Shad fishing taking up the net above Chester, N.J.

Here is a splendid drawing I found in the Library of Congress's digital collection.  Fishermen are standing in the Delaware River (1855), netting shad along the shore.  The artist is Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, and the drawing is graphite and chalk ; 23.1 x 33.2 cm..

Chester, N.J. is not the Chester of Morris County, but Chester Township, one of Burlington County’s original townships now Borough of Palmyra (if my research is correct).

I'd played with the drawing in PhotoShop to bring out some of the detail and if you like the see the original click this link: (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2009632254/).

Enjoy.

Don Bastian is offering a second classic wet tying class.

Back in December I posted that Don Bastian is hosting a Classic Wet Flies Fly Tying Class on February 11 – 13, 2011. Well that class filled up (Jersey Angler and I took the last two spots) and Don is now offering a second class.  The dates are February 25 – 27, 2011 at Fishing Creek Angler Fly Shop and Bed & Breakfast.

The classes will cover wings (quill, mixed, married, herl, and flank feather), as well as Don’s proprietary wing quill method. You'll learn about body materials and techniques for working with floss, tinsel, wing quills, goose shoulder, and other materials. Don will cover proper proportions, material selection, grading, and working around and through any fly tying problems.

The package price of this class is $325.00 based on double-occupancy, and includes room tax. 50% deposit required to secure reservation. Credit cards accepted. Call or e-mail Fishing Creek Angler to make your reservation.

Package Price Includes:

Friday evening dinner featuring Mary-Ann’s lasagna with salad and; home made dessert; full breakfast on Saturday and; Sunday;

Lunch on Saturday.

Lee’s Saturday evening steak bar-b-que with baked potato, salad, and; home made dessert.

Two nights double occupancy lodging at the Fishing Creek Angler B & B.

Relaxing evenings in the B & B with your favorite libation and lots of fly tying talk and informal tying sessions.

For more information contact Fishing Creek Angler Fly Shop,  Bed & Breakfast:

314 St. Gabriel’s Road
Benton PA 17814
570-925-2709
infofca@epix.net 

or visit Don's Blog Don Bastian Wet Flies

 

Don with Plate No. 3, wet flies from Trout.

Don has forty-seven years fly tying experience including a decade long stint as a commercial tyer. He has nearly 765 classic wet fly, streamer, and bucktail patterns published in the book Forgotten Flies. Many of Don’s classic wets can be seen on the Complete Sportsman web page www.rareandunusual.com. His first fly tying video, Tying Classic Wet Flies was released in November 2004. In August 2007 two more Don Bastian DVD’s were released - Advanced Classic Wet Flies, and Traditional Streamers and Bucktails. Don has a feature wet fly article in the 2010 print issue of Hatches magazine, and Don’s Ray Bergman Collection, a year-long project, started in September at www.hatchesmagazine.com Don also had a feature article on classic wet flies titled Feathered Splendor in the Fall 2006 issue of Fly Tyer magazine. He has been a fly tying instructor for over twenty five years.

Again I'm getting nothing for this promotion, Don is a friend and and in my opinion one of the best Classic Wet Fly tiers out there.

My attempt at tying Umpqua's Scuba Nymph

Back in October I posted what I felt was the recipe for Umpqua's Scuba Nymph. Here is my attempt tying the Scuba nymph.



Size – 12-18 Grub hook
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Brown
Head – Tungsten Bead
Legs – Rubber Legs Mini (Montana Fly Company-Tentacles)
Thorax: Peacock
Body and Tail – Pheasant tail
Rib – Copper wire
Back – Crystal Flash

Mash down barb, and weight fly

Tie in Crystal Flash

Tie-in wire.

Tie-in Pheasant tail fibers to form the tail.

Wrap PT tail fibers forward and counter wrap with wire.

Tie in 3 Peacock tail fibers and wrap around to form the thorax.

Fold over Crystal Flash and tie-in.

Tie in Tentacles and whip finish.  (I did this in 3 small clumps.)

It's cold...

The channel is still clear, but...

polarizers in front of the lens reveals the anchor ice.
No fishing for me unless there is a warm spell.

UV Bobesh

UV Bobesh

I was playing around with some UV materials while tying at a sportsman show about two weeks ago.  Here is the result the UV Bobesh, which is a variation  on the basic Czech nymph.

The Bobesh fly imitate the larvae stages of Caddis and first started with the sausage skin, than skin of the catfish or the eel and later latex.

I've found adding UV material to my patterns to be very productive, so here I went all out and used as much as possible.  We'll see how it works when the streams open up.



Hook – DOHIKU Scud/Grub Hooks any heavy Grub hook
Size – 8 - 12Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black
Thorax/Head – Hairline Black UV Ice Dub
Hot Spot – Hairline Hot Orange UV Ice Dub
Abdomen – Hairline Tan UV Ice Dub
Rib – .32 gauge Brown Parawire
Shell Back – Knapek Pearl Braidback UV Claret (2.5mm)
Weight –.015 Lead Free Wire

Wind on your non-lead wire. (Flat lead works the best.)

Secure wire and wrap with thread to form a taper.

Tie in Braidback.

Dub Abdomen.

Dub hot spot. (Heart)

Dub Thorax.

Fold over Braidback and secure.

Advance wire and tie off.
(You may finish the fly here if you like.)

Dub the head with Black UV Ice Dub and whip finish.
(This is optional, but I like how it finish the fly.)

The Fly Fishing Show Jan. 21, 22, & 23

The Fly Fishing Show has made it's way to NJ.  As many who attend this or other show like it's one big reunion. I usually can't get three feet down an isle before I bump in to a friend and  telling stories (telling lies).   It's great catching up with friends that you only see a hand full of time (just because life gets in the way).  There are some bargains usually last years disconnected items and some new items that were announced at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show. 

Fly Fishing Show is at the Garden State Convention Center on January 21, 22, 23 2011

Show Hours: Fri 10 - 6; Sat 8:30 - 6:00; Sun 9 - 4:30

Admission: Adult: $15 for one day,
$25 for two-day pass,
$35 for three-day pass;
Children under 5 free, under 12: $2
Scouts under 16 in uniform: free
Active Military: $10

It's a fun time and maybe I'll see you there.

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.