Feather-Craft Giveaway

Here is another give-a-way from Feather-Craft Fly Fishing.  The August-September give-a-way is following a environmental theme.  Go to http://flyfishinggiveaway.com/blog/ for info and to enter.

For this give-a-way you may win the following:

• Dan Bailey Eco Grip boots
• Fishpond Piopod
• Monomaster
• Red Gold DVD

Good Luck.

Yellow Monga Streamer

While tying with "The Jersey Angler" I was playing with some streamer patterns getting ready for the fall.  This patten is inspired by Bob Jacklin's "South Branch Chub."  I'll try to post it some time soon.

Hook: 6X long streamer
Size: 6-10
Thread: Yellow UNI-Stretch.
Body: Yellow UNI-Stretch.
Ribbing: Gold Tinsel and Copper Wire.
Wing: White and Black Monga Ringtail Hair (sparsely dressed).
Head: Chinese Red UNI-Stretch.

 1. Mash down barb and bead and wind on lead wire.

  2. Gold Tinsel and Copper Wire.

 3. Wind on the Yellow UNI-Stretch to form the body.

 4. Advance the Gold Tinsel with open turns (counter clockwise).

5. Advance the Copper Wire with open turns (clockwise).

6. Tie in the white and black Ringtail Monga hair wing.

7. Whip finish the yellow UNI-Stretch, finish
the head with Chinese Red UNI-Stretch 

and apply head cement.

I got out the other day when the weather had gotten cooler and decide to give the Yellow Monga a try and I wasn't disappointed. Both rainbows hit it this fly like a runaway freight train.

The first victim of the Yellow Monga.

The second victim of the Yellow Monga.

The River Why - NYC screening at the ACEFEST Film Festival 8/27/2010

"The River Why" New York City premier will be on Friday 8/27/2010 at the ACEFEST Film Festival. The screening will be at theTribeca Cinemas Screen I and will start at 7:30pm. tickets are $8.00 (click here for tickets)

Tribeca Cinemas is located on 54 Varick Street New York, NY 10013 (map it).

While I've only seen the trailer I'm going to try to see this film. The River Why is set on the banks of "a wild river" and is a story of Gus Orviston, who leave the city to rebel from his family and lives in a remote cabin along a wild river.

Mainly a story of self-discovery of a young man finding his way through the world with fishing, the river and assorted characters guiding him on his way. It's also a love story so you may convince your other half to join you.

Here is the trailer:



The River Why

Directed by:
Matthew Leutwyler

Written by:
Thomas Cohen and John Jay Osborn Jr.

Starring:
Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, Kathleen Quinlan, Dallas Roberts, William Devane and William Hurt

Break in the weather.

We finally had a break in the weather, a little rain and cooler temperatures (65˚F in the evenings) So I decide to go out see if the water temperature fell as well.

When I got to the stream around dinner time and took temperatures reading and the water was at 71˚F so I sorted my gear had a Cliff Bar which took about an hour. The water temperatures dropped to 70˚ F so it was time to fish.

I was determined to fish on top so I took out my 8' 6" Orvis Super Fine 5 Wt. so I wouldn't be tempted to fish the bottom.

Bloody hell, a nice little native Brown, but water on the lens.

Cleaned the lens and took this bow on a Parachute Adams.

The Release (I had to crop because the camera strap was in the way).

Tying with the Jersey Angler

By now many of you must have figured out that "The Jersey Angler" and I are friends.  We've know each since the 4th grade (far to long).  In that time we've been partners in fishing crimes through the U.S. and Canada.

So last weekend we took our boys out crabbing in Barnegat Bay down in Bayville, NJ‎ at Berkeley Island County Park.  Since we were to get up in the wee hours, we all meet up day before for dinner and some tying.

We didn't get down to Trixie's Landing as early as we would have liked so we went to the Berkeley Island Park in stead of renting boats.  It you'd like an account of the day go to The Jersey Angles post "In days bygone...."

While the crabbing was a bust we did managed to tie up some flies the night before while the boys were watching a movie.

This look came my way when I
made a comment about his vision.

Tying  a Super Ant.

"The Super Ant"

If you want to know more on the "Super Ant" visit The Jersey Angler's post "Super Ant"

FREE Nautilus Reels Ringtones

Looking for an new ringtone for your phone?

Well Nautilus Reels is giving 3 free ringtones one for the Nautilus NV, Nautilus CCF, and Nautilus Feather Weight.  Pick the ringtone that matches your quarry.  

I'm not endorsing these reels. I don't own one, unless Nautilus would like to send me one (a Nautilus Feather Weight #5 would be nice).  So I can't comment on their quality or performance.  

The ringtones are just fun to have on your phone.  Click the link below and visit Nautilus Reels or the links I have under each reel.

FREE Nautilus Reels Ringtones 

The Nautilus NV series are the lightest
reels and most versatility reels.

Nautilus NV Ringtone.

The Nautilus CCF is for the largest of species.

Nautilus CCF Ringtone.

The Nautilus FW is for fresh and light duty saltwater outfits.

The Nautilus FW Ringtone.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing's - Annual Fly Fishing Festival

The The American Museum of Fly Fishing's is holding it's Annual Fly Fishing Festival this Saturday August 14, 2010 on the Museum in Manchester, VT.

Activities will include: equipment appraisals; live music; casting rods from rod makers, Leonard, Granger, Heddon and even the Wonder Rod.

Casting Competition - Sign up to be a part of our first casting competition at our pond. Winner will win their choice of an AMFF hat or t-shirt from the Brookside Angler, the Museum giftshop!
Tackle Swap - Check in at our Swap table to register your items... or find something new!

