I am tying up a few more Conehead Bugger patterns before I switch to some additional Eastern Fly patterns for Michael and I to use. hopefully, in October, in rivers around Roscoe, NY. These are similar to the original Owens “Offender” which worked so successfully for Michael and I on our trip up to Bridgeport, CA. I would most certainly consider these for use in the Owens River…come Fall…Ally and her friend Nick came by and swiped some of these patterns while they were “in progress” and gave them a workout in North Lake, above Bishop, CA over the August 22nd weekend…
MOO and ALLO…North Lake regulars…even in the snow…
A Box of Cones…
Ally trying out the BBQ at The Copper Top, in Big Pine, CA…her report was that “it was some of the best”, she evah’ tasted…
…getting there...
North Lake, when fires are not burning in the Sierras… (Photo: Bishop Chamber of Commerce)
Same lake, with smoke from the “Rough Fire” drifting over the Sierras…
BLACKSTONE CONE…
HOOK: TMC 300, #8 – #10
THREAD: Danville 6/0, Black
WEIGHT: .015 Lead or Lead Sub.
TAIL: Black Marabou
TAIL FLASH: 2 strands, each side, Holographic Mylar Motion, 1/64″, Red / 2 strands, each side, Black Krystal Flash
RIB: UTC Wire, Red, Medium
BODY: Nature’s Spirit Emergence Dubbing, #.33, Stonefly Black
HACKLE: Whiting Bugger Pak, Black
CONE: Wapsi, Black, SM
HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, # 3 Red
Another conehead bugger in Black with some additional accents. This guy wasn’t finished for the trip up so, I’ll just have to give them a whirl in the Fall…somewhere…
Slakin’ Cone Head testers ( ALLO & HERO ) at North Lake, Bishop, CA …
Materials BLACKSTONE CONE…
Some things I keep on hand for construction of all these cone head patterns…I cement my weight on with Zap-A-Gap after covering with thread, behind the cone. I pick out the dubbing with a dubbing needle and use the bore brushes and/or tooth type brushes to really spead it out and back. The dubbing always go into a waxed loop. For these types of buggers I prefer, in this order, these dubbings:
- J, Fair Seal Sub Dubbing...soft, shiny and translucent when brushed and excellent to work with in a dubbing loop…this stuff is premo !
- Wapsi Angora Goat Seal Sub, Dubbing…fibers are a bit longer and a bit crinkly
- Seal X Dubbing...also rough and crinkly but it has been around and proven – forever
I am going to play around with this material for some other ( like the BLACKSTONE CONE) Bugger Patterns that I have in mind. It is 100% Trilobal and dubs extremely well in a loop and it also has mixed tones:
Nature’s Spirit Emergence Dubbing
BLACKSTONE CONEs…
Sierra Ridge Runners…
Fall on the Lower Owens River, Bishop, CA…
These are on my desk and in my kit for removing hook barbs – on and off the water…
OWENS “OFFENDER” 1 …
HOOK: Black/Medium Olive, Daiichi 2220, #6 – #10
THREAD: Danville 6/0, Black or Olive
WEIGHT: .015 Lead or Lead Sub.
TAIL: Black Marabou
TAIL FLASH: 2 strands , each side, Flashabou , Dyed Pearl, Orange 6967 / 2 strands, each side, Black Krystal Flash
RIB: UTC Copper Wire, Medium
HACKLE: Ewing Bugger Pack, Brown Grizzly
BODY: J. Fair Seal Sub. Dubbing, Medium Olive
CONE: Wapsi, Black, SM
HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #3 Red … (or, Copper Cone and #5, FL.Orange Datum Glo-Brite Floss)
Along with the Brown/Black version, this worked the best at North Lake…
Materials OWENS “OFFENDER” 1…
OWENS “OFFENDER” 1’s….
ALLO’S POLAR EXPRESS CH …
HOOK: TMC 300, #6 – #10
THREAD: Danville 6/0, Black
WEIGHT: .015 Lead or Lead Sub.
TAIL: Black Marabou
TAIL FLASH: 2 strands, each side Flashabou Opal Mirage / 2 strands, each side, Black Krystal Flask
RIB: Micro UV Clear Polar Chenille
HACKLE: Whiting Bugger Pak, Grizzly
BODY: Wapsi Angora Goat, Seal Sub., Black
CONE: Wapsi, Black, SM
HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #3 Red
I wanted Ally to have some cone buggers in black, in case she fished early in the AM or late in the PM and if the sky was cloudy or if it rained. My experience with the color black, in buggers, is that they are most effective during low light periods…well the guys mostly got up late and left early – for dinner. The sky was completely smoky while they were there…
Deer… against a Sierra smoky sky…
Materials ALLO’S POLAR EXPRESS CH…
ALLO’S POLAR EXPRESS….
BIG REEDY HUCKLEBERRY CONE BUGGER…
HOOK: Mustad R76-79580, Daiichi 2220 – #6 – #10
THREAD: Danville 6/0, Olive
WEIGHT: .015 Lead or Lead Sub.
TAIL: Brown Marabou
TAIL FLASH: 2 strands, each side – Flashabou Dyed Pearl,Olive, 6969 / 2 strands, each side, Black Krystal Flash
HACKLE: Whiting Bugger Pak, Black/Yellow Grizzly
BODY: J.Fair Seal Sub. Dubbing, Light Olive
CONE: Wapsi, Black, SM
HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite, #3 Red
Nick and something attracted to the HUCKLEBERRY…
Materials BIG REEDY HUCKLEBERRY CONE BUGGER…
BIG REEDY HUCKLEBERRIES…
…”STOP! I see a chipmunk!”…
OWENS “OFFENDER” II, Brown / Black …
HOOK: TMC 5263 #4- #6, Daiichi 2220 #6 – #10
THREAD: Danville 6/0, Brown or Olive
WEIGHT: .015 Lead or Lead Sub.
TAIL: Black Marabou
TAIL FLASH: 2 strands each side, Flashabou Dyed Pearl, orange, 6967 / 2 strands each side, Black Krystal Flash
RIB: UTC Copper Wire, Med
HACKLE: Ewing Bugger Hackle, Brown Grizzly
BODY: J. Fair Seal Sub Dubbing, Dark Brown
CONE: Wapsi, Copper, SM
HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #5, Fl. Orange
Michael caught the two Trout, pictured below, on the original OWENS “OFFENDER”. Over the past two years, this pattern has produced a lot of Trout for me…
…yes..
…they work…
Materials OWENS “OFFENDER” II, Brown / Black…
Nick, using the Brown/Black version on North Lake…
OWENS “OFFENDERs” II, Brown / Black…
Nick, looking over a smoked out Owens Valley…
PT/TB
I love all of your reports and the pictures are great. Looks like we’ve fished some of the same waters. I don’t get up to the Sierra much, so this helps seeing your posts. Thanks again. PS: Keep the Virginia lakes info coming, that’s one of my favorite spots.
North Lake is one of my favorite lakes. I’m fond of Sabrina and South too just from going there as a kid. I used to go to Big Pine ever summer when I live in San Diego. I miss it bad. My family has always camped there, Lee Vining and Tom’s Place. My uncle use to have a picture of a big trout he caught at Rock Creek Lake in the Tom’s Place store near the campground.
Bad summer for me as i haven’t been able to fish the lakes at all. Maybe in the next 45 days or so. You have inspired me.