Big MOO Day on The East Branch of The Croton River…

I was under the impression that Michael would be traveling to upstate New York to spend a day on the East Branch of the Delaware but he fooled me and decided to fish closer to home outside of New York City. He had a good day…

 

East Branch of the Croton on one of Michael’s previous visits…

Sunday, November 3, 2019…

Nice Brown to hand…

Blowdown on the East Branch of the Croton River…

A Rainbow…

Another Brown…

Flat section of the East Branch of the Croton River…

Last Brown…All were caught on the two fly patterns below. A Black Serendipity designed by Kelly Galloup and my Buffalo Jump…

Brown, Winston BIIX, 9′, 5WT., Tibor Reel & Hat of MOO…

 

Next: A visit to Los Angeles by Michael, Aimee and “Baby Bean”.

 

PT/TB

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Big MOO on the Upper Deschutes River…

During his trip to Oregon, Michael visited the Upper Deschutes River a couple of times. These are some of the photographs he passed on to me … Although he didn’t catch any Trout of gigantic proportions, he caught a lot of smaller guys that kept him busy. The scenery was enough to keep him satisfied…

Checking in…

That is a dramatic shot !!!

Down in the canyon…

A  plunge pool…

The guy who took the photos…Michael, AKA Big MOO…

A Rainbow !!!

A lot of fishy water…

Along the cliffs…

Another view upstream…

Another small Rainbow Trout…

I want to be there ! …

Calm…

Sunset on the Upper Deschutes…

Brewskis…Three Creeks Brewing Company…

 

NEXT: I will be having surgery this week to remove my left kidney which has a cancerous tumor…it’s up in the air as to what my next post will be about…

 

 

PT/TB

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THE BRIDGE of $3.00 – For MOO…( COMPLETED)

These are some ties for my son, Michael to use, when he and Aimee are up in Montana, about the first week in August…They will include PMD’s, Epeorus, Caddis and an attractor or two plus a Stonefly…he can get his own hoppers , by checking at the waters edge -in the grass and bushes – and determining what color and size to use…

A Madison County Bridge…

A box of flies…for Michael and THAT RIVER…

Gotta’ LOVE MONTANA…a FLY SHOP that offers Ice Cream cones !!!

CZECH CATNIP…Daniels/Variant…

THREAD: UTC Ultra, 70 Denier, Black

HOOK: TMC 2499SP- BL, Daiichi 1120, Mustad CO 68 or TMC Czech Comp. Hook – #8 – #14

ABDOMEN: Micro UV Polar Chenille, Olive – (Hareline)

RIB: Glimmer Thread, Root Beer (Cascade Crest)…George uses Mono 4x

THORAX: Micro Polar Chenille, Black

SHELL BACK: Thin Skin, Mottled Oak, Olive

BEAD: Tungsten, Black – one size under, with lead sub. wire wraps

A George Daniel’s pattern…Colorado guide and author of “Dynamic Nymphing”…something for Michael to use to take his flies deep…George ties it HERE…at my favorite Fly Shop…

FOAM FLY ANT…Nyman/Variant …

THREAD: UTC Ultra, 70 Denier, Black

HOOK:  TMC 101, #14 – #22

ABDOMEN: Black Razor Foam – Wapsi, 1MM

WING: White or Dun Zelon

LEGS: Sili Legs, Black/Blue Flake- Wapsi…Craig uses round rubber…

A GREAT pattern to have, for the month of August, on the Upper Madison…when they are about, the Trout go nuts for ’em !!!…Craig Matthews ties Rowan Nymen’s pattern HERE:

Happy MOO with a squaretail Brown…about 300 meters above the BRIDGE…

PUTZY PUPA – TAN…Lobrel/Variant…

THREAD: Abdomen-Danville 6/0, Tan…Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Brown

HOOK: Daiichi 1250, #14 – #18…I prefer these over ANY Dai-Riki hook…

ABDOMEN/SHUCK: UV Tan Ice Dub

THORAX: UV Brown Ice Dub

BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten – Hareline – Metallic Purple, sized to hook

Another simple tie out of the BIG “R” Fly Shop…Tan Caddis…Hydropsyche, are present in goodly numbers in August on the Madison…The tutorial is HERE:

