FRANK’S FLASHY…

From time to time, I like to post photos and links to patterns that REALLY pique my interest. This one comes from Frank Drummond, a tier and guide out of The Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop in Colorado…Here are two photos of the pattern and I’ll let the viewer decide what constitutes their make-up…

FRANK’S FLASHY…from the Laughing Grizzly Store  #14-#18

Franks flashy.
Recipe
Hook- curved caddis
Bead- Tungsten
backstrap- pheasant tail (PT)
Rib-wire your choice size and color
body- your favorite krystal flash personally I use rainbow, red, and orange.
Thorax- you can do the typical peacock herl thorax if you like, I just use the flash.

Instructions- this is kinda tricky to explain if you have any questions let me know.
Lay down thread base 3/4 hook length. Tie in pheasant tail with a typical half body length. I put a couple of wraps down then fold the PT back on itself and tie it down again so you can tie in the rest of the materials right against the tail. Then tie in wire then 4 strands of krystal flash. Advance thread to thorax area. Wrap crystal flash up to thorax tie off. Fold PT fibers over the back (Do not wrap just lay them down over the back of the fly) take wire and rib the fly to hold the pheasant tail in place. Tie off PT and wire. Remove wire. I tidy up by bringing the pheasant tail and flash back and tie down again so you can cover the thread with the flash. Advance thread to head. wrap flash over thorax, tie down with one wrap. Then fold PT over for wing case. Tie down flash and PT with a couple wraps. Split PT fibers and flash equally on each side of fly. Pull the two sets down on each side of fly (helps if you pull pretty firmly, you really want to take any looseness out of the materials) with left had hold the flash and PT so they are touching the point of the hook. Whip finish. trim legs at the point of the hook.

RECIPE FROM:

SHELLEY JAVIER MILLSPAUGH

FRANK’S FLASHY…another variation from BRUSH CREEK CANE…

An OLIVE/PEACOCK VARIANT…4.5.2012 ( see “FLASHIES” )

Check out the list of waters that this pattern has been used on (link above)…with success…(hint)…East Walker River, Hot Creek and the Owens River…

I’ll be getting to this soon… 

PT/TB 

Advertisements

Read Full Post »

BARNEY, it AIN’T…

This is Charlie Craven’s Purple Jujubaetis, developed three years ago as an offshoot of the original Jujubaetis. Charlie’s flies –  JUST CATCH FISH… According to a great article Walter Wiese wrote for  Flyfishing & Tying Journal, “Charlie (Craven) suggests fishing the Purple Jujubaetis under gray skies or during rain and snow storms, in other words, when Baetis mayflies are most active”.

LIKE THIS:

This pattern was developed as an experiment, but after Charlie’s son tried it out on Colorado’s Blue and other Colorado rivers and received rave reviews, he started production tying them. It is suggested to fish this pattern in tandem with an imitative pattern. Charlie says this pattern usually wins out…

CRAVEN’S PURPLE JUJUBAETIS

HOOK: TMC 2488, # 16 – # 22

THREAD: (Abdomen)- 74 Denier White…I used Gordon Griffith 14/0 Sheer, White

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Sheer, Black

TAIL: Mottled Brown India Hen neck fibers

ABDOMEN: Two strands purple and one strand Blue Super Hair, over tapered White thread underbody

WING CASE/ LEGS: Brown Fluro Fiber or similar synthetic

FLASHBACK: Medium Opal Mirage Tinsel

THORAX: Black thread

COATING: Five minute epoxy (optional)

* Note: I tie this pattern using Black Holo Tinsel for the Flashback and also with Black Midge, Krystal Flash for the Flashback and legs…

Here is Charlie Craven’s excellent tutorial for the Jujubaetis

“Hey Michael, I got a new Baetis pattern for you to try!!!”…disnterested DOG and BOY on the Lower Owens River…

MORE BWO’s /BAETIS coming…

PT/TB

Read Full Post »

FALL Grannom…

In the Fall, on the Owens River and the East and West Walker Rivers, there is a hatch of Grannom Caddis that is often overlooked – given the hatches of Baetis that are popping up all over the place and the angler’s urge to smack something of historic proportions on streamer patterns…these little guys are known to the Trout and account for a great deal of my early Fall hook-ups…These Caddis run in the size # 18 and sometimes, # 20 category, depending on location. I always have a batch of patterns to match these little insects…

A perfect Fall day, on the Lower “O” …the scene is set…for Grannom…

Here are three simple and very effective Serendipity patterns I use:

