Good day sir. The black gnat was one of the first flies I used when first starting my journey in the world of fly fishing. It was the first fly to catch me a landlocked salmon in a stream back in Maine. Thanks for sharing.
My hat is off to you on tying those small flies. Well done. My eyes and hands just don’t get that small work done anymore. Thanks again for sharing the fishing footage. So glad you got into enjoying your day off. Just an incredible setting. The quiet and Gods great creations. The color of those Sunfish is enough beauty you would have to enjoy that. Thanks for a great video Matt. Appreciate it my friend.
That insect you called a gnat is a flying ant guy. Notice the 3 distinct body sections with wings extended waaaay past the body. Flying ant. As a side, fall fish and creek chubs are 2 different species, also that was a Redbreast Sunfish that you caught.
Thank you for another classic. I find there's something comforting (and connecting) about tying flies my family five generations before me would have used. And as we all know, a bad day out fishing is better than a good day in the office!
You always do a great job your vids are very informative you tell what hook and size and a very detailed material list your one of the best on here kudos Matt your friend Mark
The biting gnat (black fly) in NE is a very nasty, annoying insect. However, they are so common in woodsy areas that they make a great dry or wet fly. I particularly liked using this pattern in lakes, behind beaver dams or in slow pools in rivers. Message on a fundraising T-shirt sold by the E. Millinocket Fire Dept: “Please don’t pet the black flies or ride the mosquitoes. Psst, Matt, I think the wings are a tad long but they look really cool.
Haha! Thanks Bob. I think you're right on the wing length. And I even thought about it when tying them on, but then thought that the ones in my fly box had long wings. But then again they were probably too long too! As far as biting, these things didn't bite at all as far as I can tell. I had plenty of them land on my bare skin and no bites. But also- another commenter mentioned that these may have been flying ants and not gnats. He could very well be right, they did have some segmented bodies kind of like ants. You're also right about this working on slow, still water. I remember chasing one fish on the Savage for about 20 minutes. Right up against a rock ledge, where the water was barely moving. Several ant patterns got some looks but no take. But I somehow I didn't spook him. He kept feeding and eventually, trying 7x tippet with this gnat pattern and I caught him. He wasn't huge, maybe 12 inches or so, but it was the thrill of the hunt. This was probably five years ago and I think about that catch every time I'm near that stretch. :-)
Long or not, the look of the wing still looks really cool the way it’s shaped. There are lots of non-biting gnats. I think Ivar has them in Iceland. The insect in your picture could be a flying ant but I think the fish would take this pattern as either insect. This is the first pattern I tried when fishing beaver dams in Maine.
Good morning Matt. ☕️time. Good pattern that black gnat. I have recently implemented a rule. Anything smaller than a sixteen I purchase. It’s much easier on my old lookers and more enjoyable for me at the bench. 😁. I don’t often use anything smaller than a 14 but there are occasions. We are headed north to a remote location for some fishing on Friday. It should be peaceful (no cell coverage) and lots of fun. Have a great rest of your week and I’ll catch up with you when I’m back. Take care. ☕️
That is a cool looking fly, Matt I would have thought that the little gnat would have out fished the hopper. Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes That is a gorgeous river and some nice sunfish Thanks for the video, Matt
Personally I like a challenge so will tie this with starling. I have several capes but talk about fragile. Let me know if you need any starling. I love your mindset on your fishing trip. Fly fishing for me has always been a great stress reliever. And even fly tying because I’m thinking about where I’m going to go next. I know you keep a tight schedule. Thank you so much for your dedication and diligence. I will always be in your debt.
Hey Matt, try tying it in a 24! I was just on the Taylor river here in Colorado an thats what they wanted. Caught 7 in an hour and a half. Got to use the small neck hackleand get 2 wraps. Use white synthetic for the wing.
Holy cow Glenn! The smallest hooks I own are 22s and I'm rarely adventurous enough to even try tying or fishing with them. :-) I don't think I could even see anything smaller!
I cant see them either. Can barely see a 22, but there are times here in Colorado when they are rising to something you cant see or that you can and it is tiny. Thats when I go to 22 and 24. My bud even ties 26's. Not me😂. Have a great day.
