The Slate Drake | Backyard Hatches Video Series

Slate Drake blog article - www.backyardan...
The beginning of the slate drake hatch marks the end of the spring hatch season. While these insects rarely provide the blanket hatches that make sulfurs or green drakes so famous, the slate drake can still bring a lot of trout to the net! Due to their hatching behavior and large size, fish seem to key in on these fascinating mayflies. This video will provide information on key hatch dynamics and how understanding the hatch can translate into how you fish it. The slate drake was a fascinating bug to research and shoot a video on so we hope you enjoy this video as much as we enjoyed filming it!
Wishing you heavy hatches,
Doug and Dan
BackyardAngling.com
Music by our friend Matt Doering. Check him out at www.mattdoerin...
#SlateDrake #Isonychia #BackyardHatches
Gear Used

• Filming gear
o SonyA6000 - amzn.to/2FIBpLw
o GoPro Hero3, Hero3+, Hero4 - amzn.to/2FN712y
o Editing Software - amzn.to/2QNF54X
*These are Amazon Affiliate links
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[@jeffreymoore6701]

Nice work with a video that obviously took some time to put together. Very complete...love the closeup on insects and fly imitations as well as the fishing segments. Great work!

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed it! I hope to do more videos this year focusing on different hatches

[@SHH_Fishing]

Dude Killer Video...!!!!

[@ThisSentenceIsFalse]

I love people talking about bugs and flies. Looking forward to more of these types of videos in the future. So much potential and material for a series like this.

[@jdoza5184]

Appreciate that this video is much more than catching fish. The video quality is very good and I especially appreciate the time you take to educate us about the hatch, fly patterns recommended and method of fishing. Thank you, looking forward to future videos.

[@BackyardBassin]

I appreciate that! More videos to come this year. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching!

[@Paulpoission]

You guys make the best PA videos hands down.

[@BackyardBassin]

That means a lot! Thanks for watching and thanks for the support!

[@gregoryc8208]

Well done guys! Informative, great cinematography and narrative. And lastly your love of fly fishing came thru loud and clear as it always does. I cant wait for the next episode!

[@BackyardBassin]

Really glad you enjoyed the video and thank you so much for the kind words!

[@kathywestcott9742]

Great to see you guys out on the water again learnt a lot about the slate grey drake thanks for sharing 🎣👍

[@BackyardBassin]

Thanks for watching! Glad you learned something from it!

[@keystoner1323]

From one Keystoner Flier and Tier to, two others. I can say that your channel is now my favorite one to watch fly fishing videos on! I look forward in watching many more of your videos and can’t wait to see what you guys post up on here as well on other social media outlets. Until then tight lines🎣🎣🐜🦗

[@BackyardBassin]

Wow, thank you for the great compliment! It's always so nice to hear good feedback about our platform. Plenty of videos to come in the future! Thanks for the support!

[@ronaldgarrett7864]

Very informative and great presentation on the progression of the slate drake hatch I think I’ll concentrate more on this hatch thanks and good fishing

[@hankingram6251]

Little late to the party on this one but I am glad I found it. This is one of the most informative videos I have ever found on Slate Draks. Well done

[@jimm5119]

Great job guys!

[@soccermainia789]

Excellent, I appreciate how detailed you are. Thanks

[@marks.5288]

Excellent format and instruction in your video. Have been following these bugs for years. Thank you 😊.

[@BackyardBassin]

Really glad you like it! Thank you for the feedback, as we'll try to incorporate a similar format in future Backyard Hatches videos.

[@matthewwolf170]

Another great video by you guys. Great commentary and editing. Looking forward to the next one.

[@BackyardBassin]

Thanks, Matt! Really appreciate it!

[@johngamache-t6q]

I just found your site . I love correct and informative content. Keep up the good work.

[@paulsnyder681]

Absolutely excellent video!!

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!

[@robertvoogt1417]

Greetings from Cape Town South Africa. Good vid... hoping to in coming year or two have op to visit PA and fish some streams. Keep on producing guys!

