Della Street and a Fly Rod (Did Perry Mason Know what a hottie Della was?)

As a young boy watching Perry Mason at noon or never ending reruns of Perry, I was always attracted to the assistant Della Street. There was something about those painted lips and big eyes and rounded features…something sexy and contained naughtiness….now I have confirmation of Della’s uninhibited side.

Barbara 'Della' Hale 1946

Early morning and primping in the mirror before donning the cowgirl clothing. This is pre April Vokey in the wilderness…roughing it but still wanting to show the feminine side…Is there any doubt that Della would have been out there wetting a line? I think not! Neither Paul nor Perry showed any interest in Della…although I recall Paul calling Della ‘doll’. OK I am a little off here, but it was a time of well formed bras, cashmere sweaters, girdles and dare I say it garter belts…ok enough. Geez I dated myself and once again showed my predatory nature.   

OK, she was a normal chick

Aquatic Worm for Fly Fishing (an option between the San Juan Worm & Finding pink condoms at a porn shop or titty bar restroom)

The standard San Juan Worm in red or brown often works well. I have the recipe for the Vladi Worm (Pink Condom Worm) in my archives as well (query Vladi Condom Worm in search box). But, I know from personal experience and I acknowledge that in certain parts of the world you can probably find pink, red or lime green condoms with ease. Where I live the typical condom is a standard off white latex color. In titty bars there are machines in he restrooms (I have this on good authority) that dispense colorful condoms. Also, I have been told or come to know that porn shops have varied colors of condoms in not only pink, but red and green. So, unless you can walk into your local pharmacy or Walgreens and buy pink condoms you are going to have to enter the world of poles, dollar bills, disco balls, leering men, glory holes etc. to acquire the correctly colored condom…perhaps they can be ordered via mail.

Excuse me ladies, ah can you tell me where the pink condoms are?

To the point, the above pattern combines the brown and red micro chenille into a nice looking worm pattern. Tied similar to the ordinary San Juan Worm, this patter combines two colors and the attractor color of the clitellum:          (http://urbanext.illinois.edu/worms/anatomy/anatomy4.html

     What’s an Aquatic Worm?

“Let’s cut through the BS, learn about aquatic worms, and see how and when to use them to optimize your fishing success.  For the biologic Latin geeks out there, aquatic worms (hereafter just referred to just as “worms”) are members of the phylum Annelida (Annelids) and the Class Oligochaeta (Oligochaetes).  To put it simply, aquatic worms are just a water-breathing version of an earthworm.  Put an earthworm in the water, it drowns.;  Put an aquatic worm in the dirt, and it suffocates.  Water breathing worms live in just about every trout stream; it’s just a question of whether they exist in sufficient numbers to be a significant trout food.  If they do, you should use flies which imitate them!”

http://askquill.wordpress.com/

Valentine’s Day (hope you made some effort)

A little effort can avoid so many nagging moments in the months to come. I mean if you blew off her birthday, Christmas and now Valentine’s Day….won’t be so easy to pass off that new rod and reel. 

Fishing and Eye Protection (protect your eyes!!!) sorry for pic

I hesitated to post this pic…but, it is extemely important to have eye protection; something you may ignore in the rain and gloom. Itook a smack in the eye on the Kilchis River a few years ago and was most lucky…My eyeball was scratched and felt bruised for a month. It happened so quick (pulling back on the line with rig in low hanging branch) then  …snap>smack…just like that. 

    

Now the treble hooked lure brings to mind two experiences I witnessed this past year on a lake and both had the same risk factors involved: crowded space, spin fisherman, inattentiveness and kids. Both resulted in surprised fathers who caught the child in the lower lip and forearm. Both fathers and daughter/son were not paying attention to the swing of the rod and the lure trailing behind before zinging forward. The trebles (unbarbed of course…don’t want to lose a planter trout) were buried deep. Also, this is not confined to spin fishermen. My son was fishing a canal in the St. Pete/Tampa area a few years ago. The fly fishing was good and the attention was forward. He knew his backcast was safe and all was well…until the drunk staggered into his obvious zone and whamo…buried deep into the calf. The hook was barbed but the drunk insisted on a transport to the hospital to remove the 2/0 monster. Needless to say the hospital bill for the uninsured drunk was in dispute for some time…I did not pay. But, it etched in my kid’s mind the need to always look around regardless of the implement being used. Fly fishermen generally give each other enough space..but on crowded rivers where salmon swim…the common etiquette shrinks and guys wade behind guys slinging heavy concoctions…so watch and sound out walking behing someone…”behind you”… 

Bioline Update (Info from reader, Micah Carrick)

Micah acquired Bioline via http://www.greentackle.com/fishing-line/biofilament-fishing-line.html and is satisfied with the performance for trout fishing. Eventually, the product will hopefully make its way into shops and larger outlets…for now visit Green Tackle and support their efforts.