A LOT more of these...LONG WING TUNG COPPER DIP…

HOOK: TMC 2499 SP BL, #14 – #18

THREAD: Wapsi, Ultra 70 Denier, Black or Brown

ABDOMEN: Copper Krystal Flash

RIB: Wapsi wire, Copper/Brown, SM – coat with SHAN or Hard as Hull for durability

WING: Bleached Coastal Deer Hair, Nature’s Spirit – held vertical to hook shank and clipped – long-ish

HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite, # 5

BEAD: Gold or Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

BECAUSE…

THEY like ’em…

…around SUNSET…

CHARTREUSE HOLO LONG WING DIP…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Olive

HOOK: TMC 2499SP-BL, #14 – #18

ABDOMEN: Holographic Tinsel, Chartreuse, Med. or SM

RIB: Wapsi wire, Black and FL. Yellow, SM…coat with hard as Hull or SHAN for durability…

WING: Coastal Deer Hair, Medium

HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #12, Fl. Green

BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook…
This and the long wing Copper Dip are meant to imitate emerging Caddis Pupa…work, they do !!!

CLAKKA IRIS CADDIS…Matthews-Wiese/Variant…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown or Olive

HOOK: TMC 100BL, #14 – #18

SHUCK: Gold Zelon

ABDOMEN: Fly Rite Poly, Olive/Brown

WING: Grey Poly Yarn

THORAX: UV Ice Dub, Tan

HACKLE: Light Ginger

The Improved version of Craig Matthews by Walter Wiese (Park’s Fly Shop)…Craig once fished the Madison for a whole season using only the Amber Iris Caddis as his fly…go figure…Walter ties a version HERE:

EPEORUS RS-2 EMERGER…Chung-Stalcup/Variant…

THREAD: Gordon Griffith 14/0, Primrose

TAIL: Bleached Moose or Light Elk

ABDOMEN: Yellow Micro Tubing over tying thread

WING: Yellow CDC, Clipped

LEGS: Yellow mallard Flank

THORAX: Trouthunter, Yellow CDC Dubbing
I won’t even reflect on how many Madison Trout have gobbled an RS-2 pattern…I tie a lot of them…this one is for Michael to try during that astounding hatch of Epeourus on the Madison…this may be fished deep or in the surface film. Epeorus, like March Browns, emerge as adult duns…patterns that mimic this behavior – can be deadly !!!

LITTLE YELLOW SALLY EMERGER – Howard Cole/Variant…TMC 5212, #12 – #16…(and YES, they can emerge on the water’s surface…happened a lot of times on the Madison and Lower Owens Rivers – straight into my face…see pg. 98, Schollmeyer & Leeson’s – “Tying Emergers”…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Lt. Cahill

HOOK: see above

TAIL/SHUCK: Amber Zelon topped with Wood Duck fibers

ABDOMEN: 1/3 Fl. Orange dubbing – 2/3 Creamy Yellow dubbing

WING: Dun Zelon

THORAX: Creamy Yellow dubbing

HACKLE: Lt. Dun CDC

WING CASE: Thin Ethafoam or Electronic packing foam (used here)…

Howard Cole ties some great patterns…I’m loading Michael up with a bunch of U-Con 2 Caddis Emergers that are also Howard’s design…

FAST WATER EMERGER – EPEORUS…Nemec/Variant …

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Lt. Cahill

HOOK: Daiichi 1760, #18

SHUCK: Olive-Brown Zelon, sparse

RIB: Pearl Krystal Flash

ABDOMEN: Yellow Marabou and Tan Marabou, twisted together

FORWARD WING: Two small bunches of Yellow Sparkle Emerger Yarn

FORWARD WING/POST: Small cylinder foam, Yellow – Rainy’s

HACKLE: Cream

An adaptation of Jan Nemec’s… Fast Water Emerger-Baetis…which I will further detail when I start tying up BWO’s/Baetis for this Fall…He’s out of Reno and quite an interesting tier…

FAST WATER EMERGER BAETIS – Nemec/Variant – TMC 200R, #18 – #20…this is a #20….(10.12.13)

BAT WING EPEORUS EMERGER…Petersen/Variant …

THREAD: Tiemco 16,0, Lt. Cahill

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #16

TAIL: Yellow Mallard Flank Fibers

ABDOMEN: Yellow Goose Biot, fringed

RIB: Lagartun, x-fine gold wire

THORAX: Trouthunter CDC dubbing, yellow

WING: Cream Hen Neck

BEAD: Killer Caddis Diamond glass bead

I tie these to match just about every May Fly…because they truly perform…from the bottom of the water column to just under the surface…A Tracy Petersen winner !!!

