Photos from the Owens (and, some before….)

Here are some photos I found while waiting for my brother and Ally to get me the other ones I’m waiting for. They cover a lot of years , a lot of winter activities we pursue- photography, exploring, arrowhead hunting, target shooting and a lot of territory. AND, in no particular order…

Ally Barker, Sierra Nevada Mtns in background, Winter, 2002…

The White Mountains in winter, 2002…

A small, Owens River Brown…

Red Lake, Above Little Virginia Lake, Bridgeport, CA…

Alabama Hills, above Lone Pine, CA…

Jean Marie Hon, Aspen, CO, 1978….

Ally and two of her friends, Owens River…

Ally and Angelo. below 5 Bridges, Owens River…Fall. 2003

Ally and her obsidian flipper, Owens Valley…Winter 2004

Ally, Bushmaster & ACOG, another favorite Winter pastime, outthere….somewhere…

Ally, goofin’ off…

Ally, mulin’ for the fellas on the Owens River…

Ally, being shot by Michael while being shot by Jean Marie, Victoria BC, Canada…

Ally and Angelo in the White Mountains, East side of the Owens Valley…WINTER

Hmmmm….What could this be?

Along the Owens River….

Walker River road slush….Bridgeport, CA…

Coke can on the Owens River…

Chimney Peak Varmint hunter, S&W Mdl: 66….

Urban assualt vehicle, 1978. Frying Pan River, CO….

Deep Springs Valley, Winter….really cold!!!!

More Deep Springs Valley – in Winter-…

Camp at Chimey Peak, 1983…

Hog Back Creek at dusk, looking into the Sierras….Winter 2005

Looking into the Owens Valley, Northward from a rise above….

JMH and Cindy looking down the Roaring Fork Valley, 1981…

One of my favorite spots in the Owens Valley…Winter 2007

Michael below 5 bridges, Owens River….

Michael casting into a tailout on the Owens River…big Brown here…

Michael, S&W Mdl: 586, Chimney Peak…

Michael, Deep Springs Valley…Winter 2003

Michael, Fly and Bubble, sandtrap Lone Pine Creek…

Michael, casting up a run, Owens River, Fall…

Michael rigging up at the wild trout section, Owens River, Winter,2004…

Michael working through a run, Owens River…

Michael, North Fork of the Tule River…

Michael, ripping a streamer with his Winston WT on the Lower “O”…

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

Time to go….Mr. Brown, Owens River…

Tule Elk crossing a ridge, Owens Valley, Winter…

PT in a freezing rain on the wild trout section, Owens River – WINTER..,

A nice, but small, Owens Rainbow…

Desert location outside of Lone Pine, CA

A nice and BIG, Rainbow from the Frying Pan, CO…

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JEAN MARIE HON (G)

The first time I remember seeing Jean Marie Hon was in the Fall of 1976. I was watching a Saturday morning television show with my first daughter Nadia, in the den. I saw THIS girl with two other actors and a chimp. It was the girl that stuck in my mind. Hmmmm….

JMH…on the set of ARK II…

About a month later, I had organized a party for Don Kirshner which was to follow the 1976 ROCK AWARDS – also a PR client. At the event, I was standing at the entrance when this girl walks in with the star of “BJ and the Bear”…Hmmmmm…

A friend of mine in early 1978 headed a Management Company which was located just down the hall from our offices. After having lunch together, she invited me back to her office to show me “something”. I waited in her office while she retrieved the “something” from a back room. In moments she returned and threw a composite on her desk. She exclaimed, ” this girl is too good for you!” Hmmmmmmmm…..

A week later, she invited me to a birthday party which she had arranged for a “friend” at her place on March 21, 1978.

