Midges…Spring 2023

I had intended to have these Midge patterns up in the Fall of 2022. I  wasn’t able to get my ducks in a row to make it happen. So here they are because in most  tail waters, midges are always present. I would suggest to those who want to up their midge game to follow this link to Pat Dorsey’s Colorado Guide Flies, scroll down and read. This book contains a ton of midge patterns that will work almost anywhere. Several inspired the patterns I am posting…

MAMBA MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16-#20

THREAD: UTC Black, 70 Denier

RIB: Lagartun, Fine, Silver

WING: Krystal Flash, Pearl…coat fly with Hard As Hull or UV Resin of choice

Materials, Mamba Midge…

Midges are an important food source on the Lower Owens River in the Eastern Sierra…

SKINNY MIDGE… Wells / Variant

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16 – #20

THREAD: Body – Uni, Olive Dun –  * coat with Hard As Hull or UV Resin… Thorax Forward – Veevus 16/0, Black

RIB: Ultra Brite Floss, White

THORAX: UV2 Peacock, Natural

BEAD: Tungsten, Nickel, sized to hook

Materials, Skinny Midge…

White thread makes a excellent ribbing material for midge patterns. It remains white and lasts a lot longer from Trout teeth if coated with glue or resin…

BLACK RUBBER MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1120, #18 – #20

THREAD: Abdomen – UNI , Lt. Cahill…Head, Veevus 16/0, Black

BACK: Rainy’s Round Rubber Leg – Fine

WING: Zelon, White

Materials, Black Rubber Midge…

The above, $3.00 Bridge on the Madison River, MT, would be a perfect spot to use this pattern. Using rubber or silicone for the back, opens up almost endless possibilities for different colored variants of this pattern…I’ll be trying it out there with Michael, Miles and Cairo this coming September…

S.O.P MIDGE ( Silver, Olive, Peacock)…

HOOK: Gamakatsu C12-B, #18 – #20

THREAD: Danville #61, 6/0 Light Olive – Abdomen / TMC 16/0, Black Thorax Forward

RIB: Sybai Silver flat wire, Fine…

BEAD: Firehole Stone, Sterling Silver, sized to hook

HARD AS HULL: …or UV Resin to coat the abdomen for durability
Materials, S.O.P Midge…

After tying up a bunch of Perdigons, I found that many of the materials for abdomens and ribbing lend themselves to Midge Patterns. I will be incorporating more of these materials into standard nymph flies as I continue to experiment…

FIVE BRIDGES MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16 – #18

THREAD: Danville 6/0, #47 Tobacco Brown

RIB: UTC Silver, x-sm

WING: Mirage Opal Accent, 3 strands

BEAD: Hi-Lite Glass, Brown Metallic, small

Materials, Five Bridges Midge…

Wild Trout Section …

Below Five Bridges…

Five Bridges is located on the Lower Owens River, near Bishop, CA in the Eastern Sierra. It marks the end of the Wild Trout section of the Lower Owens River, where special regulations are in effect. No kill and barbless hooks – the game warden will run a cotton ball over where the barb was removed ( if the hook is not barbless ) and any residue left on the hook now costs $500.00 or more depending on attitude…The regulations do not apply below Five Bridges and the Trout are a lot larger…I have found the color Danville #47, Tobacco Brown to be effective almost everywhere in the West…I fish glass beads patterns as trailers, off a dry to imitate an emerging fly but most frequently about “3-6” off the bottom of the water column…

KRYSTAL MIDGE…Hyatt / Variant…

HOOK: Daiichi 1120, #18 – #20

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Black

RIB: Lagartun, Fine Gold Wire

WING: Krystal Flash, Pearl, 3 strands

THORAX: BRF Zelon Dubbing, Midge Black

BEAD: Killer Caddis Diamond Glass Bead, small

*Coat abdomen with Hard As Hull or UV Resin for durability

Materials, Krystal Midge…

An alternative to the ubiquitous Zebra Midge. Fish as trailer or just off the bottom…

TWO TONE MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, # 18 – #20

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Olive – Abdomen /  Head, Veevus 16/0 Black

OVER ABDOMEN: In spaced turns, Micro Tubing clear

• Swipe a black Sharpie over the tops of the spaced Micro Tubing

Materials, Two Tone Midge…

…another pattern that may be used in numerous colors. Use a seine net to kick up the bottom and observe the Midge Larva captured…

