HAVING ARRIVED…

Not a kid anymore..

A good friend asked me to write a piece for his WEBSITE, it is about my evolution as a Fisherman.I did not know I was going to get older in the process…

EVOLUTION OF A FISHERMAN

THAT guy was having way too much fun…

So was THIS one…

PT/TB

Nifty Addition,THE FLY SHOP…

I recently received the annual catalog (2010 Edition one of the BEST around) from The Fly Shop in Redding, CA.It featured this useful tidbit on it’s fly patterns pages. One may now click on any fly in their on-line store and, along with an additional prompt to ” add to the shopping cart”, find the recipe for any and every fly in their catalog and some that are not.

*NOTE: I was informed that all of the recipes are not up as of this writing. The Fly Shop will be adding recipes on a regular basis until they are all up*

I found that I had to reload before this feature worked for me as I transitioned from pattern to pattern. I really enjoy visiting this store when I travel North, up the I-5 to Oregon. They have a great staff, excellent guides and a comprehensive selection of everything Fly Fishing.There are also some of the best rivers in the state to Fly Fish in the immediate area…

Their fly selection is overwhelming and this new feature is a wonderful plus for those who tie and are interested in fly ingredients…

Here is a direct link to TFS Flies…

PT/TB

PETR, aka SCORPIO…

These are fly patterns which are used in Eastern European waters by Scorpio (PETR Hašler). I have a fascination with the creations of my fellow Fly Fishers and Fly Tiers worldwide. There is a tremendous amount of useful information that may be derived from the experience of others…I think that someone once said: “That is how one gains wisdom…”

Petr on the water…That´s me, nymphing on my river in the Jeseniky Mountains .My note: I prefer these nymphs on fast flowing rivers and springs. I like parts where chutes pass to slower water.

Czechnymph

Olive bobesh

Hook: Gammaride, no. 10, BL, Hanak competition company

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Body: Superfine dubbing – olive, Hends products

Thorax: black opossum

Back: Grey-green body stretch

Hauled weight: lead wire 0,5mm

Czechnymph1

Beige bobesh

Hook: Tiemco, no. 10, BL

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Body: UV blend dubbing – beige, Hends products

Thorax: black opossum

Back: Greyish body stretch

Hauled weight: lead wire 0,5mm

Nymph

Silverhead

Hook: Pupa, no. 12, Hends products

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Head: silver tungsten

Thorax: black opossum

Body: UV blend dubbing – beige, Hends products

Tip: UV blend-green

Ribbing: olive wire

Tail: partridge

Nymph1

Silverhead, version with spectra flash tail

Hook: Pupa, no. 12, Hends products

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Head: silver tungsten

Thorax: black opossum

Body: UV blend dubbing – beige, Hends products

Ribbing: olive wire

Tail: light olive spectra flash

Nymph2

Scorpio´s silverhead

Hook: wet, no. 12, Hanak competition company

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Head: silver tungsten

Thorax: black spectra flash

Body: white surgical glove

Tail: partridge

Nymph3

Black celebration

Hook: wet, no. 12, Hanak competition company

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Head: chartreuse tungsten

Thorax: opossum

Body: black UV blend

Ribbing: dark violet metalic thread

Tail: krystal flash, Hends

Nymph4

Black celebration

Hook: wet, no. 12, Hanak competition company

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Head: black tungsten

Thorax: opossum

Body: black UV blend

Ribbing: dark violet metalic thread

Tail: light olive spectra flash, Hends

Nymph5

The same as nymf.jpg, without green tip

Nymph6

Hare´s Ear

Hook: wet, no. 12, Hends

Thread: UNI black 6/0

Body: beige UV blend

Ribbing: gold flat Tesel

Legs: partridge

Back: pheasant

Tail: partridge

Petr’s note: I prefer these nymphs on fast flowing rivers and springs. I like parts where chutes pass to slower water.

