Home Forums Fishing Flyfishing Here they are, 1minute

I've not used them for stream trout yet, but they do well in still water. I'd guess they preceived as leeches or perhaps fry of some sort. I confess to being a gold ribbed hares ear addict in trout streams. Fishing has to be totally off, before I start experimenting with flys in a stream.

I've landed steelhead with Aztecs, but I think steelhead will take anything that invades their space or gives them a perception that it's trying to escape.

I'd love to get back east and try them on either lake or river bass.

In a word, Yes.
In three words, Try it yourself. PM me a mailing address, I'll send along some fishing flies. I can always use the tying practice; you're my excuse.

But ya gotta post a "success pic" later!

macrabbit-- what do you use for your wing and tail....antron, Puglisi's material?

good looking flies, looks like they would fine for tarpon...red with some silver for the worm hatch. do you wrap lead too?

Acrylic knitting yarn (not stiff rug yarn). "Sparkle Acrylic" sometimes, which has 50% nylon, as in most of the white and yellow seen in these pics.

For fresh, they're rarely weighted. But an underbody of lead, attached in any of the usual ways, is surely possible; as is a conehead.
A simple Aztec is fairly neutral, can be controlled by choice of line or attached weights.

thanks macrabbit. We're going fishing in the Keys in Apr. I will tie one or two for some 'poons.

If ya wanna practice tying, send me one and I'll adjust my guess accordingly...grin

Now you dunnit! PM on the way.

Tying Aztec's is a lot like building Jock Scott's. I take on an Aztec only when I have several days in a row to kill. I'm convinced that macrabbit is a Chinese ivory carver for his day job. No one else could have that much patience.

Still they are the best moving pattern I've seen in the water. Much more life than feathers or hair wings. Going to try some out on steelhead again in mid Feb on Oregon's Wallowa River.

Oh, man! I really need to get up there and take you through the paces.
It's an incredibly simple tie! Hook, thread, yarn. Six to seven minutes (plus same combing and trimming).
I've the patience of a two-year old. Fine, exacting work isn't anyways my bag. The Aztec goes together with big, bold moves; no finesse to it.
You're the flint knapper.

Art, Riley-- come to my defense, here!

Hey Mac, got the package, will return something soon...

A picture-- a big grin on your face, and a big Aztec in the fish's-- is what I want returned.

these flies seem great, can you pass on a recipe

PM sent.

Thank you

i may be late here, but i'll go 136 for the lot.
dem tings is pricey !
and nice ties ! i fish the san juan mostly. tailwater fishery, so midges are what i tie mostly.
some pheasant tails and caddis, but midges do the best.

Better late than Neverland.

$136 would be great- Nearly ten bucks per fly!
Then I'd know I'm in the wrong business!

No midges in the repertoire. Closest an Aztec gets is a ladybug and an ant.
Though I have tied a standard Aztec on a size 16 hook! Anything that size could be mistaken for a midge.

try size 22's and 24's !!

Yeah, I know real midge flies go down there. But I never do.
I'd be a happy man if I never again had to touch a hook smaller than 14.

And my reaction towards those who can well do the bitties is a mix of awe, appreciation, and perverse fascination, about the same as when I visit the freak show when the circus comes to town.

Those will easily pass through the eye of the hooks I use most of the time with no turning or threading required.

We have a lake on our Steens Mts that goes to a 24-28 midge hatch each evening. One can catch a hundred fish in the afternoon with a size 14 gold ribbed hare's ear. At sunset, the lake comes alive with ripples, and one can't buy a fish unless he threads on an invisible midge. Quite frustrating if one is not equipped.

Hey who won?