Saw this sling system for a backup anchor for drift boats and a smaller rig for smaller vessels, like a pontoon boat or rubber raft. Not a bad investment for the drift boat, etc. should you lose your anchor. Find a rock and you are in business. Yes, you could rig something up, but why bother for $20. plus shipping…Wier Outdoors is located in Eugene, OR
http://www.wieroutdoorsandmore.com/outdoor-fishing-boating.php
Caddis Pupa, Tan~SwittersB
Caddis Pupa, Green~SwittersB
So many patterns, so many options. I know. I like this pattern and The Harriet (I posted it last Summer here). How simple is this pattern? Put on the bead of choice on a curved pupa hook. Tie in braid and melt end so it doesn’t unravel and dub over tie in point for thorax. Done…Diving Caddis, Caddis Emerger…simple to tie. If you want less diving, use a glass bead. Mix up your dubbing. Above on tan pupa, I used the same dubbing I used for the early posted (today) Caddis/Dragon Pupa. On the green pupa I used a mix of fur, Ice Dub and some cut up tinsel, which I blended together and can use when I want a scraggly dubbing with some flash. Whatever, mix it up, throw in a hackle collar if you must..but you don’t need to. Those busy, busy little dubbing fibers will be pulsing and waving all over the place.
Caddis Emerger~SwittersB
This is a pattern that can pass for a Caddis Pup or Dragon Fly Nymph. Above, it is tied on a size 8 hook (the shank has a slight bend), I dubbed a blend of dark olive, medium olive and light brown (blended in and old coffee bean grinder). I twist the dubbing onto the thread (as opposed to a dubbing loop) and wrap the dubbing forward to form an abdomen. I wrap a gold tinsel ribbing forward 3/4ths. up the body. Then I turn the fly over (rotary vise or turn upside in a fixed vise) and tie in on the underside dark deer hair or elk hair, which trails just to the end of the hook’s length. An optional piece is turkey or crow feather fibers tied on the sides and underneath but only extending half way back. I then tie in short partidge feather fibers on the sides (they should contrast to the earth tones). The plastic dumbell eyes (you could use heavier but it would the flip fly over). Now dub with the same dubbing the thorax area to cover up your tie in spots for the wings and end point of tinsel/ribbing. Wrap the dubbing up and around the eyes, keeping the dubbing sparser as you wrap around the eyes so as to not obscure the eyes. If I skip the underwings and keep the wing like materials to the sides, this is a great dragon fly pattern too. I have fished it in stillwaters as is and it still performs…the silhouette and presentation being equally important. I have not experimented with different colors as this is how I originally found the pattern tied..I do not weight the pattern, but if I did, it would be on the shank as opposed to heavy eyes.
Low Water Eagle Creek, Oregon
Ran into Water Works of Oregon at the Albany Expo and gathered up materials. The message seemed clear: yet another crisis of habitat and yet another legislature caving into growth and agri interests. According to WWO, the Instream Water Rights Act of Oregon has helped but has not gone far enough. So, the answer for fish and fowl and wildlife (and recreationist) is to force a reduction in the water drawdown allocations to help maintain levels that will sustain the habitat.
That is the crux of the problem: wanting the water levels that will offset nature’s varieties and attempt to sustain life even if nature isn’t helping in the game. The bottom line is agriculture will take the hit an WWO is calling for buy outs and force outs to protect the habitat. Hmmm? WWO has identified the drainages and I would agree with their vulnerability. I am not sure a picture of a kayaker is compelling to most non-urban Oregonians. Is the value of 100 kayakers ability to access moving waters superior to farmers or ranchers that manage crops? The argument would be that those ranchers are perhaps evil out of state agri interests and Oregonians should have superior and natural opportunities. But, are all those ranchers representing out of state interests? No. Many actually settled those lands back 150 years ago or so, when most activist’s families were safely ensconced in urban comforts.
So, the concept of incentives (buy outs, paid to save or return) is a good plan. Also, a review of two things: what excesses are taking place now and why in the hell does Governor Ted sit on his non-leadership ass and not gain the bully pulpit. When in fact does he speak toward anything of substance? Also, excuse my annoyance with Portland Urban Angst Ridden Enviro’s. They are so insulated and self absorbed that I hesitate to align with them in any way, because I suspect they’d easily throw the baby out with the bathwater for feel good agenda’s, with little regard for anyone they deem unworthy. Here, perhaps, there is room to agree it is obscene to draw down any drainage and over allocate limited resources even in high water years. State agencies need to better manage nature’s fickle ways. Dams were an effort to do that with reservoirs, etc. We have seen the consequences of that.
