- The orange Guide Floater imitates the classic large salmon-colored stonefly found all over the country especially May and June on western rivers.
- The golden Guide Floater imitates the golden Stone typically hatching after the salmon-colored one and continues throughout the summer.
- The olive Guide Floater imitates the green grasshoppers prevalent through Summer and into a Fall.
All of our Guide Floaters are topped off with a patch of high visible crinkle hair to make the fly easy to see.
ENTOMOLOGY
Stoneflies are an entomological phenomenon, we get to see some of nature’s tiniest wonders in big scale. Stonefly nymphs take up to 3 years to molt, then hatch. They grow up to 2 inches long hen crawl to the rocks, river banks, and leaves to molt, shedding an exoskeleton and emerging big a beautiful like a butterfly. Trout tend to eat up to 80% of there food for year during this 2-3 week hatch, gorging themselves. Needless to say the fly-fishing becomes legendary. Next to the famous stonefly hatch, grasshoppers are one of anglers’ biggest delight. Warm Summer weather triggers massive hopper hatches on rivers throughout the world. Hoppers live in grasses on the rivers’ edge and many fall into the river hopping around by accident, enough for trout stack up and feed.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Anytime a river has stoneflies or hoppers our Guide Floaters will prevail. They are most fun fished alone, allowing for casts to land within a centimeter of the bank, this technique is most enjoyed from a boat. Guide Floaters are also ideal for dry-dropper fishing. The floating power Is so great with this fly it acts like an indicator, holding as many droppers as you want and still floating. This fly eliminates the need for an indicator while nymphing, especially when using our tungsten-beaded jig nymphs.
TESTIMONY
“The Guide Floater is the best stonefly the Black Canyon has ever seen.” —Matt Selig, 20-year veteran Colorado Guide
“The Guide Floater is crucial for hopper fishing anywhere, easy to see and floats like a cork.” —Mal Burks, 22-year veteran Colorado Guide
Meet the Guanaja Fly Tyers Guild. They are the primary supplier and designers for Guide Flies and the inspiration to pass on the art of fly tying to this incredibleisland community.
It started by recognizing the natural fly tying talent that existed in the community of Guanaja. The guides and family members of the Fly Fish Guanaja staff had learned the basics of fly tying and made creative flies for technical permit and bonefish that were not easily fooled.
Over the the last three years they have worked hard to perfect their craft. What began as an experiment in the beach front cabana, has turned into one of the greatest small business opportunities for the Island of Guanaja.
The team of fly tyers that make the Guanaja Fly Tyers Guild is instructed and led by Dave McKenna. They work daily to make the custom tied flies you can purchase through our website. They are self managed and work with an entrepreneurial approach to their business of fly tying.
Through the challenges of passing hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic, they have persevered and worked with pride to make the flies we offer here.
We all thank you sincerely for the support and orders that have helped bring the entire team through the hardest parts of the past year. We are very excited to share our newest flies and designs with you!