WADE LAKE, BETWEEN THE LAKES and BACK TO THE BRIDGE…

Saturday morning, September 23 was cold and overcast. Michael and I decided to take a drive over to Wade Lake  West of $3.00 Bridge. He had spent a warm July day there with Aimee a couple of years back and wanted me to check it out since I had never been there…

Heading towards $3.00 Bridge …

Further West on the road to Wade Lake…

Getting out to stretch and look around…

Wade Lake is down there…

There are some real trophy fish in this as well as nearby Cliff Lake but we didn’t come to fish and were the only people there on this day…

Nope, nothing rising…

A dock for launching watercraft…

It was a little frosty across the lake…

Heading back out towards $3.00 Bridge…

Big sky in Montana…

Look South on the Madison River from &3.00 Bridge…

A close up view upriver, on the Madison…

Quake Lake on the way to the Madison River between the lakes…looks like we may get some sunshine…

The Madison between Hebgen and Quake Lakes…yay sunshine !!!

The Madison towards Quake Lake…

A perched Osprey who was fishing the same water as we were…

The Osprey was checking out this stretch of river and could care less about out presence…

Another perspective…

Michael works a streamer…

While I roam around and take some additional photos…

The tree without the Osprey…he was fishing...:-)

Two “Old Loners” on the Madison…

More water that Michael worked his streamer through…Here…

…and Here…

So Michael catches a Whitefish…

…and gets his left arm soaking wet in the process…

We pack up and head back downriver to $3.oo Bridge…

…and see this fellow where all the scree and talus is located in the photo above…

Arriving back a the starting point above $3.00 Bridge in the late afternoon…

Michael wants to give my Winston BIIIX Super 10′, 5wt. a workout…

Going for it…

Well now…a skinny Rainbow…

My turn…

Then this guy…

On a #20 Shop Vac…the thread version on the left…

From this spot…

Throwin’ some shade on that guy…

$3.00 Bridge at sunset…

Looking West at sunset…

Last guys in the parking lot…as usual…

End of a good day !!!

 

NEXT: Last day on the Madison…

 

 

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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MONTANA (Getting There and the First Day)…

I began planning this trip to Montana with Michael around Christmas 2016 when he and Aimee came out to California for the Holidays. Originally, we had planned to visit Montana in July but unforeseen circumstances made us put it off until September of 2017. I made this same  trip with my Father forty years ago in the middle of October 1977. This trip was a lot different. I traveled 3685 miles (RT) over 20 days and Michael and I took over 1500+ photographs with four cameras…Here are some of them…

A lot minute pick-up, Patagonia Light Weight Wading Boots with Goat Head Sole Spikes…

Watching the sunrise near Ridgecrest, CA around 6AM on Wednesday, September 13…

The usual stop at Mahogany Smoked Meats in Bishop, CA at 9AM to pick up stuff to snack on while fly fishing…

The good stuff !!! 🙂

 Out in the middle of Nowhere, Nevada. I always take back roads when traveling to Montana. There are awe inspiring vistas to be viewed and very little traffic along the roads. The only drawback is those flagmen one ALWAYS encounters where they are doing repair work on some desolate stretch of highway and yer’ stuck there for up to an hour…

MIddlegate Station, Nevada…located on “the loneliest road in America”, Hwy 50 between Fallon and Austin, Nevada. One of the many “saloons” that I was required to stop at on the trip I took with my Father in October, 1977. I was ready to eject him by the time we left Jackpot, NV and entered Idaho…

Yep…it looks like a few things have expired here…

A Nevada roadmap overview that does not show the back roads unless enlarged…

North of Austin, Nevada and some menacing clouds in the distance…

The road that leads to Bewawe, NV and Hwy. 80 East to Wells, NV…

The curse of Nevada Highways…dead stop on Hwy. 93 …North to Jackpot, NV and Idaho Falls…

This is a vintage shot of Cactus Pete’s Casino in Jackpot, NV the last of the places my Dad HAD to get a drink on our way to Yellowstone. There are several new casinos in Jackpot now since they outlawed gambling in Idaho and I would venture to say that Hwy. 93 is one of the most dangerous roads in America – alcohol might be involved…

So I am on the phone with my son Michael, at the dead stop above and he tells me he will find me a place to stay outside of Twin Falls, ID because  almost all of the motels/lodgings in that city are dumps (been there and he’s correct). So he tells me about this place called the Hagerman Valley Inn which is 30 miles West of Twin Falls and easy to find. As I progress up Hwy 93 into Idaho, the skies darken, it starts to pour, it is getting dark and semi’s are barreling down the road throwing water all over my windscreen…did I say it was dark and pouring rain ??? All I have to do is find Hwy. 30 and go West…

HWY 93 and Junction with HWY 30…I missed it three times … it is VERY DARK, it’s still pouring and there are MANY trucks…why isn’t the light in front of the sign ???

