Drifter’s Punk Perch

Materials

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Hook Daiichi 1710 #6-16
Thread Danville Black 6/0
Head Danville Black 6/0
Body U.V. Light Olive Ice Dubbing and some U.V. Black Ice Dubbing mixed in
Tail Brown Olive Marabou
Collar (Gills) Uni-Thread Red 8/0
Ribbing Copper Wire
Sacramento Perch
Sacramento Perch
Tom Loe

Tom Loe

Punk Perch

Local Guide, Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters, uses a variation of the Mohair Leech pattern with his “Punk Perch”. Rather than using Angora Goat or Seal Dubbing, Tom uses Ice Dubbing which is a finely cut mylar.

Ice Dubbing

The Punk Perch is tied somewhat differently with a thin rear portion to the body and a much longer dubbed upper body in which the Ice Dubbing fibers reach the base of the tail. Use a dubbing loop and adjust the amount of material so that the bulk will be wound nearest the forward portion of the shank. As you twist the loop, the material will also be somewhat tighter around the rear portion of the shank and this will assist in the profile.

Sacramento Perch fry

In the water, this profile is really good for mimicking a Sacramento perch fry which is a prevalent food source for large trout within Lake Crowley. Keep the pattern less than 2 inches since the trout will not feed on larger patterns due to the sharp fin spines that develop on the fry. The translucent effect of the material gives real life to the fly.

2X Long Wet Hook

The hook is a 2x long wet fly. He also incorporates a thin red thread collar behind the head for gills which can be a strong triggering mechanism to the fly as an alarmed baitfish with it’s gills flashing. Use a Brassie diameter wire for size 6-12 and a Small diameter wire for the smaller hook sizes in 12-16. This pattern was developed in late 1990’s. It replaced many of the matuka type streamers that were being used at the time and was presented with a slow pulsating retrieval. The Punk Perch has since been adapted to jig style hooks with a small bead on a wire extension such as a pin and is known as a Balanced Punk Perch.

Presentation

The presentation is with an indicator allowing the pattern to sit within the water column as a stunned baitfish. See: Balanced Leech. Both patterns, the Punk Perch and the Balanced Punk Perch are equally effective.

Another Variation for Daphnia

“Agent Orange” is another variation that Tom Loe prefers to use when Daphnia are the main food source at times during the summer at Crowley Lake. The body material is the SLF dubbing that Davy Wotton and Poul Jorgensen made famous. Dave Whitlock submitted his blends to SLF to match his patterns. It is an excellent synthetic blend with many highlight colors of Reds, Orange, Blues, and Yellows. Tom ties this material the same as his Punk Perch with the longer fibers closest to the eye. The hook used is a dry fly hook with a wide gap and downturned eye. Daphnia are microscopic sand fleas and this fly represents a cloud of them. The fly is fished motionless under an indicator. This pattern is also improved by using a “balanced” approach.

Variations

Drifter's Punk Perch-Light
Drifter’s Punk Perch-Light

Drifter’s Punk Perch-Light

Hook Daiichi 1710 #6-16
Thread Danville Black 6/0
Head Danville Black 6/0
Body Pearl Ice Dubbing
Tail Gray Marabou with Silver Krystal flash strands
Collar (Gills) Uni-Thread Red 8/0
Ribbing Gold Wire
Drifter's Agent Orange
Drifter’s Agent Orange

Drifter’s Agent Orange

Hook TMC 100 #10-16
Thread Uni-thread Black 8/0
Head Uni-thread Black 8/0
Body UV Scud/Shrimp Dubbing, Shrimp Pink and UV Scud/Shrimp Dubbing, Fl. Orange 50:50 mix
Tail Burnt Orange Marabou
Collar (Gills) Uni-Thread Red 8/0
Ribbing Small Gold Wire
Drifter's Punk Perch Variation
Drifter’s Punk Perch Variation

Drifter’s Punk Perch Variation

Hook Daiichi 1710 #6-16
Thread Veevus 10/0 White
Head Veevus 10/0 White
Body Arizona Simi Seal, Light Crowley Perch
Tail Olive Marabou
Collar (Gills) Arizona Simi Seal, Burgundy
Ribbing X-Small Silver Wire
Drifter's Balanced Punk Perch
Drifter’s Balanced Punk Perch

Drifter’s Balanced Punk Perch

Hook Daiichi 4640 #10-16
Thread Veevus 10/0 White
Extension Balance Fly Pin
Head Xtra Small Nickel Conehead with 5/32
Body Arizona Simi Seal, Light Crowley Perch
Tail Gray Marabou with Silver Krystal flash strands
Ribbing X-Small Silver Wire