Salton Sea’s Eco-Evolution (Evolve or Devolve or ………..)

GHOST TOWNS PHOTOGRAPHY by Steve Bingham

Dusty Lens by Steve Bingham  (Amazingly Gifted Eye)

“The Salton Sea is the largest inland body of water in California, and easily its most toxic. Once a haven for tourists, fishermen and boaters — in the 1950s it was touted as “the American Riviera” — years of polluted runoff from agricultural and industrial sites, not to mention untold amounts of untreated sewage from Mexico, pumped into the sea via one of America’s dirtiest waterways, the Northward-flowing New River, have turned the Salton into a truly foul place.” SwittersB’s Recent Trip too

“At one time the Salton Sea was among the state’s most productive fisheries. (During WWII, when German submarines made ocean fishing dangerous, most of Southern California’s fish were harvested in the Salton.) But steadily increasing levels of toxins, algae, salt and bacteria led to a number of massive die-offs — the largest, in 1999, killed 7.6 million fish — and its once-thriving population of migratory birds are sickened each year with selenium and botulism poisoning. The Sea is 25% saltier than the ocean and getting saltier every year…”  (more to read)

Another Perspective (The Salton Sea Chronicles)

Salton Sea Environment

Winding CDC as a Wing (Too Much…Just Right)

Two things here: First, I over hackled or wrapped the CDC feather and it is a bit too busy. Second, how cool does that CDC feather look!? Look at all the mini-barbs on each individual barb. Amazing capability to gather water droplets. Now here is how the fly should look properly dressed.Just Right (Sooty Dry by Shardack)

Bead Head Caddis Pupa

I tied these size 16 Caddis Pupa’s last Spring. The pheasant tail feather barbs are interesting as antenna. The brown hen hackle was wrapped for the legs/wing. A green synthetic dubbing was used. Check out a previous post here dated 6/17/08 re Caddis Fly and an excellent site by Roger Rohrbeck re entomology. I am, frankly, not overly adept at discussing all facets of insects. I tie the various sizes and colors and think larva, pupa, adult/small, medium, large.

Tying a Dark Nymph w/ Beard

This is a nice nymph pattern I have tied for years. Size 14-16 hook, 8/0 black thread. Dark dun hackle barbs are used for the tail and the wingcase. A copper wire rib is tied in at the bend. A dry fly quality dun hackle is tied in at the bend by the tip and tightly palmered up the shank of the hook in the abdomen area. I then trim the wound hackle pretty close to form a gill like appearance (ostrich herl could be used to). Then the wire ribbing is wound up the abdomen area and tied off where the abdomen area starts. Dun hackle fibers are tied in for a wingcase. A thorax is dubbed with dark hare’s ear or any dark dubbing. Now here is something not too many tiers utilize anymore….a beard…which is formed from with the barbs a black hackle feather. A bunch of the black barbs are tucked under the thorax and held there while thread wraps help position the barbs beneath and slightly to the sides of the thorax.

Nymph Parts