Hagerman Valley Inn

Michael has called the Inn to tell them I am lost but that I will be there – sometime. I keep driving on this two lane Highway can’t find this place, drop calls with Michael and finally arrive an hour after their restaurant had closed…I am just happy to get a room and go to sleep…

So I am up at 6AM, re-pack the vehicle, head out to Hwy 84, make a wrong turn and drive 30 miles towards Boise instead of Twin Falls and North to Yellowstone…Finally on the right track around Pocatello, Idaho…

Trouthunter in Island Park, ID…stopped here to pick up a few items…

Leaders and tippet material…

Heading towards West Yellowstone on Hwy. 20…

Fly Fishing Shop Nirvana…Blue Ribbon Flies, West Yellowstone Montana…time to get a Montana license and browse…

Almost there…The Madison River below Quake Lake and above Kelly Galloup’s Slide Inn…

The Bridge at the Old Kirby Place and West Fork Cabin Camp…

Setting up the cabin #1…

Setting up the cabin #2…

Wait…what happened to the sun ???…and the it started raining – really raining…

A Virgin Bloody Mary at The Grizzly Bar & Grill about a mile up the road…

..and it was still raining the next morning when I headed through Ennis, MT to Bozeman to pick up Michael at the airport…this is Yesterday’s at the Ennis Pharmacy…best breakfast in Montana…

Sitting here at the airport in Bozeman waiting for Michael’s flight to arrive…outside, it is raining harder…

Michael shoots the Montana landscape from his window seat…it is raining…

 Stopped at The River’s Edge West next to the Simms Factory to pick up some new G3’s for Michael and some extra socks and gloves…this is a screen shot…it was raining even harder…

Up the grade from Norris to Ennis, Montana…it is getting real crappy now…

From Ennis up to West Fork Cabin Camp…

Arriving at the bridge…

So, after unpacking, Michael takes a stroll around the Madison River, in the immediate vicinity…

Yep…it’s still snowing…

More and more…

Time for dinner at the nearest joint possible…The Grizzly Bar and Grill again…

IPA for Michael, Virgin Bloody Mary for me…

Went to bed after seeing this…

Woke up Saturday, September 16th. to this…Thanks Michael !!!

…and this…

Michael getting busy with the broom…

Up the road to $3.00 Bridge…

Nobody in the parking lot, wonder why ???

$3.00 Bridge in the snow, in September and it is COLD !

Get out there and fish !!!

Trudging along the Madison River…

I like this spot…

A Rainbow…on a #20 Cream Miracle Midge…

Not entirely for the birds…

Warming up a bit…

I’ll just work this section…

Michael finds a Glossosoma – Short Horned Caddis…

The Trout are drifting in from the heavier current on the outside to the softer current on the inside…

…and they are focused on MIDGES…

As Michael was well aware…

Thawing out in the afternoon…

Back at them tomorrow !

Salad with sausage for dinner at the cabin…

 

NEXT: More on the Madison…

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE BOX – MONTANA IN JULY – COMPLETED

These eighteen (18) fly  patterns will be for a trip I am planning with Michael & Ally up to the Yellowstone area in July 2017…The three of us have not been up there together in way too long…

Those guys…

These are tied on smaller, #14 – #20 size hooks  and are attractor type fly patterns…the larger guys will follow…The Box is completed…Michael will be in from NYC on Mother’s Day to inspect the box !!! 🙂

FLY BOX OF NYMPHS … For Montana, Summer 2017…

…for these guys..

