Troutrageous! - Catching Up With… Lou DiGena

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)

Swimbait Muddler

 
Part muddler minnow, deceiver, and part swim bait. #flyfishing #flytying #streamer 

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

 

Fly Fishing Journeys Pod Cast Louis DiGena – The Art of Fly Tying

Podcast: https://flyfishingjourneys.com/louis-digena-the-art-of-fly-tying/ 

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

Pea-Ca-Bou Nymph with Lou DiGena

 

 

Dick Talleur calls this nymph the Pea-Ca-Bou Brown, and I can only find mention of this pattern in Hooked on Fly Tying - Classic Wet Flies & Nymphs, Bennett-Watt Entertainment, Inc. (https://amzn.to/2Mp1yFU)

It's a tremendous all-a-round nymph that uses two of the best materials out there Peacock herl and marabou. I've found smaller sizes are effective little black stone flies, and larger versions imitate Isonychia, also known as the Slate Drake.

It's simple, and once you get used to handling the marabou, a fast pattern to tie.

Pea-Ca-Bou Nymph

Hook: 2X Long Wet Fly (Tiemco – TMC2302) (https://amzn.to/36wY0bM)
Thread: UNI 6/0 Brown (https://amzn.to/3ahRCWY)
Hackle: Brown Marabou (https://amzn.to/3r8bYbN)
Tail: Brown Marabou (https://amzn.to/3r8bYbN)
Body: Peacock Herl (https://amzn.to/3re0u6N)
Head: UNI 6/0 Brown (https://amzn.to/3ahRCWY)

Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph with Lou DiGena

 

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.

Tiger Baetis Nymph is a simple and effective Baetis (BWO) nymph pattern, which you can use on any stream or river. 

 

Like Fly and Fin on FACEBOOK.

Follow @flyandfin on TWITTER.

Follow @loudg13 on Instagram.

Subscribe to our Youtube channel.

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) 

 

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 (2): 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

Compton's Cinnamon Toast Baetis Nymph

A while back Kevin Compton owner of Performance Flies and I got together to film him tying up some of the patterns he is best known for and popularizing.  These patterns are staples in the competition scene.  Kevin is always refining these patterns and making them simpler to tie.

At Performance Flies, you will find materials and patterns from the competitive fly fishing scene.  Also, Kevin has Jack Mickievicz's original materials such as Honeybug Cotton Chenille, Jack's original dubbing blends and DuPont Antron yarn.

The Cinnamon Toast Baetis nymph is a BWO (Blue-Winged Olives) nymph.  BWO’s are staples in most if not all rivers.  These nymphs are an important food source for trout because of their high number, and multi-broods.  The fact that many BWO’s are multi-brood means they are available to trout year round.  Baetis are streamlined swimmers, and the nymph pattern should be slender.

Here Kevin ties his Cinnamon Toast Baetis Nymph, which is a deadly BWO nymph.

 

Compton's Cinnamon Toast Baetis Nymph

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H230BL #14-16
Head:  3/32 Gold Tungsten Bead
Thread: FLY DK 80 Brown
Tails:  Golden Olive Coq de Leon Fibers
Rib:  XFine Copper Wire
Body:  Brown-Olive Condor Substitute
Thorax: Jan Siman Peacock Dubbing, Peacock Bronze

For materials visit http://www.performanceflies.com/

© 2017 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

Sawyer’s Killer Bug

Hook:            TMC 2302 or Mustad S80-3906 in  #14-18
                      (Tied here with a 3906) 

Thread:         Copper wire in size Brassie or Small
                     (Size 16-18 tie better using small wire)

Body:           Chadwick’s 477 wool substitute

The Sawyer’s Killer Bug is famous in the U.K. and Europe but only recently has this pattern gained a following in the U.S.  This fly is famous for its catching fish and mythological properties of Chadwick’s 477 yarn used in its construction.

I became aware of the Killer Bug through English fly tier and author Oliver Edwards who featured Sawyer’s patterns in his DVD Essential Skills: Search and Sight Fishing released in 2001.

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. 

Sawyer’s pattern is simple and effective, using in many cases only two materials.  In the Killer Bug and Pheasant Tail nymph, he used copper wire the thread and weight.  Both patterns are brilliant in their simplicity and effectiveness.

The killer bug was developed by Sawyer’s to manage the grayling numbers on the River Avon.  Back then Grayling were considered vermin, and gentleman would only angle for trout, never grayling.