Olive emerger

Hook: no 12, type 347BL, Hends

Thread: UNI light olive 8/0

Body: Body Quill, Hends, finished

Wing: white ADW

Legs: olive hackle Whiting

Iron blue dun

Hook: no 18, BL, Hanak competition

Thread: UNI Iron dun 8/0

Wing: natural CDC

Body: heron

Tip: UTC red

Tail: grey microfibets, Hends

Iron blue para dun

Hook: no 18, BL, Hanak competition

Thread: UNI Iron dun 8/0

Wing: white ADW

Legs: grey hackle Whiting

Body: heron

Tip: UTC red

Tail: grey microfibets, Hends

Mighty midge

Hook: Gammaride no 16, Hends

Thread: UNI grey 8/0

Body: peacock

Wing and back: natural CDC

Tail: two hackle tips, grizzly

Petr’s note: I use these dry flies on slow flowing parts in the evening.

A stream in the Jeseniky Mountains…

Here are some notes that Petr provided to me about himself and some links to beautiful waters that see his flies:

I got my first fishing licence in 1982. Up to 1990 I was fishing in the lowlands – specialised on chubs, barbels and similar fish. In 1990 I started fly fishing on the lowland rivers. I got my first experience with nymphing. It is nice technique, so I´m nymphing every time it is possible. In 2006, I stared fly fishing on the small rivers and springs in the Jeseniky Mts, because I moved close to these rivers, where live brown, brook and rainbow trouts together with grayling. Since that time I have specialised on dry flying and Czech nymphing. Both techniques I like very much. My favourite flies are Mayflies, goldheads and Czech nymphs. My favourite color is olive, olive-green or olive-brown. I prefer med-fast rods for dry flying and slow or medium rods for Czech nymphing. Because our rivers aren´t too large as well as fish aren´t too big, I use light rods, mostly no 3 or 4. I like build my own rods using US blanks. Fly fishing in the Jeseniky Mts is about how you spend a nice day in nice nature, not about big fish. Here are some links to pictures, which made my friend Michal, one of the best local photographers and fly fishermen:

PHOTO # 1.
PHOTO # 2

PHOTO # 3.

PHOTO # 4.

Petr is a moderator at MUSKARINA.NET

Thank you for sharing Petr!!!

PT/TB

FLIES FROM THE CZECH…

Scorpio, a moderator at MUSKARINA.NET, one of the interesting FF Forums that I visit, has been kind enough to share some of his favorite patterns with me. These are flies that he uses which I am certain will find their way into my boxes as my experience in the wonderful world of Fly Fishing further unfolds.Names and ingredients for the flies will be posted separately along with some background information on this creative fellow!!!

There is much to be learned from Fly Fisherman and Tiers across the globe. As I come across them, it is my intent to share their knowledge and stories…

PT/TB

STOKED!!!

Good day, even though it is pouring cats and dogs in Los Angeles. I opened my email and was astounded that my twin brother Greg had begun to send me the photos (treasures) that I have been waiting for a very long time. These are pictures that my Dad took of us up in the Owens Valley and other locations in the West before my Mother remarried and moved us to Carrollton, GA in 1957.

Here are two:

This photo was taken on the front lawn of the Frontier Motel , under a big cottonwood tree ,in Lone Pine, CA after a day of fishing on Lone Pine Creek. The fish were cleaned on the opposite side of the motel in a little creek that was crawling with red ants…this was in the Summer of 1954…there is now a room named after our Mother at this motel…

Frontier Motel…today…

My daughter, Nadia in the driveway of the Frontier Motel in 1974 with Mt. Whitney in the background…

PT and a Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout that came out of Yellowstone Lake in the Summer of 1956. I caught that fish with a gob of worms attached to the treble hook of a spinner off an island beach in the middle of the lake. My Dad told me I wouldn’t catch anything by using that method – and off a beach…It wasn’t the only one I caught!! HA,ha…

Now I will be able to put some stories around the photos I receive. If I remember correctly, there were quite a few…Thanks Greg!!!

PT/TB

DUBBING…

This is the BEST article I have ever read on Dubbing. It was written by Dennis Shaw and appeared on Paul Ainsworth’s UK Fly Dressing Forum.

