The Scarecrow (mini-dragon fly pattern)

 

                                            SCARECROW  by Gary Muncy (2004)

This fly was created about 3-4 years ago to provide a smaller partner to the Kaufmann Dragon. It was tied smaller, but buggier and spikier (ok, not real adjectives, but bare with me). A mixtrue of brown and olive Hare’s Ear dubbing. The tail was a short bunch of marabou (Chickabou could be used). The hook was a stout #10 (3xl). Red, black and green eyes have been used to good affect. Green, copper and gold ribbing were used. The abdomen is touch dubbed for spikes from the guard hairs. A grouse or partridge feather is wound once for minimal legs, then the thorax/head area is dubbed again around the eyes (tied on top of the shank) to the eye of the hook. The Scarecrow affect is wanted here: guard hairs/straw sticking out from tail to the eye of the hook. There was no weight added to the fly. Intermediate or Type 2 lines taking the unweighted fly downward were used.These were tied up and fished for one season and then some how put in a small fly box, then in a drawer beneath a workbench in the garage. An archeological dig recently uncovered them. I am so darn excited to include these into my Dragon and Damsel arsenal.  The Scarecrow…..tie ’em and use. 

 

 

 

 

Oh, good lead in: Liberty v. group think, political correctness, ‘community’, nanny state. By all means, give it all up for ‘change’ and ‘hope’ Hapless robots. OK, I am done.

Caddis (no point reinventing the wheel…read on)

 

http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/bugs/caddisfly/caddisfly.phtml

http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/entomology/trichoptera/

http://www.westfly.com/entomology/caddis/grannom.shtml

http://www.flyfishingentomology.com/

 

 

Midge Male and Chironomids (Pupa’s, Emerger’s, Dry’s)

 

My ties below. With beads and without. Use V-Rib for some bodies and permanent marker for top portion of abdomen. Legs were either Starling hackle tips or reverse portion of hackle pulled from stem. A few bodies were simply black thread bodies and black, small or fine wire ribbing. Dry’s: Griffiths Gnat in two sizes; also, size 18 simple wets of black or gray thread body with a simple wound Starling wing. The Emerger is black biot body overlayed with black or red Krystal Flash strand. A chunk of white foam is tied in horizontally just back from the eye. A small Peacock thorax and simple dun wrap of hackle finishes it off. Frankly, the biot wrap in small flies has been problematic for me and I don’t believe worth the effort to affix the biot on such a small fly (14). I have successfully tied a few small strands of marabou or small black ostrich in and then ribbed it. Much easier.   

Pretty detailed stuff re Chironomidae (Midges). Greek ur Latin to me. Also, a more general entomology link with some good pics. 

http://www.entomology.umn.edu/midge/diptera.htm

http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/~ethanbr/chiro/ 

 The Emerger to the right is an example of the abdomen built from a strand or two of black marabou and ribbed with red tinsel. Narrow ostrich feathers could also be used. The peacock is used to build the thorax and to cover the thread wraps securing the foam wing “bow tie”.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damsel Fly Patterns (proven and experimental…copy them)

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t make this stuff up! Some things are better left unknown don’t you think? So, while this ugly predator (well, Lasiognathusamphirhamphus) fishes blind with the same old ‘fly, let me suggest you get ready for the damsel flies on your  favorite stillwaters. I have had great success with a couple of patterns that are simple to tie. The Georgi’s Damsel and Cope’s Damsel. (click on upper L pic and enlarge for nice details).

Georgi’s Damsel is a ginger colored damsel pattern. I ran into Georgi on Leighton Lake in BC. She and her husband, Neal, own the Logan Lake Flyshop in Logan Lake, BC just south of Leighton and Tunkwa lakes. She shared her pattern with me and represented this as an immature ‘instar’ of the damsel nymph explained to me the various stages of a damsel nymph’s development. Apparently go through a molting process and in the immature process they are sometimes a lighter color. The damsel nymph have gill like,  respirtory devices at the end of the abdomen. We would call this the tail for flytying purposes. Usually feather/hackle fibers or marabou are used for this portion the fly to suggest movement. Perhaps ostrich feathers of a smaller size would be good here for the breathing gills/’tail’. This has been a good little fly for me and I have left it as Georgi initially presented it.