[@BackyardBassin]

You won't be disappointed with what PA has to offer! Thanks for commenting!

[@bensnyder5890]

Amazing video and excellent work . Now it's time to tie some flies.

[@garybon.]

Really enjoy this series. Great production, explanations and good video quality. Would like to see how you tie the iso nymph. Keep up the great work!

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying the series! We'll be sure to keep putting out more videos. As for the tying video, we are currently working in launching a second channel that focuses on fly tying and will be sure to include a video on the iso nymph!

[@wjb442]

You guys do a great job with your videos. Very enjoyable and educational. Congratulations and good luck with your new website - I look forward to checking it out! Keep up the great work!!

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching and thanks for the support!

[@finchhaden7016]

Good job. Fun hatch. Thanks.

[@beo77]

Nice camera work fellas! Great info.

[@BackyardBassin]

Much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@terp53]

Great educational video. Thanks 👍🏼

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@curtisteele5499]

I enjoyed your video. I plan to tie some of these patters up for when I head to Nort Central Pa. in October. Thanks again. God Bless

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Definitely give them a try!

[@0074craig]

Another Great Video guys !

[@jeremyvelkoff1487]

Good job…. Keep up the good good work

[@edmiller4149]

Iso’s are important on the AuSable in Michigan , too. Your presentation is best I’ve seen about this important bug here in Mid-west!!

[@BackyardBassin]

Agreed! Presentation is most important. I actually use a size 12 Adam's most of the time and it works just as well as the Iso. Thanks for watching!

[@InspiredbyKandS]

Lots of great useful information. Appreciated. 👍👍👍

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad it was helpful! Hope to do more videos like this in the near future!

[@tightliningmd]

Hey Doug! Learned a lot here. Glad to see the series back! I know Scott, from PA Woods and Water, fished Iso nymphs a lot. They are a SUPER productive pattern. Had no idea those were considered Slate Drakes. So it was cool to see the hole stage of their life explained and know how important they are. Great job as always man. Tight lines!

[@BackyardBassin]

Thanks Mike! Agreed! All those names makes it confusing. I actually never knew what an Iso was until just a few years ago. We grew up calling it the slate drake and I never really knew it by any other name haha. Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for the support as always!

[@patricksmith7839]

Great video guys, love this series.

[@BackyardBassin]

Awesome! Thanks, Pat. Really glad you are enjoying it! Unless I am lucky enough to hit some hatches this fall, it will be continued next year.

[@philipvankampen3394]

5:55 It looks like one of them Isos -- errr (PA boy) -- Slate Drakes is chowing down on one in the bottom of the frame.

[@WildBlueDiscovery]

Good job fellas! This takes a lot of time to film and edit! Good educational film. I definitely learned some things! Keep up the good work!

[@BackyardBassin]

Thanks, Craig! Really glad you enjoyed! I'm finding my editing time is becoming increasingly limited haha hope to get some more videos out soon. Hopefully we can hook up sometime this winter to fish!

[@kelseymehora7829]

Interesting video!

[@unsungangler3575]

Great video!

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!

[@fudd126]

Great job guys ... Learned a couple things. Maybe do the October caddis keep up the great work

[@BackyardBassin]

Thanks for the suggestion! We'll definitely try to hit that hatch!

[@schreinac4]

Great work! This might not produce a lengthy video but crawfish could be interesting.

[@BackyardBassin]

Great suggestion! Might be a good topic for a streamers video in the future. Thanks for the input and thanks for watching!

[@ianhoose4784]

Love this series! It would be cool to see a green drake video.

[@BackyardBassin]

We will definitely try doing one on the green drake next year! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@NK-je6xh]

@@BackyardBassin this better still be in the works for you guys, because it is for me!

[@thewinster5141]

Bravo ! Great job Doug and Dan . I really enjoy the Slate Drake hatch video and all your other videos . You guys do a great job of explaining the contents and slowing down to show the many details of the hatches. I will definitely check out backyardangling.com for more info. Thank you for your work on these educational and entertaining videos and contributing to this great fly fishing sport. I really appreciate it.

