Very good instructions on how to tie the Albright Knot and the Improved Albright Knot. These knots are often used to attach your backing material or running line to a fly line. But, it can also be used for unequal pieces of leader material that need to be joined when a taper is not appropriate. The above video and picture are good tools to learn as well an animated example here.
Archive for March, 2009
Harriet Diving Caddis~SwittersB
Whose Feathers?
Recently, at least in the Pacific NW, urban types are exploring lifestyles that were much the norm pre-WWII..organic back yard gardening and chicken & duck raising. The chicken part, from what I know, is not for meat production as much as eggs, organic matter and the process of small scale farming. For those of you that know someone contemplating this move or already doing it: the chicks at 3-6 months lose feathers of 3-5″ as their feathers become established and they molt many of their feathers as Spring turns into Summer and then re-establish their feathers…what this could mean to you is a sizable supply of feathers suitable for wings…hence the Harriet pattern. (maybe some eggs too!)
A Mini-Bugger~SwittersB
When you take the steps to start tying flies, you take a class, buy books, go online and study, go to fly tying shows-expos and undoubtedly learn about the basic patterns that are considered proven fish catchers. Proven based upon success and proven because they were, over time, matched to the food chain of fish. Makes sense, so we all tie pheasant tails, hare’s ears, elk hair caddis and PMD’s. Great done. Identify the 20-30 mandatory patterns and tie each in the required stages and sizes. Perfect…Done. Jesus Cristo! My head hurts. My brain is fogging over more than usual.
Perhaps we could do a little bit of that, and then let the ol’ ADD take over and create, based upon those general tying skills, entomology we can grasp, and the search for the unique. Trout flies tend to be toward the doctrine, which is carved in stone. Steelhead, Salmon, Pike, Bass etc. tend toward the exciter-stimulation. The kill instinct….the reflexive smack.
Regardless…learn the skills to tie regardless of your mental bent or allegiance to tradition. Then decide traditional pattern ‘slave’ (geez, is my bias showing?)….renegade hodgepodge of ineffective patterns, out of which comes a gem…..or somewhere in between. This may vary depending upon your life’s state, whether you are healthy, employed, getting any or just flitting from steelhead to Spring trout patterns. I say live a little….
Parachute Mayfly w/ Hot Post for Visibility~SwittersB
F & S Graphic
“A radically new idea in fishing is rare. So when ,Pat Moffitt, 56, a retired environmental services engineer, told me he was catching trout with hookless flies, I laughed. After a while, he convinced me that not only was he serious, but he could prove it worked. He and I went steelhead fishing last fall in some Lake Erie tributaries, where I tried his method and was amazed.”
“Things do get a little tricky, because Moffitt’s technique hooks fish on the outside of the jaw rather than the inside—a difference of maybe 1⁄4 inch. Some state rules may require fair-caught fish to be hooked inside the mouth, so check before you try this method.” (my emphasis)
http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/fishing/fly-fishing/how-fish/2009/03/look-ma-no-hooks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28vbZnPpYS8 (brief vid on how to) www.moffittangling.com
http://www.fliesandfins.com/postt1443.html (forum info and discussion re technique)
Pegging beads, corkies, flies, a fly…the intent and results count. A stinger hook on a tube fly that trails 2 to 3″ is similar…a 6 to 12″ trailer gives me concern for a hook into the belly or eye. I fish two flies on some stillwaters and occasionally the trailer hooks fish in belly, tail or points in between….One can go to some NW rivers and encounter groups of a certain illegal origin, fishing a pegged bead and 2 split shot spread up the line…running through a pool and purposely lining and snagging salmon. The rig upon inspection could be said to be a pegged bead/egg drifted through and taken…except the hookup is rarely in the mouth but on the outside of the fish..according to the Moffitt concept all fair…but, when witnessed in corrupt hands…it is lining and snagging. Maybe the split shot that allow for a horizontal drift cause this? Well, it does raise interesting questions and Moffitt’s intent seems honorable.
