It was my pleasure to participate with Michael Agneta in the "Catching Up With..." series at Troutrageous!
I've known Mike ever since my first explorations into blogging and Tenkera. If you're interested
in my fly flyfishing and tying for the last ten years, head to "Troutrageous!" and read it. (https://troutrageous.com/2024/06/catching-up-with-lou-digena.html)
Pattern Recipe: (as tied)
Hook: Ahrex PR378 – GB Swimbait
Size: 4 - 1
Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk 100 Denier Predator 6/0 White
Keel Weight: 7 wraps of .025 lead-free wire
Keel Dressing: Optional (White thread covered with Solarez Fly-Tie Colors Silver or pearl nail polish)
Tail Support: White Bucktail
Tail: 4 White Saddle Hackle
Body: EP Brush Invader 2.5” wide Grey Olive (3-4 wraps)
Under Wing: Senyo Barred Predator Wrap (Barred UV)
Over Wing: Blue Saddle Hackle
Head: Spun and Clipped Natural Deer Hair
Material links are Amazon Affiliate links.
© 2024 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.
#loudigena #flytying #flyfishing
Lou DiGena is an accomplished fly tier from New Jersey. He’s an extraordinary guy. We dive deep into fly tying, photography, digital media, and fine art. As I learned on this podcast, he is a professor of fine art and digital media at St John University.
I don’t think either of us thought we were going down the art rabbit hole but that is the fun part of podcasts, learning about your guests as a person and their expertise. It clear Lou is an artist, both behind the vise, behind the lens and in various other art mediums.
He stresses the idea of observation both in art and on the water and how focused observation will make you a better fly tier and fly fisherman.
© 2024 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.
#loudigena #flytying #flyfishing
Hook: Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/3qlSsIY)
Size: 10 - 16
Thread: UTC Ultra Wire, Black in size Brassie (https://amzn.to/37gXKhj)
Body: Green Yarn (https://amzn.to/2LOSw4Q)
Head: UTC Ultra Wire, Black (https://amzn.to/37gXKhj)
The "Killer Rock Worm" a variation of Frank Sawyer's "Killer Bug." Using black wire and green yarn. Change yarn and wire color to mimic the caddis larva in your waters.
The Killer Bug is famous in the U.K. and Europe and recently has this pattern gained a following in the U.S. This fly is renowned for its catching fish and the mythological properties of Chadwick's 477 wool used in its construction.
Frank Sawyer was a river keeper on the River Avon at Lake in Wiltshire in the U.K., along with being a writer and inventor of such flies as the Pheasant Tail Nymph.
The killer bug was developed by Mr. Sawyer to manage the grayling numbers on the River Avon. Then Grayling considered a coarse fish and undesirable as a food or game fish.
If you're looking for an available substitute, Semperfli Chadwicks 477 Substitute (https://amzn.to/3de9ll5) is an excellent choice.
Fly Tying Gear:
Regal Stainless Steel
Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)
Regal Vise Tool Bar
Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)
Cohen's Sculpting
Scissors
Tiemco Ceramic Bobbin (https://amzn.to/3u7Gkxv)
Matarelli Whip Finisher
(https://amzn.to/370HxNu)
Solarez Bone Dry (https://amzn.to/3m3o4jn)
Camera Gear:
Camera: Panasonic GH4
(https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)
Lens: Panasonic 30mm
Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)
Ring Light: Neewer 48
Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)
Fill Light (3): Aputure
H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)
Battery: Wasabi Power
Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)
Backdrop: Dark Grey &
Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3)
Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you, thanks.
© 2021 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.
#loudigena #flytying #flyfishing
Takayama Sakasa Kebari with Lou DiGena
The Takayama Sakasa Kebari is a legendary Sakasa Kebari thought to originate in Japan's Takayama region. What makes this pattern different than a standard Kebari is the Peacock herl collar and Hen Pheasant hackle. What fly doesn't benefit either Peacock herl or Pheasant feathers? If you don't have Hen Pheasant, substitute any molded brown hen wet fly hackle or Hungary Partridge.