SPANFLEX PSYCHO PRINCE (Yellow) – Mercer/Variant…

HOOK: TMC 113BLH, #10 – #14

THREAD: Danville 6/0, #.8 Yellow

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAILS: Brown Spanflex

CARAPACE/BACK: Ozark Oak Mottled Turkey

ABDOMEN: Ice Dun UV Lt. Yellow

RIB: UTC Wire, Hot Orange – sm

BURST WING: Angel Hair, electric yellow

THORAX: Ice Dub UV Lt. Yellow

LEGS: Flexi – Floss, White

COLLAR: Ice Dub, UV Brown

BEAD: Copper or Gold Tungsten sized to hook

A Mike Mercer pattern that one does not go to Montana without…substituted Spanflex for the more usual biots…

Materials SPANFLEX PSYCHO PRINCE (Yellow)…

SPANFLEX PSYCHO PRINCEs (Yellow)…#14’s…

PINK & PURPLE SMOOTHIE NYMPH …

HOOK: Umpqua C200BL, #14 – #16

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark Speckled

ABDOMEN: Polish Quill, Pink – * Coat with UV Resin

WINGCASE/LEGS: Purple Fluoro Fiber – about 18 strands each side

THORAX: Ice Dub, UV Rust

HOT SPOT: Gordon Griffith 14/0 Sheer, Red

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, Purple, sized to hook

Of course, short shank, small & PURPLE…

...PLUNK…

Materials PINK & PURPLE SMOOTHIE NYMPH…

PINK & PURPLE SMOOTHIE NYMPHs… #16’s…

YELLOWTAIL NYMPH…

HOOK: UMPQUA C550BL, #12 – #14

THREAD: Danville 6/0 #.8 Yellow – Abdomen / Veevus 16/0, Brown – thorax forward

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Yellow Pheasant Tail Fibers

ABDOMEN Danville Thread

CARAPACE/BACK: Yellow Pheasant Tail Fibers

RIB: UTC Wire, Black, x-sm

THORAX: Mix 70% SLF Spikey Squirrel, Brown / 30% SLF Prism, Peacock

BEAD: Tungsten Nickel

General attractor, short body, wide gape hook for here…

…working the banks in the riffle at twilight…

Materials YELLOWTAIL NYMPH…

YELLOWTAIL NYMPHs…#14’s…

Michael… getting in some practice on the Croton today… (4.30.2017)…

BROWN HOLO CANADIAN JIG…

HOOK: TMC 403BLJ, #12 – #16

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Brown

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Ginger

ABDOMEN: Brown Holographic Flashabou

RIB: UTC wire, Rust, sm – *Coat with UV Resin

THORAX: AZ Simi-Seal, Canadian Brown

HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #5, Fl. Orange

BEAD: Faceted, slotted Tungsten Bead, Copper or Gold

A generic, flashy Brown Jig. These, with the Brown Holographic Flashabou, seem to work just about anywhere…

Materials BROWN HOLO CANADIAN JIG…

BROWN HOLO CANADIAN JIGs … #14’s…

ANDY’S EDIBLE ARRANGEMENT (Pearl/Amber) – Larkin/Variant …

HOOK: Umpqua C400BL. #10 – #12

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, White – Abdomen / Veevus 16/0, Black – thorax forward

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

ABDOMEN: Ice Dub, UV Pearl

RIB: Amber D-Rib, small – *Brush abdomen with a bore brush (with vigor) and lightly trim

THORAX: SLF Spikey Squirrel Dubbing , Brown – * Behind and in front of hackle

HACKLE: Mac Petitjean CDC , Black

BEAD: Slotted, faceted Tungsten, Gold , sized to hook

This is an Andy Larkin pattern that I did with green overtones with Laser Dub. back in Feb. 2014 – scroll down… They work…

Materials ANDY’S EDIBLE ARRANGEMENT (Pearl/Amber)…

ANDY’S EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTs (Pearl/Amber)…#12’s…

OPALBACK LT. OLIVE BRONZE NYMPH …

HOOK: TMC 113BLH, #14 – #16

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Yellow Olive – Abdomen / Tiemco 16/0, Olive – thorax forward

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Hungarian Partridge, Olive

CARAPACE/BACK: Medium Opal Tinsel

RIB: UTC Chartreuse Wire, SM

WINGCASE/LEGS: Six strands of Black Krystal Flash

THORAX: AZ Synthetic Dubbing, Bronze Peacock

BEAD: Gold Tungsten, sized to hook

Something FLAV-Ish in a nymph for “between the lakes”:

LITTLE GREEN DRAKE — (DRUNELLA FLAVILINEA)

HOOK SIZES 14, 16

Flavs are a big deal on the Henry’s Fork, but they are often overshadowed in the mind of anglers on the Madison by PMDs. This is a big mistake. Their imitations are necessary not only for rising fish, but also make superb searching patterns.