GREEN HORNET MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #20

THREAD: Gudebrod, 8/0 Chartreuse

RIB: UTC x-sm Black Wire

BEAD: Killer Caddis Chartreuse, x-sm

Materials, Green Hornet Midge…

An attractor Midge, using up a bit of the 8/0 Gudebrod Chartreuse thread that I still use for midge patterns. There are plenty of places, particularly tail waters, where these will take good Trout…like here…

Between the Lakes, Madison River, MT…

BLACK AND BLUE MIDGE…

HOOK: Firehole 633 #18 – #20

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Black

RIB: UTC Gun Metal Blue wire, x-sm

WING: DNA Holofusion, White

BEAD: Firehole Sterling Silver, sized to hook

Materials, Black and Blue Midge…

One more midge in black that I would use on almost any tail water instead of a Black Zebra Midge…this pace comes to mind…East Walker River, Eastern Sierra…Midge patterns work all season long…

CREAM MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18-#22

THREAD: UTC White, for Abdomen / Veevus 16/0 Black Head

RIB: Lagartun Fine Copper wire

• Coat with Hard As Hull or UV Resin

Materials, Cream Midge…

I tie a lot of Cream Miles for use in the Eastern Sierra and some other place we frequent. One of the largest Brown Trout I have caught in the last fifteen years took a #20 Cream Midge on the East Walker River. Someone who is knowledgeable told me that there are as many as 8000 Cream Midge larva per. cubic square foot present, in that water, in the Spring…

TOBACCO MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 2488, #18-#20

THREAD: Giorgio Benecchi 12/0 Tobacco thread 

RIB: Lagartun Fine Gold Wire

THORAX: Ice Dub UV Gray

BEAD: Killer Caddis Diamond bead small

• Coat abdomen with Hard as Hull or UV Resin

Materials, Tobacco Midge…

I usually fish glass bead heads ,without a wing, deep in the water column… about 3″-6″ off the bottom…

BIG MAC MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 200R, #18 – #20

THREAD: Abdomen, Danville 6/0, #60 Olive / Thorax Forward – Veevus 16/0 Black

RIB: Spaced between Midge Tubing – Datam Glo-Brite Floss #3 Red

OVER ABDOMEN: Midge Tubing, Olive

THORAX: BRF  Zelon Midge Dubbing, Black

Materials, Big Mac Midge…

Right in here , with Michael and the boys, this September…yes, it can snow there at that time of the year above $3.00 Bridge, Madison River, MT…

RORO’S AMBER SIERRA KRYSTAL BH DIP…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18-#20

THREAD: Lagartun 74 Denier, 8/0 Amber 

RIB: UTC Amber wire, SM

WING: Pearl Krystal Flash, 3 strands, long-ish

BEAD: Firehole Stone, flat Black

Materials RoRo’s Amber Sierra Krystal BH Dip…

RoRo…the Sierra Angler

CUPCAKE MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16 – #20

THREAD: TMC 16/0, Brown

RIB: Sybai, fine flat wire, Bright Pink

THORAX: Ice Dub, UV Pink

BEAD: KIller Caddis Glass Diamond Bead, small

• Coat abdomen with Hard As Hull or UV Resin for durability

Materials, CupCake Midge

…another black alternative to the common Zebra Midge…

PRIMROSE AND PEARL MIDGE…

HOOK: Firehole 633, #18-#20

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Yellow

ABDOMEN: KrystalFlash, Hot Yellow over working thread

RIB: UTC Fl. Yellow wire, sm

THORAX: Ice Dub Hot Yellow

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

Materials, Primrose and Pearl Midge…

Something snazzy to break up the doldrums here…Lower Owens River on a crisp Fall day in November…

PERIWINKLE MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #20

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Olive , Abdomen / TMC 16/0 Black, Thorax Forward

RIB: UTC Wire, Black, x-sm

THORAX: Ice Dub, UV Lt. Olive

BEAD: Ruby Glass Bead x-sm

Materials, Periwinkle Midge…

Right in here…This Spring…when it’s running about 700cfs….work the edges…

MAMBA MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16 – #20

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Black -Abdomen / Head- Veevus 16/0, Black

