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

Wild On The Fly Premiere's January 1, 2011

What to do on New Years day (besides sleeping in), well if you manage to wake up before 1:30PM you may want to ease in to your day with some Trout Porn, (no wait) I meant to say a new angling adventure series Wild On The Fly.

Wild On The Fly, presented by Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop in Missoula, Montana is debuting on the Outdoor Channel on January 1, 2011 at 1:30PM. Wild On The Fly  is a new 13-episode series of angling adventures from all around the world.

Here is the schedule:

1. January 1, 2011 Trout Mecca Missoula - Trout slaying on the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers; 2011 Season Preview
   
2. January 8, 2011 Angling For Gold – Golden dorado on the Rio Juramento in northern Argentina
   
3. January 15, 2011 Rainbow Rhapsody – Massive bears and monster 'bows wilderness float trip in Bristol Bay, Alaska
   
4. January 22, 2011 In Search of Sabalitos - Baby tarpon at San Felipe in northern Yucatan, Mexico
   
5. January 29, 2011 Tamin’ Taimen – Wild river expedition for huge taimen in Mongolia
   
6. February 5, 2011 Musky Madness – Trophy muskies on the fly in the north woods of Wisconsin
   
7. February 12, 2011 Mexico Largemouth – Largemouth bass in El Salto and Mateos reservoirs on mainland Mexico
   
8. February 19, 2011 West of Key West – Tarpon and sharks on a live-aboard in the Marquesas, southwest of the Florida Keys
   
9. February 26, 2011 Nile Perch – Monster perch on the fly in the shadow of the Egyptian Pharaohs
   
10. March 5, 2011 Patagonia Unplugged – Early season browns, rainbows and perca on the Rio Chimehuin in Argentne Patagonia
    
11. March 12, 2011 Permit Passion – A week chasing permit at the legendary Palometa Club in Ascension Bay Mexico
    
12. March 19, 2011 Redfish Requiem – Rediscovering redfish after "the spill" in marshes of Louisiana
    
13. March 26, 2011 Amazonia – Peacock bass in the Rio Negro headwater jungles of Amazonia, Brazil

Now I've only previewed the show on YouTube and on Wild On The Fly web site and it looks good. They are covering most of the fly fishing destination and species you would want to log before your worm food.  The winter months are after all for preparing for the upcoming season, and this series looks to be a good way to fight off cabin fever.   Check your local listings for times.

Review 2010

Now that most of the holidays have passed I starting my review of some of my most effective patterns. One fly that has done well this year is my Tan UV Caddis which has become my go to anchor fly on my Polish/Czech or if you like Euro-Nymphing setup. Not only does it get the other flies down on the bottom but fish take it regularly.



Hook – Jig Head
Size – 1/125 – 1/80
Thread –8/0 Orange
Body – Ice Dub UV Tan
Hot Spot – Hot Orange
Rib – .32 gauge Brown or Copper Wire
Legs – Rust Dun CDC Fibers

One of the last Brown's that fell victim to the Tan UV Caddis.

You may notice most of the gold is worn off the fly.

I don't know if it's the the tan UV Ice Dub, the Hot Spot, the CDC legs or all of the above, but it works.  I went through all the flies I tied last winter, and I'm going to tie double this winter.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Fly and Fin

Everyone have a safe and healthy Holiday.

The Grubber

Here is a pattern I found in the November 2010 issue of Trout & Salmon (Bauer Media) in an article by Paul Procter "The Wild Side of Town."

The Grubber

Size – 14 - 16 Grub Hook
Thread – 8/0 Black (Here I used 8/0 Brown)
Head – Tungsten Bead 2.3 mm,  Orange
Body – Hare's Ear Dubbing

Mash down the barb, place bead and apply thread.

Dub abdomen whip finish and push bead over abdomen.

Re-attach thread and dub thorax and whip finish.

As far as fly's that follow the K.I.S.S. rule, well it's obvious this fly is there.  It will make a good addition to the Czech nymph box.  I'm going to give it a try as soon as possible.

Release II

Just having some fun with videos Rick sent me from our last outing. These release shots are the same fish from the Grip and Grin post.

Enjoy.

K.I.S.S. Scud

Scud's are translucent and range from tan to light olive.

This is a scud from one of my local streams. Scud's are an overlooked food source by many anglers, it's very abundant an in the streams year round.

Most Czech nymphs imitate Caddis larva but they also imitate scuds. I use fluorescent orange thread to add a small hot spot on the rear and behind the bead.

This K.I.S.S. pattern is easy and a quick tie.



Size – 14 - 16 Grub Hook
Thread – Danville Flymaster Plus 210,  Fluorescent Orange 503
Head – Tungsten Bead 2.3 mm,  Gold
Body – Hairline Ice Dub UV Tan
Shell Back – Pearl Flashabou
Rib – Fine Copper Wire

Tenkara: High Sticking

Here is another video of Rick fishing Tenkara.

You can see the line and drift control you can achieve when fishing Tenkara. It would have been nice if Rick landed this fish, but that's why we call it fishing.

The one down side I see with Tenkara is once you touch the line to land the fish you lose the spring of the rod. Allowing the fish to pull or break off. Rick commented how the fish went bonkers (usually a massive head shake) when he grabbed the line. This seem to be a problem with fish over 18 inches.