OUR RIVERS AND WHEN TO FLY FISH WITH LITTLE GREEN DRAKES

Madison River          July 10 – August 10

Firehole River           June 1 – June 25

Yellowstone River    July 20 – August 10

Henry’s Fork            July 1 – July 25

(*From Madison River Outfitters)

Materials OPALBACK LT. OLIVE BRONZE NYMPH…

OPALBACK LT. OLIVE BRONZE NYMPHs…#14’s…

ROBINSON SPECIAL – Simon Robinson/Variant …

HOOK: Umpqua JB01 Specialty Hook, #12 – #16

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Cream – Abdomen / UTC 70 Denier, Black – thorax forward

WEIGHT: .015 -.010 Lead Wire

TAIL/SHUCK: Angel Hair, Electric Pink

ABDOMEN: #.2 Natural Dark Hare’s Ear Plus – the vintage stuff

RIB: UTC Fl. Pink wire -SM

THORAX: Ice Dub, Peacock

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, Salmon Pink, sized to hook – * Brush out the body and thorax with a bore brush then lightly trim to shape

I haven’t figured out who ROBINSON is yet but Kelly Galloup has this pattern up for sale on the Slide Inn site when they are in stock…Now I know. This fly was designed by Simon Robinson… (5.14.2017)

Materials ROBINSON SPECIAL/Variant…

ROBINSON SPECIAL/Variants…#12’s…

TUNG RED-HEADED STEPCHILD – Brown/Variant…

HOOK: TMC 113 BLH, #12 – #16

THREAD: Danville 6/0, #47 Tobacco Brown – Abdomen / Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown – thorax forward

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers

ABDOMEN: Working Danville Thread

RIB: UTC wire, Red, SM

THORAX: UV2 Natural Peacock

WINGCASE/LEGS: Grizzly Krystal Flash, Red/Black

OVER WINGCASE: UTC Med. Opal Tinsel – * Coat with UV Resin

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten, Red, sized to hook

A Hogan Brown pattern that has been young for awhile that is very effective on the Big Hole…Kelly says so…I tie the Wingcase and legs Rick Murphy style, then resin the hump made by the KF and Opal Tinsel…The original was tied with a red glass bead.

Materials TUNG RED-HEADED STEPCHILD…

TUNG RED-HEADED STEPCHILD…#14’s…

JIG NYMPH (Olive) – Gustav Fröléen/Variant…

HOOK: Umpqua (Hanak) C400BL, #16

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Olive

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL/SHUCK: Marc Petitjean CDC, Olive

ABDOMEN: Life Cycle dubbing, Olive Caddis

RIB: Olive, Pearl Flashabou (6969)

THORAX: Ice Dub, Caddis Green

BEAD: Slotted Tungsten, Copper, 3/32″

Gustav Fröléen ties it here

Materials JIG NYMPH (Olive)…

JIG NYMPHs (Olive)…#16’s…

$3.00 BRIDGE, 6PM, IN JULY …

HOOK:TMC 113BLH, #14

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Lt. Olive – Underabdomen / Tiemco 16/0, Olive – Thorax forward

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Coq De Leon Fibers, Ginger

ABDOMEN: Polish Quill, Ginger – *Coat with UV Resin

WING: 2 CDC feather tips – Marc Petitjean , Lt. Yellow

THORAX: Acrysilk Dubbing, Olive

BEAD: Gold Tungsten, sized to hook

A impressionisistic version of a Epeorus albertae that emerges as an adult on the Madison River, around $3.00 Bridge, after 6PM in late July and August…

…like here…

Materials $3.00 BRIDGE, 6PM, IN JULY…

$3.00 BRIDGE, 6PM, IN JULY EMERGERS …#14’s…

ZEPUPALON (Hydropsyche)Rowan Nyman/Variant …

HOOK: Daiichi 1560, weighted, #16

THREAD: Veevus 16/0, Brown

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

SHUCK: Zelon, Tan

ABDOMEN: Hare’s Ear Plus, Natural Dark – the vintage stuff

ANTENNAE: 2 strands Krystal Flash, Medium Brown

THORAX: SLF Spikey Squirrel Dubbing, Dark Brown

A Hydropsyche Pupa imitation concocted by Rowan Nyman from these guys…for the time period we expect to be there…

…there…above $3.00 Bridge at 6AM in July…

Materials ZEPUPALON (Hydropsyche)…

ZEPUPALONs (Hydropsyche)…# 16’s ….

MVP CHARTREUSE – Tim Tollett/Variant…

HOOK: TMC 2499 SP-BLB, #12 – #16

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Lt. Cahill

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

SHUCK: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, White

ABDOMEN: Working thread

OVER ABDOMEN: Veevus Pearl Tinsel, SM

BACK: Chartreuse McFlyfoam

RIB: UTC Silver wire, X-sm

HACKLE: Hen Neck, Dun

THORAX: Ice Dub, Peacock

BEAD: Tungsten Nickel, sized to hook

This is a Tim Tollet signature fly pattern ( Most Valuable Player). He is a Montana tier and fly shop operator (Frontier Anglers, Dillon, MT). One has to sniff around to find his ties. It is worth it. I don’t go to Montana without a bunch of his ties…

Materials MVP CHARTREUSE…

MVP’s CHARTREUSE…#14’s…

Weighty stuff from Bob Marriott’s today… (4.8.2017)…

DARK SHADOW (Purple) NYMPH …

HOOK: Daiichi 1560. #12 – #14

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Black

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Purple Pheasant Tail Fibers

ABDOMEN: working thread

RIB: Purple Ribbing wire .00500 – Cascade Crest Tool Co.

WINGCASE/LEGS: Grizzly Krystal Flash, Black/White – * Coat Wingcase with UV Resin

THORAX: Dyed Purple Peacock Eye, UV2

HOT SPOT: Veevus 16/0, Pink

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten, Metallic Purple, sized to hook

Another Purple Attractor Nymph…it’s how I roll…

Materials DARK SHADOW (Purple) NYMPH…

DARK SHADOW (Purple) NYMPHs…#14’s…

VBQ PINK-O …

HOOK:  TMC 113 BLH, #12 – #16

THREAD: Lagartun 74 denier, Olive

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL/SHUCK: Midge Flash, Pink/Pearl

ABDOMEN: Working Thread

OVER ABDOMEN: Veevus Body Quill, Dk. Olive

RIB: UTC Wire, Fl. Pink, SM – * Coat with UV Resin

THORAX: Ice Dub, Peacock

BEAD: Tungsten Nickel, sized to hook

Another, easy to tie, down and deep, flashy generic nymph to be used most often as an anchor pattern…so I may surprise myself when something large grabs hold of it…

…like here, between the lakes, on the Upper Madison…

Materials VBQ PINK-O…

VBQ PINK-O’s…#14’s…

MADISON CRANBERRY MAHOLO NYMPH- Jan Nemec/Variant

HOOK: Umpqua C300BL, #12 – #14

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Brown

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: PT Fibers, Rusty Brown

ABDOMEN: Sulky Holoshimmer Metallic Thread – Cranberry #6055

RIB: UTC Wire, Hot Orange, SM – * Coat with UV Resin

WINGCASE: Opal Mirage Tinsel, Med.

LEGS: 3-4 each side, Rusty Brown PT fiber tips

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

A Jan Namec Pyramid Lake fly pattern adapted to a curved, comp. hook, Jan ties the pattern HERE

Materials MADISON CRANBERRY MAHOLO NYMPH…

MADISON CRANBERRY MAHOLO NYMPH(s)…#14’s…

YELLOW QUILL SILVER NYMPH …

HOOK: TMC 113 BLH, #12 – #16

THREAD: UTC 70 Denier, Olive

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Lemon Woodduck

ABDOMEN: Stripped Polish Quill, Fl. Yellow – *Coat with UV Resin

WINGCASE/LEGS: Krystal Flash UV Pearl, six strands

THORAX: Ice Dub, Peacock

HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #5, Fl. Orange

BEAD: Tungsten Nickel, sized to hook

This is aan attractor Mayfly pattern that I would use in the early AM and in the late afternoon, as the shadows are beginning to fall,  in this particular area…

..above $3.00 Bridge on the Madison River at sunset…

Materials YELLOW QUILL SILVER NYMPH…

YELLOW QUILL SILVER NYMPH(s)…#12’s…

KREINIK C&C BUG…

HOOK: TMC 2499 SP-BLB, #16 – #18

THREAD: TMC 16/0, Black

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

ABDOMEN: Coats and Clark Dual Duty XP Thread 7040 Jungle Gold

RIB: Kreinik Metallic Very Fine Braid- Pearl #32 – *Coat with UV Resin

WING: 2 Natural Brown CDC tips – Trouthunter

THORAX: UV2 Dyed Peacock Eye, Brown

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten, Metallic Red, Sized to hook

A small, Caddis general purpose attractor. The abdomen darkens to a deep olive/brown when treated with UV Resin…

Materials KREINIK C&C BUG…

KREINIK C&C BUG(s)…#18’s…

YELLOW HOT SPOT JIG (PMD)…

HOOK: Umpqua (Hanak) c400BL, #14 – #16

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown

WEIGHT: .010 Lead Wire

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Ginger Speckled

ABDOMEN: PT Fibers, Rusty Brown, – Wapsi PO51

RIB: Lagartun X-Fine, Copper Wire

THORAX: Ice Dub UV Light Yellow

BEAD: Copper Slotted Tungsten, sized to hook

This is just a simple attractor jig nymph for use during the PMD hatch. If one wishes to tie this pattern a bit smaller, use the Dohiku HDJ # 18 Hook

I would  use this pattern in here, Raynolds Pass FAS, on the Madison River , about this time, when Ally is feeling better…

Materials YELLOW HOT SPOT JIG (PMD)…

YELLOW HOT SPOT JIG (PMDs)…#16’s…

 

NEXT: A BOX OF FOAM FLIES FOR MONTANA

PT/TB

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FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S FLY BOXES…BAETIS and CADDIS…(done)

As I mentioned in my last post, I am doing some ties for Casting For Recovery and a drawing box over at Fly Fishing Addicts…here are some things I have completed for deployment in the coming months by myself and a few other fly fisher persons…I have the utmost confidence that these will put the users into good Trout…I just don’t tie for any other reason – it’s a utilitarian point of view…

HALO CADDIS LARVA…

HOOK: TMC 2457, Daiichi 1120, Daiichi 1130, TMC 2487 #12-#16, TMC 2499 SPBL #12-#16

THREAD: Abdomen, Fl. Chartreuse Ultra 70 denier – to” hot spot “, then Tiemco 16/0, Brown

OVER ABDOMEN: Halo Wire, Spirit River

HOT SPOT: Fl. Red Ultra 140 Denier – or Datum Glo Brite floss, FL. Red

THORAX: 50-50 Mix, Peacock Ice Dub/Olive Squirrel Blend (Spirit River)

This pattern appeared in the Fall 2011 issue of Flyfishing and Tying Journal tied on the new Umpqua competition hook. I would imagine it would be successful on any number of different hooks…so my crew and a few other will be giving them a go…

REFRACTORY CADDIS PUPA – AMBER…

HOOK: Daiichi 1760 #18 or Daiichi 1120/1130 #16

THREAD: Under Abdomen – Ultra 70 Denier, Burnt Orange to thorax – the, Tiemco 15/0, Brown

OVER ABDOMEN: Halo Wire

UNDER WING: Puglisi Short Fiber Streamer Brush – Clear…short sections cut from wire

WINGS: V-Notched Brown Partridge

THORAX: SLF Squirrel Dubbing, Rusty Brown

REFRACTORY – <believing that rules are only for other people, he’s been refractory virtually his entire life>…so, I have been playing with some off- the- wall materials to add some sparkle and bubble illusion to Caddis Pupa…this is one such effort…I’ll let Michael put this puppy to work…he’s good at that…

The above pattern is for HERE:

This little Amber Caddis comes off the water, in the Spring and Summer, on the East Walker River. I think it will keep Michael BUSY…that one has a “PINKY” in his mouth…Oooooppppssss, wrong “PINKIE” – try this ONE…

GUIDE SERENDIPITY…Matthew’s/Variant…for the “Mother’s Day” Hatch and Brachycentrus “echo” hatch in the Fall…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, TMC 2487, Daiichi 1560, TMC 3761 – #14-#18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black or Gordon Griffith 14/0, Black

ABDOMEN: Chartreuse Zelon or Antron strands, split and twisted

FLASH: Twisted with Zelon or Antron – 1 strand Black KF, 1 strand Pearl KF

WING: White Zelon

This pattern is based on Craig Matthew’s Guide Serendipity…it is a very simple tie and has accounted for ridiculous numbers of good fish for me and my guys…more about these HERE and HERE…

ALLY with her friend Liz in San Francisco…sends regards…Nice TAT LIZ !!!…

BH AMBER SERENDIPITY… (for Helicopsyche borealis)…

HOOK: TMC 3761, #20, Daiichi 1560, #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown or Gordon Griffith 14/0. Brown

ABDOMEN: Amber Zelon – split strand, twisted

FLASH: 1 strand Rusty Brown KF, 1 strand Pearl KF…twisted with Zelon

WING: White Zelon

BEAD: Copper Tung. or Brass with lead sub. wraps pushed inside – sized to hook

See above HERE and HERE links…for variations, these catch fish !!!

