Fly Fishing Creativity Links (must be the altitude or chemistry)

Erin Block

Jay Zimmerman at Colorado Fly Fishing Reports Blogspot (nice tutorials on flytying and pleasant photography) and his partner in fly lines Erin M. Block at Mysteries Internal (gifted wordsmith and passionate fly fisher) are nice places to visit. Check out both of these sites. They both have a warmth to them that suggests no pretense, totally welcoming. I like the Clown Foot Caddis/Sally that Zimmerman created (note earlier today I wrote about attractor pattens or flies capable of the dry/dropper set up…check out the Clown Foot). And, tell me if you don’t enjoy the insightful way Erin puts words down that resonate.

Women Fly Fisher’s (Once they get it…..)

Women Fly Fishers Long Ago

No, nothing complicated or intriguing to say re women fly fishing. I thought the poster was symbolic of times past and those women that ventured into the sport in a place far away. Did they tag along with the ‘bums’ of the past?  They weren’t pushing a piece for Vanity Fair. They probably weren’t of celebrity status and spoon fed by some guide (least I want to believe that). Just ahead of their times and however they got there, I like it. Many of us pickup a rod to be near those we admire, love or just like to be around. The passion for this sport only ignites for one’s self once you internally get it. Once you are self contained and passionate about the experience then it doesn’t matter who led you to the water. You get it and need it.

Fly Fishing: Attractor Fly (Loosen Up, Experiment)

Standing Out by David Smith

Match, Match, Match: size, color, shape, actions. The majority of your fly tying and presentation will be to match the stage of an insect or fish food source. As a beginning fly fisher you strive for success, for certainty. You will have little patience for far afield experimentation. When you read that article or go into that shop you are looking for answers, specifics that hone into the magic bullet.

But, yes the but, attractor patterns are often touted as something to break up the routine in the fish’s life. Something that stands out, provokes a response. With attractor patterns, be they nymphs, emergers, dries or streamers there are colors, size, wiggle factors that stand out. I don’t have a serious opinion by virtue of not having a lot of attractor patterns. I have had the same Humpy’s, Royal Coachman’s, Spruce Fly’s for years. They have worked on rivers and streams. There are quite a few out there now. I too have to pause and consider a change up to an attractor pattern. It is a psychological exercise to give up on the matching game unless you are just done trying to figure it out and say ‘what the hell do I have to lose. I’m not doing squat anyway.’ 

For the last few years you read more about the dry + dropper (hopper/dropper) combo. That dry sometimes is a large attractor style pattern that acts as a strike indicator and might just take a fish. Other wise I fish attractors in pocket water, seams, skitter them on a lakes surface. I experiment and provoke and have fun. Last resort or maybe just some relaxing experimentation behind that boulder or in under those trees. Think of them as fun.

Red Humpy (Round Rocks)

Spruce Fly ~ Tony Muncy (SwittersB)