Photograph: Harley & Penny are usually mortal enemies. Laying in wait, to attack, to retreat, regroup and once again attack. Yet, today they cuddled up, spooning for quite sometime, even through photo ops.
Harley & Penny spooning away an afternoon. These two seldom get this close and when they do it is not so affable. Photo by MJM
Fly Tying Chironomids (Midges, Buzzers, Gnats). I have plenty of larva/pupa patterns. I am about done tying up little fluff balls for the dries and emergers. Last year (Spring), I tied a lot of smallish (18-22) thread bodied flies with one turn of hackle and a tuft of CDC. This year, I am replenishing a larger pattern, The Foam Winged Midge, that I have tied before. I have enough now for the next few years.
I started tying these back in December, but fell away from tying many due to life's distractions. I have now finished a couple dozen of these and that should suffice for a few years. The only derivation for this pattern is the ribbing of Krystal Flash over the peacock herl. You could use a variety of colors for some flash. I use the KFlash because of weight considerations. Even thin wire has tended to pull the fly under, over riding the foam wing's ability to support the fly in the film.
My favorite...The Ponderosa Pine
Trees…everyone has an opinion about them. All agree they are beautiful in their varying varieties in Oregon. How they are managed and the impact upon watersheds and the livelihood of communities divide many. The Oregon Forest Resources Institute does a good job explaining the various forces at play. Of course, there are those that see OFRI as a green talking shill for the lumber producers. Maybe, but the site does provide some useful information about the trees themselves and that is interesting, all enviro lip flapping, hand wringing aside.
“Clearcutting, one of several harvest options, is a method in which most of the trees are removed and the forest is regener- ated by planting new trees. Not every location is suitable for clearcutting.
OREGON’S WESTERN FORESTS
West of the Cascades, forest landowners often choose to clearcut because Douglas-fir seed- lings planted after harvest grow best in full sunlight. Oregon law requires that new trees be planted within two years after harvest, and that trees be left as buffers around streams and retained for wildlife habitat.
OREGON’S EASTERN FORESTS
In more extreme climates, the forest canopy helps protect fragile seedlings from heat and frost, so clearcutting is less common. Trees are usually harvested individually or in small groups.” OFRI