RIB: UTC Gold wire Sm or x-sm

WING: Flashabou, Pearl – 3-4 strands – long-ish

Materials, Mamba Midge…

A flashy, black midge emerger to brighten things up when the water is a bit off color…

GREY REEFER MIDGE…

HOOK: Firehole 633, #16 – #20

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Dark Gray, Abdomen / THC 16/0 Black – Thorax Forward

RIB: UTC Hot Orange, SM

WING: Mini Flat Fly Braid, Pearl – picked out

THORAX: BRF Zelon dubbing, Midge Black

BEAD: Killer Caddis Purple Glass, SM

Materials, Grey Reefer Midge…

A variant on a North Platte Midge pattern that would work in most tail waters when grey toned emerges are about…

 

NEXT: Veteran’s Day Weekend, November 2022, with these guys…

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

Those Guys,up there…

This post will cover my Grandson Cairo’s trip up to Bridgeport in the Eastern Sierra in the Summer of 2022 with his Mom and Dad (Michael) and other members of the family on his Mom’s side. This was his second excursion to the area that my family has been going to since 1971, when I got out of the Army and graduated from the University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL).

I am not going to” hot spot” all the waters that these guys fished. They may all be located on these maps on flyfishinthesierra.com…this, by the way, is an excellent site for anyone who wants to utilize a wealth of information about the wonderful Sierra…

Michael and Cairo, ready to hit the road…

A quick stop at the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery so that Cairo can feed his buds…the ducks and trout…

Arrival at the cabin at Virginia Lakes Resort and sorting the gear out…

Cairo bundled up and ready…

Big MOO and RoRo at Virginia Creek…

Arranging the essentials…

Mr. Mountain Man above Big Virginia Lake…

One of the lakes above Virginia Lakes Resort…there are many…

Cairo with his mini-spin outfit using a fly and bubble technique…

Wait…somebody else was doing this back in 1987…(Michael, Little Virginia Lake )

…and both those guys caught a lot of these Brook Trout…

…another lake, another adventure…

Cairo with the “Big Peoples’ Rod”…

Cairo and the Brookie…

Waiting for breakfast at the Virginia Creek Resort Cafe…

Bacon, eggs and pancakes…Carolyn Webb can whip up some good eats…

RoRo preparing to go airborne…

“Jump !!!”…

Michael and Cairo out on Little Virginia Lake with an assortment of rods early in the AM…

This is my current favorite photo of these guys – Little Virginia Lake…

RoRo going solo…

“Lemme see that fish”…

In the distance, with an assist from Mom…

Crash time…

Trail leader with Mom…

Trail follower…Mr. Pokey…

…another lake in the books…

…deer family back at the cabins…

..another day… chillin’ at the cabin at sunrise…

Little Virginia Lake at sunset…

…lunch…

Petting the horses down at the pack station…Miles wants to trail ride with these folks the next time he comes to Bridgeport…

…another Brookie with Dad…

Brookies everywhere !!!

One can wet wade to the shelf…

Cairo likes the colors…

Coming down to a different lake with Dad…

“Let’s do it, Dad !!!”…

Trail through the woods…taking the short cut…

The view, the view…

There’s a mallard over on the left…

Ice Cream cone break !!!..Lee Vining, CA...Mono Cone…

Local resident walking the wood…

“Hey Ally…you know this place !!!”

Both of them do…Trumbull Lake, Michael and Ally – 1995…

“Ill be tying this spot ! “

Cairo and the camp kitty…

Cairo rock climbing…kinda’

Tree riding…

Cherries are good…

In the meadow at Green Creek, just about where I parked my vehicle back in 1977 with Cairo’s Great Grandfather and where I caught a 21″ Brown in a nearby Beaver Pond…

Nice little Sierra creek meandering through a meadow…

Lake in the sky…

Pulling Auntie Noelle’s nose at the Virginia Creek Settlement…

…more ice cream…

“Bye Mrs. Mallard…until next time !!!”