KF PMD EMERGER…Murphy/Variant…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown

HOOK: TMC 100SPBL, #16 – #20

SHUCK: Rusty Brown Zelon, sparse

ABDOMEN: Rusty Brown Goose Biot, fringed

RIB: Lagartun Copper Wire, x-fine

WING CASE: Pearl KF, coated with UV Knot Sense or Clear-Goo

THORAX: Yellow Ostrich Herl

LEGS: Rusty Brown KF…three strands, each side

A Rick Murphy pattern that I play around with a lot. I think I have a tie for every May Fly in the West – based on his design…

SOUTHERN CROSS… (“…and ‘ya know it will”…)

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown

HOOK: TMC C400BL, #14 – #16

TAIL: Bobwhite Quail -fibers from tail feather

ABDOMEN: Rainbow Sow Scud dubbing

HACKLING: V-notched feather from shoulder feather- Bobwhite Quail

THORAX: SLF Spikey Squirrel dubbing – Black

HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #3, Red

BEAD: Gold Tungsten

An attractor for Michael to play with…I got a feeling a Trout might like it…

Boy looks for Trout…somewhere, down there, in the Madison…

NICK’S SOFT HACKLE PMD EMERGER…Nick Nicklas/Variant…
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Lt. Cahill

HOOK: TMC 2302 – #14 – #16, Daiichi 1760, #18

TAIL: Yellow Mallard Flank Fibers

RIB: Wapsi Wire, Hot Yellow, SM

ABDOMEN: Gold Tinsel

THORAX: Yellow or Gold Ostrich Herl

HACKLE: Lemon Wood Duck, V-notched and spun

Anything from Nick catches fish !!!…HERE is Craig Matthews tying it…

Looking down the Madison River Valley from Palisades towards Ennis, MT…

CHARLIE C’s JUJU PMD – Light Phase…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White to THORAX, then Tiemco 16/0, Brown – forward

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16 – #20

TAIL: Brown Hen Neck fibers

ABDOMEN: 2 strands Tan Super Hair, 1 strand Orange Sea Hair

WING CASE: Pearl KF, coated with UV Knotsense or Clear-Goo

THORAX: Spirit River Emergence dubbing – Pheasant tail

Legs: Brown Fluro Fiber…look at Charlie’s suggestions in tutorial…then go crazy counting

I wouldn’t see Michael off without an abundance of ties from Charlie Craven…HERE is his tutorial on the Juju Baetis with the PMD at the bottom…

CHARLIE C’s  JUJU PMD – Dark Phase …

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Lt. Cahil to Thorax, then Tiemco 16/0, Brown – forward

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16 – #20

TAIL: Brown Hen Neck fibers

ABDOMEN: 2 strands Brown Super Hair, 1 strand Orange Sea Hair

WING CASE: Pearl KF, coat with UV Knotsense or Clear-Goo

THORAX: UV Ice Dub, Brown

LEGS: Brown Fluro Fiber…see above pattern…

Because like BWO’s/Baetis, PMD’s come in a variation of colors, in close proximity, in the same watershed…be prepared…

Who knows…maybe Michael and Aimee might even try some of these over here…on the Stillwater River…Rusty Brown is killer there…

“G”, Split Wing Case PMD…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown

HOOK:Daiichi 1130, #16 – #18

TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark

RIB: Glimmer Thread – Cascade Crest – White

ABDOMEN: Rusty Brown Goose Biot, fringed

WING CASE: Mottled Brown Medallion Sheeting…split wih an exacto knife after being tie in

UNDER WING CASE: Yellow Razor Foam, .5MM

LEGS: V-Notched Brown Hen Neck Feather

Yeah…it looks weird…some of my weirdest patterns are my best producers…I will let Michael put it to the test…

