Tying The Cow Dung Variant

The Cow Dung Variant

The Cow Dung Variant was originally tied out of necessity due to a lack of materials at the time. This version proved effective and has remained in my box ever since. An excellent trout pattern in its own right, it is once of the best panfish wets I have fished. Both alone or as a trailing fly to a  bassbug, 

CDV Recipe

Hook:  #16 Standard Wet

Thread:  Olive-Dun

Tag:  Gold Holographic Mylar

Abdomen: Tying Thread

Hackle:  Furnace

Wing:  Lemon-Barred Wood Duck

BOOK REVIEW: Streamwalkers Journey

Streamwalker's Journey

Fishing The Triple Divide

By:  Walt Franklin

As a fan of Walt's blog Rivertop Rambles  I was intrigued when I saw the announcement for this book. While I have enjoyed his style of Piscatorial ramblings I also have an intimate knowledge of many of the waters he haunts as well. This can be a two-edged sword however when an authors thoughts reach print, as like it or not we all see much of the same water through our own shade of glasses. Water in which you have been touched by often seems slightly off when described by another.  So it was, with hesitancy I cracked open the covers of this book. 

My worries proved unfounded however after the first few passages. Walt brings you to the places he loves and completes the setting for you as you read along. His love for the Triple Divide region is obvious and though at times his passion for it may surpass the casual reader, it is never enough to cause one to take pause or put the book down. Quickly he brings you back to that which brought you to these pages. The desire to share his journey along waters he is blessed to frequent, enjoy time on the water with fly rod in hand through his words and get to know the author just little bit better. 

Well written and greatly enjoyed!

The Whole Kit-and-Caboodle

What started off as one small bass on a Foam-Butt Caddis....

....Soon turned into one Chain Pickerel short of the whole Kit-and-Caboodle.

The bass were on, but wanting nothing to do with anything large. Even an FBC was was proving to be too big.  But after a bit of trial and error, a simple foam spider tied on a #10 Mustad 94832 did the trick. 

Before you knew it, the usual suspects began showing up

Gills and Pumpkinseeds

Even the Crappie joined in

But the bass were aggressively feeding from end-to-end. With some of the bigger fish in a mere 6" of water. 

All thanks to  the little X-Gurgler

Which took such a beating that when the folded head tore loose I trimmed it down to a standard head and it kept  going. 

The X-Gurgler

Coloring Spring Gills

Round 2

Same water  24 hours later. They went from pink to a red breast in one day.  

It's in full swing now. 

The morning started with the Blonde FBC.

As soon as direct sun hit the water, the WOG got the call

In less than 24 hours the bulls went mossback in color and from pink to red breasted

Nature is really cool to watch. 

Spring Gills & New Tube

New Cumberland Float Tube & Spring Gills

With the morning coming on warmer than forecast, and a new tube still waiting in the garage for it's maiden voyage, the decision seemed simple. Go fishing.  I grabbed the CGR 7'6" 7/8 wearing a Martin MG-7 spooled with an Orvis Hydros WF7F Warmwater line and set out for Glenloch.

The lake was clear with lily pads beginning to show, but enough to hold fish yet.  The fish would be on the edges.

The Cumberland was comfortable once adjusted.  The seat, while very nice, takes a bit of adjustment during use to get "just right".

Only drawback was the higher ride in the wind than a traditional Donut or U-boat.  With 15 knots gusting, I was able to get in my workout for the week AND catch fish. 

The Cumberland gets an A+.

It wasn't long before fish came to hand, but most were smaller.

Until I switched to the Gurgling Wog.

(WOG pictured above survived the beating of the Gills, but had to be put down after)

1st big gill of the day on the Wog. Notice how he engulfed the entire fly?...tied on a #4 Gamakatsu Stinger hook!

Only 1/2 dozen bass on the day. Pictured is the largest.

Gills however, were on the beds.  

The biggest bulls were beginning to "color up", with breast a shade of pink and signs of the crimson of full spawn.

May have been the longest fish on the day. The fish was hooked on the outside, as it rolled over the fly during the rise.

But this one was the overall heaviest fish

and again....

Check out the Wog!

Tying The Squirrels Nest Drake Nymph

Squirrels Nest Drakes

The Squirrels Nest Drake nymph is a variation of the original Caddis pattern the "Squirrels Nest".  Looking for a suitable pattern for Slate Drake nymphs (Isonychia)  I needed an elongated pattern with prominent ribbing and thorax while remaining impressionistic.  Sticking with turkey biots for both tail and wingcase added more movement than goose and body glass for ribbing completed the transition, morphing it from Caddis to Mayfly. The past couple years it has been a solid pattern for me. 

Tying the SND Nymph

Blue-Winged Olives

Blue-Winged Olive Thorax

A few replacements for the bin that I realized was empty opening day. 

BWO Thorax

Hook:  #16 Dry

Thread: Olive Dun Uni-thread

Tail:  Medium Pardo CDL

Abdomen: Tying Thread

Wing:  Dun Turkey Flat

Hackle:  Speckled Badger (Clipped on bottom)