Written by: Gary Martineau
Big fly, big fish” may be an old adage, but it’s as true now as ever. The bigger the protein source, the farther a big fish will move for it to get a protein fix. I’ve caught plenty of good fish on RS2s and other size 20 flies, but mostly on spring creeks and tailwaters, where you sight-fish and have to all but hit the trout on the nose. In faster, heavier, deeper, or cloudy water, a big trout isn’t going to go out of its way for a size 20 anything. It might not chase a Woolly Bugger or streamer, either, because often the natural baitfish will escape in such water, making any chase a waste of the trout’s energy. Big stoneflies and helgrammites don’t swim away, which makes them more attractive to big trout.
The MartineauHeavy Helgy is big enough, has plenty of motion, and dead-drifts so naturally that it entices big fish to move for it, even if the drift is not perfect. You simply won’t find a more productive and consistent fly in these situations.
But bigger isn’t better all by itself. With the Heavy Helgy, I also tried to create a fly with “bugginess,” movement, and enough weight to get down to the bigger fish fast–especially in heavier water. I also wanted a profile that was realistic, but still big like the natural. To achieve all this, I use a slightly bent hook to give the fly the curvature a natural has when drifting in the water. A weighted underbody helps add to the flat appearance but more importantly gets the fly sinking as soon as it hits the water, while the natural muskrat dubbing and grizzly hackle allow the nymph to drift like a natural.
The brown hackle forelegs and Bodi-Stretch casing create a natural-looking segmentation and movement, while the forked biots at the tail and head mimic that of the natural insect. The soft-hackle “legs” not only aid the drift, but give the fly an overall buggy look that gets fish to take.
Presentation
One of the most effective ways I’ve found to fish the Heavy Helgy is in deep riffles and fast runs and at the heads of runs, where the water is choppy and drops into deeper water. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve caught fish after fish at the heads of runs, in the agitated whitewater that is so often overlooked by anglers or difficult to fish well with unweighted or smaller nymphs.
The Heavy Helgy gets down fast, right to where the fish stack up and have just a split second to make a decision to feed. The size and movement of the Helgy induces hard strikes in this water, often from the biggest fish. Try high-sticking with a full floating line to let the fly sink and to get the most realistic dead drift possible. If the water is especially deep and heavy, add weight 18-20 inches above the fly as necessary. Another great technique is to “crawl” the Helgy. That is, take line in slowly through the fingers. This adds subtle, lifelike action to the fly that trout and salmon jump on.
Fish the Heavy Helgy all season long, at anytime of the day, hatch or no hatch. The larger sizes are fantastic early and late in the season, or in cloudy water, when trout are really looking for that one-shot protein fix. The Helgy works even in the midseason at high noon. In these conditions, you’re best bet is to fish a slightly lighter tippet and a smaller, size 10 Helgy to pick up good fish consistently, often when nothing else produces. It’s also a great attention-grabber for a smaller dropper off the back. The fly is not only great for big trout but for bass, too. The bass knock this fly dead.
 |
Martineau’s Heavy Helgy
Hook: Mustad 7594, sizes 4 through 10.
Thread: Brown Monocord or similar.
Weight: Large diameter lead-free wire.
Cement: Dave’s Flexament.
Tail: Brown mahogany turkey biots, clipped at a steep angle.
Overbody: 1/4-inch brown Bodi-Stretch.
Abodmen Underbody: Brown chenille
Thorax Underbody: Tan Sparkle Chenille
Legs: Brown mahogany turkey biots, unclipped.
Gills/Forelegs: Two short-barb brown hackles.
Head & Wing Case: Folded Bodi-Stretch.
Mandibles: Pair of small shoulder feathers from wing of ruffed grouse, clipped at tip to form horseshoe shape.
Note: for complete step-by-step instructions visit the Martineau Heavy Helgy page at orvis.com.
Gary Martineau is a lifelong fly tier, rod builder, and fly fisherman. A former research biologist for Vermont Fish & Wildlife, he holds a degree in fisheries and wildlife biology. His Martineau Heavyweight Stonefly pattern was the best-selling fly ever sold in The Orvis News.
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious
familiarity about unpredicted emotions.
I love it whenever people come together and share ideas. Great site, keep it up!
I know this web site gives quality based articles
or reviews and additional information, is there any other web page which presents such data in quality?
Right here is the right site for anybody who wishes to find out
about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue
with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a subject that’s been discussed for years.
Wonderful stuff, just excellent!
Everything is very open with a really clear clarification of
the issues. It was truly informative. Your site
is extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing!
Feel free to visit my website … san diego carpet cleaning
Hello, I believe your website might be having browser compatibility problems.
When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however when
opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues.
I simply wanted to provide you with a quick
heads up! Besides that, fantastic site!
Your means of describing everything in this piece of writing is really nice, all can
without difficulty understand it, Thanks a lot.
I drop a leave a response whenever I appreciate a
post on a website or if I have something to valuable to contribute to the conversation.
Usually it is triggered by the passion displayed in the post I browsed.
And on this article The Martineau Heavy Helgy: A Big Fly for
Big Fish | Orvis News. I was moved enough to post a commenta response 🙂 I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s okay.
Could it be simply me or do a few of the comments come across like they are
written by brain dead individuals? 😛 And, if you are posting at other places, I would like to keep up with you.
Would you list all of all your public pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed,
or linkedin profile?
It’s really a cool and helpful piece of information.
I am glad that you simply shared this helpful info with
us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
As the admin of this web page is working, no doubt very quickly it will be well-known, due
to its feature contents.
ΤҺis site was… how ddo I sɑy it? Relevant!!
Finally I’ve found somethingg ѡhich helped me. Kudos!
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto
a coworker who has been conducting a little research
on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast simply because I stumbled upon it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss
this issue here on your web page.
It’s going to be ending of mine day, however before ending I am reading this
impressive post to increase my know-how.
This website online is mostly a walk-by way of for
all the data you wished about this and didnཿt
know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also youཿll definitely discover it.
Also visit my web blog … state farm
My family members always say that I am killing my time here at net, however I know I am getting know-how all the time by reading thes fastidious posts.
Check out my web page: Facials Eugene
Very nice post.I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed
surfing around your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing too your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
Feel free to visit myy web blog ios 8 beta 1 download
In an article published in the forearm, just behind the
study, researchers have found no benefit for both patient records
chinese culture and accounting.
Wonderful blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
Do you hzve any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying forr a while but I never seem to gget there!
Thank you
Feel free to surf to my site – download ios 8 beta for free
Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new
updates.
What’s up it’s me, I am also visiting this site on a regular basis, this website is really good and the visitors are truly sharing nice thoughts.
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it,
you will be a great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will eventually
come back sometime soon. I want to encourage you to continue your great posts, have a nice morning!
Another is the Finch Bay Eco Resort, an award winning hotel with its own beach.
It can be a bit boring if all the time during your vacation you
are cooped up in the yacht no matter how luxurious it is.
In the final analysis, decide exactly what you
want from a vacation; you’re either happy to holiday within a
strict itinerary and get to sample more of the product, in which case, an Hawaiin cruise is the best
option or you simply prefer to set your own agenda and vacation without any restrictions.
My web-site … yacht charter rhodes greece