Friday, July 30, 2010

Dragon Fly Nymph

Here is another pattern that follows my K.I.S.S. rule (Keep It Simple Stupid). It's a dead simple, and only requires 3 materials: marabou; wire; and micro dumbbell eyes.  It you tie it on a 4X or 6X long streamer hook its also a damsel fly imitation (make sure to keep the body narrow).  It works in still and moving water.  You'll want to tie some in black and olive.  It works well in a Czech nymph rig as the point fly.















Hook – TMC 200R
Size – 8-12
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Brown
Head – 1/120 oz. Micro Lead Eyes
Tail and Body – Brown Marabou
Rib – .32 gauge Brown Parawire or Copper wire


1. Mash down barb and and create two thread humps for the dumb bell eyes.

  2. Secure your eyes with figure of eight and some superglue and tie in your wire.

3. Tie in marabou with 3 to 4 turns of thread.

4. Advance your thread to the eye of the hook.

5. Wrap your marabou forward and over the eyes.

 6.  Counter wrap your wire forward and tie off.

 7. Whip finish and your done.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Replacement.

I lost one of my favorite rod's in my divorce a few years back.  A Fenwick fiberglass fly rod.  My first fly rod was one I made when I was 17 from a yellow Fenwick Fenglass blank and single foot Fuji guides.  A real noodle stick, I still have it but haven't fished it in years.  Along the way I picked up a Fenwick fiberglass fly rod (now in the possession of my X).  So while on eBay I found a very clean Fenwick and pick-it up.  I have to give credit Cameron at "The Fiberglass Manifesto" who's blog I've been following and gotten me to thinking about replacing my old Fenwick.

 Original Tube showed some wear. 

But in side was a very clean fiberglass rod.
It looks like it was hardly used.

FF79 – 8' – 3 3/8 oz.  should through a 5wt quite nicely.

 

Feralite "Twist On - Twist Off.

Now I'd need to match it with a reel, may be a Pflueger or Martin.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Up close with a Baby Tarpon


It's been hot here in the east and I've not taken my boys trout fishing since the spring.  My youngest wanted to go to the Adventure Aquarium (which now seems to be a yearly event), so off to Camden, NJ.  I spent far to much time trying to get a good shot of the baby Tarpon.  "Yo! I'm swimming here..."

Saturday, July 24, 2010

"Rise to the natural fly" By Louis Rhead 1901


I found this beautiful Square Tail (a.k.a Brook Trout) in the Library of Congress digital collection.  It's by Louis Rhead and copyrighted 1901.  I think it is in the public domain but with the recent changes in the law you need a law degree to figure it out.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Free Fly Fishing Course in CT.

Orvis is offering free introductory fly fishing courses on Saturday, July 24 and 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at its 380 West Main Street (Route 44) Avon, CT location.

The course will include fly casting, knot tying, and equipment review. Each  students will receive a free $15 Orvis gift card and a free Trout Unlimited membership.

There are no fee but, pre-registration is required. Call 860-678-7900 to reserve your space or for more information.


The Farmington River (a tailwater) is only a stones through away, and the area offers many B&B's outdoor activities.  Personally I go up there every summer to stay at a friends house to fish, play some golf and escape the heat.  From my home it's only a 3 hour drive.  If you need a place to stay while up their I can recommend Paul Rossman B&B the Pine Brook B&B Paul is a world class fly tier,  guide, fellow artist and friend.

I came across this at  The Hartford Courant.

Tight Lines.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

POG Caddis Larva

When I was tying the "Ice Pink Larva" I started to play with some of the color combination here is a variation I'm calling the POG Caddis Larva (Purple, Orange, and Green).

Right now my local rivers are too hot to fish for trout.  I stop when the water temperature hit 70ยบ F, so I've not tested this pattern.  If you tie some up publish your results in the comment section.  Thank.



Hook – TMC 2457 or any heavy Grub hook
Size – 10-16
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black
Head – Hairline Ice Dub Caddis Green and Black Brass or Tungsten bead
Hot Spot – Hairline Ice Dub Orange
Abdomen – S.L.F. Prism Dub SLP074 - Hot Purple
Rib – .32 gauge Amethyst Parawire or any purple wire
Shell Back – Hairline 1/8" Tan Scud Back
Gills – White CDC



1. Mash down barb and bead and secure in wire.

 2. Tie in white CDC for Gills.


3. Tie in Tan Scud Back.


4. Dub Abdomen.


5. Dub Thorax.


6. Dub Head.


7. Pull Shell Back over the top and tie-off.


8. Advance your wire creating the rib.


9. Secure wire and whip finish.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Troutrageous Hobie Giveaway Winner

Believe it or not I won Troutrageous Hobie eye wear Giveaway.


