Trico Spinner

Materials

to Order Material, click the link

Hook TMC 100 #20-22
Thread Veevus 8/0 Black
Body Light Olive Turkey Biot
Thorax Black Superfine Dubbing
Tail Medium Dun Microfibbetts
Wing Fl. White or Cream Antron Yarn
Trico Spinner
Trico Spinner

Trico Spinner

The Trico Spinner Fall can be the highlight of any fly fishing excursion within the Sierra. This activity is found usually in areas of slow moving creeks and streams as well as lakes. The males hatch during the night and remain near the stream banks. During the early morning, the females will hatch and become sexually active. A swarm of activity between the males and the females takes place , usually around 8:30 am. Soon afterwards, the males start to die off and will litter the water surface. Sometime around 11:00 am, the females return to the water to lay eggs and die off too. This is the time to switch from a male Trico spinner pattern to a female spinner pattern. The males can be distinguished by a black abdomen, the females tend to have a more pale olive abdomen. This hatch requires a long fine leader and drag-free drifts.

Vince Marinaro

Vince Marinaro

The use of fibers for the spent wings was an innovation of Vince Marinaro, who noted that the use of fibers condenses the water between them and creates streaks of light when viewed from below the surface. Barry Beck improved on the pattern by introducing synthetic material such as Antron, many tiers prefer to use this material in a light grey color rather than white. The pattern I have depicted here is one tied by John Betts, utilizing a light Olive turkey biot for the abdomen. Perfect for the female Trico Spinner. The wings do not have to be tied horizontal as many spinners have a slight tilt upwards.

Variations

Trico Spinner (Male)
Trico Spinner (Male)

Male Trico Spinner

Hook TMC 100 #20-22
Thread Black 8/0
Body Black Thread
Thorax Black Thread
Tail Medium Dun Microfibbetts
Wing Med. Dun CDC Hackle
Trico Spinner (Female)
Trico Spinner (Female)

Female Trico Spinner

Hook TMC 100 #20-22
Thread Uni Thread 8/0 Gray
Body Gray Uni-thread 8/0
Thorax Black Superfine Dubbing
Tail Medium Dun Microfibbetts
Wing Pearl Krystal Flash
Trico Spinner (Female)
Trico Spinner (Female)

Female Trico Spinner

Hook TMC 100 #20-22
Thread Black Uni-thread 8/0
Body Baetis Olive dyed Quill
Thorax Black Superfine Dubbing
Tail Medium Dun Microfibbetts
Wing Cream Antron Yarn
Trico Spinner (Male)
Trico Spinner (Male)

Male Trico Spinner

Hook TMC 100 #20-22
Thread Black Uni-thread 8/0
Body Black Turkey Biot
Thorax Black Superfine
Tail Medium Dun Microfibbetts
Wing Fl. White Antron Yarn