THE FRIEND

September, 1978 New Orleans – a trip with Jean Marie, Isaac Hayes & me for the Ali/Spinks bout…

From the time we met, over the next three years, we were inseparable. I suppose it happens that at some time in our lives, if you are like me, a person comes into your life that has the opening/appendage for the umbilical cord that we thusly attach to them – unconsciously. Today, I realize I came to that place not with luggage but with cargo containers. We attract what we are, water seeks its’ own level or we find some one who reminds us of one or the other of our parents and we try to change them ( so we won’t have that same chaotic, original experience)

But, I didn’t know ANY of this then.

A ROAD LESS TRAVELED…

I had just found my best friend, a partner, the Mother of our two children – Michael and Ally, a fly fishing buddy and part of my story…

Aspen, CO…on the Frying Pan River…

Michael, Jean Marie and Ally…

HERE:

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Adding some family photos….

Here they are…DOGS COUNT TOO!!!

Michael and Ally at the TOP of the WORLD…Saline Valley…

Children of dune…Saline Valley…

Michael and a person with their tongue sticking out…at Trumbull Lake, Bridgeport, CA…

Ally gives shooting instructions to my mentor, Sal A. (guess she wants to do some writing…like I have to do)

Ally at the campsite with Angelo, Hogback Creek, 2002 Winter

This was a GREAT steakhouse that burned to the ground in 1993 on Hwy. 178 between Ridgecrest and Kernville. I tipped more than enough here before…Sal got a hold of me…

PT and Allo on the Madison, 2001, photo by Michael

Ally getting whacked by hailstones on the East Walker, August 2000

Michael and Ally DEEP in the VALLEY of the ” Aliens “…April 2001

Angelo,bookin’ it after a strange encounter…2002, January

Down the Wabbit HOLE….

Angelo, playin’ with pinecone, White Mtns., Jan. 2002

Big Pine Creek, Fall, 1999

Pond…off Big Pine Creek

Michael, Jack Flat, North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Tule River…1987

He ate a BWO…Spring 2007

…and he ate a Bat Wing Baetis, Lower “O”, spring 2007…

Ally in Bouquet Canyon…

This place has a spiritual nature… Winter, 2003

…maybe the people who left this grinding stone could explain…

Another time, another place…

 

Michael, Charlie’s Butte, spring 1986

Michael, East Walker River, July, 2003

Michael, below the dam, East Walker River, August, 2003

Michael, North Fork of Middle Fork of Tule River, June 2002

Mr. Newt…NF Tule, 2002

Nice waterfall & pool on the Tule, June 2002

Wild Trout section, Owens River, December 2002

…and below 5 Bridges….

Upper Owens River, May, 2003

Nad & Pop, Hot Creek, 1976

Tule River, may 2004

Owens River, Fall 2001

Snow in the Owens Valley, 2003

Road to the highest weather station in the U.S., White Mtns., 2002

Ally, at her favorite eatery in the VALLEY – Lala, 2009…

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More Patterns…

Here are some patterns that see me through a good Spring and Summer…ENJOY!!!

Larry Kingry Caddis

HOOK: TMC 2487, 2457 or Diiachi 1120, 1130, # 12-18

THREAD: Uni 8/0 Black or Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 black

ABDOMEN: Green FlexiFloss

RIB: Chart FlexiFloss

THORAX: Ostrich, black or Dark brown

A good all-around, down, deep Caddis pattern. Kingry’s other new patterns can be viewed at Royal Gorge Anglers (in my links). His stuff works!

CDC Nymph

HOOK: TMC 5262, # 12-18

THREAD: Uni 8/0 brown or Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 brown for smaller sizes

ABDOMEN: Copper Brown Wapsi wire, appropriate size, cover with 2 coats of Aquaflex or Flexament

COLLAR: Montana Fly Co. strung CDC, Rust

BEAD: Appropriate Gold Brass or Tung

This fly is one of those strange patterns that I tied up when I was bored. I fished it on the Lower Owens in April ’07 and was amazed at the number of large fish, Rainbows and Browns, that hopped on this guy late in the afternoon when the Baetis had quit and the Caddis were not out yet. I got this idea from a fly that I picked up at the Four Corner’s Fly Shop in Bozeman, MT in ’04. It however, have a chart. wire body and black CDC. It was a killer on the Madison! See my links for the Montana Fly Company, they make some great materials and have links to retail shops where they may be purchased.

