Rattletale Fly

Last season inspired by the success of an injured baitfish popper created by my friend John, I set out to create own.  While his fly used a traditional popper head reversed to impart a sliding action hidden with EP ultra brush.  Mine is much simpler and uses a folded foam head.  I've added a rattle within flexcord for added obnoxiousness.  The fly can be tied traditionally with the eyes at 3 and 9 o'clock or tied like this one, injured baitfish style,  with eyes at the 12 and 6.

I only was able to fish this fish once last year and it was toward the end of a bad season.  Managed only one rise that whole day but it was with this fly.  This season I wanted to see if this fly had any merit.  I can say I only stopped using this fly when I wanted to test another.  It works.  Tying instructions forthcoming.

Pennsylvania Fishing Recap Notes

Slate drake sporadic hatch through the day. If fishing a dry all day searching use a Slate Drake fly.

• Caddis early in morning.  
• Midge throughout the day.  
• Cahill/ BWO evenings  
• Hatch around 6-9pm

Set Indicator 1.5x the depth for nymphing.

Flies that worked:
Galloup midge size 18
Gurddle bug golden/brown size 6
Harrop's hairwing Cahill size 14
BWO emerger size 18
Slate drake meshwings size 8(?)
PT emerger size 14 (slate run)
Improved BWO comparadun size 18 with Krystal flash
Cahill emerger size 14 run

Smallmouth
Mice at night (Matt got one at around 10)
Webb’s folded foam three rises
Hard foam popper chartreuse/black or yellow
Quarter upstream pop along the way no need to pause