Fly Tying: Biots and Plume

SwittersB

A smaller bead head pattern that incorporates several attractive features: gold bead head, brown biot wings, filoplume/chickaboo fluff (like Timberline Emerger), peacock synthetic dubbing. The Prince Nymph and Timberline Emerger possess several features I like. The bead head was not standard issue with the original patterns nor necessary. I like smaller beads to assist getting the fly down. The fluff at the bottom of the hackle stem is excellent for providing animation on smaller flies. This fly is on a size 14 hook. I didn’t get much chance to try these, this summer, on lakes. The tail is a touch too far forward on the shank of the hook.

Fly Tying: Winter BWO

 

BWO (SwittersB)

A simple Blue Winged Olive pattern comprised of the following materials:

Hook: TMC 100BL, 1x fine wire, dry fly style hook

Thread: 14/0, SHEER, olive green forms the abdomen.

Tail: Gadwall feather fibers, dyed light green (Waters West, Port Angeles, Wa.)

Wing: CDC, Dark Dun (Doug’s Bugs, Santa Rosa, Cal.)

Hackle: Medium Dun, Size 18 (Whiting Farms, Delta, Colo.)

Entomology Buffs..Here You Go

 

Bed Bug

Portland, Oregon is noted for many unique things: micro brews, bridges, amazing restaurants, roses, freaks on bikes, and now Portland is hosting a Bed Bug Symposium to address the biting problem of bed bugs. Motel/Hotel personnel encouraged to attend. Hell yeah…!!!!

 

Thank Goodness for Spam Filters

“And how about adding some more illustrations? I’m not trying to offend anyone, text is really nice. Just as I’ve heard humans acquire information much more effective if they see some useful pics.” for Cellular Jammers & UK Escort Services

“It was extremely interesting for me to read this article. Thank you for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more soon.”   A UK Escort Service

“i look your blog , this a nice blog and useful. Good for everyone. a lot of and Bad Stuff Happening content. i going to often to read and review your site.”  for Viagra

Since I started blogging, the system has thus far captured just over 26,000 comments considered spam. Most are obvious. Some are clever. A very few were captured by mistake. I do know I have to contact that nice lady in Nigeria about my late uncle, Reverend Oliver Winthrop.

Thank You Vet’s & Their Families

 

My Aunt's Flag (SB)

My 92 y/o aunt’s flag pole. My 93 y/o aunt’s front porch is equally adorned with smaller flags. My dear departed mom always wore a flag pin. That generation appreciated the sacrifices of the Depression and of their husbands, brothers and neighbors in WWII and Korea. I trust most of us still do today. Seems today many are reticent to display a flag or thank a vet. Basic core principles regardless of political persuasions. Remember them…do not turn your back on them.

Fly Tying: Down Sizing Fly Selection

“The average fly fisherman can have a bug in his hand and 90% of the time the will think that a size 18 is a size 14.  This is particularly true when the bug has taken flight and they are observed in the air.  A little caddis flutters by and Billy Bob reaches for his size 14 Elk Hair Caddis when in all reality he’s been fooled by the flapping wings and should be pulling a size 18.  Nymphs are very much the same.  An angler seines up a glob of crap off the bottom and all this bugs are crawling around in it.  His eye will be drawn to the largest bug first and in a lot of cases, all brain function ceases at that point.  He ties on a size 14 Pheasant Tail Nymph despite the fact that the rest of that glob of goop is crawling with size 20 Baetis nymphs.  We have a tendency to fall into the “Big Mac” syndrome and think that the fish are going to eat the biggest meal available when in reality they are going to eat whatever they have to expend the least energy to take.” Poudre Canyon Chronicles

BH Midge Pupa, Size 20 (SwittersB)

This is so true. We tie many patterns too large because it is easier and rationalized. We don’t recognize bug size and consequently reduce our odds of contact with fish during certain hatches/drifts. The size 14 is easier to see than the size 18. The hook up seems more likely with the bigger fly. Of late, I know that my larger ties are primarily an issue of eye sight and tying station backdrop. I will say that I tied 4 of these pupa’s before I got the wire wraps worthy of a photograph and only knew that after the photo was taken. Definitely need smaller beads. Midge patterns, small midge patterns, do not have to have obsessive attention to detail (wire body above). Simple thread bodies in different colors, ribbed with ultra fine wire, or contrasting thread or fine tinsels will do.

Fly Fishing Blog: Gold Joe’s Adventures

GOLD JOE’S ADVENTURES

A good friend’s entry into the fly fishing world (and don’t hold it against him…he runs). NW based and worthy of ongoing visits. Welcome Monte!

SwittersB

 

 

Fly Tying: Mottled Experimentation

Nothing extraordinary here. Just experimenting with colors when wet. Odd, even goofy looking when dry, not bad when wet, but a little weak in the shoulders, behind the cone head. I do sometimes wet a nymph or streamer pattern to see how it looks wet, on a paper towel. Some materials, like marabou, are much more active in the water than when swept back out of the water. I think I would forget the front black hackle and build up that area with dubbing or hair collar of some sort.

Hackle Barring and colors for mottled look? SB

Some mottling; too thin behind the cone (SB)

Fly Fishing: Mountain Whitefish Eggs

In the Western U.S. & Canada that pesky, much maligned Whitefish is spawning for the next several months. Trout will feed on the drifting pale eggs. So, as long as they are there in those cool streams, you might as well include pale, yellowish eggs in your Winter arsenal for the next several months. Weather yarn eggs or beads, the pale yellow/peach, the size of a pea, is an option for fish holding below the spawning Whitefish.

Whitefish Eggs (FlyfishUSA-Welches, Or)

Whitefish Eggs (WorleyBuggerFlyCo)

Fly Tying: Crawdadito

Several years ago, Tony Muncy had a fly fishing expo that he had been invited to tie at (14 y/o). So, I suggested the small crawdad pattern I had recently come upon. These are a few of the little crawdads he tied at the show. I found them in a plastic zip lock bag along with the precursors for the pattern. Somehow, after the show, they did not make it into a fly box for the true test. Found about a dozen of the little devils and they are going into a box.  Fishing crawdads.

The hook is a size 8 (4xl); some lead wire was wrapped mid shank and overlaid with tying thread; the body is an orange sparkle estatz type material; the backstrap is orange raffia with red copper ribbing; the antenna are hackle quills and the claws are feathers coated with a glue and then cut to shape after drying; the eyes are the plastic dumbbell eyes. Some of them have the marabou fluff tied in to suggest movement. Different colored threads were used from orange, black to clear mono thread.

Crawdadito by Tony Muncy (SwittersB)

Small Crawdad by T. Muncy (SwittersB)

Crawdad by T. Muncy (SwittersB)

Crawdad Pattern by T. Muncy (SwittersB)

Crawdad Claws (SwittersB)

Crawdad pattern tight & fuzzy (SwittersB)