South Branch of the Raritan Bug Sampler

Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions posted this great video with a sample of he bugs found in the South Branch of the Raritan.

First appearing is a willow nymph, or early black stone fly nymph.  The early black stone is makes it's first appearance in February and March when temperatures start to rise in the late afternoon.  This hatch offers some great winter dry fly fishing, but don't forget the nymphs which are in the stream all year.

Next is the Isonychia bicolor, also called Iso, Slate Drake, or Lead Wing.  Found in fast moving  riffles in highly oxygenated water, these nymphs are fast swimmers that dart along the stream bottom. These mayflies start emerging in midsummer and hatch in to the fall.

Followed by one of my favorite bugs the scud because they are very abundant an in the streams year round.  Tim's video show how prominent the orange is in the natural.

Then there are two may fly nymphs one from the genus Ephemerella (Sulpher) and the other  from the genus Maccaffertium (March Brown or Cahill).

Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are next on the scene with Hydropsyche, which is a free living net builder, which are important because they get dislodged from time-to-time and drift down stream during times of behavioral drift.  

Finally a Gastropoda or snail which float and crawl most of our streams.

The one bug I did not mention was the Water Penny, which is a beetle larva that the Sulpher nymph was riding.  I don't know the type of beetle it becomes, but a cress bug imitation should represent this bug quite well.

Tim's South Branch Sampler 1/17/14 is a wonderful sample to the food available to trout in our streams in New Jersey and a great reference to use when designing fly patterns.

I recommend you check out Tim's other videos at Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

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)

Troutrageous! Names Fishing Blogger Pro Staff

On July 3, 2013 I plus 9 other bloggers were named to the Troutrageous! Fishing Blogger Pro Staff.  

What does this mean, I'm not sure.  

According to Troutrageous the criteria for being named to the pro staff.

1. You have to be a fishing blogger (of a blog I actually read)  
2. I need to have met you in person at least once
3. You never agreed to be a member and are likely on this list against your will

For number one I guess I have to trust him that he actually reads my blog (even though it's not very active these days).  I have to admit I've met Mr. Troutrageous in the flesh, and yes he is just as funny in person.  Finally number 3 is a yes and double yes.

According to my lawyer there is nothing I can do.  So not only am I out some cash to consult with my lawyer I'm receiving all kinds on email because of this new found BLANK (I don't know what noun,   adjective or expletive to use).  

Well maybe I exaggerate, in truth there was only one email, that from Troutrageous! warning of the blog post.  It is a fun post and I can't wait for next years inductees.

For the whole story go to Introducing The Troutrageous! Fishing Blogger Pro Staff  and take a tour of his site.

Thanks, Mike.

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.

Check out the lates issue of Kype Fishing Magazine

Here is the latest Issue of  Kype Fishing Magazine, Volume 4.2. 

My favorites reads are the Punk Rock Fly Fishing with Mike McAuliffe on page 14, the Modified Caddis by Aileen Nishimura Ellis on page 24 and Longevity for Nymphs by Gaeron Friedrichs on page 26.

Enjoy

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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

The Underwater World of Trout - 3 Volume Set Trailer

The Underwater World of Trout Series is an informative video collection, that every angler should own. Don't take my word here's what Lefty Kreh, Gary Borger, Jay "Fishy" Fullum, and Ed Jaworowski said.

“Not just trout fishermen but any fly fishermen stalking fish (bonefish, redfish and more) should buy and absorb what Ozzie has so well presented“.  - Lefty Kreh

“For most of us, this DVD by Ozzie Ozefovich, will provide a highly informative view of the world through the trout's window—a view that we all need to understand, but one that few have seen. Be certain that you see this DVD, it will make you a better angler“. - Gary Borger - Trout Vision & Refraction

“After viewing Feeding Lies,I plan to take a second look at stretches of water I passed up in the past. I will also re-think some of my presentations to the fish residing in these areas.” - Jay "Fishy" Fullum - Feeding Lies

“Feeding Lies will revolutionize trout fishing…no more guessing or imagining what goes on in the trout’s world.The most important trout video to date.”  - Ed Jaworowski - Feeding Lies

Wendell "Ozzie" Ozefovich has been filming and videotaping for more than four decades, so he has the skill and equipment to produce a quality experience. He is an accomplished fly fisherman who looks at a river not just as an angler, but also as a filmmaker. He asks the same questions you do—sometimes finding answers, sometimes finding more questions to ask.

There are no staged aquarium shots; these trout are in their natural environment. There is also footage of sea-run rainbow and brown trout. There are wild fish and stocked fish, fighting fish and spawning fish. You will see beneath the surface as trout feed on drifting invertebrates and surface flies, and how a trout views an angler through its window.