PMD CDC EMERGER

HOOK: TMC 100, # 14-18

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, Brown

SHUCK AND BACK: Dun Zelon

ABDOMEN: Pheasant tail fibers

THORAX: Stalcup’s dry PMD dubbing

WING: Dun CDC faethers (2 or 3) depending on hook size

RIB: Wapsi (XSM) or Largutan fine , copper wire

A good soft water emerger pattern. I fish this with a Shop Vac as a dropper.

DELAWARE CADDIS PUPA

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 green or UNI 8/0 olive dun

HOOK: TMC 2457 or DIIACHI 1120, # 16 – 18

ABDOMEN: Olive Beaver

RIB: Red 3/0 thread

WINGPAD: White closed cell foam

I read about the success of this fly on the Delaware River in FF Mag. several years ago. I decided to tie some uo and give them a shot. The particular way the foam is tied in, gives the fly a distinct, undulating motion the triggers Trout ( and probably fishermen too). I can assure this fly works. I have used it on both the Lower “O” and the East Walker with outstanding results…

TIM FOX’S CADDIS POOPAH

HOOK: TMC 2312 # 14-18

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 brown or tan

THORAX: Micro Vernille, singed (this is Cin.)

UNDERBODY: Rust Krystal Flash

RIB: Wapsi XSM, copper wire

THORAX: Rust or Brown ostrich herl

ANTENNAE: Woodduck Fibers ( for extra flash, I sometimes run two strands of Krystal Flash under the WD)

LEGS: Partridge fibers

OK, heresy…most tie with mylar tinsel for the under body. This use of the right color Krystal Flash shakes the pattern up. All tiers sooner or later tweak and experiment with established patterns. That is what makes this whole journey joyful and rewarding. The fish on the East Walker have voiced their approval..these fellows may be tied up in olive, tan, brown, black and light olive.

FALL BAETIS

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Brown, Black or Tan

HOOK: TMC 2488H or 2488 #16-24

SHUCK: Brown Mayfly Zelon

RIB: Wapsi XSM gold wire

ABDOMEN: Stalcup’s PREMO goose biot, tan (not fringed!)

WINGPAD: 6 strands, pearl FIREFLY

THORAX: Arizona Peacock, Pheasant Tail

I got this idea from Craig Matthew’s Micro Madison Baetis. Again, a little tweak of the pattern for Fall Baetis hatches on Eastern Sierra waters. This one has generated some nice fish for Michael and myself in late October, when the frost stays a little longer on the ground here:

Don’t see any crowds here – either, gotta’ love that!!!

“LITTLE BLACKIE” – ZEBRA MIDGE

THREAD: Wapsi Black, 70 denier, tie off- Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Black

HOOK: TMC 2487 or Diiachi 1130, # 18-24

ABDOMEN: Wapsi 70 denier, Black

RIB: Largutan fine copper wire

BEAD: 1/16 copper

SHUCK: 1 strand, pearl micro flash

This is a standard pattern on the East Walker River throughout the year. Midges comprise a preponderance of the biomass in this tail water fishery. “Little Blackie” was the term used by a gentleman I met on the river in May 2006 . He and his partner would go to another pattern then, switch back to this. He smoked cigars and owned a winery in the Central Valley. They caught fish…

SWISS STRAW BAETIS / BWO

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, olive

HOOK: TMC 2488, # 18-24

SHUCK: Light olive Zelon

ABDOMEN: Stalcup’s goose biot, BWO (fringed or not)

WINGCASE: Olive Raffia (swiss straw)

THORAX: Stalcup’s BWO dubbing

UNDER WINGCASE: Green Krystal Flash

LEGS: Olive Zelon, crinkled, half strand

This pattern was designed by a young student at Montana State University in Bozeman. It appeared in one of the premier FF Mags. in 2004. IT KILLS!!! He is going to be an accomplished pattern designer…