BH AMBER SERENDIPITY UV THORAX…

HOOK: Daiichi 1120/1130, #16-#18, TMC 2457/2487, #16-#18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown or Gordon Griffith 14/0, Brown

ABDOMEN: Amber Zelon, split strand – twisted

FLASH: 1 strand Rusty Brown KF, 1 strand Mirage Accent Opal

WING: White Sparkle Emerger Yarn

THORAX: UV Ice Dub, Brown

BEAD: Copper Tung. or Brass with lead sub. wraps

Another variation on the theme…a bit flashier for some biggies that lurk bank side in…

…the East Walker River in late Spring and early Summer…

TUNG READY BAETIS NYMPH… Scott Smith/Variant…

HOOK: Daiichi 1560, #18, TMC 3761, #18-#20, TMC 100BL, #22

THREAD: (Abdomen) – Wapsi 70 denier, Black then, Tiemco 16/0 Black thorax forward

TAILS: 3 Melanistic Pheasant Tail fibers, (Black),,,Scott uses Black micro fibbets

FLASH BACK: Micro Flashabou, Pearl

RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, Black, x-sm

THORAX: 1-2 strands Peacock Herl

HACKLE: 1 – 1 1/2 turns, Starling

BEAD: Black Tung. or brass with stuffed lead sub. – 1 size OVERSIZED – (ie.  3/32 for #18)

This is a Scott E. Smith pattern. He is also a designer for Solitude Fly CO… and trust me, this is ONE GOOD Baetis fly pattern. I foisted this recipe on a close friend (See Keith’s PURPLE DISBELIEF) , to use this past fall on the East Walker River…I do that to him…it represents that darkened Baetis just before it “POPS”…Keith caught, maybe, one or two Trout on this fly…

P&PT TWIST NYMPH…La Fontaine/Variant…

HOOK: Daiichi 1560, #16-#18, TMC 3761 #16-#20

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown

TAIL: 3 Natural Pheasnt Tail fibers

ABDOMEN: Natural Pheasant Tail in a dubbing loop with Rusty Brown Antron “touch dubbed” to one waxed side of thread

RIB: Lagartun, x-fine Copper wire

THORAX: 1-2 Strands, Peacock Herl

WINGCASE: SM Silver Tinsel

LEGS: Brown Partridge – lower back of skin

It is a basic design by Gary LaFontaine using “touch dubbing”…need I say more ???

Where the above pattern proved… SPECTACULAR…

BAT WING BAETIS EMERGER…Tracy Petersen…#16-#20…this is a #20

THREAD:  Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, Gray or Olive, Tiemco 16/0 Gray

HOOK: TMC 2487 or Daiichi 1130, #16-#20

TAIL: Dun Hen Hackle Barbs

ABDOMEN:BWO or Olive Goose Biot ( I use Stalcup’s)…it may be tied fringed or flat

WING: Fluffy, butt end of a Dun Hen feather, mounted convex side up and pulled over Abdomen and Bead

THORAX: Brown or Dk. Tan Beaver

BEAD: Gun Metal Glass or Black Metal sized to hook

I put this pattern up earlier. This is a better photo and the top view may assist in understanding how it is tied. This fly has accounted for more Trout than any other except for the KF Emerger, which is one of the first patterns I put up. I fish this fly from the bottom to the top of the water column…it bangs ‘em all the way…I included this pattern, in this batch of flies for others, because it is a MACHINE…PERIOD

CDC BUBBLE BAK BAETIS EMERGER…

HOOK: TMC 3761, #18-#20

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown

SHUCK: Hi-Vis, #16, Medium Gray

ABDOMEN: Olive Pheasant Tail

RIB: Lagartun, x-Fine, Gold

WING CASE/WING: Trouthunter, Medium Gray CDC

THORAX: UV Ice Dub, Brown

BEAD: Gunmetal glass, sized to hook

A Baetis to use as a dropper…I am inclined to fish this from the bottom of the water column to just under the surface…the same way I fish the Bat Wing Baetis…