The Cope’s Damsel is sleeker and more static in materials used, but this has been very productive from BC to Oregon. Fished toward the shoreline’s reeds or retrieved toward the shore (remember the damsels are slowly swimming beneath the surface toward objects to climb above the surface). This pattern was originated by Jim Cope. Remember Cope’s Callibaetis? I tie this in medium brown and green. Both are equally productive. The only thing I (well not the only thing, but I should say one thing) wonder is if the color for the immature nymph is of less value to you as the fish key on mature ‘emerging’ nymph, which are probably darker (like Cope’s pattern).

I believe tying the Georgi’s in a variety of vegetation colors and the Cope’s to match that same camo theme will cover it all. Match the veg!  I have included other experimental patterns for damsels that work. The Georgi Damsel and the Cope’s Damsel as well as these other patterns work. I have tied patterns that combine both qualities of Georgi’s Damsel and the Cope’s. Some I have tied a bit too thick and may be better suited for small dragons. You’ve got the patterns, but pay attention to the presentation as well. Where do they live as a nymph at? What do they feed upon? How do they swim? How do they ‘hatch’?  Below are ’spooning’ damsels. A Georgi Damsel and a Cope Damsel, but with a marabou tail. 

OK, I was so impatient to post today. I took these shots outside in morning light hence the shadows. I was too impatient to wait for the high noon as it is frigging hot outside and well as I said impatient.    

http://www.ariverneversleeps.com/showsell/ads/client15.html  (access to contact information for Georgi and Neal’s shop in Logan Lake, B.C……still don’t have a weblog/website!?!)  (July 2, 2008: per Georgi’s comments~See Comments Section for excellent advice~ their shop is no more…but, I am sure their positive spirit carries on. Her excellent fly carries on.  Thank you, Georgi and best wishes to you and Neil.    

http://swittersb.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/brian-okeefes-wisdom-positive-and-vital/ (worth reading for a view of the sport’s many faces)

A Father’s Confessions (flyfishing partners….or not?)

Patience, enormous patience. No exceptions. Intellectually you know this. Cause and affect. I have three sons. Wonderful young men. But, at times I have done my best to undermine their self-esteem and trust. The only explanation, that is the bedrock of a poor explanation, is that I was self absorbed and consequently too selfish to truly focus on the little person beside me. Yes, I expended just enough energy to set them up with a rig, but of course as happens, they ran afoul of snags, line twist, loops, tangles and branches. My response was impatience to what should have been the clearly inevitable result of turning ones back on a little guy. In time, they improved but there was an edge to them. What edge? A nervous edge. An edge from fear of disappointing me or worse angering me. Did I hit them? No. But, you don’t have to. A look, a tone, body language, spoken words do the deed. Several embarrassing events took place over time that I am truly ashamed to recount. Too embarrassing and paint me for what I was: selfish. These lessons in cause and affect spill over into their future life….don’t ever doubt it. 

Thank God…no dancing around it…thank God I woke up. I love my sons and have reflected upon how easily we can influence them for better or worse. I write this to tweak someone, anyone, who is so self absorbed or possibly self aware enough to know they have done harm…fix it! It won’t happen right away. But, it can happen and a few, ‘I love you’s’ and hugs will go a long way to repair the strains and set you upon a good course. The progression I used aside from showing patience and love was as follows: shore side folding chairs, treats, small rods and reels, power bait, casting for them and letting them reel in the catch, making it all about them, keeping it relaxed, pictures of them. Then later, teaching them to cast spinning reels and casting bubbles with a short leader and fly. Slowly reeling and hooking fish. Developing confidence in a fly (Renegade, Elk Hair Caddis, Adams). This took 3-4 years. When I fished, I fished alone. I spent time with them and then only focused upon them. Only several years later did I place a fly rod in their hands and by now I was much more patient. All my sons are excellent flyfishers. I don’t take credit for some great success. I only constantly reflect upon how easily we affect our children. With all the other negative influences out there that wage war on your child’s development, don’t be anything but a positive bulwark against those negative influences.