Postscript...one of these will be in RoRo’s near future for Brookie exploration along with a Hardy LRH Fly Reel…

 

NEXT:…all of these Midge patterns with their recipes…

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UP TO THE SIERRA WITH NADIA and MILES…

I have been somewhat remiss in putting up posts. Life has a way of taking over. I completed a miniPCNL surgery in June, 2022 to remove all remaining kidney stones and fragments. The Doctors tell me it was successful and now it’s question of preventing the formation of new stones – given that my Ostomy is a creator of the same. Got slammed by COVID  early in January, spending four days in the hospital and a visit with Ally to the emergency room a week later for COVID / COPD related breathing problems…Got all my vaccinations and  boosters so I am still above ground and sucking in air… it would not have been so pleasant had I not done that. The anti-vax crowd can take Elmo’s rocket to Mars or just drop dead…Three members of my Senior Georgia Military Academy class are gone due to COVID. One was a best, lifelong friend who refused to get vaccinated and had become a devoted cult member … SMDH

So I have all these pictures to put up and I will start HERE:

Departing Los Angeles for Bridgeport, CA with my oldest daughter Nadia and my Grandson Miles…

The remains of the Homestead, where Hwy. 14 turns into Hwy. 395…burned to the ground in April 2022…a lot of great meals were served there to my family from the 60’s on…

The remains…

Approaching Red Hill above Little Lake…Owens Valley ahead…

…another casualty …the Ranch House in Olancha, CA…

Owens Lake in need of water…

…somewhere down there, on the road to Owens Lake, out in the sand and sagebrush, lies a wedding ring that my Mother tossed after an argument with my Father around 1953…

The Winnedumah Hotel in Independence, CA…a bit of roadside history…

…walked a lot of miles in the sand and alkali dust over there on the right with my Dad, Twin Brother and kids…

Ally likes this BBQ joint in Big Pine, CA…

A family favorite in Bishop, CA...Schat’s Bakery…

Crowley Lake…Mammoth Lakes ahead…

Gotta’ stop here for a few essentials...Troutfitter

Mono Lake, CA where the seagulls breed and brine shrimp live…

Coming down the grade towards Bridgeport, CA…

Virginia Creek Settlement source of most excellent pizza and other good eats…

I have not been here since October 2017 so it’s treat time for the guys… Bridgeport Inn

The only place I will order meat loaf with mashed potatoes…Yummy

The Usual Virgin Bloody Mary…

Miles is so easy to feed …chicken nuggets and fries…

The Old Guy is pleased…

…an early evening trip down to the East Walker River…

..warm, dirty water with lots of algae and biting bugs…

Miles at the pipe…on the East Walker River…

Very little water in Bridgeport Reservoir…

Just a pretty sunset looking up towards Twin Lakes…

Early morning sunrise from the Walker River Lodge…

Heading up to Little Virginia lake for some coffee and bacon with Carolyn Webb…

That guy can’t wait to wet a line…

The catch board…

Time to rent the boat…

…so I let Miles row…

Not bad Miles !!!…First time Miles has fished since 2017…

OK…the Old Guy…

We quit around noon and decided to head up tp Green Creek. I haven’t been up there in quite a few years…

Nice pull in spot…there’s water…a biting bugs …

The fenced meadow…

Wet wader, scaring the Brookies…

We decided to have dinner at the Virginia Creek Settlement… no pizza this time…

I haven’t had this since I was about seven years old…

Taking a look at the menu…

Went with the fettuccine alfredo with chicken…

Burger Boy…

Salad Mom…

So…they raise Trout at the settlement that are planted in Green Creek. Miles go a bag of pellets to feed the guys…

He really enjoyed this…

…a quick run up to Twin Lakes to see what was going on….

...the dude ranch where Miles wants to stay on his next visit…

Last day of fishing…back up to Little Virginia Lake…

Miles can’t wait, so while we eat, he does the fly and bubble from shore…

There he goes…rigging up…

He caught one while waiting for us to finish eating…

…was a bit slower than the previous day…

There…pure joy !!!

All the Trout we caught were released to make someone else have a good day…

WE again quit around noon and drove to Leavitt Meadows for Miles’ and Nadias’ trail ride…

…geared up…

Trail riders…

While those guys went off into the hinterlands, I went down to the West Walker River to peek at the flows…

Very low and warm…

Miles the dog whisperer…

…next on the agenda was a soaking at Travertine Hot Springs…

Miles is an alien…

One more go-round at The Bridgeport Inn…

Garden salad…

Prime rib, Mashed potatoes and real horseradish…

Back to LA…

…but not before a stop at Schat’s in Bishop…

…YIKES !!!

