Fly Tying: What If’s & Anticipation

Part of the joy of fly tying is experimenting in a ‘what if’ sort of way. It is part fanciful and also practical to consider ‘what if’s’. Often, I most probably deviate away from any realistic entomological standard that probably would or does (if someone happens by here) drive some tiers/fly fishers bonkers. “What in the hell is he thinking?”  I have this dominant tying gene that keeps going to stimulation, ‘excitor’, provocation. Movement, glimmer, life….something to stimulate a sip, galump, smack. On a spring creek with discerning trout, I would most probably be humbled. But, because I don’t get to fish such waters, I am lucky to not be humbled more than I already am………

Beads, ribbings, wavy synthetics, iridescent natural materials are a contrast to the perfection of crisp, clean, etched patterns that are probably in a trout’s mind “out of my way, lunch is ready”.

The above pattern on a size 18 hook was tied with focus on the bead and tail. I over tweaked/processed the pic here to bring attention to the bead and tail. The wing is Starling and supple enough to bend beneath the fly, in the surface and beneath, but to open the gape of the hook a bit more, I could trim out a few more barbs underneath the fly, I suppose. The bead is a bit over sized, but again….it was all about the bead’s coloration and a little bit of movement from the hackle and tail and that nice glow of Peacock herl in the thorax. I may initiate a SwittersB’s ugly fly series soon. Fly tying is, like many creative endeavors good for the imagination, relaxing (it should be relaxing) and provide a constant glimmer of ‘what if’s’ and anticipation.

Fly Tying: March Brown Emerger & Goggles

I could utter the classic Patrolman’s refrain…”Move along folks; nothing to see here”. But, aside from the fly pattern, there actually (for me) is something to see….better. I picked up some MagEyes via The Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene, Oregon. Simple, not too fancy, but while using the 2X lens, I noticed immediate improvement in my tying. I have been limited, to an increasing degree, by my vision. I have always been a little slopppy (‘impressionistic tying, I call it) but when you look at the precision and tying discipline of many tiers, well you can only carry impressionistic so far.

So, although my imagination and shaky hand may not improve that much, I am hoping my balance and proportions may improve over time. In this particular pattern, I used the following materials:       I used a size 14 hook and black 14/0 Sheer thread. A root beer colored metal bead was slid on, followed by a tail from some Whiting hackle barbs ( a bit sparse perhaps). The abdomen was constructed  from a single strand of organe Uni-Flexx and a ribbing of ginger UTC Ultra Wire (BR). I dubbed in a few strands of Hareline, Ice Dub Peacock Black dubbing. I pulled the bead back against the dubbng ball and then tied in a Partidge feather by the tip and made one wrap (looks to be 3/4 of a turn, as kind of weak on the bottom). I tied off the hackle and built a thinner thread head than usual. Time will tell, but I think the new goggles will aid in me tying better flies. Geeze, if that isn’t painting my self into a corner. I kind of hate tying with Partridge…

Fly Fishing: Muskrat Love

My dentist works hard drilling ‘n filling, so when he gets time to go wet a fly he often heads for the Deschutes R. out of Maupin, Oregon. I should point out his family camping experience at Davis Lake with the Duckling/Bass incident. It highlights the outdoor karma my dentist brings to the water that either make you want to be there or perhaps stay about a quarter mile away.

So, recently as I sat in his chair with my mouth agape and gobs of cotton separating my inner cheeks from the target zone, he told me about a recent, mighty encounter on the Big D. He took some young guys to the river to teach them the basics of fly fishing. They started near Harpham Flats and they were satisfyingly successful. He decided they should move up river to one of his favorite runs. A few more beautiful Redside’s were brought to hand and the day was good.

My dentist was using a stonefly point fly set up. He had reeled in a ways and tucked the rod/reel up under his left arm as he extricated a fly box to consider a new offering. His Stonefly swayed in the riffles below him. Suddenly, a solid jolt caused the reel to do it’s unwind thing between his biceps and his side….whoa! He fumbled to put the box back as line was racing up the guides and the reel was thumping the heck out of his biceps. ‘Fish on!’ ‘I think it is a Steelhead’.

Had to be a Steelhead, as the line was ripping out too fast for a Redside. He managed the rod and worked to regain line. It was tough. Somehow it felt a bit different. As he gained and lost line and moved toward the ‘fish’ he saw a darker then usual image tethered to the end of his line, attached to his fly.

A Muskrat! Normally, as close as a fly fisher comes to a Muskrat is to twist some dubbing onto some thread. A battle followed and the intent was to dislodge the Stonefly from the Muskrat, not just cut the line and leave the poor critter to fend. After a careful landing, the three fly fishers tentatively and cautiously contained the wild animal.

Now my dentist performed a procedure, tool (pliers) in hand, akin to a normal work day. He damn carefully avoided a pissed off Muskrat’s teeth and removed the Stonefly from the corner of the critter’s mouth. The barbed fly (another damn good reason to barb your flies) backed out and the three fly fishers stood and backed off as the animal, stunned made its’ way down the shoreline to a resting place, before further retreating into some tall grass.

Yep, ducklings, Muskrat Love…..what next?   Wildlife on Deschutes R. area

Bone Yard Fly Gear Decals

In interesting assortment of edgy decals for the FFer wishing to make a not so subtle statement…… other stuff too……

BONE YARD FLY GEAR HERE

Fly Tying: Whiskers Larva

 

Whiskers Larva by SwittersB

A simple beginner’s pattern that lends itself to the larva/pupa stages of Chironomids or Caddis. There are several kinds of vinyl ribbings out there. In this instance, I used a medium thick, vinyl ribbing, olive colored. To me, the most interesting part of this pattern is the beard (‘whiskers’). I saw this method about ten years ago from a Kamloops’ tier, Ed Smith. He pulled 3-4 short barbs from a hackle. The ends (the butts)  you see here are actually the portion removed from the hackle’s shaft. They are tied in under the shank and if any of the usual whitish material is evident on the butts, I touch them up with a black permanent marker. They look just like knarly little legs emerging from an insect don’t they?  The thorax is finished off with three turns of natural Peacock herl and an olive plastic bead was used. You can imagine the combination of abdomen and bead colors. A simple, yet effective fly on stillwaters and streams.