Even the world’s most effective fly patterns can be overfished. That’s
just what professional fly fisherman, guide, and fly tyer, Andy Burk,
found when fishing with Pheasant Tail Nymphs on Northern California’s
dramatic Fall River.
In
the face of this observation, Burk quietly made his way home, and began
to tweak and tinker with different fly patterns that would be more
effective on his water, and ultimately would catch his clients more
fish. His creation incorporates a more realistic nymph shape, flashier
material, and new dubbing blends that more closely mimic the natural
hues and transparency of real insects.
Burk’s Crystal
Hunchback Sulfer is a striking imitation of the Sulfer mayfly in its
emerger life stage. Burk designed this fly with attractive contrast,
color, flash, and movement in mind; it’s got a characteristic humped
scud-style hook, dark wing pads, and employs a crystal dubbing that
lends an it underwater realism that trout can’t resist!
Specifications:
- This fly pattern was developed by professional fly tyer Andy Burk of Reno, Nevada
- Design was specifically developed for use on the dramatic Fall River in Northern California
- Sulfer imitation in the emerger life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Fish on a dead drift in medium to fast water; perfect for riffles and pocket water
- Play with line tension during the drift to simulate a nymph struggling to emerge
- High stick nymphing techniques will also yield good results in fast water situations
- SIZE 16
When and Where to Fish Burk’s Crystal Hunchback Emerger Sulfer
This
mayfly emerger can be fished as either an impressionistic fly pattern
when searching for trout or as a realistic imitation when matching the
hatch. When searching, fish this fly in the medium to fast water of
riffles and current seams. When fishing the Sulfer hatch, try this
emerger pattern out just prior to or during the hatch of adult duns.
How to Fish Burk’s Crystal Hunchback Emerger Sulfer
Fish
this fly on a dead drift through faster riffles and pocket water, as
these nymphs thrive in well oxygenated environments. Because of the
Sulfer’s long and difficult emergence, presentation is important. Play
with variations in line tension as you drift this emerger. The subtle
movements and twitches created by varying your slack line during the
drift can imitate the emergent insect’s struggle quite well. You can
also find success by employing a high stick nymphing technique when
fishing this fly pattern through really fast water.
The Sulfer
The
Sulfer (Ephemerella dorothea) is a mayfly that enjoys a healthy and
wide distribution in trout water across North America. The Sulfer can
be an important hatch in the rivers and streams of the northeastern
United States. The Sulfer follows the life stages of a typical mayfly
life cycle and generally hatches in a narrow window from the end of May
through the middle weekend in July. Nymphs tend to be brownish colored
with banded legs and adult duns are a rich sulfer yellow through the
abdomen, wings, and tails.
Sulfer Emerger Life Stage
During
their nymph life stage, these crawlers are commonly found inching along
rocky and debris-littered river bottoms. These nymphs thrive in
moderate to fast water. Look for emergers in medium to fast moving
riffles, pocket water, and longer runs. Water temperatures should be
cool, but not too cold. The densest populations of Sulfer emergers are
most often observed in areas where water clarity is high. Sulfer
emergers are quite vulnerable for a considerable amount of time prior
to actually hatching into adult duns. Trout can easily nab these poor
swimmers as they struggle to shed their nymphal shuck. Sulfer emergers
frequently get trapped or “hung in their shuck,” failing to discard it
completely. As a result of this failed emergence, they are exposed as
food to hungry trout, making the emerger life stage of the Sulfer
important to understand and imitate.
About the Tyer: Andy Burk
Andy
Burk has been fly fishing all his life and loves to share his
experience, ideas, creativity, and techniques with anyone who’ll
listen. He’s a tremendously successful angler who has a big personality
and lots of fun wherever he is. A well-known professional fly designer
for Umpqua Feather Merchants, Andy has developed a cult following among
fly tyers by willingly sharing many of his best secrets at traveling
fly tying shows and in-shop demonstrations. Andy has recently begun to
reach many others by using 21st Century technology to his advantage.
Thanks to Andy and You Tube, Internet-savvy fly tyers and fly anglers
from all corners of the globe can now bring his fly tying tips into
their living rooms and offices. Andy continues to develop new ideas
from his home in Reno, Nevada, and is will continue to be an asset to
the fly fishing industry for decades to come.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather
Merchants is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific
supplier of hand tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and
materials, and they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of
the art headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm
shift in the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to
its specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua
is poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As
you may or may not know, we're the largest producer of quality
hand-tied flies in the world. We also make available through your local
fly shop a wide array of the finest fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At
Umpqua we offer everything the angler needs to a have a first class
fishing experience. (Everything that is, but the water and the fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The
idea first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back
in 1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known
for his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each
year for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize
how fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis
established the first of what would eventually be five separate
fly-tying “factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally
in Thailand. The primary focus at each of these factories was on
producing the very best fishing flies possible, constructed of the very
best materials available. From the beginning, the quantity of flies
produced was secondary to the quality and excellence of each fly
pattern. These high standards were assured by the personal involvement
of the fly designers themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the Umpqua production fly tiers. Today,
you will find no flies more skillfully tied than those available from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of
royalty payments, to reward professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty
Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely
good patterns.
The Result: Today, Umpqua produces umpteen
thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic midge imitations to the huge
patterns favored by marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" – you’ll
see for yourself.”