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.

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

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.

Ben Turpin ties his Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

Filmed at International Fly Tiers Symposium here's Ben Turpin ties his Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

Ben Turpin is a guide and rod builder based on the Delaware River system.  He guides in PA, NJ and NY.  He's turned his 20 years of year-round fly fishing obsession in to Ben Turpin Custom Rod Building and Guide Service, established in 1997. Ben offers guided fly fishing trips in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Delaware River (East, West & Main) and Northwest New Jersey.

Ben's Bead Head PT

Size – 16 - 18 Scud Hook
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Brown
Head – 5/64 Copper Bead
Body – Pheasant Tail Fibers
Tail – Pheasant Tail Fibers

Another variation of the beloved Pheasant Tail nymph it's a sure winner. I like it for that an it follows the K.I.S.S. rule. So here is Bed tying his Bead Head Pheasant Tail enjoy.

Kevin Compton ties the "Tungsten Torpedo"

At the International Fly Tiers Symposium several tiers where gracious to allow me to film them tying some of their patterns.

The second fly in the series is by Kevin Compton. Kevin is a fly designer for Solitude Fly Company a commercial tier, author, speaker, and tying instructor. He splits his time between Ohio, chasing Steelhead in the Great Lakes , and the other half in Rocky Mountains of Colorado for Trout. He's also on the international pro team for Partridge Hooks. Kevin's company, Performance Flies, distributes specialty tying materials and hooks, including the DOHIKU European barbless hooks, throughout North America.

His flies have been featured in the Fly Fishing and Tying Journal and you can read his article Going Barbless which appeared in the August 2008 issue of Hatches Magazine. Recently Kevin finished second in the first "Iron Fly" completion at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show (Charlie Craven won “Iron Fly”).

"Tungsten Torpedo"



Size – 10 - 18 DOHIKU Standard Nymph Hook (302)
Thread – Benecchi 12/0 Olive
Head – Tungsten Bead 3.8 mm
Thorax – Jan Siman’s Peacock Bronze
Wing Case –Sybai Pearl Braidback Peacock 4.5mm
Body – Benecchi 12/0 Olive
Tail – Coq de Leon Fibers
Rib – Sulky Sliver Metallic Thread Black followed by Fine Copper Wire

Aaron Jasper ties his "Fire Fly"

While at the International Fly Tiers Symposium several tiers where gracious to allow me to film them tying some of their patterns.

The first in a series will be Aaron Jasper co-founder of Trout Predator Online (TPO) a New Jersey native and Euro-Nymphing master.  Aaron cut his teeth on Flat Brook, Ramapo and Pequest Rivers and now writes, and educates angles on Euro-Nymphing through TPO, speaking engagements, and shows.

The "Fire Fly"



Size – 16 DOHIKU D301 Barbless
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Dark Brown
Head – Tungsten Bead 2.3mm (Fluorescent Orange)
Thorax – Jan Siman’s Peacock Bronze
Body – Pheasant tail died Brown
Tail – Wood Duck fibers
Rib – Copper wire

As a variation of the beloved Pheasant Tail nymph it's a sure winner.  I like it for that an it follows the K.I.S.S. rule.  So here is Aaron tying his "Fire Fly," enjoy.

International Fly Tying Symposium Summary

Well the International Fly Tying Symposium is over and I'm still processing the last two days.  Day one was one big social. I could not walk five feet before bumping into a friend and starting a conversation. (This went on all day.)  Day two was filming tiers and some of their patterns. (Posting will become available as I edit.)  My material's list was short.   I wasn't planning to buy much, but managed to spend more than a few dollars.  Most was spent on Czech nymph materials, Hungarian Partridge skins, and books.  Here are a few photographs of patterns that caught my eye, and as you can see, these don't follow the K.I.S.S. rule. One day when I have more time (retirement maybe), I'll take up tying Salmon flies and such.

Jock Scott By Charles A. Chute

Crayfish by Max Birnkammer

Mosquito by Robert Schreiner

Stevens Streamers by Greg Heffner

Sir Herbert by Paul Rossman

Getting out before the International Fly Tying Symposium

Since the International Fly Tying Symposium opens tomorrow there was only one thing I could do today...

I went fishing and had a great day, no one pattern fished better than another but the fish were one. Later in the day when the water warmed up (46º F was the high) BWO were out an about.  Since  I was Euro-Nymphing  (a.k.a. Czech Nymphing) I did not have the rig to switch over to dries but no worries because they were on the nymph as well.

It was a great day out the start of a splendid weekend.   The rig I used today was mu Rock Work on the dropper,  and a my variarion of Hans Stephenson's "Bomb" as the anchor and a size 20 bead head BWO flash back nymph on the point.

Here are some of the results:

Tomorrow I'll try to post some live feeds the blog and my twitter feed for the International Fly Tying Symposium.