There is a segment on electrofishing and stream bank restoration, which will show that anglers, together with private conservation organizations and government agencies, can work together toward a common goal. This is one of the few presentations that almost everyone from rank beginner to crusty old cuss walks away having learned something!

For information please contact: underwateroz@comcast.net or visit http://www.underwateroz.com/index.html

In full disclosure I was hired be Ozzie to do the motion graphics on "Trout Vision and Refraction." I'm not receiving any compensation for this post or sales of his videos.  Ozzie gave me permission to post this clip, which is copyrighted © 2013 Underwater Oz Production.

Congratulations! to Fly and Fin on winning the 'Fly Fishing' award.

While I've not posted, while the blog is in limbo, I had to brake the silence.

I found it funny to receive this award since I've not posted in 6 months. I tried to find out something about SnippetFact.com and if this meant any thing.  I gather it is a start-up and most people who get these are surprised.  It looks like users recommend sites that are fact based.

Here is there "about us" statement: "SnippetFact.com is a continuously improving project focused on creating a trustworthy 'facts only' based website. Founded by a community who enjoy to learn and who are dedicated to improving their own intelligence, whilst helping the quality of online factual content progress".

Why Flyandfin.blogspot.com?

Because SnippetFact.com is a project designed to improve the quality of online factual content, we want to promote and encourage this on other websites too! Flyandfin.blogspot.com was awarded for one or more of the following reasons:

• Accurate and precise informational content.
• Interesting and inviting layout and/or writing style.
• Reliable source for trustworthy content.
• Unique and entertaining information.

If any one has more info let me know, for now I'm posting as entertainment.

Tangle with the Blog

Dear Readers of Fly and Fin,

I found out on May 30, 2012 that the name Fly & Fin is trademarked to a fellow in Oregon. Oh brother (insert expletive). I’m seeing what can be done, so we’ll have to wait and see. It’s possible I’ll have to start a new blog under a new name.

Lesson learned: Make sure I get my stuff legally registered the next time around.

Stay tuned.

Lou

Weekend Camping and Fishing

The weekend before Memorial Day a group of friends and I went out to catch the Sulphur hatch/spinner fall.  Since this required a late night on the stream we decided to camp out.  This was a car camping expedition, so there was no need to keep weight down.  This translates into steaks on the grill with all the fixings, not to mention plenty wine, desert and fishing stories.

Here's a little sample of the weekend.

My accommodation.

First brown of the evening.

Red bellies can't resist Sulphur's.

Sun is dipping and spinners on the water.

Jacklin's spinner was the fly of choice.

Last fish of the evening.

Stories by the fire.

Sulphur...are early...my post is late.

The Sulphur this year are two weeks earlier than last year.  Mind you last year was wet and cooler than this year, but with the low water this year everything is early.  It make it a little harder trying to time the hatches, but that's life.

As The Jersey Angler said to me in his last tweet "that's old news dude. Where have you been."  It's obvious I've not been on the stream at the beginning of the Sulphur hatch, but I do make up for lost time.

In 2010 the Sulphur hatch started around May 22, and in 2011 because of the wet spring it was May 28 and by The Jersey Angler accounts this years hatch started around May 11, 2012.  That's a big spread, but I'm afraid with funky weather patterns this is going to be the norm.

Sulphur Spinner returning to lay eggs.

Here is a short hypnotic video of this years spinners returning back in the evening to lay eggs.

 The last thing to add is make sure you have some Rusty spinners.

Bubble Pupa

The big caddis hatch everyone can't wait for is the Mothers Day Caddis or Brachycentrus.  The Brachycentrus is a cased caddis that lives in just about every stream.  This is a prolific hatch and trout engorge themselves on this abundant insects. This hatch in the east starts in May around Mothers Day and can go well in to June, making it an important hatch to fishers.

There are many outstanding patterns to imitate the pupa (it's most vulnerable stage).  The best well know is LaFontaine’s Sparkle Pupa.  Again I'd like to point you in the direction of Matt Grobert's video Tying the LaFontaine Sparkle Emerger  produced by Tim Flagler aka Tightline Productions for instruction on tying this classic pattern.  Another notable pattern is Barr’s Graphic Caddis.

My take on the Mothers Day Caddis is simple, like most of my patterns, mainly because I want to spend more time fishing than tying (the real reason is I'm lazy).  With most of the patterns I develop the golden rule is Keep it simple, Stupid.  For those who don't know the K.I.S.S. rule it's attributed to Kelly Johnson, lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works think spy planes Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird. 

This patterns is developed from observation. I always have a small seine net and will do a kick sample of the stream I fishing to see what bugs and numbers.  If you look at my Popular Posts you'll see that "Emerging Caddis Pupa" is one of my most popular post and those are the images and video I used as reference.

