Friday, April 29, 2016

Waters

Waters



Time it seems catches us all, and likewise our health soon follows. I am reminded of that each morning as I stretch my left side against the symptoms of Parkinsons, while attempting to ease chronically cramped feet before applying any weight to them.  Ironically, these are the same feet that for many years carried me on 20 and 30 mile stretches as a Special Forces soldier.  Even while burdened by a Communications Sergeants 80-100lb rucksack. Those days of youth slipped away with barely a notice however, and oftentimes seem like a distant memory of someone I once knew.

Life, like a trout stream, never stops. There are no re-do’s, restarts or snooze alarms when that final alarm sounds.  As I stand looking over my father’s favorite trout stream from the bridge above, I am reminded of Heraclitus: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.” The pools, in which my father loved to fish are no more, since the floods of a few years back cleared out the large sweepers that built the pools, and directed the gravel that in turned formed the streams runs.  It is now a flat shallow that glides quietly by with few of the holding lies my father would come here to target. My father as well, has waded on ahead of me to different waters.

The stream has changed countless times over the course of my memory, as did both my father and I. Yet not in a bad way….we just changed. Life doesn’t allow for time to lie down and contemplate whether or not we should adjust and follow along. Like the stream, we are pulled along downstream, and wherever it is we regain the shore, we deal with. We dry ourselves off, cinch our waders back up, and step back in looking for that next riseform. It’s how we are made.

So I stretch my toes…roll the kink out of my neck….And step off into another day. Because there are still waters I have yet to wade. And even if I choose to cast my line in familiar waters….they, much like I are not the same as the last we met.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Tying the Burlap Nymph

The Burlap Nymph


The Burlap Nymph was shown to me 20+ years ago in Washington State as a large Stonefly nymph, it did well. Back on the East coast it went untied for many years,until a half dozen years ago when I began using the same principles but tying it as a smaller bead-head. It worked out well in the East Coast also. Its a naturally buggy, simple pattern that works on both trout and panfish.

Burlap Recipe

Hook:  #10-14 Orvis Beadhead 
Thread:  Dark brown Uni-thread
Bead: Gold Tungsten
Tail/Abdomen/Thorax:  Burlap
Color: Brown Copic Marker





Early Gill

Early Gill




Saturday, April 23, 2016

Belly Boating New Water

Belly Boats at Large


Dusting off the tubes for the first time in 2016, it was also my Son's maiden voyage in a donut as well. Once he got the kick down he was rolling.


I think he likes his Pond-borne recliner. 


The new water offered up some fat gills and smallish bass. But some of the surface activity at dusk suggested some nicer bucket-mouths to be had with a little effort. 






New water 20 minutes away, and a new belly boat partner. Life doesn't get much better. 



Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Skinny Water Caddis (Prototype)

Skinny Water Caddis (Prototype)


The SWC was tied last season to test against the Benton Caddis, as an alternative to those bright bluebird days, clear water and skittish fish. I wanted another option to provide a distinct footprint, with attributes that would lend itself to being stripped under when the situations calls for a diving caddis. It did exceptionally well on 2 trips equaling one full day of fishing in both aspects. Hope to give it more time on the water this season. If you like it, give it a try. And by all means, let me know what you think,


The SWC's Footprint


SWC Recipe

Hook:  #14 Orvis Tactical Dry
Thread: 8/0 Brown Uni-thread
Abdomen:  Olive Turkey Biot
Hackle:  Natural Dun CDC Puff
Wing:  Bleached Yearling Elk
Thorax:  Eyed Peacock Herl


Saturday, April 16, 2016

Opening Day 2016

Opening Day 2016


Day one opening weekend, We had great weather and near perfect water. Slower fishing, but with work they were around. We had 4 fish in all.

The best fish of the day



A fat Fishing Creek Bow

Hope all had a great day on the water.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Tying the Little Cree Wet

Little Cree Wet



The Little Cree Wet is one of my most consistent wet fly patterns, tied originally for Huntingdon Creek a number of years ago. It got its name from the hackle used, a JV Hen neck from Clearwater Hackle's predecessor "Conranch Hackle", in Cree. It has since done well on most all waters I wade. Fished in the film on a greased tipped, this little wet does the trick. 


Little Cree Recipe

Hook:  #12 Orvis Wide Gape Tactical
Thread:  8/0 Brown Uni-thread
Abdomen:  Fiery Brown/March Brown Turkey Biot
Thorax:  Pheasant tail Dubbing Blend
Hackle:  Cree Hen



Tuesday, April 12, 2016

It Has Arrived!

My WindKnots & Tangled Lines Prostaff Shirt


I'm Honored Howard!  

If you are willing to provide me with a shirt, I am more than willing to:

Lip Fish
Catch Tree Branches
Tie Three Stage Casting Knots
Lose Flies Faster Than I Can Tie Them
-
-
And hook a creek chub all the while yelling as I'm playing it, "WHOOHOO, She's a big brown!"

Not because I'm wearing the shirt. Just because that's what I do best.

But I promise not to embarrass you. :)



GO FLYERS!


GO FLYERS!!


We now return you to your regularly scheduled fly fishing


Friday, April 8, 2016

The Wet & Dry of Hackle

The Wet & Dry of Hackle


Both Patterns above are tied with the identical 4 materials 

6/0 Black UnithreadCDL TailingPMD Poly DubbingWhiting Silver Grade Dry Fly Neck

After my video "Tying in Dry Fly Hackle Techniques", I was asked by a good number of individuals to further explain what I meant by "dry fly fashion" or "wet fly fashion".

This video will help to answer that question, and hopefully add positively to your tying. It explains the meaning of the two terms, and why they are important. And how these principles can allow you to tie both the patterns shown here with the same hackle and materials, simply by allowing for the natural properties of the feathers you are working with.


Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Jewels For Sale (Updated)

JEWELS




I have 3 sets of 3, matted & signed sketch prints. 

One each Brook Trout, Cutthroat and Brown. 

$40 a set S&H included

Monday, April 4, 2016

The Slate Drake Bomber

Slate Drake Bomber


The Slate Drake Bomber is the only other Bomber style pattern I tie and fish here in the Northeast. It is my choice of flies for pocket water when fishing the Drakes.




Slate Drake Bomber Recipe

Hook: #10 Standard Dry
Thread:  Rusty Dun 8/0 Uni
Tail: Woodchuck Guard Hairs
Wing:  Dun Elk Hair
Body: #33 Seal Brown Hareline
Hackle:  Speckled Badger

(Note:  pattern and tying video remains the same as the Ausable Bomber. Only the colors are changed to match the local Slate Drake hatch)


Saturday, April 2, 2016

Tying the Ausable Bomber

The Ausable Bomber



The Ausable Bomber is a time proven pattern across much of the fly fishing world. Where Fran Betters' patterns go, success most often time follows. His Haystack, Usual and Bomber have accounted for quite a few fish coming to hand over the years for me as well. Here is the variant to that pattern that most often fills my box. 

Ausable Bomber

Hook: #10 Standard Dry
Thread:  Rusty Dun 8/0 Uni
Tail: Woodchuck Guard Hairs
Wing:  Bleached Calf Elk hair (or standard Calf Tail)
Body:  Sunrise Orange (Hairline Dubbing Blend)
Hackle:  Cree (Or Brown/Grizzly)

Sunrise Orange Dubbing Blend

1/3: #16 Hareline Hot Orange
1/3:  #27 Hareline Amber
1/3:  #10 Hareline Bright yellow
(Mixed with a coffeee grinder)