GUIDE SERENDIPITY

HOOK: TMC 5262 #18, TMC 3761 # 20, Daiichi 1560 # 18

THREAD: Gordon Griffith 14/0 sheer, Black

BODY: 1/3 Strand Chartreuse Zelon or 1/2 strand spooled Antron, twisted

WING: White Zelon

NOTE* Sometimes I will mix in a strand of Pearl Krystal Flash or Olive Krystal Flash

Nice Grannom water on the Lower Owens River…

TAN/ CREAM GRANNOM CADDIS

HOOK: TMC 5262 #18, TMC 3761 # 20, Daiichi 1560 # 18

THREAD: Gordon Griffith 14/0 sheer, Brown

BODY: 1/3 strand  Tan Zelon or 1/2 strand cream or tan Antron

WING: White Zelon

NOTE* I will sometimes mix in a strand of Pearl or UV Tan Krystal Flash...yeah, I run into this color too…

The Owens River in the afternoon in late Fall day…don’t be seeing any Baetis here…

CHARTREUSE/BLUE WIRE SERENDIPITY

HOOK: TMC 5262 #18, TMC 3761 # 20, Daiichi 1560 # 18

THREAD: Gordon Griffith 14/0 sheer, Black

BODY: Danville 504 Flymaster, 6/0 nylon

WIRE: Wapsi Ultra Wire, Blue, xsm

WING: White Zelon

A little history behind the above pattern:

I was coming up to this spot on the Owens River, below Five Bridges, one fine Fall day, when I spy this fellow on the opposite bank flippin’ hardware into the top of the pool…over there where the stump is. I sat down, back into the tules, on a sand bar and watched him run his Mepps spinner back up through the pool, across the pool and finally, perpendicular to the pool…NADA. He spotted me. I asked him if he had any luck. “Nope”, he replied. “Wanna’ try it”, he asked. I responded that I would give it a couple of minutes before placing my bug in the water. I cracked a can of COKE and waited patiently for things to quiet down. Presently, after about 20 minutes, I moved up to a position directly across from him and began casting the above pattern into the water above the pool…I took and released eight nice Rainbows and Browns, none of which was under 14 inches, ten feet from where he was sitting. Finally, he couldn’t stand it…”What are you using”, he asked? I moved through the shallow water at the top of the pool and put the Chartreuse/Blue Wire Serendipity into his hand…”I gotta’ learn how to fly fish”, he said….another CONVERT…

I have been known to hang one of these off the bend of a Bugger or Streamer…heh, heh…

PT/TB

Read Full Post »

HIBISCUS CITY…

As most of you who follow this BLOG know, this guy…Is MY SON, Michael Barker…

He has just put up his own BLOG…HIBISCUS CITY… a photo chronicle of his recent trip to The People’s Republic of China. He will be adding more content as time passes…he is a good photographer…

…and fair to middlin’ Fly Fisherman…

When he isn’t doing the ABOVE…

PT/TB

Read Full Post »

MO’ OWENS VALLEY WANDERINGS…

Lots more photos of my trekking around the South/ Western portion of the Great Basin…with the “Evil Spawn”…

Ally finds something black and shiny while groovin’ on Pearl Jam…

Ally, leaning on the ONLY post over 5′ high in Deep Springs Valley…while looking for more black and shiny objects…

Cocktail onions skewered on a BENCHMADE…near Tinemaha Res. on a VERY COLD day…

Air Soft exploration…somewhere DESERTY…right…

BHP Squirt gun replica somewhere in the Sierra Nevada foothills…

Sunrise on the Owens…

Chipmunk rounds like.223 blow around – .308, Lake City Match…just don’t…

Mono Lake, coming down from Bridgeport, CA on black ice…

Ally. stumbling around the desert near LP looking for something…Another, cold, windy, wet and overcast day that Dad drags Ally out to look for “stuff” in the Owens Valley…

Michael, strippin’ a streamer on a very cold day on the Owens River…

“Take is slow Son, there are some BIG GUYS in here!”….

