Black Stones and Zonker Pie

Adam Russo, from Lancaster PA, introduced himself by email, thanking Rivertop Rambles for being an interesting and informative blog. The young fly-fisherman offered to tie a few of his Zonker specimens that he’s found to be especially effective in north-central Pennsylvania (where he and his family have a cabin) and send them to me as a token of his thanks. That sounded interesting and I gladly sent him my address.

Adam’s Zonker (1 of 4)

The Zonkers soon arrived, and I was eager to try them out. Adam fishes this weighted streamer fly with both floating and sink tip lines, depending on stream conditions. He says the pattern works well all year round and is very easy to tie. He wraps the hook with wire, adding weight, then ties the strip in at the bend. Next, he wraps the fur strip toward the head, securing the business with several whip finishes and a touch of glue.

a winter tree, not me

I stepped into the Allegheny on a chilly day with the water running a little high and off-color. I gave the Grey Zonker a cast upstream, then thought of Adam Russo who was hoping to come up to his cabin in early March and maybe find some action with the Black Stonefly hatch. It wasn’t long before I hooked and lost a nice fish on the Zonker fly, a pattern I hadn’t used in several years.

I left the river pool and headed downstream, passing a couple of fishermen setting up for lunch at their truck. One of the guys said hello and I probably acknowledged them with a similar greeting. Minutes later I was ready to cast a Woolly Bugger into the flow when one of the fly anglers approached me with a “Hey, are you Walt?” greeting and, allowing that I was, I felt the world shrink to about the size of a #8 Zonker. “You must be Adam,” I said. He and his fishing pal had driven north a little earlier than planned.

headwaters

The guys had done pretty well fishing on the upper Allegheny, catching at least one big brown, if not more. Before I met the fellas, I knew I was fishing behind them because I’d seen fresh tracks in the snow, and later I told them, given their expertise, I was lucky to have landed a couple of standard-sized hatchery trout. We had a good conversation at their truck. Before we headed off in separate directions, I thanked the guys for reaching out, and promised Adam I would stay in touch and let him know how the flies and fishes got along.

Two days later I was on the stream again, and this time the weather was downright wonderful, with a partly clouded sky and air temps in the high 60s. Pretty nice for a February day in northern Pennsylvania. Buckets were getting hung on maple trees for sap collection. And the first Black Stoneflies were appearing above the headwaters.

Stonefly hatches are a sign of spring in my neck of the forest. Fishing was slow. I didn’t catch a thing while casting with a stonefly nymph, but several nice trout, including a wild and colorful brown, went for a scrambled Egg fly and one of Adam’s Zonker specials. I enjoyed thinking I was gonna serve the winter fishes a slice of Zonker pie, a chocolate-colored, messy-looking tidbit that’s designed for well-fed trout expecting to expand their dietary horizons. One brown took the offering as it swam enticingly down the current.

a wild one from the woods

I really like the way these flies dance in the water. They exude the natural motions of a slimy spring thing loosened by the rain and snowmelt.

Like a waiter in a restaurant, I served a Zonker for dessert. The customer took it and fought me hard. I brought the trout to my hand, said I’m sorry, and let it go. I never got a tip.

Adam’s Zonker (2 of 4)

Waiter!