UK Fly Dressing is one of the unique fly tying resources available to those who tie…

Synthetic Dubbing

It has been published at Elmerfishing.com

Fur Dubbing

I believe this comprehensive article will be helpful to the novice and advanced tier alike!

(a thanks to SWEATBOY over at the KRF for this catch!!! )

PT/TB (yes, it’s pouring in LA)

THE PICKLE…

Charlie Craven is a Colorado tier and Fly Shop owner who has greatly influenced my tying. Here is a very simple Pat Dorsey Stonefly design that Charlie recently put up utilizing chenille and flexi floss. If one has not discovered “Charlie’s FlyBox”, then a wonderful resource of tested patterns has been missed. One of these days, I hope to get around to including most of the flies that Charlie has featured into MY fly boxes…

THE PICKLE

Materials and sequenced steps for this fly may be found here:

CHARLIE’S FLYBOX

PT/TB

SEARCHING PATTERNS (ATTRACTORS)…

These are some attractor patterns that I use. When no Trout are rising, when the water is off-color, when it (or I ) is/am very cold, I pull these guys out of my boxes and affix them to my tippet…

KERN RIVER EMERGER (KRE) Variation

HOOK: TMC 5262, # 10- # 18, (or similar hook)

WEIGHT: Non toxic lead substitute

BEAD: Gold , Copper or Black Tungsten

THREAD: UNI 8/0 or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Black

TAIL: Pheasant Tail Fibers, quantity dependent on hook size

RIB: Gold or Silver Tinsel

ABDOMEN: Peacock Herl

WINGCASE: Razor Foam 2mm., Red, Orange, Green, Yellow, Pink or Black

THORAX: Olive/Brown Ice Dub ( Pink Ice Dub…yessss)

LEGS: Optional, rubber, variegated

A pattern developed by Guy Jeans for the Kern River in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. It imitates Stone flies and some May fly species that inhabit that sometimes brawling freestone fishery. I have found this pattern to be effective throughout the Western US. I have caught many nice Trout on the East Walker River fishing this fly with a pink wing case in May…This is a good one for swift pools, behind and alongside boulders and through tail outs – fished deep…

Guy Jean’s famous Kern Emerger pattern

Hook: TMC 5262 # 10 -18

Thread: Uni 6/0 or 8/0

Tail: Black Hen feathers

Rib: Gold tinsel, ( I use XSM gold wire for # 18 )

Abdomen: Peacock herl

Wingcase: Razor foam, pick yer’ color!

Legs: Here ,black Raineys rubber,but one could experiment!

Thorax: Peacock Ice Dub,Peacock Herl, SLF Prism Peacock or Arizona Peaco

Bead: Tung with lots of lead or non toxic sub. on thorax

Check out the Kern River Forum. Those guys up there use this fly throughout the year with great success. Guy Jean opened up his shop in Kernville several years ago and is a champ when it comes to doing good things for the Kern River and other local waters. Drop in and see him!

Here is another version that is beadless:

BEADLESS KRE

TURKEY VAC (OLIVE)

TURKEY VAC (TAN/BROWN)

HOOK: Mustad CO68, TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, # 12- #18

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Black, Brown or Olive

BEAD: Gold, Copper or Black

WIRE: Chart. for Olive, Red for Tan/Brown

ABDOMEN: Olive Mottled Turkey Tan/ Brown Mottled Turkey

WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, White/Clear or White Zelon

THORAX: Peacock Herl or Peacock Ice Dub

A Walter Wiese pattern out of Park’s Fly Shop in Gardiner, MT where Walter guides. This pattern was developed as an improved Shop Vac to imitate emerging Caddis Pupa.The original Shop Vac came out of BRF in West Yellowstone, MT. These flies will take Trout when offered at the proper time to imitate both Hydropsyche and Braychycetrus…I have found these patterns to be very effective and employ them everywhere…

THE ORIGINAL SHOP VAC

Hook: TMC 2457,2487 or Diiachi 1120, 1130 # 16-20

Thread: Danville # 47, 6/0

Wire: Gold, xsm

Thread at head: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Black

Bead: Tung or Metal, Gold

The original- fish vaccum. I also tweak this simple pattern with 3 strands of midge pearl flash under the wing and I tie it using UTC 70 Olive for the body. Faux Shop Vac here.