I must give inspirational credit to Davie McPhail videos where I pick-upped using Flashabou for the rib and tinting it with a permanent marker to create a darker but flashy rib.

Bubble Pupa

Hook: Light Wire Caddis Hook.

Size: 14 - 16

Thread: Brown 6/0 or 8/0

Tag: Flashabou

Rib: Flashabou tinted with olive permanent marker.

Abdomen:  Hareline Dubbin HD13 (Insect Green)

Gas Bubble: 1/8" Micro Foam (used to protect electronic)

Legs: Hungarian Partridge

Thorax: Brown Squirrel Dubbing

Start thread and tie in Flashabou.

Wrap tag tie off and dub abdomen.

Tint the inside of the Flashabou and rib abdomen.

Tie in micro foam 1/8" wide.

Tie in Hungarian Partridge by tip.

Wind Partridge tie off and fold over wing case.

Dub Thorax and whip finish.

Your finished Bubble Pupa.

This pattern is a impressionistic pupa designed to be fished in the film. The micro packing foam helps it float and allows light to pass through to mimic the gas bubble of the pupa.  Hence the name Bubble Pupa. This pattern can be tied in various colors to match the caddis coming off on your stream.

Crane Fly time, and the one that got away.

Now that Hendrickson and Grannom hatches are behind us now it's the slow time before the next super hatch "Sulfurs."

There are plenty of bugs on the water tan, olive and black caddis, but the Crane flies are starting to hatch.  For me that's when I go back to nymphing and fish a Walt's worm, Sawyer's Killer Bug or my K.I.S.S. Crane fly larva.  One thing I've noticed is that there are no subtle takes, more like a Bullet train.

The Bullet train story I have is of one that got away.  I hooked a monster brown I'd estimate 24" plus, no wait I think it was 30" plus.  Either way it was a good brown with shoulders that hit hard and I was running me up and down the pool.  I'd lost him when during the fight a 16" Rainbow took my top dropper went one way and the Brown went the other.  The train derailed and I was left with smaller fish was at the end of my line.  The expletives flew, and I was cursing what was a respectable Rainbow, because it blew my chance at the fish of the day.  Why was I not fishing 20 lb. Fluorocarbon?

I should have packed up and headed for home but the fishing was too good, so I stayed and landed many more fish, but non as large as that 38" Brown.

Here are some of fish who recently fell victim to the K.I.S.S. Crane fly larva and one Rainbow who ran interference.

Crane Fly Larva in the jaw.

Rainbow who ran interference.

Nice wild Brown.

The beast I landed.

Top Water Caddis Action

Here in the east we're experiencing a very mild and dry spring. I'm concerned with low water and rising temperatures, that our waters will heat up and stress the trout.  This is normally not a problem for this time of year because the we usually get a fair amount if rain keeping our waters at good levels.  Only time will tell how the rest of the spring will play out, but for now the fishing is hot.

Since the spring opener bugs are popping and the trout are on them.  Mainly caddis, Grannoms to be exact are all over and the trout are looking up.  Several of my last outings I've be dry fly fishing, not once did I set-up a nymph rig.  The two main patterns I've been fishing are my CDC UV Caddis (with and with out an egg sack) and Craig Mathew's of Blue Ribbon Flies, Iris Caddis (Check out Matt Grobert video Tying the Iris Caddis produced by Tim Flagler aka Tightline Productions).

I usually present the fly with a down stream reach cast and dead drift it over holding water and feeding lies, at the end of the drift I'll dance the caddis across the surface mimicking a caddis breaking through the film or a egg-layer depositing her eggs.  Most of the time I'm fishing to rising fish, but I do just as well prospecting and inducing a rise.

The result is some of the best dry fly fishing I've had in years, in fact it's been HOT!

Here are some photos (trout porn) from my outings, enjoy.

One well chewed fly.

Opening Day 2012

Over the years a tradition has developed around opening day of Trout Season. My boys and many friends have a dinner on the banks of a river and many of us camp out to fish the next morning at the 8:00AM start of the season.

This year we had 30 for dinner with just less than half camping out. The large turn out is in direct proportion to the weather, which this year was fabulous.

I'm the grill master with help from The Jersey Angler, and every one brings some thing to table, whether it's appetizers, sides deserts and adult beverages of one sort or another.

While the season only closes for 3 weeks, this is the first outing for many after a long cold winter. This year we didn't winter, more of an extended Autumn.

For me it's a day where I guide my boys and spend time teaching them the art of angling.

Fish on!

Happy Camper

Nice Brookie

Stream entomology

More bugs

Nice Brown.

Could be the big one.

20" Rainbow