Fly of the Month


by Rich Johnson AUGUST'S FLY: The Pink Pollywog This month's Fly of the Month page is a little different. Mostly because of the pattern I'm featuring, but partially because this is not the pattern to demonstrate (photographically) how to spin deer hair. This month's page will assume you have the skill to spin deer hair, no matter how roughly. The patterns shown in the photographs are actual flies from our three Anchorage fly shops. I did this to show you the diversity, and similarities, of the 'Wogs from each retail outlet. My thanks to McAfee's Fly shop, Rod and Reel, and Mt. View Sports for the loan of their flies. The Pollywog, or'Wog as it's most often called, is a recent development in a dry fly for Silver Salmon. It popularity is expanding each passing season. Think of it, a fish that weighs 8 to 20 pounds coming up and slashing a dry fly from the surface, often in clear water where you can see the rise. This is the ultimate fly fishing natural high. Having experienced Silver Salmon to waking dries I am unable to put into words the rush of adrenaline and excitement as you watch the fish attack you pattern. The 'Wog is a waking pattern, that is it should be fished on a swing or a steady strip retrieve. The water needs to be relatively flat with constant current and not to deep. The fish need to be able to see and respond to the waking action.
	Hook: Stinger style Bass Hook Thread: Danville Plus, or other heavy thread Tail: Marabou, pink with strands of pearl Krystal Flash down each side Body: Deer Hair, Pink (Belly hair is best for spinning)
	Shown is a top angled view of all the different Pink Pollywogs ('Wogs) that are available to the consumer from our local fly shops as of July. All are the same pattern, only the two on the left are designated as "Hammerheads"
	The hook shown is the Stinger style bass hook suggested for the 'Wog.
	Marabou, Krystal Flash, and deer hair - Belly hair shown on top (Belly hair is coarser and easier to spin. Coastal is finer textured and requires more spinning for the same bulk.)
	This is the standard (most common) style of'Wog. It's clipped very similar to a standard bass bug, close on the bottom and rounded on top with a taper to the tail.
	This 'Wog is tapered more like a pencil popper, rounded on the bottom. Notice the slant of the face, this is to assist the 'Wog in rising to the surface when under tension from the retrieve.
	This 'Wog was as fat as it was high. The shape of it's face suggests that it will blurb under the surface when retrieved, much like a slider, or Dalhberg diver.
	This is a top view of a "Hammerhead" style of'Wog. What doesn't show is the face that is angled from the hook eye back on the bottom of the head to assist the fly in raising to the surface when being retrieved. Similar to the second style shown.
	This is a modified version of the Hammerhead 'Wog. The head width has been shortened to ease the wind resistance while casting. Make no mistake, casting a #2 or #4'Wog 40' +/- all morning will wear you out. Reports are that the narrower head doesn't seem to reduce it's effectiveness.

For those of you who don't spin hair yet; I'11 try to do a demonstrative pattern this winter when we all have more time to practice and refine our deer hair techniques.

Previous Flies
July 1999 : Leonard Shrimp
June 1999 : Delong Lake Special (parachute)
May 1999 : Beady-eye Nymph
April 1999 : General Practitioner
March 1999 : Sculpin (woolhead bunny)
February 1999 : Popsicle
January 1999 : Nuclic Bunny
December 1998: Alaska Mary Ann
November 1998: Niukluk Smolt
October 1998: Sea Flea
September 1998: Frank's Fly
August 1998: Sparkle Shrimp
July 1998: Flashfly
June 1998: Comet
May 1998: Everglow
April 1998: Battle Creek Special
March 1998: Pearl Marabou Smolt
February 1998: Crystal Egg Wooly Bugger
January 1998 : Tangle Lakes Teaser
December 1997: Bead-Head Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle