BETWEEN THE LAKES and $3.00 BRIDGE…

Bright and clear morning at the Raynolds Pass, Madison Angler’s House. Time to get out on the water with the entire family. On the morning schedule Nick and Ally  went down to the Madison at $3.00 Bridge to get a head start on the rest of us. Later, a visit to the area known as “Between the Lakes” when those guys returned …That would be between Earthquake Lake and Hebgen Lake on the Madison river…

Heading out from the Madison Angler’s House to HWY 187…

Wait. there’s a crowd down there…

A gathering of Pelicans above $3.00 Bridge…

Nick giving my Scott A2, 10′, 6wt. fly rod a workout…

There’s a bend in that rod !!!

Nick’s first Madison Rainbow on a fly pattern…

This Blue Perdigon of mine was the ticket…

Putting on the waders and gearing up at the house…

On the road…

Just passed Kelly’s Slide INN…the Madison on the right…

Earthquake Lake is on the right…

Turn off to Campfire Lodge…

Mountain Goats on the far side of the Madison River…Part of a group that frequents the Quake Lake area…

The “Old Guy” getting wet in his new Simms G4 Waders and Patagonia Boots…

Michael rigging up while Aimee works the water…

Cairo spreading good Trout fishing JuJu…

Michael gets a small Rainbow in a side channel…

This is the Perdigon that all the guys wanted to use…

Ally tries her hand with PT’s Winston Super 10, 5wt.

Michael crossing the river…

Ally in a side channel …nymphing…

Whoa !!! She caught a monster !!!

Ally was using this Midge pattern…Tobacco Midge…

Some pretty flower along the bank…

A few more in blue…

My Thomas and Thomas Paradigm, 9′,5wt. wit a Tibor reel…a favorite dry fly set-up…

This pattern produced…Cupcake Midge…

.and so did this…Skinny Midge…

The guys went back down to $3.00 Bridge for the afternoon while Cairo and I stayed at the house…

…another view upstream…all lined up…

The Bridge at sunset…

Cairo sketching…

Moonrise from the deck…

 

Next: West Fork and Boating

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

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SUNNY SUNDAY in MONTANA…

After a surprising dump of snow in the Yellowstone area, beginning on Friday, September 15, Michael and I awoke to a bit of sunshine on Sunday, September, 17.

The parking lot at $3.00 Bridge, some snow showers in the background…

I think Michael is chanting in anticipation of a large Trout…

It is noticeably warmer (in the low 40’s) and most of the snow on the ground has melted…the water temps were in the low 50’s…

The white tube on the left was put the by Blue Ribbon Flies for waste leader and tippet materials…general information is on the large board…

This is where one picks up an envelope…

…to deposit in this lockbox each time $3.00 Bridge is visited…I generally leave more than $3.00 because of all the great experiences this area has given me through the years…

Michael positions himself above my favorite rock…

…while I futz around tying on the following fly pattern…

…Paul Freeman’s SHUKA KAHN MIDGE Variant, #20…it worked nicely…SCROLL DOWN

Michael has something in his net…

…a healthy Rainbow, also taken on a Midge…

This one…

Back to the vehicle for some snacks…

It has warmed up quite a bit…now,  off on a long walk North of $3.00 Bridge…

…but first, Michael HAD to photograph this Woolly Bear Caterpillar…More HERE

…just a little further…

Here ya’ go…and why they call Montana “BIG SKY” country…In 2004, I hooked a 5lb. Brown just above those two side-by-side rocks. When I tightened the line, it flew over my head and behind me… 🙂

Michael works behind a rock in the expanse of the Madison River…

For me, this is one of the most beautiful parts of the Madison River…

Lots of water to work & nooks and crannies to explore…

The “old guy” checks to see what kind of bugs are moving around stream side…

…while Michael works some additional rocks and boulders…

An excellent hiding place for a large Trout, a deadfall in the middle of the Madison…

Playing with the camera #1.

Playing with the camera #2.

So I am sitting on the bank watching Michael cast…

…and this very skittish, strange dog, which appears to be a Greyhound rescue, comes up to me then Michael…

Finally figured out that he belonged to one of these two guys who were dry fly fishing this side channel…

My Winston Boron IIIX Super 10, 5wt. with a Hatch Fanatic 4…really like this rod for nymphing…

We decide to head back to the cabin a little early so that Michael could BBQ before dark…

Do you really need half a bottle of lighter fluid ?

Salad fixins…

Before dark eh ???

Well…it was worth it … 🙂

 

NEXT: A visit to Kelly’s joint & Between the lakes…

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

 

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ANOTHER – For Other People’s Fly Boxes…(IS DONE)

Time to get to some patterns that have been on the back burner for awhile. A portion of these will go into a box for a person who is new to Fly Fishing. So, these are patterns that will put that person into fish, no matter where they might use them…

In on a book and done…

ANGORA CINNAMON CADDIS LARVAE  – Culton/Variant …

Materials for ANGORA CINNAMON CADDIS…

HOOK:  Daiichi 1560, #14 – #18

THREAD:  Ultra 70 denier, Burnt Orange – Under Abdomen / Tiemco 16/0, Brown – Thorax forward

WEIGHT: *NOTE…this pattern is underweighted (wire dia. smaller than shank dia.)  – 0.10 lead wire

ABDOMEN: 60% Ginger Angora Goat / 40% SLF Standard Cinnamon Dub

THORAX: SLF Spikey Squirrel Dubbing, Brown

BEAD: Copper Brass or Tungsten, sized to hook

This is a Steve Culton pattern that I first saw in the Summer 2012 Issue of Flyfishing & Tying Journal. He now has his own BLOG on WordPress and it is linked to under his name <-. I have used both Angora Goat and Seal-EX for bugger and streamer patterns. My take on this fly differs a bit from Steve’s. I like a buggier effect, using the “brushed method” ( that is why there is a bore brush and Velcro in the materials photo) so I use the material like I do with Mink, in tying the “Mink Thing”.That is just my preference, it may be tied as one chooses…in any case, it is a buggy, translucent pattern that will take Trout – anywhere there are Caddis…I will be tying more up in some other colors so that Michael can match this experience…

…on waters he will be Fly Fishing in the East. The Brown above… was caught on the East Walker River…

UV2 SPARKLE WING RS2 – Craven/Variant…

Materials for UV2 SPARKLE WING RS2…

HOOK: Daiichi 1110, #16 – #24

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Gray – Head / Tiemco 16/0, White – under abdomen...* When using UV2 dubbing ALWAYS use a reflective base under it !

TAIL: White Fluoro Fibre – 2 short strands propped up by one THIN turn of dubbing under the tail(s)

ABDOMEN: UV2 Fine & Dry, Adams Grey

WING BUDS: 2 srort looped strands of DNA Holo Chromosome Flash, Pearl …or, what Charlie uses…

THORAX: UV2 Fine & Dry, Adams Grey

Ever since Rim Chung designed it, RS2’s take Trout…This is Charlie Craven’s version which may be found HERE.

I have taken good Trout in just about every location I have Fly Fished, using this pattern and a number of it’s variations. It may be tied to imitate just about ANY May Fly. They may be worked from the bottom of the water column to the top…I don’t leave home without them…

The RS2 has taken a lot of nice fish for me and my crew here, in the Lower Owens River, in Spring and Fall. The above pattern, in Grey, is a good BWO/Baetis imitation for the Owens…

HB PSF NYMPH …

Materials for HB PSF NYMPH…

HOOK:  Daiichi 1560, #14 – #18

THREAD: Under Abdomen – Ultra 70 Denier, Brown / Thorax forward, Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown

WEIGHT: 0.10 Lead… stuffed into bead

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Light Speckled

ABDOMEN: Pheasant Tail Fibers, Brown

RIB: Wapsi Wire, Copper, SM or X-sm

WING CASE/LEGS; Six strands Rusty Brown Krystal Flash, pulled over Thorax then separated

THORAX: SLF Spikey Squirrel, Brown

BEAD: Orange Hot Bead, sized to hook

A pumped up Pheasant tail nymph that works well on the East Walker River and other locations, in the Spring when waters are off colored. I use a lot of Rusty Brown Krystal Flas for abdomens, wing cases and legs…in the rivers I fish. in the Sierras, it goes over well…

DNA DIP (PINK)…

Materials DNA DIP (PINK)…

HOOK: TMC 5262, #16 – #18

THREAD: Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White /  Head – Tiemco 16/0, Brown

RIB: Brown Ice Thread – coat body with SHAN for durability

WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Clear White

A simple Caddis Serndipity pattern in PINK. For Hydropsyche or any other Caddis that appears TAN…Walter Wiese, of Park’s Fly Shop in Gardiner, MT has been playing around with a lot of patterns in Pink… because they work

…and they will slay in here, in the evening…on the Stillwater River, MT

YAMSI SPECIAL – Dave Hughes/Variant …

Materials YAMSI SPECIAL…

HOOK:  TMC 2487, Daiichi 1130, #16…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black

WEIGHT: 0.10 Lead Stuffed into bead

ABDOMEN: Ultra Wire Copper, SM and Fl Chartreuse, SM…I coat with SHAN

THORAX: SLF Squirrel Spikey Dubbing Dave uses black Hare’s Ear

BEAD: Black Brass or Tungsten

Dave Hughes created this wire pattern for Brachycentrus (Grannom) hatches on the Yamsi Ranch in Oregon. He notes that it works well in many “other” places. I have used a number of wired abdomen patterns ( excluding the Copper John series) and they have produced for me. I like to coat the abdomens with Dave’s Flexament  or Aqua Tuff, which adds dimension to the fly…in this instance, I have used SHAN

Wired patterns have put me into some rather large Browns in this section of The Madison River, below Ennis, MT…

WIRED $3.00 DIP – Matthews/Variant…

Materials for WIRED $3.00 DIP…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, TMC 2487, #14 -#18

THREAD: Danville 6/0, #47, Tobacco Brown

RIB: Waspsi Wire, Hot Orange, SM and Copper Brown, SM

WING: Bleached Coastal Deer Hair – Nature’s Spirit

Another fish catching machine from Blue Ribbon Flies and Craig Matthews. The original $3.00 Dip works anywhere…so will this. I have tied it on a curved, scud hook rather than a straight hook as seen in BRF’s instructional video…

The location , from whence, the above pattern got it’s name…$3.00 Bridge on the Madison River, MT…and the BEST time to be there…

NEXT: Fill this up…

PT/TB

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ATTRACTORS – SPRING 2013…IMAGINE…(COMPLETED)

Attractor patterns are just about my favorite flies to tie – and use…Many times we have been standing on an Eastern Sierra tail water and Michael will ask me, “Which fly should I use Dad ?” So, I peruse the boxes and after a few years of practical application and experience, I will choose a pattern and say, “Try this one” – with my fingers crossed behind my back…

Here are some guys that I and Ally will be using this Spring ( I’ll be giving them to her now since Michael and Aimee have moved to NYC).

Aimee at sunset, at $3.00 Bridge this past July…

SPRING 2013 ATTRACTOR BOX…

Delektable Lil’ Spanker… BLACK, Rainbow-Lavender…Dan Delekta/Variant…

Materials for Delektable Lil’ Spanker…

HOOK: TMC 5262, #12 – #18

THREAD: ABDOMEN -UTC, 70 denier, Black…Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black

Tail: Medium Dun Mallard Flank Fibers

RIB: Lagartun Silver Wire – sized to hook

THORAX REAR: Rainbow Sow Scud Dubbing

WING CASE: DNA Holo Chromosome, 6 strands, pulled over and divided to make 3 legs on each side – longish

HACKLE: Light Dun CDC – premium select – Trout Hunter

THORAX FRONT: Ice Dub UV Lavender

BEAD: Silver Tungsten , sized to hook

These are killer on the Madison River and I suspect elsewhere as well…

Beartooth Fly Fishing…home of the Delektable Lil’ Spanker…where Dan Delekta ties these critters and his wife thought I was a guide when I dropped in with my crew…Above the Madison River South of Cameron, MT…HERE is a video on how to tie ‘em…

LGM (Little Green Machine) DNA – Wilox/Variant …

LITTLE GREEN MACHINE Materials…the original by Vince Wilcox…HERE

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #14 – #20

THREAD: Uni. 8/0 Gray – for underabdomen…Tiemco, 16/0 Gray – Thorax forward

TAIL: Three Brown Pheasant Tail Fibers

RIB: Fl. Chartreuse Ultra Wire – SM

OVER ABDOMEN: Micro Tubing, Chartreuse

WING CASE: DNA Holo Chromosome Flash, coat with UV Knotsense, Clear Cure Goo or 5 Min. Epoxy

GILLS: White Antron

THORAX: Ice Dub Olive/Brown or Peacock

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, one size under ( ie. 5/64″ for #16)

I tie these in a number of colors and they ALL work…especially the Green version…I am doing a series of these now in different sizes on curved LIGHT hooks…try some this Spring !!!

MACHINE water, at twilight…on the Madison River, MT…

UV 2 BH RENEGADE WET…

Materials for UV 2 BH RENEGADE WET…

HOOK: TMC 5262, #6 – #16

THREAD: UTC 70 denire, White – Under abdomen…Tiemco 16/0, White, rest of pattern (Remember !!! USE WHITE THREAD,  SILVER TINSEL or PEARL TINSEL UNDER UV 2)

TAG: Datum Glo-Brite Floss #5, Fl. Green…coat with Aquaflex or hard As Hull

BACK HACKLE: Brown or Furnace Hackle, dull side back, Wet style

ABDOMEN: UV 2 Peacock Herl, from Eye, I use 2 strands and reinforce with Tiemco tying thread

RIB: Tiemco 16/0 Thread, White

FRONT HACKLE: White or Silver Badger…dull side back – Wet style

BEAD: Gold Tungsten, sized to hook

I have been using variations on the WET RENEGADE since 1975 when Georges Odier turned me on to them on the Roaring Fork River in CO. This one is from Al and Gretchen Beatty and believe me, IT IS a good one…So good, that I talked about it HERE…but let me show you a photo of what it did on the Madison River…

A Brown to a BH Wet Renegade…Madison River, above $3.00 Bridge…

I carry a whole bunch of these in different sizes (lower right hand corner)…BECAUSE they WORK…

Like right in here in the channels section of the Madison where Michael and Ally are standing…I took a series of some of the largest Browns I have ever caught…Boom, Boom, Boom right through this area in June 2004…It also slays on the Lower Owens River in size #16 – #18, in late March and early April…

FULL GINGER MINKER SH…

Materials for FULL  GINGER MINKER SH….

HOOK: TMC 100 SP BL, #16 – #20

THREAD: Combo 6/0 Thread Tan/Orange – Cascade Crest – For Abdomen…Tiemco 16/0, Brown – Thorax forward

THORAX: Dubbed Mink Fur, Natural Brown

HACKLE: Starling, Bleached Ginger

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, Brown, sized to hook

Another little soft hackle to throw at the Browns on the East Walker River (and some other locations) when the little Amber Caddis are about…

RUSTY DNA BUBBLEBACK EMERGER- Trina/Variant…

Materials for RUSTY DNA BUBBLEBACK EMERGER…

HOOK: TMC 100SP BL, #14 – #20

THREAD: Ultra 70 Denier, Brown or Tiemco 16/0, Brown dependent on hook size

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark Speckled

ABDOMEN: Rusty Brown Goose Biot, Fringed or plain – YOUR call

RIB: UTC Copper Wire, Sm or X-sm, dependent on hook size

WING CASE: DNA Holo Chromosome Flash – tied with a prominent hump

THORAX: Ice Dub, UV Brown

LEGS: Natural Partridge, Brown, V-Notched

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

This is a pattern designed by Adaam Trina who started Montana Fly Co. It has been around for a number of years. I first used it on the Madison River in 2004. HERE are a number of variants on Steve Schalla’s site. Note that all are tied on curved, scud type hooks…this one isn’t…

GLINT NYMPH – Mercer/Variant (Olive)…

Materials for GLINT NYMPH VARIANT…

HOOK: TMC 100SP BL, #14 – #18

THREAD: UTC Ultra, oOlive, 70 Denier – Under abdomen, Tiemco 16/0, Black – Thorax forward

TAILS: 3 Ringneck Pheasant tail fibers, natural

RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, metallic Olive, BR or SM, dependent on hook size

FLASHBACK: Spirit River Holo Mylar Motion, Black 1/32″ or 1/64″, dependent on hook size

ABDOMEN: Olive thread covered with wraps of DNA Holo Fusion, 3-5 Large. Strands and 3-6 Small Strands

WING CASE: 1/8″ Black, Scud Back

THORAX: UV 2 Caddis Nymph, Olive

LEGS: Natural Partridge, V-Notched

BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook

A Mike Mercer pattern, new from Umpqua, that I have taken liberty with. Notice the color variations the pattern is listed in…then notice the  above color variations of DNA HOLO FUSION…I REALLY like this synthetic material for all its’ possibilities…

