LaFontaine Sparkle Emerger

Detailed instructions for tying a Sparkle Emerger Fly.
Recipe:
Hook: Standard dry-fly hook (here a Tiemco 100), sizes 12-18.         
Thread: 6/0, black.          
Underbody and shuck: Antron, carded, golden yellow.         
Body: Antron, yellow-brown.         
Wings: Natural deer hair, cleaned and stacked.         
Thorax: Australian possum dubbing, brown.           
Note: Pick out the Antron to create a “bubble” around the body.  

Material Source:

#flyfishing #trout #flytying

[TheTwispAngler]

I was told it was an air sack by a real pro - and I didn't realize it went all the way back to 1981. I thought it was real new in about 1997. So you are doing a real good job. : )

[naklabtimothy]

I bought his book and LaFontaine's research was Brilliant. The real Breakthrough was Dupont's rug fiber Antron and how he figured it out. I also fished his home water the Mount Hope River.

[scottadams]

I purchased Caddisflies years ago. It’s a fascinating work. I’ve seen the sparkle pupa and emerger patterns tied and referred to a number of times but you are the first I’ve been aware of that gave this amazing man credit for his work. BRAVO!

[edciurczak]

Awesome job! You're a good teacher and spot on. I had a brief correspondence with LaFontaine. Years ago I met him in Clinton at at Oliver's Orvis shop. He just published his book. I showed him a poly wing caddis. Told him my fishing tactics with the pattern.
Anyhow the Antron Gary used isn't available from Dupont. However Jack's Tackle in Douglasville bought a 500 lb didn't know it was that big 😲...that product is extremely transparent wheñ wet. Nothing like what is sold today! More Darlin like!
Tight Lines

[tightlinevideo]

This is another fly that can be effective no matter how it is fished. I like to fish them behind a weighted nymph and concentrate on the lift at the end of the drift. It's right when the fly starts rising that I get the most takes.

[wyomingtrout]

I like Gary’s original method of tying, he used the touch dubbing method and did not stack the deer hair wing. His pupal sheath was much more sparse. See tying caddis with Jack Dennis and Mike Lawson. To quote Gary, “this pattern must be tied sparse”

[chrundlethegreat]

Your videos are the best. Easy to follow for a beginner like me.

[John]

I have tied this with Aunt Lydia's rug yarn, which is pretty much the same stuff, and usually a lot cheaper than sparkle yarn. I do like this version, though - your instructional videos are very well done!

[birrapampa]

its a pleasure see how you tie the fly!!

[tightlinevideo]

I usually have them 18 or so inches back from either a Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear or a Walt's Worm (both are weighted). And yes, the Sparkle Emerger should ride a bit higher in the water column. That said, there are plenty of people who fish these hung off the back a dry fly as well. Either way, they work really well.

[tightlinevideo]

You'd have to apply a good bit of floatant to make it float, but yes. Subsurface, really is the way to go. This one is in my top 5 list.

[TheTwispAngler]

I would want a striped underbody - well it's what I was using with great success. : )

[tightlinevideo]

Aunt Lydia's does work just fine but the Antron like Matt uses is just a bit finer, a little more translucent and has a lot of shimmer underwater. Whether the attributes out weigh the increased cost, I do not know.

[derekbrower]

Thanks! So better to go beneath the meniscus? When you say below that you fish it trailing a weighted nymph (presumably with a strike indicator?), I guess the emerger ends up riding higher in the water...
Great video and thanks for answering.

[tthomp]

I thought I had every exotic tying material on earth. Now I find I need brown, Australian opossum! What next!? Seriously though, beautiful fly!

[GeorgeSemel]

Gary's 1981 book Caddisflies was and is a monumental work, it changed the way we look at caddis and trout. He did most of the research on the Salmon River, in Colchester CT Area. For some odd reason, there is no stone marker to his memory on the TMA section of the Salmon! If you can get a copy by all means do! It's a book that should be back in print.

[t_man]

Is that the bend crazy Joe is on that groberts fishing in the clip

[flickingfeathers]

This is a reasonable go at this pattern, but there are 2 problems; the deer air shouldn't be stacked because it's supposed to create a rough edge and the abdomen should be very lightly touch dubbed to accentuate the transucency.

[glenndotter]

Good job on the video. I always get a kick when a tier specifies materials such as "Austrailian Possum". Do you think an American Trout knows the difference? I can see a 10 lb. Brown eyeing a fly tied wit American Possum and saying to himself, "that doesnt look like Austrailian Possum so it cant be real. Better not eat it."
😅