The River Test (an Aussie’s Dream to fish fabled waters)

The Hut, River Test ~ Mick Hall

http://www.kossiedun.com.au/River%20Test.htm

I crossed the river and only walked a very short distance before I spotted a school of Grayling and a very large Brown Trout tucked in against a bunch of weed.
 
I ran a weighted nymph past the pod of grayling a couple of times without a single reaction from those fish  That was until the fly drifted by that resting Brown, a flash and it was on, but not for very long because the huge fish simply headed for the weeds and it was all over.

 

Nice story by Mick Hall regarding his long journey to the fabled waters of the River Test. Isn’t the picture as idyllic as you would ever want? There is sometimes pleasure in paying for privilege and access…if one can afford it. If you can travel from Australia to England, you can probably make it happen. Very inviting piece by Mr. Hall and the Kossiedun is a very informative site re Australian entomology and fly fishing within the region and beyond. 

Finnegan Fly Tool (gadget, gizmo, stuff)

Finnegan Tool

http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/news.htm#081109b

http://www.pocketdresser.com/more_finnegans_flytool.htm

And, in a pinch, if you stumble upon someone’s grow op, still, meth lab or some nefarious activity, the tail portion of the Finnegan Tool can be used as a Lethal Weapon too.

Brits and Fly Fishing (they didn’t start it but they ‘refined’ it for sure)

Now don’t be put off by a touch of literary skipping, it only hurts a bit to sort it out…plus it will expand your understanding of the history and refinement of the sport…the article is a fun read about Brits and their pursuits beyond fly fishing. 

Come live with me, and be my love,
And we will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands, and crystal brooks,
With silken lines, and silver hooks.

There will the river whispering run
Warmed by thy eyes, more than the sun.
And there the ‘enamoured fish will stay,
Begging themselves they may betray.

When thou wilt swim in that live bath,
Each fish, which every channel hath,
Will amorously to thee swim,
Gladder to catch thee, than thou him. . .

from Izaak Walton’s great friend, John Donne

Fly Fishing and other activities (like Rugby, yes!) are discussed here:

http://www.britsattheirbest.com/sports/ss_sports.htm

http://www.charlesjardine.co.uk/

Hare’s Ear Nymph by Switters B (Bearded Hippie)

I tied this one in a more ‘impressionistic’ way (less exacting) for the stocky clinger/crawler nymphs that are rough on the edges and drink too many beers. Hare’s Mask was used in this instance rather than the pre-packaged hare’s ear dubbing. Consequently, it was a more aggressive pattern with guard hairs abounding. I have only tried these on freestone streams tumbling in and below riffles and rapids and have found them to be enticing morsels. This coming year, I want to remember (I don’t write lists, so we shall see if I do) to use this pattern while Czech Nymphing..up close and personal near an edge of a riffle or rapids. I only use the bead for weight and tie the pattern on a size 10 or 12 straight shank nymph hook. This is a classic Hare’s Ear pattern from the tail to the thorax….only from the mask.

I have a mental block re certain patterns and the two that I am prejudice against are two of the simplest to tie and both are truly highly effective: Hare’s Ear Nymph and Pheasant Tail Nymph. There is no logical explanation…kind of like being against blonds with big gazaba’s… I mean why? Yet despite myself I fish this pattern and the PTN. It frigging works….they work! Re the tinsel. That is what the standard pattern calls for. I use it..yet I have never liked working with tinsel and would prefer gold wire. The reason is evident by my wraps..uneven and inconsistent. You decide.  The thorax can be much less spikey and comprised of dubbing and less guard hairs. I like it spikey…a road trip without shaving.     

Hippy Hare's Ear by G. Muncy

    

Fly Names (What is the name of that unique creation you tied?)

“Me, I don’t name a fly until the fly has proven itself. And even then, I won’t name a fly until I actually like the fly. Let’s face it: under most circumstances just about any random collection of fur and feathers and even lint from your navel will catch fish…” 

http://www.waywardflyfishing.com/articleFlies.htm

Toney Siske writes funny stuff…a smile is on your face, unless you are uptight, constipated or you forgot Valentine’s Day (tomorrow dork)