South of Bridgeport, CA…first snow of Fall…

Ally in the White Mountains looking South down the Owens Valley…

Hogback Creek…

B.R.A.S.S. – ALLY!!!…

Twilight on the Owens River, below 5 Bridges…

Michael working a pair of nymphs on the Owens River…

More nice water on the Owens River…

Michael takes a break in the Wild Trout section of the Owens River…

The “MOO” with a nice typical Owens River TROUT…

Angelo, getting ready to bury something on the Owens River…

Angelo takes a break…

Mr. BROWN posing for a very brief moment…

NEXT: Michael and Aimee engagement party (beach blow out) 6.6.10…

PT/TB

Read Full Post »

INTO SPRING…

These are a few more fly patterns that I have been working on for this Springs’ fly fishing in the Eastern Sierras and, hopefully – beyond…

This would be one of my ( and the kids) favorite spots to pull into, fishing upstream or downstream from this point…

“No more pictures…let’s get on it, DAD!!!”

HOT GO 2 PRINCE

SPIRIT RIVER HOT BEADS

I sense that fishing this pattern dead drift or swung might produce in this area…

My son, Mike Barker … SPEAKS – on 12.17.09…

EVIL WEEVIL

Michael might consider the Evil Weevil for this location…there are some nice deep slots in here…

Ally is treading the boulders and passing some excellent water that would yield some nice Trout when Amber Caddis are hatching and fluttering about…say, about 5PM onwards…

This is what I would swing through those boulders to her right…and in this water – from whence, she had come..

GLASS BEAD SOFT AMBER

This Weevil might sting a nice “Brownie”or two…

TAN WEEVIL

In this section of the Owens River that Michael is stripping a streamer through…where there is a nice deep slot just off his right shoulder…

BLACK WEEVIL

And that Black Weevil would whack ’em just North of Varney Bridge on the Madison River, MT…

More patterns to tie – then I’ll reshoot the flies and post the recipes…

PT/TB

Read Full Post »

BEING DIPTERA…

Well, MIDGES (from Maine Fly Fishing)- the most prolific bug in,on and around water…especially NOW…(Bienvenidos a todos pescador con mosca de Argentina …)

Other “CRAZY PEOPLE” who Fly Fish in the SNOW…

Michael, freezing on the Owens River in January. 2004…

Here are some patterns I have whipped up based on the proven ties by a bunch of fellows I will mention in the text of this post . Here is some background on the bugs which Jeremy Barella produced for FAOL:

DIPTERA

This – just in (my inbox) from Tom Loe at Sierra Drifters (12.05.09):

Hot Creek:

Access continues to be excellent and this is a great time to fish here for love struck browns! Take your time and scout out the open runs and channels in the weeds. The low sun angle this time of year gives you more latitude for sight fishing the staged up brownies. Any significant snowfall this time of year will make the canyon section a pain in the caboose to hike into so get it while you can. Work scud, egg, or dubbed nymph patterns with red or orange built in.

Red or Orange – Hmmmmm…

PEARL MIDGE

HOOK: TMC 2488, # 18 – #24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Sheer White

ABDOMEN: Pearl Krystal Flash

BEAD: Killer Caddis, Black, x-sm

Based on a Pat Dorsey pattern that was developed for Colorado waters…Might look a bit like this.

AQUACHIRONO MIDGE

HOOK: Mustad, C49S , #18 -#22

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0 Sheer White and Black

ABDOMEN: White Tying Thread

RIB: 1 strand of Chironomid Pearl Braid Red

THORAX: Peacock Herl

BEAD: Spirit River, Ruby Red, X-SM

COATING: 2 coats of Aquahead on abdomen before tying in Peacock Herl twisted over black thread

I tied this pattern specifically for the East Walker River where I have enjoyed success with red ribbed midges on a white base abdomen. Chironomid Pearl Braid comes in many colors from Hareline. It is fragile. I use the Aquahead to enhance fly durability and to add a medium of translucency to the finished product.

BROWN BRAID JF

HOOK: Mustad, C49S, #18 – # 24

THREAD: Gordon Griffith, 14/0, Sheer Brown

RIB: Chironomid Braid Pearl Peacock

WING: 2 Strands of Pearl Krystal Flash

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

THORAX: SLF PRISM Peacock

BEAD: Killer Caddis, Gun Metal, X-SM

COATING: Aquahead

Based on the Jude Duran, Johnny Flash Midge which originated on the San Juan River. I added an SLF PRISM thorax (thank you Davy Wotton) because this material is extremely effective on ANY pattern to which it is affixed. That has been my experience. The Gun Metal Bead has worked for me on many patterns that I have used on the Owens River…why mess with a good thing? I have the utmost confidence in this Fly…