In alkaline chalk stream, one of the main food sources is freshwater shrimp and the Killer Bug was designed to imitate shrimp and scuds.  Today in the U.S. it’s an effective imitation for larva (crane and caddis), scuds, cress bugs and shrimp.

The originally the Killer Bug was tied Chadwick's 477 darning wool and reddish brown copper wire.  For some, the original Chadwick's 477 wool has mythical fish-catching properties with lengths of the wool selling for hundreds of dollars.  Production of Chadwick’s wool ceased in 1965, which only added to its value.

The Killer Bug was named by Sawyer's friend Lee Wulff, but its popularity never quite took in the U.S.

By the time I found out about the “Bug” there was no wool to purchase.  I was on a mission find a suitable substitute.

Veniard’s sells their version wool (Veniard 477) but without a sample of the genuine article, it was nearly impossible to know if it was a good match.

My first substitute took the form of a cutting up an old rag wool sweater that now too small, which worked well.   Next, I found some old craft yarn “Fun with Fibers” that had a viable candidate but was as rare as the Chadwick’s.  Then I started to use Patons Classic Wool Natural Mix (00229), which I found at Michael’s.  Then I struck gold, one blogger from the U.K. sent me a yard of Chadwick’s 477, now I had the yarn to use as a reference.

Many other bloggers and friends pointed me in the direction of finding a suitable substitute. Chris Swart (TenkaraBum), Juan Ramirez (The Hopper Juan), and Jason Klass (Tenkara Talk).

Here is a list of yarns you can use to tie your killer bug.

Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift: Oyster (Color #290)

Patons Classic Wool Yarn (00229) Natural Mix

Regia Darning Yarn: Light Camel Marl

Veniard Chadwick Wool - 477 (Killer Bug Yarn)

Places to purchase these yarns and your local craft or yarn shop.

http://www.tenkarabum.com/fly-tying-materials.html

http://threeriverstenkara.com/?product=regia-darning-yarn

http://www.performanceflies.com/product-p/v-yarn-c477.htm

Good luck and tie some Killer Bugs for your next fishing adventure.

Lou DiGena

Fly and Fin

© 2017 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

Regal Vise featured on Discovery's Science Channel Go - How It's Made

In the recent episode of How It's Made (Season 20 Episode 10) we get to see how the Regal Vise is made.

REGAL VISE - The World’s Best Fly Tying Vises and accessories.

REGAL VISE is a family owned business New England. All vises and accessories are are manufactured in U.S.A.
All their products are made by fly tiers and anglers for tiers and anglers.

In full disclosure I'm on the Regal Pro staff.

MFPD Pocket Picker Nymph

Last year Kevin Compton owner of Performance Flies and I got together to film him tying up some of the patterns he is best know for and popularizing.

Kevin is bring some of best materials and patterns from the European competitive fly fishing scene to the states. As well as introducing tiers and anglers to these new materials and methods he is also has Jack Mickievicz's original materials such as Honeybug Cotton Chenille, Jack's original dubbing blends and genuine DuPont Antron yarn.

MFPD Pocket Picker Nymph is a pattern designed by Peter Durisik of Slovakia and tied here by Kevin.

Enjoy.

 

MFPD Pocket Picker Nymph

Materials:  

Hook:      Hanak H230BL #14-16
Head:      3/32 Gold Tungsten Bead
Thread:   UTC 70 Watery Olive
Tails:       Coq de Leon Fibers, Medium Prodo
Rib #1:    Synthetic Quill Body, Graphite
Rib #2:    Sybai XF Gold Wire
Tip:         Glo-Brite Floss, Hot Orange #6
Body:      UTC 70 Watery Olive Thread
Thorax:   Pine Squirrel with UV Flash


© 2016 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

The New Fly Fisher: Joe Humphreys | Nymphing Techniques

Joe Humphrey needs no introduction to the fly fishing community, here "The New Fly Fisher" pays homage to Joe Humphre, angler, author and educator. 

Joe Humphrey teaches the essentials of nymph fly fishing. This full-length show was shot in Joe's home region of Pennsylvania.

Richard Strolis ties his DDT Nymph" Deep Darlon Terror"

Richard Strolis ties his DDT Nymph" Deep Darlon Terror"

Richard Strolis is by his own admission a fly-fishing fanatic who enjoys designs new flies for catching large trout.  Rich has 30 years of fishing experience, 25 of those years tying and 10 years as a guide.