What is the balance? I don’t think it should be kayakers v. ranchers, but rather sustained habitat v. rancher….responsible rancher). WWO’s puts forth the message that Oregon State agencies do not advocate on our behalf re water rights. There is the point. We are looking outward to Pebble Mine and every other climate change obsession and right here in our own backyard are the key issues for our fisheries health. I have much more to learn about this topic and know several sights like Oregon Fly Fishing Blog and The Big Pull have been highlighting these problems…I want to see a definitive study of the consequeces to agriculture. I don’t see that from enviro’s because I suspect they do not care and only care about the end game and to hell with the insensitive farmers and ranchers? Well WWO does seem to have a plan, but it sounds like it requires our pressure toward those bureaucrats, who are insulated from representative government.
http://www.waterwatch.org/healthy-rivers
http://www.earthshare-oregon.org/our-groups/profiles/waterwatch/
There were dozens upon dozens of talented fly tyers at the 2009 NW Fly Fishing-Fly Tyers Expo in Albany, Oregon. I watched several and learned as I worked my way up and down the aisles. At one point, I settled upon two tyers, Danielle and Greg Lowry of Boise, Idaho. Both were tying nymphs using the Polish Weave or Shuttle Cock Weave. I sat and watched as both Danielle and Greg nicely demonstrated the how to components of the weave. I learned that Greg learned the technique a few years ago at the same show and was now passing on his knowledge to others. It was a good learning experience from both of them.
Greg Lowry Tying Weave Pattern, Albany, Oregon
Greg Lowry Stonefly Experiment
http://www.wfn.tv/experts/protips/fishingtips30.html
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/advanced/part4.php
http://www.flytying.ro/masa_muscarului/article.php?id=324
http://www.flyguysoutfitting.com/shuttleweave.html (slightly different method)
Greg Lowry's Finished Cal. Stonefly
Always pleasant to see youth tyers, especially young ladies. I suspect we will see more of Danielle in the years to come. At least I hope so…oh, and Greg too. Thanks for the help.
A couple points re the tying: the material Greg was using for the body was embroiderer’s thread; he wrapped a tungsten under body and over wrapped the round weighted form with thread. Then he tied in some embroiderer’s thread (not the ones for the body) and then over wrapped the weight and then, the space where the weight stops at the rear and then the hook shank progresses toward the bend, Greg wrapped the thread to build up or fill in that gap and then he over wrapped that with tying thread. Most importantly, he did this to support the tungsten (or lead) before he took pliers and flattened the body. Without the over wraps, the pliers would compress the body and the threads would cut/spring loose ruining the under body. Greg took his time forming the weighted/thread under body before flattening the weight…..then he was ready to start the weave…the pictures depict well the flattened abdomen.
Robin Healy~StoneFlyMaidens for Casting for Recovery
Well, I think it was a success because the show satisfied my needs and I met interesting people…talked briefly to Brian & Judith O’Keefe, Matt McCrary, Jack Hagan, Robin Healy , Dean Crouser, Don Nelson, and watched numerous tyers. Bought some unique materials from Angling Specialties (Steven Korbay) and bought some beautiful watercolors from Dean Crouser. I also made the acquaintance of youth tyer, Danielle Lowry and her grandfather, Greg Lowry. Greg and Danielle gave me first hand instruction on using the Polish Weave technique (more to follow). The hot dog with lots of mustard and relish didn’t fail to give me heartburn. The beauty of a fly fishing/tying expo such as the Albany show is it presents visible generalizations that show the direction of the sport…the over all average age, minus any accumulation of data by me, was overwhelmingly 65+ years, in tyers and patrons. There was a respectable number of women in attendance, who seemed interested in the tying. Then some of the shops and vendors had the same “geez, I moved all this stuff here and no one is buying anything”. Tip: whining is not a magnet for business, especially if people can hear you bitchin’. Overall, I thought the show was pretty entertaining. The true barometers of booth sales, raffle and auction $$’s and actual number of attendees may indicate otherwise, but by me the show was just fine.
I have written about this before, but pretty much from the fly shop owner angle. To recap: if you own a shop practice the Golden Rule (do onto others as…in case you forgot), don’t act so nonchalant and cool, and develop customer goodwill and loyalty (the Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene follows this practice for one. I go there 2-3 times a month and they are always spot on perfect). Not everyone that lays out $1,500+ for a two hander outfit is a doctor, businessman or pot dealer. Some peope are anxious over spending that much money…gently help them along. Buyer’s remorse won’t help your shop.
BUT, for the customer a few salient points of conduct: don’t be a dick (no not named after your favorite villain Dick Cheney). Don’t walk into the shop with an arrogant chip on your Ex-Officio shoulder. Don’t brag about where you have been thereby attempting to put the owner in place or gain status. Don’t hang out for an hour telling boring stories to boost your ego in their eyes and purchase nary a fly. Don’t hold a struggling shop hostage with your purchase. Shops don’t have a lot of wiggle room on pricing so if you are really shopping make your purchase on shop loyalty (note shop owners..be nice). So, customer, if you walk into a shop with an attitude and brag and talk in the condescending tones of some elitist…you are a dick; a dick in the shop, a dick at home and a dick on the river. Knock it off.
