The Sulphur Smoke Jumper

The Sulphur Smoke Jumper is a simple variation on the general Smoke Jumper pattern, originally credited to Mike Hoiness. This variation came through trial and error fishing the upper South Holston for spooky fish. This fly has become my go-to sulphur emerger pattern during the sulphur hatch on both the South Holston and Watauga Rivers. It is also my go-to pattern late season, when fish are spooky due to low water and a summer of fishing pressure… actually it has been my go-to pattern for years.

Fishing the Sulphur Smoke Jumper

I fish this fly on a long leader (at least 12ft) and with 7x tippet. You can fish this fly as a solo dry fly, and the fluoro fibre in the wing helps it to stand out on the water. However, my favorite way to fish it is behind a Puff Plus. Usually I use 18” to 24” of 7x tippet. The Puff Plus (particularly in a Size 16) adds additional visibility, is a check on what the fish prefer, and I feel like it can help to trick fish.

Fish’s Internal Monologue: I’m not going to take that big gaudy bug, surely it’s a fake… I’ll take that little emerger instead… Ouch!

Make sure to dust it heavily with a good desiccant like HighNDry or Frog’s Fanny.