SPECKLED HEN PMD…

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Brown

HOOK: TMC 2488, #16 – #20

RIB: Lagartun Copper Wire, x-fine

ABDOMEN: Pheasant Tail, Rusty Brown

WING CASE: Rusty Brown Krystal Flash

THORAX: Stalcup’s PMD dubbing

LEGS: Speckled Yellow Hen Neck fibers

Another option with a small, slim profile for the MOO to toss around…

MICRO MADISON PMD/Variant – Matthews…

THREAD: Lagartun 74 Denier, Rusty Brown

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

TAIL: Rusty Brown Pheasant tail fibers

RIB: Wapsi Copper Wire, x-sm

ABDOMEN: Working Thread

THORAX: Nature’s Spirit Emergence dubbing, Pheasant Tail

WING CASE/LEGS: Black Krystal Flash

BEAD: Copper Tungsten sized, ONE SIZE under

Craig Matthew’s Madison standy-by…bumped by me…another PMD nymph alternative for Michael and an opportunity to test out the Lagartun Rusty Brown thread…

Where Michael’s feet will be planted…soon…

I’m also going to sneak my Montana (special) Nymph box into his vest when i see him this weekend…

SIDE # 1.

Side # 2.

NEXT: ROAD TRIP !!!…with ALLY and a visit to a Fly Shop next to a lake in Sonoma County with Michael and Aimee…

PT/TB 

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EAST WALKER RIVER…(A Taste)…

So eight days on the East Walker and a few minutes on Hot Creek…wind, cold and a little snow…lots of willing fish for some patterns I have been waiting to try out. A full report will follow…

Michael…the Trout catching machine and PT on the East Walker River, Bridgeport, CA…

One of many Mr. Browns that came to our flies…

Michael with a nice “chunky” Rainbow that took one of PT’s lead fly, attractor patterns…

What a trip…

PT/TB

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THE MUTHA’lode…

Back in the day, when these two toeheads (below) went with their Dad up to the mountains ( and desert) in a beat up 1953, powder blue Ford, woody (he liked powder blue, go figure)…this was the stomping ground…

And, yes it looked about this beat up – without the board on top….

PT and twin Greg after a day on Lone Pine Creek…1955

If one starts at the bottom of the map,after enlarging , by clicking on the MAP, one sees the following creeks: Tuttle, Lone Pine, Hogback, George, Bairs, Shepherd and Symmes. All of these small waters hold fish – some of them hold very large Brown and Rainbow Trout…One, holds Golden Trout hybrids…I have been fishing in all the waters since 1952…YIKES

It was in these places that I learned how to read water, discern holding and feeding areas, explore the wonderful world of Entomology and avoid being bitten by buzzworms. Over the course of the next few months, I will relate some experiences on each of these cricks and give tips on how to fish some locationswith your kids and Fly gear… These two BOZOS got their creds. crawling around in the bushes and immersing themselves in the project at hand…

Michael and Ally on a learning expedition in the middle of Lone Pine Creek…

It was certainly a lot more fun that posing for ridiculous publicity photos, in the front yard, with my MOTHER:

 Here is additional information from the Bishop Chamber Of Commerce…

Georges Creek Sand Trap…

My kids, Ally and Michael at the Lone Pine Creek Sand Trap…

 

 

/TB

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STOKED!!!

Good day, even though it is pouring cats and dogs in Los Angeles. I opened my email and was astounded that my twin brother Greg had begun to send me the photos (treasures) that I have been waiting for a very long time. These are pictures that my Dad took of us up in the Owens Valley and other locations in the West before my Mother remarried and moved us to Carrollton, GA in 1957.

Here are two:

This photo was taken on the front lawn of the Frontier Motel , under a big cottonwood tree ,in Lone Pine, CA after a day of fishing on Lone Pine Creek. The fish were cleaned on the opposite side of the motel in a little creek that was crawling with red ants…this was in the Summer of 1954…there is now a room named after our Mother at this motel…

 

Frontier Motel…today…

My daughter, Nadia in the driveway of the Frontier Motel in 1974 with Mt. Whitney in the background…

PT and a Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout that came out of Yellowstone Lake in the Summer of 1956. I caught that fish with a gob of worms attached to the treble hook of a spinner off an island beach in the middle of the lake. My Dad told me I wouldn’t catch anything by using that method – and off a beach…It wasn’t the only one I caught!! HA,ha…

Now I will be able to put some stories around the photos I receive. If I remember correctly, there were quite a few…Thanks Greg!!!

