Rusty Nail-One of My "Go To" Chironomids

I have posted about the Rusty Nail Chironomid before, but it is well worth reminding everyone of its effectiveness. Take a look!

Rusty Nail-John Kent originator

Thread: Wine UTC 70

Hook: Daiichi 1760-sizes 12-14

Bead: White 7/64ths or 3/32nds

Body: Mirage Opal Tinsel, medium

Rib: Mahogany Micro Tubing

 John Kent's Rusty Nail Chironomid is always in my lake fly box. On the Central Alberta pot hole lakes and further abroad; the Rusty Nail just plain works during chironomid hatches. I remember an epic day a few years ago at Dickson Trout Pond when there was a carpet chironomid hatch. We all tied on a Rusty Nail chironomid and had an exceptional afternoon of fly fishing. I highly recommend having lots of Rusty Nails in your chironomid box!

You can purchase Mahogany Micro Tubing from Bob Eden's business, Stream Weaver Flies.

The boat launch was covered with chironomid shucks!

The Gulls were plucking chironomid adults off of the surface.

The swallows were gorging on chironomids

Emerging chironomids and adult chironomids

Filling in the Lake Boxes

Happy Easter everyone! It has been a snowy last few days and the added moisture is definitely welcome and needed. I hope we get a lot more. Our pot hole lakes as well as Sylvan Lake and Gull Lake are down in water volume.

I have finally started to fill in several of my fly boxes. I have been focussing on the basics that I use a lot!

Chromies, black and red ice cream cone chironomids as well as olive and copper chironomids. My "go to" balanced leech pattern is a Tokaryk Special 2.0 and I have learned that Brian Chan's Baby Damsel tied balanced is a very effective pattern here in Central Alberta.

Ice off is not too far away. I have some work to do to ensure my fly boxes are ready for spring!

Happy Easter

Have a fantastic Easter everyone. I hope you can get together with friends and family. I am very grateful to be a Canadian and living in such a beautiful place. 

Time to get a new fishing license (AlbertaRELM), clean out your kit bag, put on a new leader and figure out what holes need to be filled in your fly boxes. Open water season is upon us now. Several rivers opened up to fishing yesterday and it will not be too long before our pot hole lakes are ice free. A new fly fishing season is all about anticipation. It is going to be awesome!