HULA PRINCESS

HOOK: TMC 2457, Mustad CO68 or other Scud hook, # 12 – # 18

THREAD: UNI 6/0, 8/0, or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Dark Brown

ABDOMEN: Peacock Herl

RIB: Fine Gold or Copper wire

WING: White Zelon

THORAX: Brown Ostrich Herl

BEAD: Gold or Copper

Another Wiese fly pattern. Peacock Herl is one most effective material to incorporate into a searching fly. Weight may be added via a tungsten bead or non toxic wire wraps under the thorax. I have found that fish will take this guy fished dead drift or swung…the Zelon wing acts as a trigger…

LEFT OVER KLINK

Hook: Partridge 15BN, #16-20

Thread: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, or Benechi 12/0 brown, olive or black

Tail: brown, olive or black hen neck

Abdomen: Wapsi UTC 70, brown, olive-brown, rusty- brown, olive or black / covered with clear micro tubing or color desired.

Rib: Wapsi x-sm gold, copper or silver

Thorax: (Behind a copper, gold or silver bead) olive brown, UV black or peacock Ice Dub

Wing/legs: brown, olive or black hen neck

So I have these remaining Klinkhammer hooks and what to do? I like it better in the available small sizes than the TMC 200R – superior gape. The fish seem to like it ( think Flav, Mahogany etc…) Rust bites back on the Stillwater!

And, here are two more in different color combinations…this pattern is one of my favorites..,

OLIVE / BROWN LEFT OVER KLINK

OLIVE LEFT OVER KLINK

JEREMY’S ARIZONA PRINCE

HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68, # 10 -# 18

THREAD: Uni. Olive, 8/0 or Gordon Griffiths 14/0 Olive

BEAD: Copper, Gold or Black

TAILS: Brown Goose Biots

RIB: Gold or Copper wire

BODY: Light Arizona Peacock Dubbing

THORAX: Natural Peacock Arizona Dubbing

WINGS: White Goose Biots

A Jeremy Davies designed fly. ANYTHING that he designs catches Trout. This is his simpler version of the Prince Nymph tied on a curved hook. Many years ago, Jeremy had a link to a plethora of flies that he put together for the Bow River. That link no longer exists…however, I wrote all the recipes down…I now know why I did that…

ICE WEEVIL

HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68 or other scud hook, # 12 – # 18

THREAD: UNI 8/0 Olive or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Olive

TAIL: Pheasant Tail Fibers, Olive

RIB: Chart. or Metallic Green Wapsi wire

ABDOMEN: Caddis Green Ice Dub

THORAX: Olive/Brown SLF Prism

OVER ABDOMEN 1.: Optional, Pearl mylar or Black Krystal Flash

OVER ABDOMEN/WING CASE 2.: Olive Thin Skin or Scud Back

WINGS: Brown Goose Biots

BEAD: Copper or Gold

Some minor tweaking on Jeremy Davies’ venerable “EVIL WEEVIL” series.This is a flashy tie for early Spring and high, cloudy water…

BLACK WEEVIL (TOP VIEW)

BLACK WEEVIL

HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68, # 12 – # 18

THREAD: UNI 8/0 Black or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Black

TAIL: Black Rabbit, long hairs cut from mask, underfur combed out

RIB: Silver wire or Silver Mylar tinsel

ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask ,#4

OVER ABDOMEN 1.: Pearl Mylar

OVER ABDOMEN 2.: Clear Scud Back

THORAX: Black Ice Dub

WINGCASE: Clear Scud Back

WINGS: White Goose Biots

BEAD: Black Tungsten or Black with non toxic lead wraps

Another tweak on the “EVIL WEEVIL”, fished deep, in the Spring, where and when Stone Flies are present and moving towards shore…

HOT GO 2 PRINCE

HOOK: TMC 5262, #12 – # 18

THREAD: Uni 8/0 Black or Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Black