Fathter and son. Fishing partner and friend. It is there for a brief time. Maybe longer if lucky. Reflect upon how special it is. Of course, this equally applies to our little girls…our daughters too. But most prominently our sons are our canvas. How will your son treat his son, daughter, girlfriend or wife? Patience, enormous patience.

  http://swittersb.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=607       

East Lake Resort, Oregon (a break from camping)

 

    East Lake Resort was a treat and respite from early season camping       

 http://www.eastlakeresort.com/

 

Normally, car camping or a tent trailer are the base camp. I hesitated to break out the camping gear as I thought there would be residual snow at East Lake for this late June trip. It actually would not have been a problem. But, instead I booked a room for two nights and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The beds are soft with plenty of blankets/quilts. Bring a pillow or two if you want but even the pillows were adequate. The Rainbow Room is attached to three other similar rooms. The walls are thin, so you do hear your neighbors and they will hear you. This four unit portion is a social experience..so know that. It worked for us as we met great people. If you want more privacy you pay more and get more too. The gift shop is nice. The restaurant was nice. The food was good and what you would expect pricing wise ($$$). The waitresses were cute and sociable (Tony liked that). The store is stocked with basics and ice cream!! The gentleman behind the counter is very helpful with places to fish and landmarks to position yourself. When we were there, you could literally fish straight out from the resort and catch nice fish (see previous post re Dr. Mike Miller and CJ Miller). Boat rentals are available. This was a nice break from camping. I do enjoy getting a good spot at East Lake Campground and it is close to ‘the zone’. If you stay at the resort and want to drive over to the Hot Springs launch or East Lake Campground, you are suppose to have a parking permit. You buy this as you stop at the kiosk down below. I believe it was $10. for the weekend for us. If the kiosk is closed then there use to be a self pay box nearby….not sure if that works still. Not sure if you can buy a parking permit from camp host at campground(s). Anyway, you can register on line for the East Lake Resort and enjoy the stay. If you must stay connected they have a wi-fi connection for a nominal fee.    

        

Casting a flyline (self gratification v. fishing)

Tony Muncy is quite at ease loading and slinging a line. But, for the rest of us with a pronounced lack of motor skills or physical ailments, a more gentle approach is required and most importantly acceptable. I doubt, in my prime, I have ever cast much past 60′ and I am pushing that. I have acquaintenances that can easily cast the entire flyline (at least at a convention center outdoor expo). But realistically there is almost no point for that on a lake or stream. That is why the Fish God(s) made spey rods for steelhead.

It is common practice for some to let out most of their Intermediate Line or another sink line and wind drift across a lake. May I say, you will catch fish doing this. But what a pain to reel and strip in all that line and if you hook into anything below 20-26″ the fish will often come unhinged and free. Really as a rule I cast out 30-40 feet of line on stillwaters and catch plenty of fish (well usually) with that limited amount of line presented and worked to entice the strike. I really don’t believe one needs the whole fly line out. Maybe 60′ as I wind drift, but if working to a hatch or pre hatch, I am working 30′ and moving about to maintain position if the wind is a factor. You are rarely going to spook fish if you efficiently move about. What does probably spook (I mean unless you are on the central channel at Hosmer L. and can see fish scurry away) is repetitive casting and splatting. There is something addictive, for some, in casting. The feel of a quality rod is so pleasant for some and they have to feel that loading and reloading. What this does is cause someone to cast 2-3 times longer than really necessary. The old saying of can’t catch fish if the line isn’t in/on the water is true. Some would say, well what do you care if I like practicing my cast. I don’t give a crap. Cast away, just don’t fish near me waving about, splatting the surface with an overcharged cast and then when dissatisfied with only 45′ ripping it back up and casting more to get another 5′. Please. Get the line out there and leave it. Kick away from it if on the move and let line out to separate yourself from the fly. If you are anchored up or not on the move then get a single decent cast out there and leave it and work it. I have a permanent impairment with my casting arm. I have long ago given up on being a great caster. So efficiency is all I have now. What this does is it mellows you out, lowers your intensity of the physical process and lets you focus on the presentation once the line is on the water.

Once the line it on the water then keep your tip down to reduce a draping bow in the line, which will to some degree lessen your ability to see the take and set the hook. Even with a direct connect to the fly, you will probably miss as many fish as you hook. To reiterate, WF floating lines (no DT’s) and Intermediate Lines and/or Type 2-5 Lines; few false casts…get them out and working. No one really cares how far you can cast except you. You pick…self gratification of casting or catching fish. To do both is a big waste of your time.              