Guys got the goods and some lunch stuff…

Wanted to give Miles one last chance at a Trout, so we stopped at the George’s Creek Sand Trap above Lone Pine…no moving water, algae and muck…

Really disappointing…

When one knows they have left the Owens Valley…Red Hill headed South…

 

These are the soft hackle patterns that I tied for this trip and for Cairo’s trip up to the Sierra…

 

NEXT: Cairo in the Eastern Sierra…

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Coming for Fall 2022

In the next several weeks I will add some of the activities I engaged in after my last post. Some new Midge Patterns, trips up to the Eastern Sierra this past Summer and HERO & Ally stuff…

Here’s a taste:

216 flies when completed…

Cairo & Michael up in the mountains…

Miles and a Rainbow at LVL…

Cairo’s first Brookie…

…to be continued…

 

 

PT/TB

 

A Perdigon Box…

These are the first flies that I have tied in quite awhile. Some of them were tied with the assistance of my Grandson Miles, who really seems to enjoy tying and has some nimble moves. Hopefully, I will be able to use  these patterns with Michael and Miles later this Summer when I recover from my last kidney stone surgery…

That’s HERO, in my header above, on his great canoe adventure at Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho…5.21.2022

Blue on Blue Perdigon…

HOOK: Hanak 403 BLG, #10-#16

THREAD: UTC Fl. White, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Ginger Speckled

ABDOMEN: Glimmer Thread, Blue – ( Cascade Crest Tool Co. )

RIB: Flat Tinsel, fine, Blue Pearl or Silver ( Hends )

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Fire Orange, 70 Denier

WING CASE: Wet n Wild Fast Dry – Black, 2 coats

 BEAD: Slotted Tungsten, Black – sized to hook

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, fine

Materials

This is a large heavy pattern in a color that has proven to be effective almost all seasons in the Eastern Sierra…These, like most Perdigons , are simple and easy to tie…

WET N WILD …Black Nail Polish

COPPER / SILVER PERDIGON…

HOOK: Tiemco 113 BLH, #12 – #16

THREAD: UTC Fl. White, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark Speckled

ABDOMEN: Hemingway Micro Glint, Copper

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Fire Orange, 70 Denier

BEAD: Tungsten Nickel, sized or oversized to hook

WING CASE: Wet n Wild Nail Polish, Black

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, fine

MATERIALS

Copper is an interesting color to use. I tie several midge patterns using copper Holoshimmer and they are very effective in the East Walker and Lower Owens River…

MOO’S GREEN GOBLIN PERDIGON…

HOOK: Firehole 551 Jig Hook, #10- #16

THREAD: UTC Fl. White, 70 Denier – Under Abdomen

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark Speckled

ABDOMEN #1 : Hemingway Mico Glint – Peridot

ABDOMEN #2 : Micro Tubing , Peacock

HOT SPOT: Veevus, 8/0, Chartreuse

BEAD: Hanak Tungsten slotted, Metallic Chartreuse sized or oversized to hook

WING CASE: Wet N Wild Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek – Fine

Materials

This is a good place to try out that Green Goblin, with my Winston Super 10, 5WT…on the East Walker River just below the dam…

LITTLE OLIVE QUILL…

HOOK: Hanak 280 BL, #12 – #16

THREAD: TMC 16/0, Olive

TAIL: Coq De Leon Barred Speckled Aconchado

ABDOMEN: Veevus Body Quill, Olive

RIB: UTC x-sm Copper Wire

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Fire Orange, 70 Denier

BEAD: Tungsten Copper, sized to Hook or oversized

WING CASE: Wet N Wild, Black Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek – Fine

MATERIALS

 LIL’ MOO’S RED PEARL PEPPER PERDIGON JIG…

HOOK: FIrehole 551, #14-#18

THREAD: UTC Fl. White, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Ginger ( *not pictured in materials )

ABDOMEN: Hends Red Pearl 1/69 spooled tinsel

RIB: Hends Bright Brown, flat fine wire

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Fire Orange, 70 Denier

BEAD: Firehole stone Sterling Silver – sized to hook or oversized

WING CASE: Wet n Wild, Black nail polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, Fine

