Humpy Dry Fly Custom-tied Dozen
The Humpy Dry Fly is a classic attractor dry fly known for its buoyancy and versatility. It doesn’t imitate any specific insect but has a buggy appearance that can resemble various insects like mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, and terrestrials. Here are its key components:
- Hook: Size 8-18 standard dry fly hook
- Thread: 6/0 or 8/0, color to match the body
- Tail: Deer, elk, or moose hair
- Body: Deer, elk, or moose hair over floss or thread
- Wing: Deer, elk, foam, or calf tail
- Hackle: Dry fly hackle, typically brown and grizzly
Fishing Techniques
The Humpy Dry Fly can be fished effectively using several techniques:
- Dry Fly Fishing: Cast upstream and let it drift naturally on the surface. Its high buoyancy makes it ideal for fast, turbulent water.
- Dry-Dropper Rig: Use the Humpy as the dry fly and attach a nymph below it. This setup allows you to fish both the surface and subsurface simultaneously
- Blind Casting: In areas where you can’t see fish rising, cast the Humpy to likely spots such as riffles, seams, and pocket water
Fishing Locations in New Zealand
New Zealand offers some fantastic spots for using the Humpy:
- Mohaka River: Known for its good population of trout, especially in the lower reaches.
- Tongariro River: Famous for its large brown and rainbow trout, particularly during the winter spawning runs
- Lake Waikaremoana: Offers excellent dry fly and nymphing opportunities, with trout often exceeding 10 pounds
These locations provide diverse environments where the Humpy Dry Fly can be highly effective
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