 

Old Fishing (the good and bad of it….)

the good: rods & reels that work and have endured; waders that make you look seasoned and have yet to have a serious leak; old men who share the keys to the kingdom; old homesteads that make you wonder; old hats that don’t make you look like a rube; old dirt roads and no one around; old rods and reels set aside out of respect for new more efficient gear; old spots that are still productive; rediscovering proven flies.

the bad: old reels with no drag; development near your secret spot; paved roads; gates blocking access to old spots; glass rods; too many leaks; improved campgrounds; wool; gutted Salmon for the roe; small runs; tired and damaged bodies; taking off neoprene waders on freezing days; cheap, cracked flylines; old, unfriendly farts who don’t share; snaggers; arrogance of privilege.

This is an evolutionary experience. At the ends of the age spectrum you are either too young or old to care. In between, you are usually making choices and identifying preferences, and heaven help you boundaries. This sport affords many of us great blessings to travel, experience the far reaches of our sport and to do it again. Stay humble about that and don’t set too many boundries for this sport in your mind. Always learn from those willing to share. Don’t be a know it all….that guy or gal standing nearby may know way more than you..and you will look like a bozo!    

Fishing Chironomids (like a prerequisite math class, ugh)

                                                        

I know, I know. A significant staple of trout and available year round. But, unless it is the last light evening or early morning hatch, I am bored to tears to anchor and fish vertically. I have watched it numerous times in BC. Guys fishing their two rods (legal there..odd, but you can’t fish two flies per rod…more odd) and well dialed into depth and fishing vertical and getting fish. I have done it. I have fished beside a BC gent, who gave me gentle instructions. It worked. We were anchored in heavy wind with rolling 6″ to 1 foot waves and we did catch fish. I think I could do it in waters where it is best to not fight the wind. Anchor up and fish toward the shoreline and see what shakes. But, I do get twitchy to move about. I can’t sit for long and need to move. At any rate, the attached chart by Phillip Rowley does suggest, at least for BC/Eastern Washington lakes that midges and scuds are pretty darn important. But Mayflies at the same level as Zooplankton? Doesn’t seem right. Just thinking of static fishing makes my head hurt…like rolling out of bed, heading off to school and sitting through a math class that just did not compute for me. Necessary but boring. Course, I have all manner of pupa and emerger patterns, even a few larva patterns (bloodworms), but I am not disciplined enough to make them a priority. The chart  suggests that is wrongheaded. At least you should make a wise decision. Pupa photo by Brian Chan. 

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/lakes/part54.php

http://swittersb.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/trout-tattoo-art/

http://swittersb.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/brian-okeefes-wisdom-positive-and-vital/ (Read!)

To weight or not to weight….(gettin’ down)

 

For stream fishing weight is added to the fly or leader/tippet, in an attempt to dredge the bottom, just skimming across the bottom. Or, to put the fly down quickly and raise it ala Leisenring Lift to induce a take. But with stillwaters, once in the shoals or near the edge/drop, all depths of that zone are fishable depending upon hatches, your search presentations/retrieves and the vertical route most insects take toward the hatch (excluding crawling across the bottom to shore; crawling up debris/vegetation to surface).

This is a slower probing of the vertical column until, hopefully, a pattern results from hits and/or hookups and your observations of when or where you receive the hits. The tip is to stay in the zone as long as possible. An overly weighted fly will pass through the zone too quickly. A too heavy fly line will pull the fly (weighted or unweighted) through the zone. This is why an Intermediate or Type II line will keep the unweighted fly in the zone longer. With the exception of flies I want to keep at the bottom like a Kaufmann Dragon or the bead head Woolly Bugger, I most often use the clear line to slowly probe the horizontal plain until I lower into or retrieve up into the strike zone. Woolly Buggers can and should also be tied in the unweighted style. Bead headed WB’s offer the up and down undulating, wavy Leech movement. But, sometimes valuable time is lost by passing downward too quickly and staying below the zone. A clear Intermediate/Type I, a Type III and a WF Floating line are the primary lines. Sink Tips and heavier lines could be carried, but 3-4 spare spools plus the costs of the additional lines do add up.