PT/TB

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MICHAEL AND PT – gone FLY FISHIN’…

The first time I introduced my son to Fly Fishing was on Father’s Day weekend in June, 1987. Jean and I went to Bridgeport, CA to try our luck at Virginia Lakes, the East Walker River and Green Creek. Michael was four at the time and was required to put on an overly large orange life jacket to go out in a boat on the waters of Little Virginia Lake. He looked like the “stay puffed” marshmallow man… Michael has a video of this excursion, that Jean put together, which I will post herein when he brings it to me and shows his computer illiterate Father how to do it…There is a portion of the clip in which I bring a dry, # 18, beetle caught Trout to the boat, lift it up and swing it back – boinking the tot directly in the kisser..what an intro to FF!!!

This is PT, Michael and “PINKY” at the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery, near Independence, CA on Oak Creek, in 1985. I weaned the “Moo” on trips to this location so he could see the life cycle of hatchery raised Trout. He always got a nickel to buy the little brown pellets to feed to the brood stock in the pond behind us. That is where Michael saw his first “rising” big fish…

Michael -AKA: “MOO”, scoping out the Brook Trout in a holding pen…

I believe that to get kids interested in Fly Fishing, they must first have the experience of feeling the tug of a Trout on the end of their line. This is Michael on a trip to lone Pine, CA with PT and my Father at the Symms Creek Sandtrap. This a great location to introfish with kids – swivel, bubble, 5x tippet , #20 treble hook and POWERBAIT… the fish are stockers…My Dad would chide Michael by saying, “You puttin’ bubble gum on that hook again?“…

An “older”Michael works a Seal Bugger with a “bubble” set-up at the Lone Pine Creek sand trap…

My first Tout was caught on a Bamboo pole with an Eagle Claw hook in a pond at the Sportsman’s Lodge on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City, CA using bread dough…

It did not look like this back in the early 1950’s…but it was really close – I could ride my bike down the hill to get there…

Here is a photo my Dad took of me with a Trout at the old pond at the Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio City, CA …1951

Later, in June 1987, Jean, Michael and I spent a long camping weekend up at Monache Meadows, on the South Fork of the Kern River. Michael went out with me and learned how to drift a cripple Caddis behind boulders to entice the Golden/Rainbow hybrids up and out of their lairs…

Michael, crashed out after a nice long hike up along the South Fork of the Kern River..

Within a year, Michael had learned how to tie a Uni Knot and set up his rig for Fly Fishing. His next trip up to Monache resulted in his first Golden – unassisted…

“MOO” with his first Golden Trout…

Working the water on the South Fork of the Kern…with a Winston 7 1/2′ Fiberglass Rod and Hardy Reel..

Michael learned how to “read” water by walking directly down the middle of Lone Pine Creek, below Mt. Whitney with a fly rod, six inches of 5x tippet, #20 treble hook and, salmon eggs or red worms. Here he is instructing his sister Ally on the method…

When we were not fishing, we pursued another favorite pastime – looking for arrowheads in the blistering heat of the Qwens Valley…

Michael sucking on a Villa Rica, GA product standing at “Charlie’s Butte” in the Owens Valley…

Michael soon learned the fine art of nymphing, swinging wet flies, dry fly tactics and bugger and streamer draggin’. Here, he works a wet along the bank of the East Walker River in Bridgeport, CA using a 10′, 5wt, Scott “G” Series and a RAM Caddis…

Ally, of course, was not to be left out. While Michael fished with a fly and bubble on Trumbull Lake, Ally went to the bubble and POWERBAIT technique which netted her this nice Rainbow stocker which she allowed her brother to hold…

Through the years, Michael has become quite accomplished at FF…here is a series of his experiences on some wonderful rivers, creeks and lakes throughout the West…

Michael at Hot Creek,CA…

Michael with his “Alpers” Trout at Little Virginia Lake, Bridgeport, CA…

Michael and Ally overlooking the Madison River Valley after a “FINE” meal at the Continental Divide in Ennis, MT…

Michael and Ally getting ready to wet a line at North Lake, Bishop, CA in the snow…

Cookie munchers at the Palisades, along the Madison River on a very cold and windy day…

Michael and Ally after a day of FF on the Boulder River, MT….

