Early season trout hounds in the Pacific Northwest know that a skwala
stonefly hatch can pull big fish out of their winter slumbers and into
the new season in a hurry. When a magical skwala hatch is on, and
adults are fluttering from the surface, the water can literally boil up
and down the bank. But when the water's still a bit colder and the
surface action is still a bit sluggish, fishing a heavily weighted
skwala nymph can be the ticket to banking a winter-weary trout!
Mike Mercer's Tungsten Skwala Stone is an excellent
imitation of the skwala stonefly in its mature nymph or emerger life
stage. It boasts a wickedly thin profile, prominent biot tails and
antennae, wiggly barred rubber legs, and a heavy tungsten bead head
that'll get down and dirty in the water column, right where big early
season fish hang out. If you're planning a trip to the Clark Fork this
spring, packing a box-full of these heavy-hitters can't hurt your
chances.
Specifications:
- This fly pattern was developed by creative fly tyer, Mike Mercer
- Its tungsten bead head allows it to be fished effectively deep in the water column on early season days when water temperatures are still a bit cold to support prolific surface action
- Skwala stonefly imitation in the nymph or emerger life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Drift the fly through different water types; faster riffles and shallower water near the banks of a river with moderate to slow currents are the most productive water types for this fly
- Skwala stoneflies are available to trout during the early season (February – April) in stretches of trout water in Montana and Washington
- Hatches occur consistently and with long duration throughout the daylight hours
- Strikes on skwala stoneflies are often far from subtle because trout must often be prepared to rip these strong clingers from their rocky homes
- When approaching a shallow water environment with a stonefly imitation, be extremely careful not to spook happily feeding trout
- SIZE 10
When and Where to Fish Mercer's Tungsten Skwala Stonefly
This medium to large sized stonefly nymph can be fished as either an
impressionistic fly pattern when searching for trout or as a realistic
imitation when matching the hatch. When searching, fish this fly in
riffles, well defined current seams, areas below faster currents, and
near exposed rocky structure and streamside vegetation. Shallow water
near the river bank will also be productive when fishing a skwala
stonefly hatch, so be sure to survey the scene thoroughly. Skwala
stonefly nymphs and emergers do not possess strong swimming ability,
however, and are often swept into the main current’s drift – look for
these floating specimens in the main drift as well as shallower, less
energetic water near sheltered areas. Prior to and during emergence, an
angler will easily spot these nymphs crawling from the rocky depths to
the shallower water along the river bank and eventually to the surface
of exposed rocks and vegetation to shed their shucks and hatch into
winged adults.
How to Fish Mercer's Tungsten Skwala Stonefly
This fly is an excellent imitation of either a skwala stonefly nymph or
emerger. Fish it in a variety of water types; a popular strategy is to
fish these patterns on a dead drift right through the main current –
drifting a nymph or emergent skwala stonefly through faster riffles,
current seams, and the slower water just below these areas can yield
excellent results. Stonefly nymphs emerge after crawling to the safety
of the shoreline rather than shedding their nymphal shucks in the
water’s surface film like mayflies. This pre- and during-emergence
behavior renders shallower streamside water quite productive just prior
to and during a skwala stonefly emergence and hatch. Skwala stones make
themselves available on trout water in Montana and Washington
throughout the day during the months of February, March, and April.
When they are active, trout prey on them hungrily and voraciously, so
don’t be surprised when you feel an aggressive take – set the hook
confidently and with care if you happen to be fishing with lighter
leaders and tippet material!
Skwala Stonefly
Skwala stoneflies are large aquatic insects native to stretches of
water in Montana and Washington. The thickest populations of these
olive and olive brown or black stoneflies can be found in the
Bitterroot region of western Montana and throughout trout water in
Washington. The skwala is a crawling stonefly that can often be
mistaken for smaller specimens of the more common and widespread black
stonefly due to its similar physical appearance. Skwalas are active
throughout the day in their native range throughout the early season
months of February, March, and April. The heaviest and most productive
hatches of skwala stoneflies occurs during March when waters tend to
reach and surpass 50 degrees, the ideal hatching temperature for these
bugs. Adult males of the species can be easily identified by their
intriguing lack of wings, and female adults are easily seen darting
above the water’s surface, carefully depositing their eggs in the
surface film. Skwalas have become increasingly popular with die hard
early season fly fishers in Montana and Washington looking to cash in
on a classic mid-afternoon hatch of protein rich skwalas.