OWENS WIRE WEASEL

THREAD: Uni 8/0 or Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, brown

HOOK: TMC: 5262 # 12-18

BEAD: appropriate size Gold brass or Tung

ABDOMEN: Wapsi copper brown wire, app. size for hook, 2 coats Aquaflex or Flexament

THORAX: Peacock Herl

HACKLE: Partridge, speckled brown from wing

As the name implies, this is a machine on the Lower “O”. I use this as a lead fly early in the AM before the sun hits the water in Spring and Fall. I had something grab this in a deep hole coming out of a plunge riffle. It was attached to 3x tippet and I was unable to turn or stop the fish. I saw spray and heard my reel screech at whatever it was, bored downstream and into half my backing. It dove into a pile of brush, I ran downstream, the tippet snaped when I pulled on the line with my hand. However, I know where that guy lives…

PMD PUFF EMERGER (ADULT)

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 yellow

HOOK: TMC 100, # 16-18

SHUCK: Brown Mayfly Zelon

ABDOMEN: Stalcup’s PMD (yellow) goose biot

THORAX: Stalcup’s PMD dubbing

WING: CDC oiler puff, lt. dun

Another good soft water ( slow moving) pattern that is effective at the tail of riffles. I also use a glassbead SHOP VAC as a dropper off this fly ( 18 inches of tippet).

$3.00 BRIDGE SERENDIPITY

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0, Black

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

ABDOMEN: Danville 6/0, # 47 thread

RIB: Wapsi or Largutan fine gold wire

UNDERWING: 3 strands, pearl Krystal Flash

OVERWING: Costal deer hair natural or bleached

BEAD: Gold Brass or Tung, app. size for hook

The SERENENDIPITY! Tweaked with Krystal Flash. May also be tied in Tan, Black, Olive or using Krystal Flash for abdomen – (your call). This fly is the BOMB. The end!

PMD SNOWSHOE EMERGER

THREAD: Gordon Griffith’s 14/0 Brown

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

SHUCK: Brown Zelon, 3 pheasanttail fibers

ABDOMEN: Rust pheasant tail fibers

RIB: Wapsi XSM gold wire

THORAX: Stalcup’s PMD dubbing

WINGPAD/WING: Dun Snowshoe hare ( cut close to ankle) pulled over abdomen, held upright after 13 thread wraps and cut to size. Pull hair outwards to fan.

Another great slow water pattern. Good as riffles enter slower flows. I like to use this and it’s BWO counterpart for bank feeders…

NEXT:

STREAMERS

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Outdoor Family Photos II

Michael on the Owens, Fall 2002

Ally blasting on the Owens, Fall 2003

Above: Michael & Ally Goose Lake, Owens Valley, Winter 1994

Above: Pond, Road to Glacier, Big Pine, CA Fall 2000

Michael & Ally, $3.00 Bridge, 2004

Planettrout, North Fork of The Tule River, Spring 2007

Michael, Hot Creek, CA, 2003

Michael in the foothills, 2003

$3.00 Bridge, Madison River, 2004

Ally, Virginia Lakes, Fall 2003

Above, Brown on the Madison, $3.00 Bridge, September, 2004

Top: Virginia Lakes (Little) Sept, 2004

Bottom: Me ‘n Angelo, East walker River, May 2006

East Walker River, May, 2006

Michael and Ally, Lone Pine Creek, 2000

Michael and Ally, Trumbull Lake, 1995

Michael, West Walker, 2003

Looking for “GREYS”, Deep Springs Valley, 2000

Michael and Angelo, Owens River 2002

Nadia and Fishing Pal “Angelo” 2008

Ally at Lake Sabrina, Bishop, CA 1995

Stillwater River, Sept, 2001

Michael, North Fork of The Tule River, Spring 2003

Planettrout, Owens River, Spring 2001

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