Many of his flies have been published in Flyfisherman, Magazine, Eastern Fly Fishing, Caddisflies by Thomas Ames and other publications. Rich runs the blog, Catching-Shadows, where he post videos of his fly tying creations, and photos of this fishing adventures.  His videos are also available on his Vimeo page richstrolis, where he has 118 high definition videos of his patterns with detailed instructions.  Rich is on the Performance Flies, and Regal Vice Pro Staff. 

Rich is known for targeting large trout in the Farmington River with large streamers and he rarely fishes anything lighter than an 8-weight rod.

You may purchase Rich’s patterns directly from him at his web site: http://catching-shadows.goodsie.com/

Rich is going to be at the following events:

October 2, 2013. Farmington Valley Trout Unlimited.  Presentation on Streamer Fishing For Trophy Trout.



October 8, 2013.   Southeastern Massachusetts Trout Unlimited.  Presentation on Fly fishing The Farmington River.



2013 International Fly Tying Symposium.  November 23 & 24, 2013.  Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ.

I’ve come to know Rich through his videos and social media, and finally met him at last years International Fly Tying Symposium, where he was next to my friend Kevin Compton of Performance Flies.  We finally got to talk and spend some face time and I was able to film him tying his DDT nymph.

Enjoy.



DDT Nymph

Hook:                   Scud/Grub Hook Size 16 - 20
Thread:                14/0 Veevus Olive
Bead:                   2.0 mm Tungsten Bead
Tails and Legs:    Darlon (Any fine fibered synthetic such
                             as Z-lon or Antron will work.)
Flash:                   Midge Flash
Body:                   Olive Super Fine Dubbing
Hot Spot:             UTC 140 Florescent Orange (Optional)

Chris Stewart ties a Takayama Sakasa Kebari

Chris Stewart is know as the Tenkara Bum, he got in to fishing Tenkara by accident by way of English Spider patterns.  In researching North Country soft hackle patterns he was drawn to there simplicity and beauty. During that research he came across David Webster's book, The Angler and the Loop Rod which talked about using a long rod, no reel and a horsehair line tied to the rod tip. He also came across a mention of Tenkara (Japanese Fly Fishing), which is very similar to angling with a loop rod.  Those of you who read the blog knows that in the The Compleat Angler, Piscator used only a rod and line to catch the first fish. (Diving into Tenkara)

Chris experimented with crappie rods, because at the time Tenkara rods were not available in the U.S., in 2008 when he got his first Tenkara rod.  At the time information on Tenkara was hard to come by and most of it was in Japanese. Chris goal in starting Tenkara Bum is to provide the information he wish he had when he was started out.

He's a featured tier in “Tying Tenkara Flies" which is put out by Learing Tenkara.

Chris goes on spreading the word of Tenkara through his blog Tenkara Bum, where shares information on all things Tenkara, from rod reviews, how to ties traditional Tenkara flies, sharing Tenkara stories and sell everything you would need to get in to Tenkara fly fishing.

Here Chris ties the Takayama Sakasa Kebari, a legendary sakasa kebari originating in the Takayama region of Japan. I hope you enjoy the video, filmed at the 2012 International Fly Tying Symposium.

Check out the lates issue of Kype Fishing Magazine

Here is the latest Issue of  Kype Fishing Magazine, Volume 4.2. 

My favorites reads are the Punk Rock Fly Fishing with Mike McAuliffe on page 14, the Modified Caddis by Aileen Nishimura Ellis on page 24 and Longevity for Nymphs by Gaeron Friedrichs on page 26.

Enjoy

John Collins ties his Swimming Rhyacophila

John Collins is lifelong resident of New Jersey and a long-standing member of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild. He got into fishing at the early age of five and like most fished for what ever and using any method.  He calls many of the rivers in NJ, NY and PA home, most notable are the South Branch of the Raritian, The Little Bushkill, and Beaverkill. 

He started his fly tying adventures under the mentorship of George Kolesar who was a commercial tier for several shops in the Catskill region.  After mastering the traditional Catskill style, John started to incorporate modern methods, materials and took creative liberty in combining materials to create his best know patterns.  Some of these patterns are the J.C.'s Iso PT, Electric Style Sparkle Pupa, J.C.'s Electric Steelhead Stonefly, JC's Copperhead and arguably most well know pattern his Electric Caddis.

