Fly Tying: While the Tier’s Away, the Cat Will………………

Fly Tying Materials: Cat invades Ziplock Bags and Massacres Capes. Investigation called for……

A massacre of epic proportions. Even hooks and scissors were thrown into the mix.

What the heck happened? I scrupulously package and store any feathers out of the reach of my Penelope, the Cat. She has attacked before and decimated a blue dun cape. Yet today, when I entered the house, I saw the remnants of chicken skin and tattered feathers by the front door entry way. I made my way toward my temporary tying station (dining room table) and ‘Whoa Nellie’ a massacre of feathers!

No shame, no remorse. Penny waltzes right in to the scene of the crime to inspect her work as I attempt to salvage the survivors. She even rolls over so I can rub her belly.

Lightroom….But none’s shining in my noggin

When I had a Dell, I got by nicely using Photoscape, Picasa and Microsoft Picture Manager. I sprung for a Mac and I have not been very happy with the offerings (IPhoto, Gimp). So, I bought Adobe Lightroom 3 and so far I have a sense of when I was back in high school in that Algebra class. I didn’t receive good marks. 

I was experimenting with apertures and f-stops. I settled on this and am passing it off as some artistic effort and you will be none the wiser. How embarrassing.

First of all it is probably partly garbage in/garbage out. I have somehow forgotten how to set my lighting up and white back grounds turn out blue or grey (I know, simple for most, but not me. I even have the Dummies book for my Canon XTi). My beautiful Canon EF 100mm macro is begging me to figure things out. So, forgive my shots. If you think you didn’t clean your glasses or are having a dizzy spell….you’re not! It’s me.

Things are a bit busy and chaotic right now so in time I will get set up, study up and not burden you with my experiments. I’m going with the glass is half full concept with my pictures.

A little Callibaetis nymph. The fly is not straight on so the simple effort to have it in focus, front to rear eluded me.

Fly Tying the Random Tuft: Midges

If you followed here over the last few years, you know I am not an exacting fly tier. I admire those that are, but I am in the ‘impressionistic’ category…a deluded bunch who rationalize our tying with poor vision and various other maladies (not funny I know…I have a dear friend in one of these categories). So, let me move to my usual excuse, my vision. Last year I bought those magnification goggles. A purchase that has improved my tying to some degree and relieved some frustrations.

A pile of randomness, designed to baffle trout and agitate them.

The frustration comes about when I try to photograph some small fly and upon seeing my creation via the macro lens, I am brought up short at how imprecise I am. Even now with my goofy goggles, I tie with a degree of chaos. Oh well, no two flies alike and it seems to suit me. Of course, don’t let that dissuade you from striving for perfection.

I wonder in both patterns, if snipping off the bottom portion of the hackle would improve hook-ability on such small hooks? I have had reasonable success with Griffith’s Gnats, so I imagine these will grab just fine. The nippers can always touch up the fly if needed.

I haven’t photographed many flies in the past several months, so my settings are off and I hope you will forgive the lighting/backgrounds and clarity. 

State of Jefferson…’A State of Mind’

I recall reading something about a sputtering effort to create a new state, a 49th state, called Jefferson, which would combine the a SW portion of Oregon and a Northern portion of California. The movement, ‘a state of mind’ had supposed momentum in 1941 only to be upended by Pearl Harbor.

State of Jefferson

I had to study up on the X X (double crossed by Sacramento and Salem) center piece for the ‘state seal’. It would be a curious blend of Independent Country folks and Ashland Progressives. (more)

Just a bit of NW oddities that has always made the region ‘special’ 

Weather Channel Dork & the Others

Such a defense of the coverage of Hurricane Irene. Yes, sad the loss of lives and properties. Yes, the ad nauseam warning probably saved many lives. But, we can all agree, except the dorks that produce weather, disaster coverage, that the fool standing in the path of the wind, debris, and other objects is a needless fool. Stop please with such ridiculous coverage. Dork + Streakers   Considered adult theme because of  the one guys schwantz…so you may need to log in as adult on youtube.

Fly Tying: Cat Infestation?

