FE February Trout Fly of the Month: Black Nose Dace

February 2011

  Fishing Enthusiast Fly of the Month

Black Nose Dace

The Black Nose Dace is a well traveled streamer first tied by author and angler Art Flick. Mr. Flick is the author of Art Flick’s Master Fly-Tying Guide (coauthored by Dave Whitlock), and the influential Art Flick’s New Streamside Guide, published in 1988.  Flick is also noted for his practice of planting willow trees along the banks of his favorite river, a practice continued today by a group of East Coast anglers.  As with his books, Flick’s Black Nose Dace is a pattern recommended by expert anglers from coast to coast.

The Black Nose Dace is an imitation of the 2 to 2.5 inch dace minnow.  The dace is most often found in small, rapidly flowing streams with gravel or rocky bottoms, but rarely in lakes or ponds.  Though not often found in still water, many anglers suggest that the Black Nose Dace is actually a viable still water selection.  Fishing the Black Nose Dace is very forgiving.  Cast your fly across the stream and allow it to naturally drop to the bottom.  When the fly reaches the end of its drift, retrieve with a fast, slow, or erratic combination.  From our experience, we have found that minnows generally swim with short bursts punctuated with pauses.  This habit leads us to believe that an erratic retrieve will produce the best results.

FLY TYING PATTERN:

Hook: 12

Tail: Red yarn

Head: Black

Body: Silver Tinsel

Wing: White, black, and brown bucktail

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