GRAY DAY BAETIS EMERGER…Murphy/ Variant…

HOOK:Gamakatsu R10-B #16-#20

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Gray

SHUCK: Hi-Vis, #16, Medium Gray

RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, x-sm, Silver

ABDOMEN: Pheasant Tail, Muskrat Gray, Nature’s Spirit

THORAX: Ostrich Herl, Natural Gray

WING CASE/LEGS: 6 strands, Midge Flash, Black – pulled over and separated

This is a variation on Rick Murphy’s excellent Krystal Emerger which appears on pg. 99 of this book:

It is, hands down, the BEST emerger patter I have ever used on the “BIG REEDY”…

TAK’S PB BAETIS NYMPH…Takahashi/Variant…W/O the paintbrush fibers…

HOOK: TMC 100SPBL, #18-#20, TMC 100BL, #22

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Olive

SHUCK: Hi-Vis, #27, Dark Brown

ABDOMEN: Micro Tubing, Black

WING CASE: Mirage Accent Opal over Black, .5MM, Razor foam (Wapsi)

LEGS: Brown Partridge or Brown India Hen Neck

This is a variation on Rick Takahashi’s “Paintbrush Baetis Nymph”…using different materials. Though probably best known for his recent book, “Modern Midges”, Rick also ties some other interesting patterns…I wanted a couple of other Baetis patterns in BLACK to be included in this batch of flies…

BREAK TIME…Miles’ 1st. BIRTHDAY !!!

(L-R) Front: PT, Auntie Ally, MOM – Nadia, Great Grandama Hong

(L-R) Rear: Great Grampa Hong, Grandma Jean Marie, MILES, Dad – Greg, Grandma Maratea

MIKE’S HAZED BAETIS EMERGER…TMC 2488, #18-#20…side view

MIKE’S HAZED BAETIS…tilted view

HOOK: TMC 2488, #18-#20

THREAD: Tiemco16/0, Olive

SHUCK: Hi-Vis, #27, dark Brown

THORAX: Ice Dub Olive/Brown

WING CASE: 1 strand Purple Haze Holographic Flash Fiber (Hareline) over .5MM, Razor Foam, Black

A Baetis in a smaller size  which incorporates a number of elements from the above patterns, specifically for the body of water that runs along side where Michael is leaving his footprints in the grass below…those big guys in there go for flash and tiny…

Michael, in the meadow, on the “Miracle Mile” section of the East Walker River, Bridgeport, CA…

NEXT: My take on some EURO patterns followed by some NINJA FLIES for the EW and Owens Rivers…

PT/TB

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IN PROGRESS…Flash Bang Nymph…

When I was a little boy, the first fly I ever tied to a tippet was this big red dry concoction that I fished off the end of one of those mass produced bamboo rods that came out of Japan after WW II. My Dad had received this rod as a gift from a friend in the Film Industry. It came in a balsa wood box that promptly disintegrated. I pitched this fly into the waters of the California Aqueduct, at the Alabama gates, just above Lone Pine , CA. As I dragged it up along the wall, the fly was engulfed by one of the largest Rainbow Trout I have ever seen…needless to say, the tippet immediately popped…I have since had an affinity for the color RED…

California Aqueduct at Alabama Gates…I was fishing on the other side of the above structure…

Another angle of the Alabama Gates, from the “whizz by” position…just North of Lone Pine, on Hwy. 395…(4.14.2011)

FLASH BANG NYMPH # 18

When I came across this pattern, I knew I needed to add them to my attractor collection. It was tied on a dai riki 135, scud hook…people in Montana tie flies on dai riki hooks and they usually catch loads of Trout…It comes from MONTANA TROUTFITTERS and a video for tying it may be found HERE

A bit of glue, Red thread, goose biots, silver wire, Red Holograpic Tinsel, Peacock Ice Dub and a Tungsten bead…

PURPLE HOLO FLASH BANG NYMPH # 16

PRISMATIC WINGED WEEVIL #14

RUST NEVER SLEEPS…Rusty/Olive BLM Variation

OLIVE/RED BLM

A little take off on Tim Heng’s BLM critter…a pattern developed by him at the Taylor Creek Fly Shop in Basalt, CO…might have FF around there once or twice…

“PINKIE”…

LIGHTNING PUPAE…

SERENDer…# 14…

RED SEREN VAC # 16…

WILDE Tung FLY…# 16

MONTANA…Oh yeah…

More to follow…

PT/TB

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