Good Morning Sir Matt, a really good looking fly. I always enjoy the footage you show us. I'm glad you had fun, I can't wait to have some like that. Take care my friend.😊
One of the small streams I fish is stocked by the state, but some days all i get is sunfish, golden shiners or small grass pickerel. It's still fun and as you said great to be out there instead of working. Enjoy your day. Love your videos.
I save chicken feathers all the time. As well as any others I find. Sadly, I had a quail pass away unexpectedly. I did save some of his plumage though.
Any days out fishing are the best days. The fish are just the cherry on top. This one will be a hard tie for me. The eyes and hands aren't what they used to be. But I'll give it a go!
🪰🔍👀Way to small for me Matt. It reminds me of the dial-a-box flies I use to buy at Kmart as a kid. But those were larger wets. I didn't have chickens in the backyard but pigeon feathers for quills, etc, were easy pickings from under the eves where they would roost. Not to be confused with "roast", unless you're talking about squab, which I'm sure my grandfather and his ancestors ate. Sorry, I must be hungry, thinking about the little beef braciole my grandmother made, roasted in the oven or even better on the charcoal grill. As kids we called them "birdies" because the toothpicks holding them together looked like little roast chicken 🍗🍗legs. Ok Matt, apologize for the tangent, your videos inspire me in many ways! 😉👍
Good day sir. The black gnat was one of the first flies I used when first starting my journey in the world of fly fishing. It was the first fly to catch me a landlocked salmon in a stream back in Maine. Thanks for sharing.
My hat is off to you on tying those small flies. Well done. My eyes and hands just don’t get that small work done anymore.
Thanks again for sharing the fishing footage. So glad you got into enjoying your day off. Just an incredible setting. The quiet and Gods great creations.
The color of those Sunfish is enough beauty you would have to enjoy that.
Thanks for a great video Matt. Appreciate it my friend.
This is one of my go to patterns for a long time.
That insect you called a gnat is a flying ant guy. Notice the 3 distinct body sections with wings extended waaaay past the body. Flying ant.
As a side, fall fish and creek chubs are 2 different species, also that was a Redbreast Sunfish that you caught.
Looks like someone I need to add to my fly box ! Thank you for another great video!
Thank you for another classic. I find there's something comforting (and connecting) about tying flies my family five generations before me would have used. And as we all know, a bad day out fishing is better than a good day in the office!
Great attitude Matt. It reminds me of when I was a kid and just happy to catch anything and be out fishing. Thanks.
You got that right Mel! Like they say, any day fishing...
Fun times. I love catching sunfish. Of course, bigger is funner. 😂 Great video, thanks for sharing, Matt.
Nice Matt☕️☕️
Good bug, and that looked great walking water and I know about the two hour drives. 🤪
Any day that you can get out fishing or just walking a creek scouting for the next trip is a good day. Take Care
You always do a great job your vids are very informative you tell what hook and size and a very detailed material list your one of the best on here kudos Matt your friend Mark
The biting gnat (black fly) in NE is a very nasty, annoying insect. However, they are so common in woodsy areas that they make a great dry or wet fly. I particularly liked using this pattern in lakes, behind beaver dams or in slow pools in rivers. Message on a fundraising T-shirt sold by the E. Millinocket Fire Dept: “Please don’t pet the black flies or ride the mosquitoes.
Psst, Matt, I think the wings are a tad long but they look really cool.
Haha! Thanks Bob. I think you're right on the wing length. And I even thought about it when tying them on, but then thought that the ones in my fly box had long wings. But then again they were probably too long too! As far as biting, these things didn't bite at all as far as I can tell. I had plenty of them land on my bare skin and no bites. But also- another commenter mentioned that these may have been flying ants and not gnats. He could very well be right, they did have some segmented bodies kind of like ants.
You're also right about this working on slow, still water. I remember chasing one fish on the Savage for about 20 minutes. Right up against a rock ledge, where the water was barely moving. Several ant patterns got some looks but no take. But I somehow I didn't spook him. He kept feeding and eventually, trying 7x tippet with this gnat pattern and I caught him. He wasn't huge, maybe 12 inches or so, but it was the thrill of the hunt. This was probably five years ago and I think about that catch every time I'm near that stretch. :-)
Long or not, the look of the wing still looks really cool the way it’s shaped. There are lots of non-biting gnats. I think Ivar has them in Iceland. The insect in your picture could be a flying ant but I think the fish would take this pattern as either insect. This is the first pattern I tried when fishing beaver dams in Maine.
