Much of the country is sulfur season when these bright yellow mayflies emerge or return to the water at dusk. When there’s a lot of bugs on the water, trout have plenty to choose from, and they’re often more likely to eat something that won’t fly away – cripples and emergers. Of course, they will also eat the high-swimming duns, so it pays to fish a specimen that mimics different life stages of the insect.
In this great video, Tim Flagler from Tightline productions shows you how to tie this simple, elegant imitation sulfur that acts as a cripple, a spent spinner, and maybe even an emerger. The key is to keep everything slim and aligned. The wings that are swept back present a profile that makes the beetle look like a light meal, and they also likely reduce the likelihood of the fly spinning when thrown.
Super Fine Sulfur Spinner
Hook: Your favorite dry fly hook (here a Fulling Mill 5050), size 14-16.
Thread: Rust brown, 6/0 or 70 denier.
tails: Flank feather fibers of the wood duck.
Abdomen: Pale yellow, super fine synchronization.
Wing: White Polypropylene Floating Yarn.
Thorax: Amber Super Fine Sync.
Head: binding thread.
Adhesive: Head cement (here Sally Hansen Hard-as-Nails).
Tool: Fine point bodkin tool with impact finish.