Something for the “fifty mile riffle”…

HOT TUNG SQUIRREL, Olive – Bethke/Variant…

Materials for HOT TUNG SQUIRREL VARIANT…

HOOK: Daiichi 1120, #12 – #18

THREAD: UTC Ultra 70 denier, Black for #12 – #14 – Tiemco 16/0, Black, #16 – #18

SHUCK/TAIL: DNA  Holo Chromosome Flash – Pearl – Mixture of large and small fiber strands, sized to hook

RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, Hot Orange, BR – SM. sized to hook

ABDOMEN: Squirrel Blend, dark Olive, brushed back with a velcro strip or bore brush after being ribbed

THORAX REAR: Micro Polar Chenille, Black

THORAX FRONT: Ice Dub UV Hot Orange

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, Metallic Green, sized to hook

An Olive/Orange variation of John Bethke’s “Pink Squirrel” using some different materials in it’s construction…the original is a good’un…

SILVERBAK TUNG RED – Version # 1.

SILVERBAK RED TUNG – Version #2.

HOOK: Daiichi 1560, #14 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0 Black (for #18) – Ultra 70 Denier, Black (for #14 – #16)

TAIL: Coq De Leon Light, Speckled

ABDOMEN: Red Pheasant Tail Fibers

RIB: Ultra Wire, Black – X-sm or SM

WING CASE: Version #1. – Silver Holographic Tinsel, Med or SM…Version #2. – Silver Fire Fly 1-2 strands – * coat with UV Knotsense, Clear-Goo or 5 Min. Epoxy

LEGS: Midge Flash, 3 strands each side

THORAX: Strung Peacock Herl, dyed red

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, sized to hook

Real Flashy and toned down version of a Red attractor that these guys might just like…

A Rainbow to Michael’s hand on the Madison River…

Materials for SILVERBAK RED TUNG…

BLUE DIAMOND SH –

Materials for the BLUE DIAMOND SH…

HOOK: TMC 5262, #14 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0 Black

TAIL: Coq De Leon fibers, Medium speckled

ABDOMEN: UTC Thread, Dark Gray

RIB: UTC  Wire,  Gray, SM

THORAX: Arizona Diamond hair, #.11, Silver/Blue

GLASS BEAD: In front of thorax, Killer Caddis Diamond Bed, sized to hook

HACKLE: Speckled Hen Saddle, Black #.33 – Nature’s Spirit

BEAD: Tungsten Plummeting Bead, Blue, sized to hook

Just another soft hackle, in neutrals and blue – ’cause Michael likes ‘em and they catch fish…

CASPER CADDIS LARVA –

HOOK: Daiichi 1120 or TMC 2457 – #16 -#20

THREAD: Underabdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White…Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black

ABDOMEN: AZ Diamond hair, #1., Pearl Green

RIB: Copper Ultra Wire, x-sm

THORAX: Peacock Ice Dub

BEAD: Black Tungsten , sized to hook

Materials for the CASPER CADDIS LARVA…

CASPER CADDIS water.. before the leaves burst out…

GR GUIDE DIP – Matthews/Variant…

Where this GUIDE DIP originated…

MATERIALS for The GR GUIDE DIP…

HOOK: TMC 100SP BL, #14 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0. Black – for Under abdomen and head

ABDOMEN: Glimmer Thread, Olive – Cascade Crest

RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, Red, x-sm

WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Clear/White

I tie a lot of variations on this pattern, the original came out of Craig Matthew’s Blue Ribbon Flies…some other ones I use with further information, may be found HERE and HERE…these have taken many good Trout for us…

Like this Brown on The East Walker River…

PECCARY #47 HS…

MATERIALS for The PECCARY #47 HS…

HOOK: TMC 2499 SP BL, #14 – #18

THREAD: 3 of ‘em…Danville #47, 6/0, Tobacco Brown – Tiemco 16/0, Brown, Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #5, Hot Orange

TAIL: Two Peccary fibers

RIB: UTC Amber Wire, SM

ABDOMEN: Danville, #47, 6/0, Tobacco Brown – to thorax

THORAX: 70% Squirrel Blend, Rust – Spirit River/ 30% SLF Spikey Squirrel Dubbing, Brown/Olive – Wapsi

WINGLETS: Grizzly Krystal Flash, Copper/Blue

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite, #5, Hot Orange

This is a pattern I will use on the East Walker River as a lead fly with a Midge larva or pupa off the bend when working swift water…just never know what will jump on it…

NEXT: More thoughts on some CADDIS for Spring 2013…

PT/TB   

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