OK, I am a little behind, but I just learned about one Dick Proenneke, who the story goes ventured into the Alaskan wild and constructed a cabin by hand tools and then resided alone in that cabin for the next 3o years. He recorded much of this with cameras. That alone is an intriguing story of how he maintained his equipment and how it functioned. Save the occasional float plane visit with supplies, I think a couple times a year, Dick was alone. He made the acquaintance of all manner of wildlife, hunted for his meat, grew his vegetables and maintained his world with mind boggling hard work. To read of such an exploit is inspiring at the least. To watch videos of his efforts is humbling.
My dad was a very tough man and quite adept with hand tools. I wish my dad were still alive to watch how Proenneke constructed his cabin. My mom and dad worked a parcel of land in the Oregon Coast Range in the 1940′s and the stories of their exploits always set the bar for me as a young man. My dad and probably you would appreciate the toughness, skills, endurance and courage it took to pull this off, like many pioneers that went before. Richard dropped out, probably like men and women did centuries before. Ol’ Richard here started this venture at 51!!!
Research this man…what an amazing story. I wonder what it was like for the elderly Proenneke to leave that experiment turned success behind. He wrote a journal but I believe it wasn’t for a long time. The mental adjustments, the laser focus to your surroundings, the loneliness. I have gone backpacking alone before (I know…a no no) and found it sometimes frustrating. The reason was I wanted to share every amazing discovery with someone and a picture never did justice. That would have probably passed in time. I cannot wrap my head around the mental adjustments required to live this way let alone the toughness. Awesome story.
Dick Proenneke and his Dutch doors
http://www.homesteadingwithozarkguy.com/outdoors/onemanswilderness.htm
Proenneke's Hand Tools
Proenneke Building Cabin
http://www.dickproenneke.com/DickProenneke.html
http://www.nps.gov/archive/lacl/scrapbook/proeneke.htm
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2007/10/trekking-dick-proennekes-cabin-lake-clark-national-park
http://www.epinions.com/content_245809057412 (Good Synopsis)
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Proenneke’s Thoughts (Can You Argue With This?)
“I have thought briefly about getting caught in rock slides or falling from a rock face. If that happened, I would probably perish on the mountain in much the same way many of the big animals do. I would be long gone before anyone found me. My only wish would be that folks wouldn’t spend a lot of time searching. When the time comes for a man to look his Maker in the eye, where better could the meeting be held than in the wilderness?”
“I realize that men working together can perform miracles such as sending men to walk on the surface of the moon. There is definitely a need and a place for teamwork, but there is also a need for an individual sometime in his life to forget the world of parts and pieces and put something together on his own – complete something. He’s got to create.”
“Man is dependent on man. I would be the last to argue that point. Babe brought me things that other men made or produced. We need each other, but nevertheless, in a jam the best friend you have is yourself.”
“I have surprised myself with what I can make with simple tools when a definite need arose. I don’t think a man knows what he actually can do until he is challenged.” http://wvbackroads.com/Acheive/Proenneke/DickProenneke.html The cabin is on the southeast shoreline of Twin Lakes in the Lake Clark National Park. Trips easy (airplane) to harder (treks) can be had to reach the cabin. This region is N/NE of the Pebble Mine area as a point of reference.
Richard Proenneke: I do think a man has missed a very deep feeling of satisfaction if he has never created or at least accomplished something with his own two hands. We have grown accustomed to work on pieces of things instead of wholes…but there is also a need for an individual sometime in his life to forget the world of parts and pieces and put something together on his own – complete something. He’s got to create…Man is dependent upon man. I would be the last to argue that point…but, nevertheless, in a jam the best friend you have is yourself. (One Man’s Wilderness: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 1974-1980, pp. 211 – 212)
Update 3/19/09: Plamen Balinov has kind enough to repsond and let me know the language is Bulgarian. The site, iantra.com is dedicated to the preservation of wild trout and habitat in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria
I noticed a visit from PBalinov and explored a bit and found they had enjoyed a shot from my backyard………
Switters' Backyard~Worshipping Icons
so, I explored more and found some great sites…now, I cannot for the life of me discern the language..I thought it to be Russian, Ukraine or something in that region, but could not fully translate with Google or Babel…so I will leave it to you to figure out and perhaps someone will be kind enough to advise on language and best way to translate beyond looking at pics…. http://www.pbalinov.com/ (which lead to………….)
http://www.iantra.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=132&Itemid=121
Маршрути Как да стигнем Времето Нивото Насекоми Изкуствени мухи Нощувк Забрани Магазини
Red Emerger for Chironomid or Buzzer
http://www.iantra.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=34
Hello!