Good morning Matt. ☕️time. Good pattern that black gnat. I have recently implemented a rule. Anything smaller than a sixteen I purchase. It’s much easier on my old lookers and more enjoyable for me at the bench. 😁. I don’t often use anything smaller than a 14 but there are occasions. We are headed north to a remote location for some fishing on Friday. It should be peaceful (no cell coverage) and lots of fun. Have a great rest of your week and I’ll catch up with you when I’m back. Take care. ☕️
That is a cool looking fly, Matt
I would have thought that the little gnat would have out fished the hopper. Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes
That is a gorgeous river and some nice sunfish
Thanks for the video, Matt
Personally I like a challenge so will tie this with starling. I have several capes but talk about fragile. Let me know if you need any starling. I love your mindset on your fishing trip. Fly fishing for me has always been a great stress reliever. And even fly tying because I’m thinking about where I’m going to go next. I know you keep a tight schedule. Thank you so much for your dedication and diligence. I will always be in your debt.
Nice old pattern matt tks for sharing any fish caught on a fly u tied is fun tight lines 😊
Looks simple, but your skills make it so! Thanks, Matt!
You’re right Matt. Life’s too short not to enjoy a day fishing.
Thank you matt looks awesome.
Another awesome fly video, Matt! Thank you for sharing! Tight lines! 😎🎣
Hey Matt, try tying it in a 24! I was just on the Taylor river here in Colorado an thats what they wanted. Caught 7 in an hour and a half. Got to use the small neck hackleand get 2 wraps. Use white synthetic for the wing.
Holy cow Glenn! The smallest hooks I own are 22s and I'm rarely adventurous enough to even try tying or fishing with them. :-) I don't think I could even see anything smaller!
I cant see them either. Can barely see a 22, but there are times here in Colorado when they are rising to something you cant see or that you can and it is tiny. Thats when I go to 22 and 24. My bud even ties 26's. Not me😂.
Have a great day.
Good Morning Sir Matt, a really good looking fly. I always enjoy the footage you show us. I'm glad you had fun, I can't wait to have some like that. Take care my friend.😊
Damn good looking fly, bud always enjoy learning new ways to tie
One of the small streams I fish is stocked by the state, but some days all i get is sunfish, golden shiners or small grass pickerel. It's still fun and as you said great to be out there instead of working. Enjoy your day. Love your videos.
Great video, thanks for sharing!
That's a good one, Matt.
Good bug thanks for sharing Matt
Neat looking flies
Neat little fly Matt. I'm thinking you might even be able to make the body of yarn. Keep the good stuff coming.
Great fly and a must in any dry fly tackle. You sure whipped it up way too easy!! 🙃. Tough for me at those sizes. Thx Matt
You and me both Clyde!
I save chicken feathers all the time. As well as any others I find. Sadly, I had a quail pass away unexpectedly. I did save some of his plumage though.
Love it. I'm still new at tying. I can't mess it up.😀
Thanks for the note! And welcome to the sport my friend. :-)
Thanks Matt 😄 😄😄
Great video
It is a small hook. The smallest I've seen tied is a 32, I have no idea how it could catch anything. The Black Gnat is a good pattern.
Any days out fishing are the best days. The fish are just the cherry on top. This one will be a hard tie for me. The eyes and hands aren't what they used to be. But I'll give it a go!
👍🏻👍🏻
What wait? You grabbed the feather from a chicken in your backyard? Need a video on that Matt! Using materials from your backyard.
Haha! I just might do that Hank. I could put the GoPro on my head one night when I go out to check on the chickens and rabbits. :-)
🪰🔍👀Way to small for me Matt. It reminds me of the dial-a-box flies I use to buy at Kmart as a kid. But those were larger wets. I didn't have chickens in the backyard but pigeon feathers for quills, etc, were easy pickings from under the eves where they would roost. Not to be confused with "roast", unless you're talking about squab, which I'm sure my grandfather and his ancestors ate. Sorry, I must be hungry, thinking about the little beef braciole my grandmother made, roasted in the oven or even better on the charcoal grill. As kids we called them "birdies" because the toothpicks holding them together looked like little roast chicken 🍗🍗legs. Ok Matt, apologize for the tangent, your videos inspire me in many ways! 😉👍