Well I have written here at length over the woes of infestation in your fly tying materials. Moths and mice have been my nemesis over the years. But recently another critter has weaseled their way into all manner of fly tying materials: Penelope the Cat. You may recall the rescue of Penelope in early June from a tall tree. Never a dull moment sense then.

Imagine my surprise, as I came down this morning, to Penny intoxicatingly tearing through a scattered pile of hen hackle. My ability to leave materials out, whether on the table or in a bag is compromised. Shouldn’t be surprising as I have chased her and done battle (you should see my forearms) to reclaim strips of rabbit, several hen capes, foam, and yes even a Woolly Bugger. In her best interest, and mine, all materials will have to be secured and protected at the conclusion of each session. My days, weeks, months of scattered materials atop the table are gone….if I want to maintain my materials. 

Penelope the Cat & a scattered pile of hen hackle (SwittersB)

Fly Fishing: Life Interruptus

I imagine every insidious (well not insidious, but invasive) hobby, or past time, has that pull; that pervasive pull on your mind, your equilibrium. I use to feel it about working out. Injuries have lessened it, but not wiped it out yet. Gardening is there as my connection to the soil, beginnings, nurturing and tending to endings.

Penny studies with me on how to catch fish. She seems equally fascinated with this passion. She likes the pictures a lot. SwittersB

But fly fishing and all the associated trappings is so a part of me that when I can’t fish or even tie, I do feel a withdrawal or craving that is so strong I can get testy. Wanderlust, skills performance, moving and planning, connection to the flows, observing for signs, tying to create to seduce. Take it away from me and I range from longing to severe withdrawal. Once there, getting ready, doing it…I am almost immediately at ease.

Life Interruptus: poor health, loved one’s needs, work, hard times or even other hobbies. You will know the worth of fly fishing et al, to you, doing it and once you are cut off. For me, fly fishing has deeply inserted itself into my sanity equation. It is a good thing….but, sometimes life does intrude. Have faith.

Sexy D.I.Y. Tutorials: Stripping Your Glock

ASHLEY STRIPS YOUR GLOCK  &  MORE EYE HANDY TIPS

I had previously promised a quarterly tease, but less graphic than in the past. I do believe I am a good two quarters behind, so to speak. So, here is the link re field stripping your Glock and other Eye Handy D.I.Y. tips. The info just happens to be demonstrated by young ladies and great graphics. If you are anti-firearms or anti-sexy women then do not open the links. Do not venture forth. Pretty tame stuff…just interesting concept.

No Tell Motel Fly Tying

On the road. Near good waters, but no time to fish. All the gear is with me. Trout, Steelhead…I have it all save my pontoon boat. Sitting on a beaten down mattress. No high end here. Those nights in $130.+ rooms are gone. Lower rates. Lower expectations. Not even a muffin in the morning. Near the railroad tracks. Near the ebb and flow of vacationing transients. 

Year ’round, I have some form of  fly tying materials with me. I usually forecast ahead what I would need to have with me for Spring, Summer or Fall tying. I load up my little containers with materials for whatever I have not tied enough of earlier (usually after that long Winter tying binge).

Now I know this is really only applicable to the guy primarily confined to a vehicle or checking luggage on a flight. I drive the I-5 Corridor between Portland and Medford. I stay in motels, not hotels. More often than not, my outdoor experience is having the room window open to better hear the sirens.

I rarely wet a line. But regardless, I do keep tying, imagining and planning. If you can tie in a No Tell Motel, with all the noise, door slamming, yelling and trains rumbling by, you can certainly tie just about anywhere else, except maybe in an upriver, afternoon wind.

When the economy turns, if ever, I will be able to stay at a place with that skinny bacon, instant scrambled eggs and biscuits and gravy. Geeze, those were the days.  

A Little Sailing History: the Norse, Chris, Nando & Francis

I have always had a penchant for history. At least the type of  history where you find the bold print in the text book and correctly answer the multiple choice question. The whole explorers sailing forth to the edge of the flat earth seemed particularly fascinating. What sort of  amazing men (and women, of certain persuasions) they must have been!

Christopher Columbus  &  Ferdinand Magellan