that time of year…

to unsuspectingly walk through spider webs and encounter their creators…here an Orb Weaver (araneus diadematus) in Portland, Oregon

Along came a spider…

and sat down beside me…as have several others the last few years…

Cross Orbweaver

Hanging by a thread….

~

 

Spider Web Over Night…

This time of year, one has to be aware first thing in the morning for the far strung tentacles of a spider web. This one was spun over night. Doesn’t seem possible. I had backed into the spot last evening. This morning the spider web, with spider, reached from a gutter above (upper right) to a fence (out of sight, upper left) and down to the back of my truck. All that work! Of course, I had to work my way through the support threads and then drive away.

Spider Humor

‘Dear Boys…May I make your girlfriend scream louder than you ever will? Signed Spider’

~

The Flymph: Not Quite Nymph…Almost Adult

A Flymph is a great fly pattern for the beginning tier and serviceable as a fishing pattern for all fly fishers. A combination of the nymph and what we now call the ’emerger’, it entices with movement and general shapes. It suits my ‘impressionistic’ almost, but not quite tying style (some might call it sloppy/lazy) and it is productive in streams and lakes. More here re flymphs

 

Here, I dubbed a tapered fly from the rear (abdomen) up into the thorax, creating a buggy/leggy/winged front end. Flymphs can be/maybe should be tied with a bit cleaner style with a clearly defined tail/abdomen (nymph like) and then a wet fly style thorax/head. Presentation, as always, is important. The wet fly swing or Leisenring lift (rising, emerging insect) are traditional presentation options for flymphs/soft hackles/wets. Here Oliver Edwards offers his suggestions that contradict the ‘swing’/down and across presentation. On lakes, I have simply cast to rising fish or used as a searching pattern with a straight forward cast it out and slowly work it back letting the fibers work their twitching magic. (Additional information)

Macro Photography: I Only Have Eyes For You!

Thomas Shahan Image of Paraphidippus aurantius

I was researching Macro Photography and came upon this wonderful site displaying the Macro work of Thomas Shahan.