Children's Activities - Kids can make a Clown Fly and learn the steps to real fly tying, or go into the gallery for a scavenger hunt.

Participating Vendors and Craftsmen

Antiques and Collectible Dealers: Historical Angling Artifacts; Shenandoah Antique Angler; Seacoast Appraisal Service; Classic Fly Fisherman; David Foley Sporting Books; Hardy North America; Lang's Auction; and Ellie's Attic.

Craftsmen and Rod Builders: Newfound Woodworks, Inc (Canoes and Kayaks); F.D. Kretchman Rod Co.; Carlson Rod Company; Jordan Mills Rod Company; and JH Becker Custom Bamboo Rods.

Festival Admission: $5 adults; $3 kids (5-14); $10 family (2 adults and 3 children); Museum members are free.

It's a nice way to break from the summer heat wave here in the east. Plenty of shops in Manchester for none fishing members of the family, not to mention the Orvis Head Quarter's and store.

Circa 1870 Tenkara Scene - "American Sporting Scene - Trout Fishing "

This is another print from the Library of Congress's digital collection that I found while doing my Tenkara research.  As you can see it is a 19th century scene showing men and women on the bank of a river "Tenkara" fishing for trout.  This lithograph is circa 1870 by John Walsh & Co..  The original measure size D (roughly 14" x 20").  I did clean up the image removing the patina.

Enjoy

Making a better leech – "The Modeled Leech"

When I was out with my boys on a stream this past spring they found a leech while rooting around the bottom. Here is a shot of that leech.

Notice the modeling pattern, we all know woolly buggers make a great leech pattern. For years I've been palmering them with grizzly saddle hackle for that modeling effect.  Here is what I think is a better leech pattern and in keeping with the K.I.S.S rule I'm using very miminal materials.  Now every body of water will have different colored leech so tie this pattern in brown, olive, bright green and gray.

 Modeled Leech

                                        Hook – Mustad 79580 or any streamer hook

                                        Size – 4-12
                                        Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Olife
                                        Tail and Body – Olive Marabou
                                        Rib – .32 gauge Greem Parawire
                                        Head – Black Brass or Tungsten Bead
                                        Weight – .022 lead Wire

Mash down your barb and slip on bead.

Wrap your lead wire to the hook and push it towards the bead.

Tie in your wire.

Take a black Sharpie and model both side of one marabou feather.

Tie in your marabou feather with 5 or 6 wraps and advance your thread.

Wrap your marabou forward (counter clock wise)
and tie-off, then trimming the waist.

Advance your wire (clock wise) and tie-off.

Go in with your Sharpie and enhance the modeling.

 

Secure with a Whip finish and head cement.

Smolt of the Month Contest at "Flyfish Journal"

Whether we want to admit it or not we've all caught young of the year, runts, minnows and other minute fish on a fly.  Many times we launch them out of the water when we set the hook and get comments from our mates like "stop bait fishing this is a fly only."

Example of a diminutive wild brown trout,
but to large for Smolt of the Month.

Well "Flyfish Journal" has a contest for you "Smolt of the Month".

The rules are simple:

     1. Caught on a fly;
     2. You caught the fish.

Go to  "Smolt of the Month" for all the info.

Send all entries to questions@theflyfishjournal.com by midnight August 31, 2010.

The winner will recieve a pair of  Smith sunglasses, Backdrop Backdrop,  a "Flyfish Journal" shirt, stickers and a one-year subscription.  Not to mention bragging rights.

Good Luck.

Notable error in "Eastern Fly Fishing" on page 40

While in the doctor's office the other day I was skimming through some of the fishing rages in the waiting room.  I'd noticed an obvious error on page 40 of the Spring Creek, PA article.

Walt's worm a favorite fly of mine and many others here in the east.  It is a very simple pattern and very effective.  It imitates a host of subsurface insects most notable crane fly larva.

"Eastern Fly Fishing"  March/April 2010

Walt's Worm on page 40.

As you can see none of the materials are correct.

So here is the proper recipe:

Walt's Worm

Hook: Mustad 9671 size 10-16

Thread: 6/0 Tan

Weight: .015 lead wire

Dubbing: Hareline Hares Ear Plus #1

Walt's Worm tied by The Jersey Angler.  Photo:The Jersey Angler

For a step-by-step instructions go to

The Jersey Angler page "Sometimes Simple is Best..."

Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail

Recently I found a site that shares some of North Carolina's western fishing spots. The WNC Fly Fishing Trail map was produced by the Jackson Co. Tourism Authority with the help of local guides and fishers.  It's well though out and I know I'll use it when I find myself in North Carolina.


Here is a video from the site explaining the  WNC Fly Fishing Trail.

The trail pledge is "As a true sportsman, I pledge to never litter and to avoid trespassing on private lands. I will respect the rights of property owners, and always leave the streams in better condition than I found them."  Words we all can live by.

WNC Fly Fishing Trail

Click the caption for a PDF of the map or visit the site http://www.flyfishingtrail.com/

Ayu zu "River Trout" by Utagawa Hiroshige

Here is a Japanese color wood cut by Utagawa Hiroshige (1842 - 1894) some time  between 1868 and 1894.  The original measure 9.6 x 10.8 cm.  I found this print in the Library of Congress digital collection while I was doing some of my Tenkara research.  I'd clean it up a little but I didn't go as far as to remove what looks like a fold (the blueish line left of the chop). 

Enjoy