Michael on the Boulder River, MT…

Michael, freaking Ally out with a gift on the Stillwater River, MT…

Rigging a Wooly Bugger, Owens River, below Five Bridges…

Michael, working an # 18 H & L Variant on the Stillwater River, MT during a PMD hatch…

 

H & L Variant ( Hammer Creek Fly Fishing )

In the Madison River, below Varney Bridge, Cameron, MT…

With a nice Brown, imitating Brad Pitt, above $3.00 Bridge, Madison River, MT…

A feisty Brown on The Madison…

“Which Fly should I use, Dad”,,,Wild Trout Section, Owens River…

Stillwater River, MT…a fish to hand…

“One last cast, Dad?”…Zipping a Seal Bugger with a Fly and Bubble, Lone Pine Creek Sand Trap…

DR’S SEAL BUGGER:

Creme Brule at the Continental Divide in Ennis, MT…

Michael’s “other” favorite pastime, Absarokee, MT…

In the “Honey Hole”, Madison River, MT…

Fishing up through a run on the Lower Owens River, Bishop, CA…

Michael on the West Walker River, above Bridgeport, CA…

PT makes a pit stop on the Owens River, below Five Bridges…

Angelo and Michael on the Lower Owens River…

That Place…

Hot Creek, as an adult…

A freezing day on the Upper Owens River…

On the East Walker River…shmutz on the Fly…

Michael and Ally on the Madison River…

Goose Lake, looking for the Obsidian thingees that are pointy…

Chest high in the Wild Trout Section, Owens River…

The GIFT I got….

“Children may fail to listen to what you say, they will NEVER fail to watch what you do “…

PT/TB

 

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BAETIS/BWO…More of ‘EM…

Here they is:

PHOTO: “BAETIS” – John Jurasek, Blue Ribbon Flies Newsletter

The prolific little bugs that love to hatch on overcast, blustery, rainy, snowy, miserable and memorable days on waters everywhere. I LOVE these guys…

OLIVE/BROWN Baetis…

Hook: TMC 2487, Diiachi 1130, #16-24 (Fall SMALL)

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, olive or gray

TAIL: Three olive or brown Pheasant tail fibers

Rib: Gold Largutan extra fine wire

ABDOMEN: Wapsi thread, Olive Brown

THORAX: SLF Prism ,Olive Brown, picked out

WINGCASE: Black Krystal Flash or Firefly

BEAD: Gold

I have used this fly on the Owens, Hot Creek and The East Walker River in the Fall with success by fishing it deep prior to a hatch, The black KF version works best trailed off an emerger – about 12′ of tippet material off the bend…

John Barr’s BWO Emerger…

HOOK: TMC 101, # 16 – # 24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths, 14/0, Gray

TAIL:Dun Hen Hackle fibers, clipped

ABDOMEN: Stalcups BWO Dubbing

THORAX: Adams Gray Superfine or Muskrat Gray

WINGCASE/ LEGS: Bunch of Dun Hen Hackle tied over, evenly separated and tied back

John Barr developed this pattern a long time ago – it still works. Fish it deep or through the water column. I sometimes pull Black KF over the top above the hen hackle to give the fly a sight hump. The hen hackle fibers are retained for legs…

Foam Baetis Emerger…

HOOK: TMC 100, #18-#24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Olive or Gray

TAIL/SHUCK: Olive or Olive Brown Zelon

RIB: Largutan, Gold, extra fine wire

ABDOMEN: Olive or Natural Pheasant Tail

THORAX: Dk. Olive ,Stalcup’s Baetis dubbing, picked out

WINGCASE/TAG: Razor Foam, Gray

This is a good flat water, stuck emerger. I use it along edges on the Owens and on waters where the Trout are in the tipped back sipping mode – picking off easy prey. I find this on really cold days when it takes a little longer for the bugs to get off the surface film…

Pheasant Tail…

HOOK: TMC 3761, #16-#20

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Brown

TAIL: Natural Pheasant Tail Fiber or Olive

RIB: Largutan, Gold, Extra Fine or XSM Wapsi Wire, copper

ABDOMEN: Pheasant Tail Fibers, natural or Olive

THORAX: Peacock Herl, SLF Prism ,Olive Brown,Arizona Peacock (natural), Ice Dub, Olive Brown,Ostrich Herl- Olive, Brown and Dark Gray

