Offer from Moldy Chum - Buy a Ross Vexsis Reel Get a Free Line

Here's a offer I found on Moldy Chum's site that was posted on January 18, 2011.

Buy a Ross Vexsis Reel Get a Free Line

To take advantage of this offer you must submit this coupon with your original receipt for a Ross Vexsis Reel.

Duke's Cigarettes Card – California Salmon

Here is another of the Duke Cigarettes card from the Library of Congress's digital collection.  It's of a California Salmon (King Salmon).  I wish I as able to find cards in better condition, but no luck.  I've clean it up a bit, but the scans from the collection are not the best.  They only have seven of the cards digitized in the digital collection, and I've not found any others online.  I'll  posting them throughout the year.

Enjoy.

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.

Happy Bleated Birthday

My mind must be going.  I was ready to post that Fly and Fin turned one on the 14th, but I was wrong.  Fly and Fin's first post was on January 8th not the 14th. So happy belated first birthday.

Here's to year two, and I hope I don't forget my name.  I know this is not much of a post, but show season is upon us, and I should have more to blog about soon.

Trout Unlimited Program to Serve Veterans

News from www.anglingtrade.com.  Trout Unlimited (TU) announces a new Veterans Service Program that will serve U.S. veterans throughout the country, through conservation projects and fly fishing instruction.

I imagine TU will following the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Program model. The project will work with veteran rehabilitation groups, assisting their rehabilitation after physical and emotional injuries.  Besides the therapeutic value of fly fishing, veterans will be introduced to TU’s mission conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.

Alan Folger of Hendersonville, N.C. is the project’s program coordinator.  (I don't have any other contact info.)

This is so new it's not posted on TU's web site, and like all new programs it will take a while for it to get going.  These type of programs always need volunteers and the success this or any program will depend on volunteers who want to give back.  I can't think of a finer group to give back to.  If your TU chapter starts a Veterans Service Program, please get involved.

In full disclousue I'm the former NLC representative for New Jersey and serve on Central Jersey's chapter's board and a life member.

Salmon fishing on the Dee.

I found this brilliant print in the Library of Congress's digital collection. The title is "Salmon fishing on the Dee," I take it the it's the river Dee in Scotland. It looks to be a mezzo-tint print published in 1903 by Joesph Farquharson. I did clean up the image removing the some of the patina.

Enjoy

Pearl Tag Caddis

Here is a pattern from the Holiday tying session it's another variation on a Caddis larva. I tied it on the Mustad's Demon Circle Hook (here in a size 12), but you can use the grub hook of your choice. I purchased the Jan Siman’s Peacock Bronze dubbing and Fly D&K Quill Body from Kevin Compton.  I didn't see it on his web site www.performanceflies.com but I'm sure if you email him through the his sight he'll hook-you-up (yes pun intended).

Pearl Tag Caddis

Size – 8 - 12 Mustad Demon Circle Hook 1X Fine Wire (Ref# 39951BLN)
Thread – 8/0 Dark Brown
Head – Gold Tungsten Bead 2.3mm
Thorax – Jan Siman’s Peacock Bronze
Body – Hairline Dark Hare's Ear
Rib – Fly D&K Quill Body
Tag –Pearl Flashabou

Hot Bead Pheasant Tail

Over the holiday the Jersey Angler and I got together for some tying, chili, and fish stories.

Here is a pattern I worked up which is another variation on the beloved Pheasant Tail nymph. The hook is the biggest variation, I trying out Mustad's Demon Circle Hook (here in a size 8). The Mustad 39951 BLN (Black Nickel Finish) was introduced in 2004 as a general purpose saltwater baitfishing hook but the demand for this hook as a Czech Nymphing hook prompted Mustad to introduce the hook in sizes 8 and 10. In keeping with Euro-Nymph fly design I'm keeping the nymph very slim.  I like the wide hook gap, and the profile you can create.

Hot Bead Pheasant Tail

Size – 8 -10 Mustad Demon Circle Hook 1X Fine Wire (Ref# 39951BLN)
Thread – 8/0 Dark Brown
Head – Tungsten Bead 2.3mm (Fluorescent Orange)
Thorax – Jan Siman’s Peacock Bronze
Body – Pheasant tail
Tail – Pheasant tail
Rib – Copper wire

Smoke 'em if You Got 'em

I found this beautiful Speckled Trout (a.k.a Brook Trout) in the Library of Congress digital collection.  It's a Duke's Cigarette Card, date (?).

I drive by the Duke's Estate when I visit my parents I had no ideal of the history of Duke's Cigarettes nor the family history. All I knew was Doris Duke family business was in tobacco. I did not know until recently that they are responsible for the pre-rolled cigarette as we know it and the American Tobacco Company was one of the original 12 members of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  American Tobacco Company became the largest tobacco company in the U.S. and was broken up in the 1911 by the Supreme Court through the Sherman Antitrust Act on the same day that it ordered the Standard Oil Trust to dissolve (in school Standard Oil got all the attention).

The American Tobacco Company was broken up in to American Tobacco Company, R. J. Reynolds, Liggett & Myers, and P. Lorillard.  American Tobacco Company later expanded in to non-tobacco products and renamed itself American Brands and has since been renamed Fortune Brands and no longer has tobacco interests. Some of Fortune Brands products are Jim Bean, Makers Mark, Moen, Master Locks, Pinnacle, and Titleist. Maybe I should by stock in Fortune Brands since I've consumed and used many of their brands.

I've not even touched on the it's history with Duke University and it's international businesses.  All this because I went looking for trout images in the Library of Congress digital collection.

Happy New Year 2011

 

Happy New Year from Fin and Fly