Skwala Stonefly Nymph and Emerger Life Stage
During its nymph and emerger life stages, these crawlers are most
commonly found in the medium to fast water of riffles and higher energy
current seams. Prior to and during a hatch, these large sized olive
colored nymphs can also be found in low energy backwaters, eddys, and
other shallow streamside environments. Skwala stonefly nymphs thrive
among the cool, well-oxygenated water of rocky riffles and these nymphs
are most vulnerable to trout when they are either swept up by strong
currents or when they leave their rocky homes to hatch into winged
adults from the safety of the shoreline. Their swimming ability is
quite weak and these nymphs expose themselves by making adventurous
crawling trips away from safety just before emergence and subsequent
on-land hatching. Skwala stones are an important hatch on many rivers
in Montana and Washington State, and are especially prolific in the
Bitterroot region of Montana.
About the Tyer: Mike Mercer
Mike Mercer is a self-proclaimed “hopeless fly fishing junkie with an
incurable addiction to the vise.” Such honest and direct words are not
surprising from Mr. Mercer, a fly angler and tyer known for his
innovative uses of fly tying materials and creative fly designs. In
fact, it wouldn’t be off the mark to say his fly patterns actually
reflect both his honesty and directness.
Mercer has been fishing all his life, but catching his first smallmouth
bass on a fly rod blew open the proverbial gates, sending him deep into
the fly fishing world. With the help of his grandfather’s old pickup
truck, Mercer explored the fantastic trout water of California’s rich
wilderness areas. With his youthful enthusiasm for traveling with a fly
rod, he actually opened a fly shop of his own. At Mike Mercer’s Rod and
Fly (doubling as the basement of his parents’ house) a fly fisher could
find a selection of custom fly rods, fly fishing and fly tying
magazines, and Mike himself, behind the vise, whipping up box loads of
custom flies.
As a fly fishing guide, writer, travel consultant, and creative fly
tyer, Mercer has been able to form a unique perspective on the sport
and share it with other fly anglers across the world. His fly designs
have appeared in magazine, in books, and with the help of Umpqua
Feather Merchants, anglers across the globe have been able to fish a
Mike Mercer creation hard and with great success in waters near and
far.
Mercer’s designs often hinge on an idea that “seems obvious” but from a
design perspective, these are often the very best kinds of ideas.
Mercer continues to create great flies and is a tremendous resource to
the fly fishing and fly tying community.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather
Merchants is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific
supplier of hand tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and
materials, and they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of
the art headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm
shift in the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to
its specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua
is poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As
you may or may not know, we're the largest producer of quality
hand-tied flies in the world. We also make available through your local
fly shop a wide array of the finest fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At
Umpqua we offer everything the angler needs to a have a first class
fishing experience. (Everything that is, but the water and the fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The
idea first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back
in 1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known
for his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each
year for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize
how fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis
established the first of what would eventually be five separate
fly-tying “factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally
in Thailand. The primary focus at each of these factories was on
producing the very best fishing flies possible, constructed of the very
best materials available. From the beginning, the quantity of flies
produced was secondary to the quality and excellence of each fly
pattern. These high standards were assured by the personal involvement
of the fly designers themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the Umpqua production fly tiers. Today,
you will find no flies more skillfully tied than those available from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of
royalty payments, to reward professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty
Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely
good patterns.
The Result: Today, Umpqua produces umpteen
thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic midge imitations to the huge
patterns favored by marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" – you’ll
see for yourself.”