TAIL: Ginger Furnace Hen Hackles

RIB: Metallic Red Wapsi wire

ABDOMEN/THORAX: Peacock Herl

WING: White Zelon

HACKLE: Ginger Furnace Hen

BEAD: Spirit River, Hot Orange

A combo soft hackle, combo meaning that designs from Rick Takahashi and “Pop” from “Let it Fly “in Pagosa Springs, CO influenced the final tie…This one will get a work out on the East Walker and Lower Owens..Michael gets to try it first ( then just let me try to pry the box out of his vest – good luck)…

EVIL WEEVIL

HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO68,or other scud hook, # 12 – # 18

THREAD: Uni 8/0 Black or Gordon Griffith 14/0, Black

TAIL: Pheasant Tail Fibers, Natural

OVER ABDOMEN/ OVER THORAX: Olive Scud Back or Thin Skin

RIB: Gold or Copper wire

ABDOMEN: Hare’s Mask, Olive # 3

THORAX: Peacock SLF PRISM

WINGS: Rusty Brown Goose Biots

BEAD: Gold or Copper, Tungsten or Brass

Another “Evil Weevil”…as one can see, numerous variations and possibilities…this is a good early Spring pattern…

NEU COWDUNG AMBER

HOOK: Alec Jackson, North Country, # 13 & # 15

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Brown

ABDOMEN/THORAX: Amber Hareline Krystal Dubbing

WING: Amber Zelon

HACKLE: Natural Partridge

BEAD: Glass Bead, Metallic

NEU COWDUNG OLIVE

HOOK: Alec Jackson, North Country, # 13 & # 15

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Olive

ABDOMEN/THORAX: Olive Krystal Dubbing

WING: Grey Sparkle Emerger Yarn

HACKLE: Hen neck, brown

BEAD: Glass Bead, Metallic

Both the above flies are Wiese soft hackle Caddis imitations meant to be swung in the current with a lift and drop at the terminus of the swing. I particularly like to use this method on the Stillwater and Madison Rivers in Montana in the evening during hatches of the respective species these colors imitate…

I would be remiss if I did not put up this pattern. It was the first nymph that I tied out on the water, on the Madison River at Valley Gardens in August 1975, not the best time to be FF down in the channels section above Ennis Lake. This fly appeared in Fly Fishing Magazine in early 1975. It is called the “Mink Thing”…I have tied it on a wide variety of hooks with beads and without – with hackle and without. I have mixed sable into the blend. I still use this pattern in shades ranging from light tan to dark brown. The mink ( and sable) retain air bubbles which adds to the effectiveness of the fly…no Frogs Fanny needed!!! I weight the body of the fly heavily…it is one of the BEST early Spring, cold water imitations I have ever used…

“Mink Thing” at Valley Gardens on the Madison River 1975…

It is right here, in this Nymph box, that I still use…

I have a few more that I am working on that will be posted soon…

PT/TB

A LITTLE UPDATING…

…before I post the attractor patterns this week. I noticed that I have an enormous number of people coming to one of my favorite Fly Fishing trips with my Dad back in the 1970’s. There are actually FIVE STORIES that comprise that wonderful time and I never connected them…I have now rectified that Blogingdummy error and have added new photos and links…

One of these days, when my brother Greg gets around to sending them to me, I will post B&W photos of trips we took to Lone Pine, CA and the surrounding Owens Valley area when we were kids. My Dad loved to shoot with his Rolleiflex camera…much to the consternation of his then, unwilling subjects…

My Dad’s weapon of choice…

My brother Greg, Mom, Dad and PT from LIFE MAGAZINE SERIES ( *click on the above photo to go there)…thinking of ‘ya Pop…miss you…

SO I TAKE MY DAD TO YELLOWSTONE…

PT/TB

Merry Christmas and…

…Best wishes for a Happy New Year. Thanks to all who have visited in the last eighteen months!!!

Nadia, Michael, Ally ( The BEST gifts I ever received) and PT – at our traditional Chinese Christmas Eve. dinner…

Josh and Ally…

Greg, Nadia and Michael…

PT/TB