VIN KF HOT

HOOK: Daiichi, 1130,#18- # 20

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0 Sheer Red

ABDOMEN: Tying thread

RIB: Rusty Brown Krystal Flash, 2 trands, twisted, 6 turns

OVERABDOMEN: UTC, Vinyl Rib, MDG, Clear

BEAD: Spirit River, Ruby Red, X-SM

Another pattern for the East Walker River in cold weather, similar to many patterns in Red that are used on the San Juan. I like the definition that Vinyl Rib provides to the fly. A number of San Juan Red Midge Pupa and Larva may be viewed on this site:

Mike Mora

TUBE FLASHER SLF

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Sheer Black

ABDOMEN: UTC Mylar Tinsel, Silver side, SM

RIB: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Amber

THORAX: SLF Prism, Olive/Brown

BEAD: Gold, 5/64 or 1/16

A Davy Wotton pattern for the White River in Arkansas – they work just fine on Eastern Sierra Tailwaters.It may also be tied using Black, Red , Green or Peacock tubing using the appropriate SLF PRISM for the Thorax – appropriate being in the mind of the TROUT…

ICE CREME SLF (Black)

HOOK: Mustad C49S, #18-# 20

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Sheer Black

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

RIB: Lagartun ,Silver, SM or X-SM

THORAX: SLF PRISM Black

BEAD: Spirit River, White, 5/64 or 1/16

I tied these up for use on the Owens River for late February and early March when there is a preponderance of tiny Black Midges in the River’s Biomass. They would also be effective fished deep on some high elevation lakes that are in the backcountry – later in the year…

ICE TUBE

HOOK: Mustad, C49S, # 18 -# 22

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0. Sheer Black

ABDOMEN: Chironomid Braid Pearl Black

RIB: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Black, 6-7 turns

THORAX: 50/50 Mix, Black Ice Dub and SLF PRISM Black

BEAD: Silver, 5/64 or 1/16

Another pattern for the East Walker and Owens River for the Winter and into early Spring. They have not seen this one before…

MB CHIRONO JF

HOOK: Mustad, C49S, # 18 – # 20

THREAD: Uni, 8/0, Camel

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

RIB: Chironomid Braid Pearl Chartreuse

COATING: Aquahead, 2 coats

WING: Pearl Krystal Flash, 3 strands

THORAX: Olive /Brown Ice Dub

Bead: Spirit River Metallic Brown, SM

A midge when the Trout want shades of BROWN in the Johnny Flash style. It would also be a passable BWO pattern in the Spring in some spots on the Lower “O”…

KEITH’S PURPLE DISBELIEF

HOOK: Mustad C49S, #18 – # 22

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0 Sheer Black, UTC 70, Dark Gray

ABDOMEN: Gray Tying Thread

OVERABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Clear

RIB: Wapsi, Wine, X-SM

WING: Royal Blue Krystal Flash, 3 strands

THORAX: ICE DUB, UV Dun

BEAD: Spirit River, Charcoal Metallic, SM

There is an acquaintance of mine named KEITH who squawked “PURPLE?” when he saw this pattern on my FB page. Well, he will squawk directly to his vise when I post some photos on his wall of just what this fly, in this color, can do. And, having named it after him, I will live rent free in his head…forever…heh,heh – This is an old RAM Caddis color…It has resurfaced on the Madison in aMayfly pattern known as the ” Purple Haze“…

He caught this 27″ FINGERLING, on the above pattern, in the Lower Kings River the week of 2.18.2013…

Available at: MRFC

CHARTY TUBE

HOOK: Daiichi, 1140, # 18 -# 22

THREAD: Danville 6/0, Chartreuse – Gordon Griffiths 14/0 Sheer Black

UNDER RIB: Chironomid Braid Pearl Chartreuse, 5 turns

OVER ABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Chartreuse

THORAX: One strand Peacock Herl twisted around black thread

BEAD: Killer Caddis, Caddis Green

Someone once said, ” If it is CHARTREUSE it works”…THE END

CREME RB OZ

HOOK: TMC 200R, # 18 – # 22

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Sheer White, 14/0 Brown

ABDOMEN: White tying thread

RIB: 3 strands twisted Pearl Krystal Flash

OVERABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Cream

THORAX: Brown Ostrich Herl

BEAD: Killer Caddis, Rootbeer, SM or X-SM

Wanted a Midge in Cream with a hint of gas beneath, hence the Pearl KF and some motion at the thorax. This may work as a good Micro Caddis at the right time of the year,,,

TUBE # 47

HOOK: MUSTAD, C49S, # 18 -# 22

THREAD: Danville # 47, 6/0, Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Sheer Brown

