Very Interesting Aerial Views of Diverse Locations
Yann Arthus-Bertrand
h/t: PP
Archive for September, 2010
Mike at GuysFliesAndPies commented re the SwittersB Top 10 flies that he liked the foam headed chironomid pattern. The pic was not the best I had, so I am showing a different view of this exceptional pattern. The body is peacock herl/quill partially stripped between the fingers and wrapped, with a Krystal Flash ribbing (I touched up the quill with black permanent marker to eliminate the lighter colored spots before ribbing); grizzly hackle; peacock herl thorax, figure eight wrapped around the foam head. The foam head is tied in first and secured atop the shank right behind the eye of the hook.
08
Sep
10
Beavertail on the Deschutes R.
No, not the usual serpentine bends in the river from an aerial photo, rather just a small, overnight spot amongst the trees this past Spring. Beavertail CG. I think there are some petroglyph’s that have been damaged by the idiots with spray cans crowd.
Beavertail
“.. There is a gargantuan dose of truth with a capital “T” in fly fishing. Probably because the truth-tellers are affable, congenial, smiling salesmen.
.. We all want the truth. We want it as we want life itself – handed to us on a silver platter. Then we can use it.” Yesterdays Gone (FF Yellowstone Park)
Some very good points for the novice FFer and/or the traveling fisher. How does one prepare for such a trip? I have about ten books on Montana. I have never been yet. May never make it. But, one thing I do know is the info in the books (maps, roads, remarks, campgrounds) may have changed by the time I make it. I learned this years ago when I took up backpacking. I, again, bought numerous books. And, more often than not, the info was dated, inaccurate or quite incomplete. Now, why did I so need that info in advance of the trip?
For me, to avoid wasting precious time. I wanted to maximize the time I had allowed and not waste it on dead ends. This is not an altogether unwarranted opinion, if one has limited time off and considers the trip not just another feather in the cap of trips, but rather a unique one. Time not to be squandered, so for some guarantees are sought rather than probabilities..
But, in all of this fly fishing endeavor there has to be an element of risk, failure, lost opportunities and yes, wasted time. If you need guarantees, the ‘silver platter’, then go to a trout farm.
Trout Patterns: Rivers/Streams. How pretentious is that! So many options, so many variables, so many species of fish, stillwater or river? No, I can’t be that definitive, even for the novice, who needs clarity, certainty and recommendations to cut through the hype, confusion and never ending selections. How about some of my favorites that work for me and that have always been kept near? Not all I use, but consistently tied and fished. Yes, there’s only 9 patterns shown. You can pick the other one.
Bead Head Caddis Pupa
Foam Wing Midge Emerger (SB)
Any Sparse Wet Fly (SB)
The Obligatory Adams (SB)
The Humpster (SB)
Harriet Pupa Pattern (SB)
Elk Hair Caddis (SB)
The PTN of course (SB)
Oh, this could go on and on, because I suffer from Semper Paratus genes. So, the ‘what if’ factor is a constant intrusion. Yes, I can walk down to the river’s edge knowing the PMD’s and Caddis will be about it, and carry but one fly box. However, believe me when I say, that as I stand butt deep in an Oregon stream, I possess, in close proximity, patterns to fish B.C. So, I will stop this silliness. The above patterns have done well for me over the years. The Stimulators, Midge Pupa, Big May’s, BWO’s, PMD’s, all manner of emergers and droppers and streamers all spill forth in my mind and probably yours. More advanced FFer’s are muttering “Well, you forgot about….” and “What about the …..” Yep…such is the dilemma for the beginner. Sorting through all the ‘Well’s” and “What about’s”.
There is a whole other list for lakes that have been consistent, for me, over the years. Maybe I will share that someday. The list thing seems to be a prerequisite for ‘how to’ blogs.
I saw this wing technique (burning end of synthetic wing) some time ago, but cannot find the site now. With this pattern, there are few working parts: 2 pieces of Antron, 8/0 brown thread, one cream hackle and the size 10 hook.
First, a thread base was wrapped back and forth on the thread shank. A piece of Antron, that is the length of the hook shank, was tied in at the bend, allowing for a portion to extend out past the bend, to the rear as a tail. The Antron is pulled up over the top of the shank and held with right hand. The left hand is used (off hand for most) to tightly wrap the thread up the length of the body, which creates a segmented ribbing. This portion of the fly can end at the thorax area because it will be covered up.
Next I gathered a portion of Antron much thicker (four strands) than the section used for the body (one section of yarn). I tied the material in at the thorax point, about 2/3′s of the way up the shank from the rear bend. I left a bushy front end protruding out over the eye of the hook. Then I trimmed the rear part of the wind so that it just extended past the tail. I took a lighter and singed the tips of the Antron and crimped with pliers. Lastly, I tied in a cream hackle and wrapped it 3-4 turns and tied of right behind the wing. Another colored hackle would be fine. I used cream, but grizzly or dun would be fine.