John won’t introduce patterns to the public domain unless he catches fish on them, his motto is “Fly’s that Catch Fish, not just Fishermen.”

I hope you enjoy John’s latest creation the Swimming Rhyacophila, filmed at the 2012 International Fly Tying Symposium.


Swimming Rhyacophila

Hook: Daiichi 1770  Size 8 - 12
Thread: Dark Green and Olive Benecchi 12/0
Claspers: Green Antron Yarn
Abdomen: Chartreuse Ultra Wire inserted into Clear Stretch
                  Tubing rapped over a base of tying thread.
Thorax: Brown Ostrich Herl
Wing-case: Clear Cure Goo Brushable

Sparse Grey Matter Fly Tying Festival 2012

On February 26, 2012 Shannon's Fly & Tackle and Dette's Trout Flies sponsored the 2nd Annual Sparse Grey Matter Fly Fest. This event is an informal get together of fly tiers and fishers.  It's open to the public at no charge.  Some of the best fly tiers in the region were there. And, go figure; they let me tie.

Here's a short video of the event.  Check out Shannon's Fly & Tackle and Dette's Trout Flies in the January 2013 for news on next year's event.  Who knows, they just might let me tie again.

Enjoy.

Evening's Tying Session

Long time readers of this blog know The Jersey Angler and I are close friends.  In the winter months we get together from time to time for a tying session. It usually involves tying, chili, stories and an adult beverage.  We review the patterns that worked for us and create some new ones.

Between the holidays we managed to squeeze in a tying session, while our boys played video games.

The Jersey Angler checking his blog.

12 Hour Chili

Adult beverage.

Flies from the session.

Save the Date: The International Fly Tying Symposium November 19th & 20th

The International Fly Tying Symposium is coming to Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, NJ on November 19th and 20th, 2011.

The event is now in it's 21st year and features some of the best fly tiers on the planet.  It's always a great time, where you get to talk and ask the tiers about their pattern.  I've been going since the beginning and  haven't missed one.  There are free programs, celebrity tiers, classes, lots of stories, flies that catch fishers and tall tails.

Here are some of the programs I'm looking forward to:

• JOHAN KLINGBERG “European Nymphing- History & Techniques”
• ERIC STROUP “Catching Trout in Tough Conditions”
• BOB JACKLIN “Yellowstone and Montana Sampler”
• and ARON JASPER “The Newest in Nymphs and How to Construct Them”

Here are some photos of the flies from the videos I shot last year.

 "Bill's Hellgrammite" by Bill Skilton

"Tungsten Torpedo" by Kevin Compton

"Fire Fly" by Aaron Jasper

"Peel-and-Stick" Jay by "Fishy" Fullum

For more information go to http://www.internationalflytyingsymposium.com/index.html.

CDC UV Caddis - Caddis, Caddis Everywhere...

Caddis are abundant on most rivers, but the Madison and other rivers in Yellowstone country there can have blizzard hatches.  Never leave home with out a caddis pattern in your box. Here is one that is quick, easy to see, and floats like a cork.

CDC UV Caddis

Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook Size 10 - 10
Thread: Tan

Body: Hairline Tan UV Ice Dub
Under Wing: Natural CDC (3-4 feathers)
Wing: Elk or Deer Hair

This is a another pattern which follows the K.I.S.S. rule. It's simple, fast to tie and works everywhere. You can variety the color of the body to match the caddis in your area, the UV dubbing adds some nice sparkle to the pattern, you can also substitute the UV dubbing with an Anton blend for similar results.

While fishing in Yellowstone country this past July this was my go to caddis pattern if I wasn't throwing large Salmon Files.

It caught selective trout in the Henry's Fork, Brook Trout, Rainbows and Grayling in the park.

Attach your thread.

Dub the body.

Tie in the CDC under wing.

Tie in your Deer hair.

Trim Deer hair and whip finish.

 Below are some of the trout taken with the CDC UV Caddis.

Yellowstone Brook Trout

Henry's Fork Rainbow

Madison Rainbow.

Root Beer Bugger

The wooly bugger is a classic pattern. It's one of the easiest to tie and catches trout, bass, carp, and panfish. Tie it with or without a bead. Experiment with materials and tie it in colors to match your home waters. You can't go wrong with Black, Brown, and Olive, they all work. A great fly for the beginning fly tier.  It's a quick pattern to tie and follows the K.I.S.S. rule.