[@BackyardBassin]

Thank you for the kind words and nice comment! It means a lot to know that others are enjoying and finding value in the content that we put out. Be well!

[@troutmanoutdoors2332]

Absolutely loving this series, guys! Keep it up please.

[@BackyardBassin]

Really glad you're enjoying the series! It's been a fun one to film and has been very educational for us as we research prior to filming. Thanks for the support!

[@achannelabout]

Hey that book you guys included some shots of, what’s the name of that book? Looks like a really great bug book. Thanks for the videos!

[@bradbergstad5287]

I live by tho MO. From spring til fall what are the patterns? Love your guys videos! Keepem coming!

[@anthonyb1661]

Another great video, Doug. Any word on the TFO Drift? Thanks

[@BackyardBassin]

Unfortunately, I have yet to get my hands on one. I might know of one person who has experience with that rod so I'll try and reach out. Holsingers Fly Shop is a TFO dealer so they may be another good resource. Thanks for watching!

[@johnquinn34]

VERY nice job here guys! Super-informative and entertaining. Love the detail on the bugs and the flies. Hey - quick question - what was the tiny nymph flitting around with the ISO’s? Keep up the good work!!

[@BackyardBassin]

Really glad you enjoyed the video! As for the nymph, I am not totally sure... Based on the size I can only guess and say a small BWO or possibly a blue quill, but that is only a guess.

[@innovativeatavist159]

This is great information...but I'm surprised you didn't include the materials for those flies anywhere in the video or the blog post. For the nymph....what material are you using for that dorsal stripe? Does the abdomen have a rib? Have you bent that hook upwards or do you buy them like that? What's your preferred material for that collar hackle? Are you fishing it weighted or is that a glass bead (since it's a dry-dropper)?

[@BackyardBassin]

These are great questions! I am still refining this pattern but will do a separate video and blog post in the future on how to tie this. As for your questions: -Dorsal stripe is a strand of white thread. It is secured with a rib for the abdomen. -for the collar hackle, I actually used starling feathers that I had on hand but dyed black or dark brown hen hackle would be fine too. -i tie them both weighted and lightly-weighted. Ive found that the light ones can be supported by a slate drake dry since it is a larger fly. Hope this answers all your questions!

[@linocatucci]

Fantastic videos guys! Love them all. Are you going to Montana next year?

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Unfortunately, it looks like we won't be going out next year due to a lot that is already planned next summer. We still need to edit the videos from this summer though and hope to post them throughout the winter, so stay tuned for that! Have some really cool video that we're excited to share!

[@linocatucci]

@@BackyardBassin looking forward to your new videos. Makes the winter a little easier :)

[@daveklimtzak4487]

I noticed what looks like a tandem fly [sky blue color ] foam rig on your chest late in the video.. looks compact .. do u have a name brand ? Very good video. The wiggle/swimming nymph Is hot... you dont here fisherman using zug bugs for the iso that much any more . Why ?

[@BackyardBassin]

I'll try to link the foam patch here. They're super cheap which is nice. I got a pack of these from Jim's Sports Center in Clearfield, but the link is for Amazon. If the link doesn't work, I have a backup link in our blog on the Iso. Hope this works... I agree, I haven't see anyone use a zug bug in a long time (or use one myself for that matter). Seems to me that it would work well though!

[@BackyardBassin]

Link to foam rigging patch for dry-dropper amzn.to/3k27ShV

[@thebackpackblazer3973]

Love the cannel my friend. New sub from me. Tight lines.

[@BackyardBassin]

Thanks for the support! Glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@amur_fisherman]

*Super*

[@BackyardBassin]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching!

[@jdoza5184]

I’m interested in the net seine you use will you provide information about it. Thanks.

[@BackyardBassin]

I actually made this myself. I bought some mesh screen material from Jo-Ann Fabrics, cut it into the approximate shape to fit my net, sewed it together with some fishing braid and sewed some bungee into the bottom to secure it when I place it over the hoop of my net. Hope this helps!

[@kathywestcott9742]

Sorry meant Slate Drake👍