TAIL: 1 strand of Pearl Krystal Flash

Abdomen: # 47 Tying Thread

OVER ABDOMEN: Hareline Salcup’s Micro Tubing Pheasant Tail

RIB: Wapsi Silver X-SM or Lagartun X Fine

THORAX: Olive/Brown Ice Dub

WINGCASE: 6 Strands of Pearl FireFly

BEAD: Black Nickel, 5/64 or 1/16

A small Midge or Mayfly pattern that has that magical ingredient of Danville # 47 thread. This is an adaptation of the Vince Wilcox VW pattern…his flies slay…

GB HOLO CHARTY

Hook: Daiichi, 1130, #18 -# 22

Thread: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Sheer Olive

ABDOMEM: SLF PRISM Light Olive

RIB: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Olive

THORAX: Ice Dub Caddis Green

WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Clear White

BEAD: Spirit River, Emerald, SM or X-SM

Flashy – in that color that seems to work just about…anywhere…

GLASSHEAD OLIVE GILLIE

HOOK: TMC 200R, # 18 – # 22

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, Sheer Olive

BREATHER: Sparkle Emerger Yarn Clear/White

TAIL: 1 strand Pearl Krystal Flash

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

OVERABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Clear

RIB: Wapsi Silver Wire, X-sm

WINGPADS: Goose Biots , Tan Orange or Brown

THORAX: ICE DUB ,Peacock

BEAD: Mercury Silver, Spirit River, X-SM

I have pictured this pattern in a previous post. It may be tied in a great number of colors. This fly is a good one…

BLACK RB GILLIE

HOOK: Daiichi 1130 or Mustad C49S, # 18 – # 22

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Sheer Black

TAIL: 1 Strand, Pearl Krystal Flash

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

RIB: Wapsi, Red Metallic Wire, X-SM

WINGPADS: Goose Biot, Tan, Brown or Orange

THORAX: SLF PRISM Peacock

BEAD: Killer Caddis, Scarlet

A variation on the Gille without the breathers at the bend. One’s imagination could drift…

RED KEY

HOOK: Mustad C49S, # 18 – # 22

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Sheer Red

TAIL: 1 Strand Purple Krystal Flash

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

RIB: 3 Strands purple Krystal Flash ,Twisted

OVERABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Clear

WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn Clear/ White

THORAX: ICE DUB Black

Another in the series of Red Midges that I use. This one is for the East Walker River, below the “Glory Hole”.

PALINISTA – (apologies to EVA)

HOOK: Mustad C49S, #18 -#20

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, Red, White

TAIL: 1 Strand Pearl Krystal Flash

ABDOMEN:White Thread

OVERABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Blue

RIB: Wapsi Silver Wire, X-SM

WING: Grizzly Krystal Flash Back and White

THORAX: Arizona Diamond Hair Pearl Green or Blue

BEAD: Silver, 5/64 or 1/16

OK, I know…the colors are proven – Rainbows like blue…and, it might even work in Argentina…

RUSTY RED RIB

HOOK: Mustad C49S, #18 – # 22

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, Sheer Red

TAIL: Rusty Brown Krystal Flash

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

OVERABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing ,Clear

RIB: Wapsi, Red Metallic, X-SM

WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Clear/White

THORAX: Firestar Red/Orange

BEAD: Ruby Red, X-SM

A firey Red Midge for all Eastern Sierra waters and beyond…

SIMPLE FLO

HOOK: TMC 2488, # 18 – # 24

ABDOMEN: UTC 70, Fl. White

BEAD: Killer Caddis Black, SM or X-SM

Yes, it works….

AND, FROM FEB., 2009

Hot Spot Midge:

Thread: Gordon Griffith’s , Black 14/0

Hook: TMC 2487, Daiichi 1130, #18-22

Abdomen: Wapsi Ultra 70, Black

Rib: X-Fine Largutan wire, Gold or Copper

Shuck: Pearl Krystal Flash

Thorax: Danville 6/0 Fl. Orange Thread – (coat with Aquaflex)

Bead: Copper or Gold

I tied these up to create a ” pop” rather than using the standard Tiger or Zebra Midge for the Owens and East Walker Rivers…Nice!!! Some “other” folks seem to like this pattern too…

MORE MIDGES

BEING DIPTERA II

DIPTERA III

Time to get crackin’ on some “EVIL WEEVILS“…

PT/TB

Read Full Post »