours one day to fish one of the roadside lakes in Mammoth. The Sheep Creek Special used to be one of my go to stillwater flies, but over the years it fell out of the rotation in favor of leeches, and beadheads, and balanced flies on jig hooks, etc. Maybe it was just sentimentality that made me dig it out of the corner of the lake box and tie it on. Four fish later I was glad I did.

Attachment 17467
Attachment 17468

October is a great month to go fly fishing lakes for trout.


The Sheep Creek Special wet fly was huge about 20+ years ago.



My old fishing partner Mel Jeffs and I were fishing many different lakes in eastern Nevada back then.

Wild Horse, Sheep Creek, Wilson, Bull Run, Zunino/Jiggs, and the Ruby Marsh.

We both had 8 foot TP&L fiberglass prams, he had a small pickup with a canopy and a tent trailer.

Wow. Those are some great looking fish.

I love the Sheep Creek fly, too. Amazingly effective.

A lot of times people will ask "What are you using?" I hand them a Sheep Creek (I've tied up a zillion of them) and things generally turn around for them. I'm always surprised when they've never seen or heard of this fly.

One of my go to Stillwater patterns. Might be heading to Mammoth this Saturday for a couple of days. Great time of year to be
In the eastern Sierras with the fall colors and cooler temperatures.

I'll have to tie a few up! How do you fish them in stillwater?

NK

I use a clear intermediate or fast sinking line.

** Cross-posted to Fly Tying forum **

Here is a pretty good video on tying the Sheep Creek.

https://globalflyfisher.com/video/sheep-creek-special

I use a red hackle in the back and use a lot less weight that I tie in near the front. I like using the peacock herl but a good quality green chenille is OK, too.

Fly Fishing Specialties in Citrus Heights carries a good one. Whoever is tying them up for him does a good job.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smitty Fish

I use a clear intermediate or fast sinking line.

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More often than not, I use a clear intermediate for lake fishing with subsurface flies. Gives you the option of fishing near the surface (with an unweighted fly) or moderately deep with a heavy beadhead and long sink time. I almost always fish two flies. Above the Sheep Creek, my go to fly lately has been a thin mint bugger.