Revisiting a simple, deadly striper soft hackle: the Grass Shrimp Solution

Jun27

I can’t remember specifically when I came up with the Grass Shrimp Solution, but it was a long time ago, maybe decades. I do remember wanting to create a fast, simple-to-tie, impressionistic soft hackle that would mimic this tiny bait in size, color, and profile. Years later, this fly continues to be a favorite of other anglers who have discovered its deadly effectiveness. It’s one of my favorites, too.

In case you’ve missed it over the years, or are new to currentseams, here’s a crash course on the pattern. The Grass Shrimp Solution was first published in 2015 in my American Angler article “Soft Hackles for Striped Bass.” It was featured in On The Water’s “Guide Flies” Column. I frequently fish this pattern in estuaries when stripers are selectively feeding on small food items. Here’s an article that covers how to do that. This piece discusses the concepts behind the pattern’s bite triggers. Those four articles ought to keep you busy for while, after which, I would guess, you’ll be heading to your tying table — and then, to the closest tidal marsh or flat.

Currentseams.com again named to Feedspot Top 40 Fly Tying Blogs

Jun23

Here we are again on the FeedSpot Top 40 Fly Tying Blogs list. This is our second time on the list, and for those of you keeping score at home, we are #17. But the ranking isn’t really what this is all about; rather, it’s the company we keep. AvidMax. Fly Tyer. MidCurrent. Gink and Gasoline. Orvis. Just to name a few. These are all quality sites, worthy of your attention, and I’m honored to be included in their company. So, yay us!

The summer striper box, from seasons past, raring to go. Those are Big Eelie variants on the right. I love the colors, although I’m not sure the stripers care all that much. Catching a big fish on fly you tied is one of the more rewarding aspects of our hobby/sport.

And, we’re back

Jun20

TGIF! Sorry for the 1-week hiatus, but I was re-called to emergency book duties. I believe — fingers crossed — that I’m all set on that front for a while. I hope. Now I can take some time to do all the things I haven’t done in the last few months, like go fishing. And resume regular posts here. The yard work list is also impressive. And just in time for the heat wave.

This warm weather coupled with cold water should kick-start the hatches on the Farmington, which have generally been lagging. Please be aware of temperature spikes in the afternoon. Carry a thermometer, and if you get 67 degrees or higher, go fish farther upstream. There will be plenty of colder water near the dam –it’s releasing at 52 degrees. You can also fish first light to mid-morning, when water temps will be lowest. Catch ’em up, and have fun.

And just like that, I’m back on the book

Jun12

No rest for the weary. The publisher has asked for more photos (that’s a good thing!) and captions for the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River. So, instead of a report on my small stream outing this week, you get this update. Regular reports will be somewhat on hold until I get this book business finished.

The Farmington River continues to run high out of the gate. Hopefully they’ll reduce it by the weekend. I’m on the river giving a lesson tomorrow. Even the Hous is well over 1K cfs. I suppose a little too much water is better than the D-word.

Have fun, go fishing, and a pre-Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there!

**And I still haven’t gone striper fishing this year! I’m also working on a new piece for Surfcaster’s Journal. Details on that to come.**

Back in the Small Stream Groove

Jun9

What a treat to be able to fish a small stream again. It’s hard to believe that this was my first fishing-for-fun-only outing of 2025. Surfcaster extraordinaire Toby Lapinski and I spent a few hours last week exploring a woodland gem. Although we fished mid-afternoon, dense canopy blocked the sunlight and the water was surprisingly cold. Water height was on the low side of medium. Although I fished a dry dropper system, the local char showed a clear preference for the dry. Toby fished a size 10 hopper, and they attacked it with wanton ferocity. We pricked a bunch, landed several, and left feeling happy.

I could get used to this. I really, really could. *Toby Lapinski photo*

Given the daylight and shallower water, I found it curious that the fish weren’t that interested in subsurface offerings. Besides the dry/dropper, I also fished the Squirmy Jiggy Thingy. I felt many nips and tugs, but those were clearly generated by smaller fish. (By the way, we saw/spooked dozens of fingerlings, which portends for a bright next year.) The moment of the day, however, was when we witnessed a 3-foot long northern water snake capture and kill an 8″ brook trout. I’d never seen anything like it. The snake took the fish out of the water, and clamped down on its “neck” to suffocate it. There’s a theory which states that on small streams, terrestrials become a huge part of the trout’s summer diet. Apparently, the tables are sometimes turned.

Steve Culton’s Iso Soft Hackle featured in On The Water’s “Guide Flies” column

Jun6

What’s this? Two posts in one week? Yessir, campers! As promised, we are trying to return to a regular posting schedule on currentseams.com. I want to thank everyone for their patience and loyalty over the past year. Let’s get to it.

The Iso Soft Hackle is a wet fly I prototyped several years ago. Then, I test it on the river for months or years to prove its worthiness before I pass it along to you. This is an outstanding pattern (he said, modestly). The past two summers, it has accounted for some of my biggest trout taken on wet flies. It’s easy to tie, and the materials are readily available. Here’s the fly and the recipe as outlined by Tony Lolli in his outstanding Guide Flies column from On The Water. So what are you waiting for? Get to the vise. It’s Iso time!

A jpeg and pdf for your viewing pleasure.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Farmington River manuscript has left the building!

Jun3

Writing a book is all about milestones and deadlines, and the first truly big ones are now in the rear view mirror. Yesterday I sent the complete manuscript to the publisher, along with photos and captions. Next step will be their read and review, and then my edits and re-writes. The target publish date is still next summer. Many of you have asked about orders and pre-orders — that’s exciting to hear! I don’t have any information on that yet, but of course when I do, I’ll let you know here and elsewhere on social media.

Now, I’m going fishing.