Published Oct 7. 2011 - 12 years ago
Updated or edited Dec 9. 2016

Grantham's Sedge

Grantham Sedge was originally designed by Ron Grantham in 1993. It is a unique solution to creating a fly which produces a substantial wake without having to be bulky or riffle hitched. Ron Grantham writes "When used with a floating fly line this unsinkable fly will stay on the surface as long as it is moving

Dustin - Dustin Kovacvich, the head guide from the Nicolas Dean lodge who started my quest for a fly he showed me
Sedges - A bunch of Grantham Sedges i different sizes
BC fishing - My good friend Ole fishing in BC
Skeena
Martin Joergensen - Chad Black/Nicolas Dean Lodge

While researching the article about the Steelhead Beetle, lodge manager Chad Black first sent me a description of the Grantham Sedge based on my feeble description of the fly I was looking for. And the similarity between the two flies is pretty obvious, not least owing to the weed trimmer wire and the deer hair wing. You could say that the Steelhead Beetle is a Grantham Sedge with some foam added.

History

The Grantham Sedge was originally designed by Ron Grantham in 1993. It is a unique solution to creating a fly which produces a substantial wake without having to be bulky or riffle hitched. Ron Grantham writes "When used with a floating fly line this unsinkable fly will stay on the surface as long as it is moving."

The overhanging body will press the fly to the surface, and in the surface it will be very visible leaving a clear wake and having a good profile thanks to its large wing.
Chad Black of the Nicolas Dean Lodge writes: "Well known Skeena angler Rob Brown introduced us to this pattern one day on the Lower Copper River. We now use this pattern for the majority of our skated fly steelhead fishing. It has a substantially better hook up to rise ratio than most other skating flies."
He continues: "It's been Dustin's ‘go-to' surface fly ever since, whenever water conditions are good and Steelhead are aggressive."
For trout try smaller hook sizes, and you have a very buoyant skating caddis.

Grantham Sedge, Ron's recipe
Pattern type: 
Steelhead fly
Originator: 
Ron Grantham
Materials: 
Hook
6, 8 or 10 Mustad 7957B, 7948A or 94840 down-eye, bronzed, forged, regular length, or equivalent
Thread
dark brown; (optional: any colour)
Extension
.063 inches (1.5 mm) nylon monofilament as used on lawn edgers
Tag
brown dubbing (optional: any colour)
Wing
natural deer hair (optional: any colour), length of body
Skill level/difficulty: 
Easy
Instruction: 

Grantham Sedge, Dustin's recipe
Pattern type: 
Steelhead fly
Originator: 
Ron Grantham/Dustin Kovacvich
Materials: 
Hook
Daiichi 1720 sizes 10, 8, 6, & 4
Thread
Brown olive
Extension
Weed trimmer cord extended past the eye of the hook
Tag
Burnt orange dubbing
Body
Medium brown dubbing
Wing
Stiff elk or moose hair
Head
Trimmed wing hair
Skill level/difficulty: 
Medium
Instruction: 

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