You can see the Antron or Zelon color and hackle could be mixed to create varied appearances. Of course, the size could be bigger or smaller, while using a light wire hook to help maintain floatation.
When I first learned to tie flies, synthetic dubbing blends were unavailable. Fly bodies were often from wool yarn, chenille or animal fur. I recall using one of our ‘older’ coffee grinders (grinding your own beans was revolutionary in itself, if you were only familiar with Folgers. So, when I appropriated our one and only coffee grinder to blend fur cut from the hide…well, it didn’t go over well. Fur on the hide usually came packaged in small patches, unless you knew someone who trapped or knew how to manage road kill (I won’t ever explain my one and only effort at skinning a rabbit).
One method, less used today, was to cut fur from the hide and dub it onto the hook, guard hairs and all. The spiky appearance was appealing and still is today. Today, dubbing loops are more popular to capture the fur, which allows for a uniform body and display of the guard hairs. The attached pic is of a nymph in which I dubbed via a loop Muskrat hair with the guard hairs included. Guard hairs can be separated out from the fur when one only wants the pure fur for dubbing a nice tight nymph or dry fly body. Today, synthetic dubbing’s (Ultra Fine, etc) make the tying/dubbing sleek dry fly bodies a breeze. But, every now and then, I find a patch of fur that has been properly stored and avoided the moths. It takes me back to dub a fur body. The thorax on the pattern is a couple turns of black Ostrich. The fly was tied on a size 14 hook. Attached, also, is the Hare’s Ear fly pattern (the more popular non-synthetic material these days to dub with), notice the more chaotic blending of fur and guard hairs when spun or twisted vs. captured in a loop with a minimal amount of twists and then wrapped around the shank. Both ways are equally acceptable.
I was perusing Bish & Fish and saw a reference to ‘rip’ fly fishing in his article about what time of day to fish for trout. I thought maybe I knew what it was, but decided to research it. Well, everyone appears to know what this means except me. Little if any explanation on the net. But, that name is still catchy for many: Rip Tide Charters, Riptide Tackle, Riptide Anglers, Rip Tide Fly Rods, Rip Tide Reels, Riptide Magazine…..what the hell is a rip tide or rip as it relates to fly fishing. I picture a strong outgoing tide with an undertow, one you don’t venture into at the coast. But, beyond that….hmm? So, I queried the original source for all this..Bish & Fish. I queried his search box and came up with some leads.
In this instance, I think it is when an inlet stream or river enters a lake, as opposed to a river meeting the ocean? I assume a ‘rip’ is a ‘riptide’? No? Well, I still don’t really know. Presentation, structure, contour, holding water, feed. All about that, but something new to learn for sure. Interesting.
“Rips occur wherever current flows over an area where the depth changes rapidly. For example, rips can be created by shoals, ledges, reefs, rock piles and even wrecks. Basically anything that disrupts the contour of the surrounding bottom can lead to rip formation. On the surface, a rip is identified by a distinct line of choppy water known as a rip line. The force of all the water flowing over the reef or shoal pushes against the surface creating the line of chop.” New Britain Herald
“These rips are formed by current flowing over a raised section of rocky bottom, also called a reef by some fishermen. Careful boat-handling is often required around reefs and ledges, since many are studded with enormous, boat-eating boulders. As with a shoal rip, the shallower water of the ledge or reef creates a stronger current and a choppy rip line. Sometimes a big ledge will contain several rip lines formed by rocky sections that rise up higher than the surrounding ledge structure. It’s these “high spots” that often offer the best fishing.” Reel-Time
“Most fishermen who fish river and stream mouths make a beeline for the centre of the rip, cast out and retrieve up the rip. Many catch fish using this method, but it is my observation that the fishermen who catch the most, and biggest fish, do not fish in the main rip where the river enters the lake….In the diagram hereabouts I have attempted to illustrate the dynamics of a typical rip. The diagram is not to scale, but designed to show how most rips develop, and the prime positions to fish.” Oh, back to the original source…Bish & Fish...why did I wander off?
I came upon this piece at MidCurrent re the Muddler Minnow. It was one of those patterns 30 years ago you were suppose to always have in your fly arsenal. It is still carried by many, but unless you are an avid streamer throwing fly fisher, it is seldom used. I recalled from the article’s take that the original fly was tied sparser than today’s versions. This in turn reminded me of the Rolled Muddler, so popular in the NW and B.C. for salmon. Both versions have their merit and could be tied from sparse to more dense.
Rolled Muddler & Muddler Minnow (SwittersB)
Pics from flyfishbc, Wetfly Black’s Flies & Zonker,nu
