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.

Fishing with "The Jersey Angler"

While I haven't been posting regularly this spring, I've managed to get out an wet a line.  Here is a little video I shot on one of the few sunny days we had this spring.  I was fishing across for "The Jersey Angler" so I put down the rod and shot this footage.  Enjoy.

Flubbed Photo's

One of the hardest aspects of fishing sometimes seems to be to take a good photography of your catch when your fishing alone.  For this reason I don't take my DSLR out when I on my own though many time I wish I had it with me.  Before the current line of underwater cameras I invested in a underwater housing for my Canon G9 but it was as bulky as my DSLR.  So when I purchased my Pentex W90 I thought finally a solution that will help my to take photographs while on on the water without the bulk of fear of damaging gear.

While I've received complements on many of the photographs many of them never make it to the blog.

So here are two of my recent flubbed photos:

Slippery when wet.

No grip.

Open Day Weekend

Opening day of trout season one can say is no different than any other day on a trout stream. After all the trout and the bugs don't know what day it is, they are in the business of survival and sex. While we also concern ourselves with sex and survival we add rituals help us mark time and remember.

One ritual I and many other anglers partake in is opening day of trout season. Some states have longer close season so trout may reproduce and the young of the year have a fair chance of developing. Whether your streams are closed for three weeks or several months opening day opens the possibilities of trophy trout, socializing with friends, and enjoying nature.

We pass on these traditions and rituals to our offspring sharing experience and memories. Here are some photographs of this years trout opening day weekend. I only guided my oldest son this weekend and didn't wet a line once. With the smiles on his face there was no need.

First cast, eyes on the drift.

Caddis focused on one thing.

"Caddis Porn"

Trout to the net.

Grip and Grin

Grip and Grin take two.

Fish of the day, need I say more.

With all the caddis on the rocks the trout were readily taking a Hare's Ear Nymph and Hare's Ear Winged Wet on the swing.

Fly and Fin - CDC Prince

 This is my variation on a classic prince nymph pattern.  I use red wire and substitute rust CDC for the traditional hen.  The CDC add a lot of motion to the fly and it's one of my most productive early season patterns. Tie some with or with out the bead and let me know how it works for you.

Pentax announces the Optio WG-1 and WG-1 GPS

Pentax announced it's new rugged Optio WG-1 and Optio WG-1 GPS.  It is tougher than the  Optio W90, both are designed are crushproof up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds), dustproof, waterproof, cold-proof and shock-resistant.  This 14MP cameras incorporate the same lens and video specs as the W90.  The design looks to be more ergonomic and the obvious increase to 5 LED from 3 for close-up photography.

I like my my W90 and I'm looking forward to seeing some samples from this new version.  I have mixed feeling with the GPS version, I like the GEO tagging but don't want to give away my secret spots.

Optical deference in and out of water.

The two photographs are of the same Brown, notice the 5 dots under the eye. 

In the  "Aquarium" shot as I'm calling it notice how much
thinner this Brown looks from the one below.

In this out water shot, notice how much wider this Brown looks. 
Yes, the net gives a sense of  scale, but the water refraction
bends the light and reduces the size.

These photographs were shot with a Pentax W90.

Brown Trout falls victim to the Tan VU Caddis Jig

I'm still playing with he W90, this is a short clip of a Brown fell victim to Tan VU Caddis Jig.  I need to figure out how to both fish and camera at the same time.  It's hard to film when you can't see to subject.

More shots Pentax W90

I got out the other day before my sons baseball game for about 2 hours.  The last of the Henderson's were out though nothing on top.  I set up my standard Czech Nymph rig with a Cooper Bug as my point fly and the trout hammered the Cooper Bug.  The Ice Pheasant Tail was also productive,  the browns hit the Cooper Bug and the Bow's were taken on the Ice Pheasant Tail.

I'm still testing my Pentax W90, over all I like it, however I've notice more noise in low lighting.

This Bow's stomach is bulge out, looks like it was feeding heavily on nymphs.

This Brown hammed the Cooper Bug.

Pentax W90 shot.

Brown Trout View.

Opening Day and Pentax W90

This year I decided to purchase a Pentax W90 to take with me while fishing.  I love my Nikon D200 and Canon G9, but it's a lot to lug around.  I used the G9 with a underwater housing, which works great, but it's bulky.  So far the W90 is turning out to be a good light rugged fishing camera, the noise level is acceptable but no where near my other cameras.  On the plus side it shoots 720p video which looks good.

It was a good opening day and the camera performed well.

Rainbow taken on Jersey Anglers "Pink Czech Nymph".

 Underwater shot with the Pentax W90

Rainbow taken on a "Tan UV Caddis."

 Brown taken on a "Ice Pheasant Tail."

 Smile for the camera.

  Smile for the camera take 2.

 Smile for the camera take 3.

FIN