About The Simmons Snail
The Simmons snail came about as a result of a frustrating week fishing Lake Waikarimona on the North Island of NZ during October 1989.
On this occasion large numbers of very big brown trout were feeding on the hugh numbers of snails that seemed to be grazing freshly covered areas of lakeshore. You could tell where the snails were just by the fact that the bottom looked like it had been groomed by a lawn mower.
While I had my fly tying gear with me it seemed the only pattern I could come up with that worked was to bind olive wool on the hook so it looked like a ball. The problem with was that this that it also 'closed up the gape of the hook' , which made setting a hook into the mouth of these fish very hit and miss. I was determined to overcome this problem and it wasn't until the winter Steelhead fishing that the penny dropped. I was tying glo bugs and I thought why not just dye some globug yarn dark colour and tie a normal glo bug. I was sure that would work and of course be the answer to my problem of closing the hook gape up.
Fly Tying Techniques
Sedge Hook
Flybox's Expert Tips
Not only did it work but it worked beyond my wildest imagination !
What I didn't consider was Globug yarns ability to float or sink. If the snails are on the surface then you can spray some floatant on the fly or as I do just let the fly sink slowly to the bottom. The fish pick it up either way.
I've had a few anglers astounded at the simplicity and effectiveness of this fly.
Alan Simmons
Dressings
- Hook : 12 - 14 best but have gone as small as 16 when the fish are on very small snails
- Thread : Strong thread like a kevlar
- Body : dye Globug yarn with Dylon number 7 Coffee. Also some dyed Emerald Number 25.
- Olive Dubbing mix
Country of Origin:
New Zealand
Water Type:
Dams & Reservoirs / River & Streams / Still Water
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