BEAD: Gold or Copper

WINGCASE/ LEGS: Pheasant Tail Fibers, pulled over and separated, Natural or Olive

This is the American standard. Through the years, I have tied it using different kinds of materials for the thorax. With the arrival of Dyed Pheasant Tail, I have tied it in Black, Red, Yellow and Green…get the picture? IT SLAYS…

EthaDun BWO Parachute…

HOOK: TMC 100, #16-#24, TMC 102Y, # 17- #21

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Olive, Brown, Gray

TAIL: Microfibetts, color to match thread

ABDOMEN: Turkey or Goose Biot, fringed- tan, olive, gray

THORAX: Flyrite, Super Fine or Stalcups – Lt. Olive, Dk. Olive, Olive/ Brown, Brown/Olive

HACKLE: Premium Dun

WING: Ethafoam or Evazote – Gray or colored Gray

One of my favorite dry patterns. I don’t use dries a lot. I learned early on from Georges Odier that 90% of the time, Trout feed below the surface. However, there is just something irresistible about dry fly fishing and this pattern floats well and produces…

GRHare’s Ear…

HOOK: TMC 3769 #16-#20, Diiachi 1560, #16-#18, TMC 100, #16-#24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Gray, Olive, Brown

TAIL: Stiff Hare’s Ear – from Mask

RIB: Gold Mylar Tinsel, SM

ABDOMEN: Fur from a hares mask # 3

THORAX: Spiky, darker Hare’s Mask Fur # 4

WINGCASE: Mottled Turkey Tail Fiber Section

This is another Standard pattern. I tie this pattern in Natural, Olive, Dun and Black. The first there colors work well for Baetis / BWO’s. They are all in their appropriate slots in my Nymph Boxes. Here is a good tutorial from Hipwader on this essential fly… I do not use weight for smaller patterns…

Hipwader Tutorial GRHE

Quasimodo Pheasant Tail…

HOOK: TMC 2487, #16-#24, Diiachi 1130, # 16-#24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Brown

TAIL: Pheasant Tail Fibers- Natural,Olive,

RIB: Gold Largutan, extra fine wire or Wapsi xsm Copper wire

ABDOMEN: Pheasant Tail Fibers, Natural or Olive

THORAX: Peacock Herl, Peacock SLF Prism, Arizona Peacock, Ice Dub Olive/Brown

WINGCASE/ LEGS: Pheasant Tail Fibers, pulled over, separated and tied back. Black, Pearl or Peacock KF works too!!!

BEAD: Gold or Copper

Kinda’ looks like Charles Lawton…This is an alternative to the classic PT. Hunched and curved it gives the impression of SQUIRMY in the water column. Jeremy Davies swears by this hook and it’s heavier versions for the holding capability …Works for me…

BWO Emerging Dun…

HOOK: TMC 2487,#16-#24, Diiachi 1130 #16- #24, Mustad C49S ,#16-#24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Olive, Brown, Gray

TAIL: Zelon, Olive/Brown, Olive or Brown

RIB: Optional, Largutan extra fine, Gold

ABDOMEN: Goose or Turkey Biot, Fringed, BWO, Olive, Tan,Gray

WING: Reversed Half Hackle Wing, Premium Dun or Lt. Olive

HACKLE: Premium Dun or Grizzly Dun, clipped at bottom

This FLY catches fish. It has a great profile, hangs like an emerger should and floats in every condition except the roughest water. I came across this pattern years ago and finally worked up the gumption to deal with the wings. After a number of tries, it became easy..try some, the fish like it…

BWO/ BAETIS ZELON EMERGING DUN…

HOOK: TMC 1oo. #18-#24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0 Olive or Gray

TAIL/ SHUCK: Amber or Gold Zelon

ABDOMEN: Sm. amount of Gray Superfine or Stalcup’s BWO Dub for #18-#20, Thread for smaller ties

THORAX: Small amount of Gray Superfine or Stalcup’s Baetis or BWO Dubbing

WING: Med. Dun Hi-Vis, Upright, spread with fingernail, clipped in back

HACKLE: Premium Dun

Notice the 7X Mono in the eye…this fly produced for me on a wet, windy, cold day on the Wild Trout section of the Owens River. No one else was there but me and the Trout…