PTN~SwittersB
I have highlighted peacock before, as well as Whiskey Creek Fly Fishing . So, as I tie the necessary Pheasant Tail Nymph (PTN), I am reminded again to remind you…PEACOCK is a necessary staple material for nymph patterns. The original PTN, I believe, had a copper wire thorax…not peacock. Today’s pattern has the peacock thorax. PTN’s, Zug Bugs, Renegades, Diawl Bach, Prince Nymph, Gray Hackle Peacock, Halfbacks, or whatever your imagination creates, can benefit from the hues of peacock. Oh, and John at Whiskey Crk. reminded me…that isn’t my tat….
Typical Midge Pupa's by SwittersB
Midlander's Bubble Gray Boy Pupa (wing buds)
I have noticed a decided difference in UK chironomid pupa construction from the West. UK patterns are sleeker, seldom bead headed and often possess the addition of a ‘wing bud’; almost its own attractor it would seem. I have experimented with this a bit. A couple good midge sites (buzzer, chironomids, gnats)
http://www.flyfishingworld.eu/buzzers_and_nymphs.htm
”Slim buzzers are really important: the creatures you are imitating are not bulky at any point of their anatomy – so why should your artificial one be so? Secondly, pick a target feature to incorporate in your dressing. In most buzzers the wing bud is quite a distinct feature in the natural, so many fly-tiers emphasise this element. I believe I told readers about this a few weeks ago when I was going through some early season patterns. I use “Tulip T-shirt” paint to get my buzzers with a target spot, but there are many other bits and pieces used. One of the most common materials to get this wing bud effect is a slither cut from a “Walkers” chicken flavoured crisps packet, whilst other tyers use a couple of turns of fluorescent floss silk.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0vCQ23qc00
OK, you cynics, some diversion. I am sure Penn and Teller could ruin the magic, but for now, who care’s..Dania’s got those magic girl legs…nevermind.
Birdie Judd
The pattern below is a creation of renowned tyer, Birdie Judd. Originally tied for a late evening midge hatch, Birdie as maximized the use of the pattern for several hatches. She has stayed constant with the colors, hence the name ‘Smoke ‘n Mirrors’. Birdie uses both a pupa hook and a dry fly hook for this pattern. She uses rubber material and wraps it up the shank to form the abdomen. The abdomen is not ribbed but rather the natural segmentation of the wraps suffices. Then the Thorax is comprised of black rabbit fur and some dubbed deer hair. Finally, a Starling feather is sparingly wrapped in and the head is finished. Berdie Judd has fished this pattern top to bottom and has found it effective alone or as a dropper. Berdie did not provide the exact name of the rubber material but described it as many narrow strands of rubber available in many colors. I can picture this material, but the name escapes me. (Flexi Floss maybe??) I think the body color could be tied in numerous colors of the rubber material and the segmentation and sheen look wet and alive. Originally, this pattern was called Simply Wet, when I copied it..but Berdie wants the Smoke ‘n Mirrors tag to stand…so be it. 
19
Mar
09
Fish Tattoo Concept
Fish Tattoo Design
Saw this design idea on a 2006 blog entry. Guy decided against tattoo. I think this is a cool design for someone. It could be modified to suit one’s tastes. This has a tribal flavor, a salt water flavor too. It would be softened into a freshwater look as well. I think the guy should still get the tat and right there on the inside of the forearm…a bold statement.
Woven Emerger Effort by SwittersB
A Woven Mess by SwittersB
So, there was 30 minutes of my life for two half assed flies. They look so so but, I fumble flupped around alot! My vise kept moving (secure vise…I was using pedestal), I relaxed the tension at inopportune times like when my nose itched. The pattern does look cool, but it would take a lot of practice on my part to knock these out at a respectable rate. They both seemed to peter out up near the thorax…not sure why. A reasonable start, Iguess
