Jessie Wilcox Smith (A Child’s Fancy)

Water Babies~Jessie Wilcox Smith

Jessie Wilcox Smith

Pebble Mine, Northern Dynasty and Some Recent Activity by Citizens

“Recently, Anglo American’s board chairman, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, visited Alaska and Bristol Bay. Few rise to his status in life without a capacity for deep reflection and compassion. We wish to sincerely thank him for coming, listening and considering our appeals. Now we wish to make our feelings known to the entire Anglo board, other company officials and Anglo stockholders and to urge the company to reconsider and ultimately abandon its association with this project for the well-being of our region.”

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“We’re not talking about the science today, but about the process of bringing science into the dialogue,” said Todd Bryan, a senior associate with the Keystone Center, which was hired by the Pebble Partnership in 2007 to develop — as a neutral and impartial entity — an independent stakeholder assessment and dialogue feasibility study based on the proposed Pebble mine.

This led many people in attendance to scratch their heads, and a few people to verbally inquire, why, then, they were indoors on a warm, sunny Saturday morning. One woman left, and Robb Justice of Kenai summed up the opinion of many others based on their nodding heads, when he asked the blunt question.

“Then why are we here? People care about the Pebble issue, not the Keystone Center,” he said.

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“History speaks to one direction. Show me where any large, industrial, hard-rock, chemical, sulfide mine has not contributed to groundwater contamination,” he said. “Just give me one.”

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“The Associated Press reported last night that the U.S. Supreme Court has asked for additional briefs in the Coeur Alaska Inc. vs. Southeast Conservation Council case. The court held oral arguments in January and a ruling in the case could have consequences for other development projects in the United States, including .Pebble“

TAILINGS

Native Fish Society T’s (Maybe They’ll Print More After the Clave?)

Native Fish Society T's

Saw these on Rogue Angels awhile back and forgot to share. Cood T for the Sandy R. Spey Clave and celebrating the removal of Marmot Dam. I wrote a week ago, so who knows…I received this response:

“…. Thanks for your interest in the Ts. There has been a lot of interest and we could very well sell out. You can purchase them via credit/debit card by calling by 503-829-6211 or send a check to Native Fish Society, PO Box 568, Molalla, OR 97038. Cost for the shirts and mailing is $28 a piece….Russell”

Limited Edition For Sale at the 2009 Sandy River Spey Clave on May 15th – the 17th.

Wet Poodle (Vladan Milenkovic Wet Fly Pattern)

Wet Poodle by Vladan Milenkovic

Fly Fisherman’s Cafe

Check out the Mr. Milenlkovic’s blog and also visit his Blog List for some really nice tying.

OFFB (Can You Feel The Energy??)

Winter is on the wane. Runoff is evident and anticipation is heightened. No where is this more evident than at the OFFB, where the advance assault is afoot and the photo’s depict the energy after a bundled up Winter.  If you check out the OFFB site, see if you don’t agree that you feel the energy. The pictures are not static; they seem alive and energizing….come on Rip Van Winkle..get out there and watch the high water.

Bead Head Pupa (Simple Stream Pattern)

Planet Trout reminded me that ‘simple’ is not simple unless a few additional details are offered: black or nickle bead, pupa hook, black sparkle dubbing and pearl core braid (light green or rootbeer) burned and crimped at rear.

Leech Pattern (Stacked & Brushed Out)

Teased Leech~SwittersB

Most of us use a Woolly Bugger version for a leech. I concocted these several years ago, with and without beads or cone heads (small). I have since seen a similar pattern by Brian Chan. I seriously can’t recall the inspiration for the pattern…I am sure I copied it somewhere. The manner of tying is simple: Select a suitable streamer hook and select a blended sparkle dubbing material. I do not dub the blend onto the thread. I stack the material onto and around the shank as I wrap the thread forward. First tie in a clump of elongated fibers at the bend. Wrap thread up a few turns and take another clump of dubbing and pinch atop the shank, but let the material roll down along the sides a touch and secure with the thread, then move up and so on. After you finish the thead head either at the eye of the hook or behind a small bead, then brush out the dubbing with a toothbrush. Dubbing will come away and this process will show you how much dubbing to use and if you are adequately securing the dubbing to the shank. Don’t over dub because movement and silhouette are key. This has been a very good pattern. I believe it should be sans bead to provide a lighter pattern that sinks in the horizontal plain.

Brushed Leech Box

Wader Repair

Vision Fishing Gear

Follow the attached link to learn how to identify the leak(s) in your breathable waders. A tip that Tony Muncy suggests is this, once the waders are inside out and filled, then use a spray container filled with rubbing alcohol. The spot of the leak may be apparent, but when you hit the waders with sprays of alcohol the pinhole(s) turn black. Once you have them identified then empty the water out and immediately hit the leak(s) with Aqua Seal or a similar sealant.

Streamer Pattern (Bouncer Flies)

Cooper Ranch Bouncer Fly~tazerfloyd photography

I wonder if anyone has taken the time to tie this bouncer style pattern. Much like putting the dumbbell eyes on the top of the shank…a placement that causes the fly to turn upside down and drift with the hook point up….the under slung string of weighted beads as, depicted, would cause the fly to ride point up. I have not tried this yet but saved some similar patterns in my Favorites back in 2004, but never tied any. If anyone has tried these let me know… 

Woodpecker Wonderland Bird Festival (camp Sherman, Oregon June 5-7th)

For  the birders amongst you in the Pacific NW and beyond,  you could find few locales as beautiful as the Camp Sherman area on the Metolius River  in Oregon. The second annual Woodpecker Wonderland Bird Festival will have speakers and tour events.