Doc Spratley-----

hoochie · 02-08-2002, 05:52 PM

Great handle!

I'm curious-- How'd you come by that handle?
I asked in the cheap rod thread and maybe you missed it.

I shoulda used that handle a long time ago 'cause Spratley is my name.
Do you know the origin of the name for that fly? How/when/where do you use it?

Talk to me!?!?!?

TJB · 02-09-2002, 06:10 AM

http://www.sportfishingbc.com/flyfishing/attractors.htm

hoochie · 02-09-2002, 07:05 AM

[ 02-09-2002, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: hoochie ]

hoochie · 02-09-2002, 07:09 AM

TJB-- thanks for the link, I already knew the origin of the fly and I use it a great deal when we're fishingthe trout lakes of Eastern Washington.

When there's something carrying your name and you fish a lot, ya gotta use it!

Doc Spratley was a dentist in Mt. Vernon, Wa. and he fly-fished in B.C. extensively.
He designed the fly to imitate many types of forage for Rainbows. Tied in green, red and black it is a supreme fish-taking lure.

I would imagine that it can be used in the trout-rich waters of Eastern Oregon as well with good results.

I sometimes will troll it behind a small bubble-bobber or even 24 to 30 inches behind a very small gang-troll.

AHHH, smoked rainbows!!!!!!!!!

Doc Spratley · 02-09-2002, 08:20 AM

Good Morning Hoochie. TJB answered most of your question for me. Now, for the rest of the story. I used to do a lot (and I mean a lot) of fishing in the seep lakes of eastern Washington and up in Kamloops. The Doc Spratley was, and still is, my "go to" fly for lakes. At the same time, in larger sizes, the pattern is equally effective for steelhead in gin-clear water conditions. I am a fly fisher at heart and really enjoy using old patterns for trout and steelhead fishing because of the tradition and because they still catch fish. I like the name of the fly and thought I'd use it on the board. Besides, GB Skunk was already taken and my wife says I'm too young to call myself "Silver Hilton".

Doc Spratley · 02-09-2002, 08:37 AM

P.S. Hoochie, I wouldn't hesitate to use that fly for fish in eastern Oregon. In smaller sizes, I think it imitates sedge nymphs swimming below the surface. In larger sizes, it is a great imitation for damsel and dragon flies. It is all in how you retrieve the line. Oh (now that you've got me started), another really effective use for that fly that anyone can use, regardless of what kind of rod and reel your using, is to troll it behind a row boat or canoe. I will paddle a stroke, then let my boat drift to a complete stop, then another stroke, and so on. Good Luck, nice talking to you.

hoochie · 02-09-2002, 08:47 AM

I will sometimes just drift with the wind or use my Bow-mount Minn-Kota and do the drag and drift method with really good results.

That fly will outfish anything wlse I have used, but I'm not a flyfisherman in any sense of the phrase.

We usually fish for salmon, but we have a 4-year-old grandson we're raising and he will be getting a bunch of trout and panfishing in this summer as well as some bass and walleye.

Our boat lets us fish from Spokane to Sekiu and we do all of it!!!!!