I’d like to offer my many thanks to Troutrageous and Hobie for offering this great give-a-way. I received my Hobie Bayside Black/Photocopper sun glasses on Monday the 12th of July.

I must say Hobie makes a fine pair of sun glasses.  They fit like a glove wrapping around my face to block out any unwanted glare.  The shape glasses and the side shields do not restrict your peripheral vision. 

They cut down glare extremely well and are very bright, and provide great contrast to see those well-hidden trout.

I know with these Hobie Bayside sun/fishing glasses I’ll have less eye fatigue after a long day of fishing.

 Here I'm sporting the new shades (Mr. GQ I'm NOT).
Troutrageous Thank!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Fishers on the Guadalupe River

From my older post it is obvious I was down in Texas for the fourth.  Beside checking out the Gruene Outfitters and the Gruene Hall, I road along the Guadalupe River to the dam to check out the water and maybe wet a line.  I never did get a chance to wet a line but there was a hatch and some other fishers on the river.

 A local fisher.

 Another local in one of the better spots.

 A tube hatch, we get these on the Leigh River as well.

Some large fish at the out flow of the Dam on the Guadalupe River.

Some very large Carp.

There was only one thing I could do with local angles in the best spots,
no flies to match the hatch,  and large fish well out of reach. 
Find a local BBQ place and have some brisket and ribs.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Simms - Recalls Wading Staffs

I know a few anglers how have had problems with the newer Simms wading staff. Usually with the bungee cord. I use a competitors collapsible wading staff when I fly, but I'd rather a good piece of hickory it make less noise in the river.

According to Angling Trade Magazine staffs sold from March 1, 2010 through June 17, 2010 are being recalled by Simms.

Simms is voluntarily recalling staffs with item numbers AWS101152 or AWS101156 (UPC numbers 94264-10102 or 94264-10103). The afflicted staffs are the 52” and 56” in sterling silver and have a silver cable connector. To see photos of the recalled product go to http://www.simmsfishing.com/site/wadingstaffrecall.html

For more information email Simms at recall@simmsfishing.com or call (877) 789-6555 (toll free).

Personally I own Simms waders and clothing and think they make some of the best fishing products.

Monday, July 12, 2010

CE Crayfish - Crayfish Impression

This is my CE Crayfish (Close Enough) .  The Crayfish below was about a size 8.
When I design my flies I like to follow the K.I.S.S. rule (Keep It Simple Stupid).





Hook – Mustad 79580 or any Streamer Hook
Size – 2 - 12
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black
Head – Dazl-Eyes 5/32" Black
Weight – .32 non-toxic Lead wire
Body – Scintilla Pale Olive Green #3 Dubbing
Claws – Olive Marabou
Rib – .32 gauge Green Parawire or any green wire



1. Mash down barb and and create two thread humps for the dumb bell eyes.
  2. Secure your eyes with figure of eight and add your lead to hook shank.

 3. Wrap your lead forward and secure with thread.

  4. Tie in your green wire.

5. Tie in a dubbing ball at the bend.
6. Tie in a marabou tip to the far side of the hook.
7. Tie in a marabou tip to the near side of the hook.

  8. Trim off the waist.

 9. Dub in your body.

 10. Advance the wire with open turns. 

 10. Whip finish and your done. 

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Redington CPX Wader Give-A-Way at Feather-Craft Fly Fishing

Here is another give-a-way from Feather-Craft Fly Fishing.  The July give-a-way is a pair of Redington CPX Wader.  Go to http://flyfishinggiveaway.com/blog/ for info and to enter.

Good Luck.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Caddis Larva based on Bugs of the Underworld - Ice Pink Larva

This pattern owes it's inspiration to  Ralph and Lisa Cutter's DVD "Bugs of the Underworld".

Below is a photo off my TV of the Caddis Larva this pattern is based.  As you can see it is the pink abdomen, cream yellow thorax and black head, also this Caddis has white gills at the tail.

      This image is from "Bugs of the Underworld".



Hook – TMC 2457 or any heavy Grub hook
Size – 10-16
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black
Head – Hairline Ice Dub Olive Brown and Black Brass or Tungsten bead 
Thorax – Squirrel Blend Sulphue or any Yellow dubbing blend
Abdomen – Hairline Ice Dub UV Florescent Hot Pink
Rib – .32 gauge Amethyst Parawire or any purple wire
Shell Back – Hairline 1/8" Tan Scud Back
Gills – White CDC


 1. Mash down barb and bead and secure in wire.

  2. Tie in white CDC for Gills.

 3. Tie in Tan Scud Back.

 
  4. Dub Abdomen.

 
5. Dub Thorax.

6. Dub Head.

  7. Pull Shell Back over the top and tie-off.


  8. Advance your wire creating the rib.

 9. Secure wire and whip finish.