MATERIALS

COPPER AND PEARL PERDIGON…

HOOK: Tiemco 403BLJ, #10-#16

THREAD: UTC Fl. White, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark Speckled

ADOMEN: Pearl Glimmer Thread ( Cascade Crest Tool Co. )

RIB: Hends, flat fine, Bright Brown

HOT SPOT: Danville, 6/0, 505 Fluorescent Fire Orange

BEAD: Faceted Slotted Tungsten, sized or oversized to hook

WING CASE: Wet Wild black Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, fine

MATERIALS

Below, just above $3.00 Bridge, on the Madison River, would be a good location for using the Copper and Pearl Perdigon…

PERDIGON #47…

HOOK: Hanak 470BL Jig, #10-#16

THREAD: Danville #47, Tobacco Brown 6/0

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark Speckled

ABDOMEN: Danville #47, 6/0

RIB: Hends Fine Flat Wire – Gold

HOT SPOT: Danville 503, Fl. Orange, 6/0

BEAD: Hanak Tungsten, Metallic Orange – sized to hook or oversized

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, fine

Materials…

The Perdigon #47 would be a perfect bright, heavy pattern to use in this section of the East Walker River in the Eastern Sierra. Some very large Brown Trout hang out here…

CREAM MONTANA BULLET…

HOOK: TMC 2499SP-BL, #14- #18

THREAD: UTC Cream, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon- Light Speckled Pardo

ABDOMEN: Working Thread

RIB: UTC Copper wire sized to hook

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, fine

 

MATERIALS…

This is a Blue Ribbon Flies pattern  . It was designed for the moving waters around West Yellowstone. I also believe that it would be successful in other Western waters, including many in the Eastern Sierra…

BROWN AND BLUE PERDIGON…

HOOK: Orvis Tactical Barbless, #12-#16

THREAD: UTC Cream, 70Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Light Pardo

ABDOMEN: Hends Brown Tinsel

RIB: Hends fine, flat Blue Wire

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Fire Orange, 70 Denier

BEAD: Tungsten Silver or Nickel, sized to hook or oversized

UV Resin: Deer Creek, Fine

MATERIALS…

EWR BLACK BULLET…

HOOK: TMC 2488H

THREAD: UTC Black, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Light Speckled Pardo

RIB: Hends, Fine, Flat Silver

BEAD: Silver or Nickel Tungsten, sized or oversized to hook

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, Fine

MATERIALS…

This pattern is a natural for the East Walker River… 

ORANGE AND OLIVE PERDIGON…

HOOK: TMC 113BLH,  #10-#16

THREAD: UTC Light Olive, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Medium Speckled

ABDOMEN: Working thread

RIB: Hends Fine, Flat Brown wire

Hot Spot: UTC Fl.Fire Orange, 70 Denier

BEAD: Gold Tungsten sized to hook or oversized

WING CASE: Wet n Wild, Black Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, fine

MATERIALS…

Orange is a good attractor color. I would not hesitate to use it anywhere…

PURPLE AND CHARTREUSE PERDIGON…

HOOK: Firehole 609, #14 – #18

THREAD: Veevus, Chartreuse, 8/0

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Light Speckled Pardo

RIB: UTC sm Purple Holo Tinsel

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Pink, 70 Denier

BEAD: Firehole Stone, Silver sized to hook or oversized

WING CASE: Wet n Wild, Black Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, Fine

MATERIALS…

BLACK AND SILVER PERDIGON…

HOOK: Hanak 450BL, #14- #16

THREAD: UTC Black,70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Ginger Speckled

ABDOMEN: Hends Black Tinsel over working thread

RIB: (* NOT PICTURED) Hends fine flat silver wire

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Fire Orange, 70 Denier

WING CASE: Wet n Wild, Black Nail Polish

BEAD: Slotted Silver Tungsten sized to hook or oversized

MATERIALS…

Small and simple similar to the ubiquitous  Zebra Midge that may be fished anywhere there is moving water…

…like here, above $3.00 Bridge on the Madison River…

RAINBOW WARRIOR OPAL PERDIGON…

RAINBOW WARRIOR BLACK HOLOGRAPHIC PERDIGON…

HOOK: Dohiku J, #16-#20

THREAD: UTC Red, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Light Speckled Pardo