Freezing rain on the Owens, GOOD Baetis/BWO conditions…

Glass Bead Emerger…

HOOK: TMC 200R, # 16-#24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Olive Brown or Gray

BEAD: Glass Metallic or Pearl

TAIL: Pheasant Tail fibers

ABDOMEN: Goose or Turkey Biot, fringed, Tan, BWO, Olive or Gray

THORAX: Fly-Rite mixed with Hare’s Ear or Muskrat, picked out

WING: Mallard Flank, Gray or Lemon Wood Duck, posted and covered by dubbing

This is a very good soft water fly pattern. I use HYROPHOBE on the thorax section of the fly ONLY. If it tilts over, no matter, the fish rise to it anyway. Lots of fun with this on The East Walker River…

Starling BWO…

HOOK: Alec Jackson, North Country, # 17-#19, TMC 3761 #18-#20, TMC 2488, #18-#24

THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/o, Gray, Olive or Benecchi, 12/0 ,Tan

RIB: Largutan extra fine wire, Gold

ABDOMEN: Tying Thread

THORAX: Muskrat dubbing

HACKLE: Starling

I enjoy swinging soft Hackles. This is an easy tie and the fishees seem to like it anywhere it drops in…

Silver Wing Case PT…

I include this fly, which has a silver Mylar wing case, because one day – on The Madison River, above $3.00 Bridge, at about 6AM in Mid-September, I hooked six of the largest Browns and Rainbows that I have ever brought to a net …on this fly in size # 20…

In THIS SPOT – On the Madison River

I don’t remember when or why I was inspired to tie this particular fellow. This is the same fly…hook not bent…go figure…

Tan Biot KF Emerger…

HOOK: Diiachi 1560, #16-#18, TMC 3761, # 16-#20, TMC 2488, #16-#24

Thread: Gordon Griffiths 14/0, Tan

Tail: Olive or Amber Zelon

RIB: Optional. Largutan, extra fine Gold Wire

THORAX: Olive Ostrich Herl

WINCASE/ LEGS: Peacock, Pearl or Black Krystal Flash

This is my favorite Fall BWO/ Baetis Emerger. I fish it deep with twist-ons…It has worked like a charm here:

The Owens River, below Five Bridges…

MORE:

BAETIS/BWO’s # 1

BAETIS/ BWO’s # 2

BAETIS/ BWO’s # 3

BAETIS/ BWO’s # 4

BAETIS/ BWO’s # 5

BAETIS/ BWO’s # 6

PT/TB

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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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Montana – 2004 ( More )

Well, I was there for 3 1/2 months…

Madison Rainbow – in and out of the H2O for less than ten seconds… Scott G, 10ft. 5WT

10 days of drifting…

with this guy and,

this guy, Craig (in the boat) and THE WHITEFISH KING…

There were LOTS of these, Madison River… T&T Paradigm, 9ft., 5WT

Madison River Brown, Channels section…. Loomis Streamdance, 10ft. , 5WT

That fish came out of the undercut bank here…

and this one came out of the honey hole above $3.00 Bridge… Orvis, Battenkill, 81/2ft., 6WT

Ally approves…

The Spot…. ( 310 fish in 10 days )

Just upstream and to the right of the spot…

Between the lakes… Madison River

The Madison Valley from Craig’s cabin…

Twin Bridges Fly Shop

The road to Ennis, MT from Bozeman…

Quake Lake, 6:00AM, on the way to Blue Ribbon Flies…

Me ‘n Ally on the Boulder River, again…

Michael on the Madison, $3.00 Bridge…

Rules on the Stillwater…

Ally,after eating at Montana Hannas…

Ally, on the rocks, Stillwater River…

Having second thoughts about crossing here…Stillwater River, late June 2004

Lower water, Stillwater River, August, 2004

Rain on the Stillwater, July, 2004

Michael with a Stillwater Rainbow

The ROAD KILL cafe, on the Boulder…

The Madison below Varney Bridge…

Michael on the Boulder… WINSTON WT, 9ft. 6WT…

Michael with another fish on the Madison at $3.00 bridge…

Michael, just below the “honey hole”, Madison River…

$3.00 Bridge…

Ally, preparing to move up river on the Madison… Scott A2, 10ft., 6WT

Madison, just before sunset…

–

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