These flies are more impressionistic fly, and it roughly mimics a large variety of insects, so change thread color to match the bugs hatching on your waters. It's a great searching pattern and emerger.
Materials:
Hook: Mustad C49S Curved Caddis Hook (https://amzn.to/3rzSUEr)
Thread: UTC 140 Red (https://amzn.to/3hnCSsH)
Head: UTC 140 Red (https://amzn.to/3hnCSsH)
Thorax: Peacock Herl (https://amzn.to/37VvS31)
Abdomen: UTC 140 Red (https://amzn.to/3hnCSsH)
Fly Tying Gear:
Regal Stainless Steel
Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)
Regal Vise Tool Bar
Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)
Cohen's Sculpting
Scissors
Matarelli Whip Finisher
(https://amzn.to/370HxNu)
Camera Gear:
Camera: Panasonic GH4
(https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)
Lens: Panasonic 30mm
Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)
Ring Light: Neewer 48
Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)
Fill Light (3): Aputure
H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)
Battery: Wasabi Power
Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)
Backdrop: Dark Grey &
Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3)
Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you, thanks.
© 2020 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.
#loudigena #flytying #flyfishing
I think everyone knows the Pheasant Tail Nymph, but I'm not sure how many know Sawyer's Pheasant tail nymph. The pattern is dead simple, and like most patterns I tie, it follows the K.I.S.S. rule.
For those who don't know the pattern, it's a killer. Frank Sawyers designed it to "Baetis" nymph, or "olives." I've found it's also a good imitation of the "Ephemerella" nymphs, including the Hendricksons and Sulphurs nymphs. For the "Baetis," tie the nymph in sizes 16 - 20, and for the "Ephemerella," tie it in 14 - 16. If you have a long Pheasant tail, then a size 12 is possible.
Materials: Hook:
Hook: Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/2K9RWO8)
Thread: X-Small Brown Copper Wire (https://amzn.to/37NvJ09)
Body: Center Tail from a Cock Pheasant (https://amzn.to/2KOzD15)
Fly Tying Gear:
Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)
Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)
Cohen's Sculpting Scissors
Matarelli Whip Finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)
Camera Gear:
Camera: Panasonic GH4 (https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)
Lens: Panasonic 30mm Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)
Ring Light: Neewer 48 Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)
Fill Light (3): Aputure H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)
Battery: Wasabi Power Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)
Backdrop: Dark Grey & Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3)
Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you thanks.
© 2020 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.
Thread Control and Fly Tying Knots
Materials:
Hook: Tiemco Umpqua TMC 103Bl Fly Tying (https://amzn.to/37obeIu)
Thread: Danville 6/0 Flymaster Thread Waxed (https://amzn.to/3oWCQug)
Fly Tying Gear:
Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)
Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)
Cohen's Sculpting Scissors
Matarelli Whip Finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)
Camera Gear:
Camera: Panasonic GH4 (https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)
Lens: Panasonic 30mm Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)
Ring Light: Neewer 48 Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)
Fill Light (3): Aputure H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)
Battery: Wasabi Power Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)
Backdrop: Dark Grey & Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3)
Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you thanks.
© 2020 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.
#loudigena #flytying #flyfishing
Tiger Baetis
Materials:
Hook: Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/2K9RWO8)
Thread: UTC 140 Denier Watery Olive (https://amzn.to/3mYYOwj)
Tails: Coq de Leon Fibers (https://amzn.to/3a6UF5V)
Rib: X-Small Brown Copper Wire (https://amzn.to/37NvJ09)
Body: UTC Watery Olive (https://amzn.to/3mYYOwj)
Tiger Stripes: Brown Marker (https://amzn.to/37K2V8Z)
Wing Case: Black Marker (https://amzn.to/39V1s2s)
Coating: Solarez Bone Dry (https://amzn.to/3m3o4jn)
Fly Tying Gear:
Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)
Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)
Cohen's Sculpting Scissors
Matarelli whip finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)