ABDOMEN: Working thread covered with Opal or Black Holographic Tinsel

BEAD: Silver Firehole slotted Stone…sized to hook or oversized

Hot Spot: UTC Red, 70 Denier

WING CASE: Wet n Wild, Black Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, Fine

MATERIALS FOR BOTH RAINBOWS…

Flashy little Perdigons that would suffice in almost any moving water…

PURPLE AND PINK PERDIGON…

HOOK: Firehole 551, #12-#18

THREAD: UTC Purple, 70 Denier

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Light Speckled Pardo

ABDOMEN: Working thread

RIB: Pink Holographic Flash. flat and thin, Cascade Crest Tool Co. sample pack

BEAD: Pink Slotted Tungsten…sized to hook or oversized

HOT SPOT: UTC Fl. Fire Orange, 70 Denier

WING CASE: Wet n Wild, Black Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, Fine

MATERIALS…

Purple…because it works…

COMBO THREAD PERDIGON…

HOOK: Dohiku HDJ, #18-#20

THREAD: Combo 6/0 thread (Yellow / Brown ) Cascade Crest Tool Co.

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Light Speckled Pardo

ABDOMEN: Working thread

HOT SPOT: Veevus, Fl. Orange, 8/0

BEAD: Firehole slotted Sterling Silver Stone

WING CASE: Wet n Wild, Black Nail Polish

UV RESIN: Deer Creek, fine

MATERIALS…

A good spot for all of these Perdigons…Lower Owens River, Eastern Sierra…

Completed Perdigon Box with magnetized bottom…

Cairo…at the George Creek sand trap,Owens Valley, near Lone Pine, CA…4th. generation fishing at that spot and a first for the little guy…5.28.2022

 

…a shout out to the two guys that inspire me to keep tying, because they will lose a lot of flies…

Next: A box of small for late Summer 2022

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Year and my guys…

After a year of basically not tying flies, I am trying block blogging…It’s new for me and will take some getting used to… I have also been dealing with a host of surgeries related to kidney stones. It started in mid-June, 2021, and continues through the present with 6 completed surgeries and at least one or two more to go. (UPDATE 4.15.2022) I will probably have mini PCNL surgery performed sometime in May …Having a stent in one’s Ureter, for prolonged periods of time, is not a pleasant experience.

Waiting for surgery #5…ugh…

Big Moo and RoRo

So this year we will try and get RoRo into fly fishing up in the Eastern Sierra. This past Summer he did some exploring at Virginia Lakes…

This is the little guy at Virginia Lakes, CA…

This is a Perdigon box that I am working on that will be featured in my next post. – ( 4.15.2022 )

RoRo and Michael…up in the Sierra…

Ally and HERO – somewhere in Idaho…

Nick with a Steelhead at Heller Bar, on the Snake River…

Nick on the Clearwater…Steelhead madness has set in…

HERO …ready to roll…

Some new stuff to tie with…

Gearing up the “old guy” with some new Patagonia Waders…

Miles…out behind the Orange Curtain…

Because there’s something in it for him…

GMa and RoRo in da’ hood…

Some improvements on the Madison at $3.00 Bridge  ( from Blue Ribbon Flies)…

The three amigos on a 2 day drive down from Pullman, WA …4.12.2022

 

 

PT/TB… *edited (4.15.2022)

Starting again someplace…

I last tied flies in October of 2018. After all of the medical experiences I have gone through since May of 2019, there just has not been a lot of motivation to begin again…well, that’s over…

Back at the vise…

A few items I picked up at Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing Store on 4.16.2021. Most of what I had on my list was not in stock. I suspect it’s sitting in cargo containers somewhere off-shore West of Long Beach, CA… if at all…😓

 

…setting up today to fill a box with some patterns Michael and I will use when both of us have received our Covid 19 vaccinations. I am getting mine in February and Michael has to wait awhile longer…

HOT VACS – the thread version a BRF pattern…

HOT VAC – TMC 2488H, #16…

MONTANA BULLET – TMC 2499SP-BL, #16…

UV OLIVE / PEACOCK – Dohiku HDJ, #18…

B-UV PEACOCK ZEBRA PUPA – TMC 2499SP -BL, #16 – #18…

PEARL / INSECT GREEN FLOSS MIDGE – Firehole 637, # 18- #20…

WHITE HEADED MIDGE (Gray) – Freeman/Variant, Daiichi 1130,#18-#22…

So this is a beginning. I will do a dozen of each pattern with individual, group and materials used – as I have always done…

PT/TB

 

BACK TO TYING…

So…Michael and Ally provided me with some incentives to get on the vise again…

My other light like this is attached to my desk in Pullman, WA…

Ally provided me with some tungsten beads, Dohiku Jig Hooks and 18/0 thread from Semperfli…All from my friend Jacob Adamovich at The Competitive Angler…

Ally, HERO and Nick’s visit out to Rock Creek, WA got my juices flowing again…

 

 

NEXT: Some fly patterns I have been thinking about…

 

 

PT/TB

From THE DESERT to THE MOUNTAINS – Palm Desert / Idyllwild, CA…

Nadia, Miles and Planettrout took a ten day trip down to Palm Desert and its environs to fry in the the 116 degree heat and visit a place( Idyllwild, CA )in the nearby mountains to cool off…

Base camp…one simply does not go outside in the heat of the day…

White reflects heat…built into Nadia’s design of this house…

Pretty Bougainvillea ..at dusk…

While we were there, I went through a collection of photos I had not seen since 1977. Most of them will appear a different places in this BLOG soon…

Nadia cooked up some great meals while we were in Palm Desert…Prochuitto and melon…

Lamb Chops and mashed potatoes…

Miles , John Wayne and Omi…

Palm Desert sunset…

Puffy clouds at midnight in Palm Desert…

The route from Palm Desert to Idyllwild, CA…depending on traffic, it can take awhile to get up there…did I mention complete halts and flagmen ???

Up da’ mountain, Palm Desert below…

Cloud lake , had me fooled, up in the mountains…

A pretty meadow close to our destination…

Looking South at the opposite end of the meadow…

Masked guy in front of Mountain Mikes…he scored some neat stuff there…

Some necklaces for Lil’ Moo…

A leather bracelet with a magnetic closure for Big Moo (Michael Barker)…

A local bakery…

Miles wanted me to buy this ride for him…

The obligatory visit to the candy emporium…

Red Vines…Mmmmm

Masked Banditos wait for their order of Submarine sandwiches…We decided to drive down to Hemet Lake and have lunch by the water…

Waiting for the flagman…on the way down the mountain…

Some of the mountain homes in the area…Arriving at Lake Hemet…need to purchase a day pass to park at the lake…

This looks ok…

Miles decided to get his feet wet after lunch…

Flowering trees along the road on the drive back down to Palm Desert…

More flowering trees…

 

Miles…sporting his necklaces while we stop for some photos in this really spectacular environment…

Panorama of Lil’ Moo and the mountains…

Miles and Mama (Nadia) posing…

Cairn in the clouds…and NO…I don’t ever put these things up…I detest them on Trout waters…

Mountain view…

Desert cactus…

More sharp vegetation not suitable for sitting on…

A final look North of the mountains…

Back at the Casa to watch the sun go down…

 

NEXT: Some RETRO stuff…

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

 

The Little North Fork of the Clearwater River…

Ally, Nick and Hero and their friend Blaine took a short trip over to the Little North Fork of the Clearwater River this past weekend (August 22-23) to camp and look for some Cutthroat Trout. Their trip was cut short on Sunday by the appearance of a rather large bear which necessitated a hasty pack-up and split…🤪

HERO… on the look out…

A view of driving up in the mountains…

Are we getting close yet ???

More mountain road…

Almost there…

On the other side of the bridge.

This is the spot…but not enough space. So just before dark, a move further upstream…

Where they woke up to this sight…

Nick wades in… but not with the 9′,5wt. Winston Nexus fly rod and Tibor Clearwater reel I gave him to use along with a bunch of leaders, tippet and flies…doh…old habits die hard…

Nice hole…loaded with fish…Another view of the tail end of the hole from above…

Nick hooks up … using (gasp) worms…

A look upstream…with right kind of rods leaning up against the tree…

A confab with Ally & HERO…

A Cutty in hand…Nick caught ten fish out of this hole…

HERO …after being unceremoniously tossed in the 4X4 after the encounter with Mr. Bear – which no one documented…

 

NEXT: …a trip with Nadia and Lil’ Moo from the desert to the mountains and back…

 

PT/TB