Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Honouring Bob Scammell-Tying a Henry's Fork Special and a Letort Hopper


Bob Scammell-picture from ACA

Bob Scammell was a true sportsman. He loved to fly fish his home waters where he had a cabin! His home waters had an amazing salmonfly hatch that if you were lucky to experience it, might be one of the most amazing days you would ever have on the water. Imagine casting gigantic dry flies to greedy big brown trout!

Tonight our gang tied up the Henry's Fork Special using a phentex body instead of foam that was a perfect match for the underbody of a salmonfly! We then took the time to tie up a Letort Hopper. Bob loved Letort Hoppers. Rick Miyauchi showed us how Bob loved to tie the Letort Hopper using again, a light yellow phentex for the body! There was a very interesting twist to this pattern. The body is ribbed with UTC tan or yellow thread but before doing this, we took a razor blade and carefully sliced the phentex to give it a buggy look. Bob showed this neat but effective tying technique to Lefty Kreh. 

We have two tying sessions left. Next week, Larry Prowse is our guest tyer. It will be an evening of tying nymphs. Larry wants you to bring UTC 8/0 olive thread. Our final tying session of the year is Garnet Clews. Both sessions should be a blast.


Rick Miyauchi


Henry's Fork Special

Hook: TMC 200R sizes 2-8
Thread: UTC orange-6/0
Tail: Moose
Body: phentex
Hackle: brown (trimmed)
Wing #1: standdard deer Hair
Bullet Head: Deer Hair-Black and wing #2


...add some legs



...from KSL.com


...from Montana Field Guide


Letort Hopper

Hook: 3xl dry fly hook sizes 10-14
Thread: Tan UTC 140 or yellow
Body: light yellow phentex
Rib: Tan or yellow thread
Under Wing: Turkey
Over Wing: Deer 
Head: Deer



Hoppers from the edge of the Raven River







Thursday, February 29, 2024

Early Season Right After Ice Off Tactics


Phil Rowley and Brian Chan gave an outstanding on line seminar about tactics right after ice off. Grab a coffee and take a look!

 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Kreelex Streamers with Doug Pullan

Hi Everyone!


Last night Doug Pullan spent the evning with us talking about fly fishing streamers. Doug then showed us all how to tie the Kreelex Minnow! The room was full of fly tyers who set to work creating their kreelex minnows. Below is Doug's presentation.

Next week, Rick and Bob will be honouring Bob Scammell by tying up the Henry's Fork Special and the Letort Hopper. The week after, Larry Prowse will be our guest tyer and Garnet Clews will end our tying season with a presentation. See you next week!

Streamer Fishing

Fishing a streamer is a fly fishing technique that suggests your artificial fly resemble a baitfish, small fish or other aquatic prey. Unlike some fly fishing techniques requiring a drag free float or slowly moving in the water column, fishing a streamer requires an active presentation which in turn will excite the predatory instincts of your targeted fish. Streamers patterns are usually larger and more substantial than other fly patterns. The materials that fly tiers use to create effective imitations are vast; they include marabou, chenilles, rabbit strips, feathers, deer hair, sculpin wool, synethic fibres and flash materials. The colour choices are endless however; the classic streamer colours include black, white, olive and brown. When you are unsure on what colour of streamer to use, a classic approach is a good place to start. Dark day, dark fly – light day, light fly – bright day, bright fly. To expand on this; on a cloudy day or the water is stained or murky, go with a black fly, on a lighter day, go with a tan or white fly, on a sunny day use a fly with lots of flash. Fly sizes can range from 1 inch up to 5 inches, some even larger. Streamers can be weighted or unweighted, tied on a single hook or a tube. Some even incorporate an articulated body to add more movement to the fly pattern.

There are some things to consider before you go fishing. 

  1. 1. Rod Line Weight: Lighter line weights (4-5wt) are recommended for small streamers, heavier line weights (7-8wt) can manage larger streamers.
  2. 2. Leaders: Fish are not usually leader shy when fishing streamers in streams or rivers. Up the leader or tippet size to 1X. The heavier leader/tippet transfers more casting energy to the fly and resists abrasion. This can be a negative factor to consider when fishing lakes with clear water but ok when water is murky.

Streamer Tactics

When floating a river there are various techniques to attract fish to your streamer. Most fish will be found within 10’ of the shore line, therefore casting your streamer to the edge of the bank and stripping back is a good tactic. If you’re wading the river, casting the streamer across the current and letting it swing downstream imitates a wounded or fleeing minnow. Stripping the fly line with variable speed and rhythm actions allow the streamer to mimic a swimming or darting prey. Casting directly upstream allowing the steamer to dead-drift is another less common method.

When fishing streamers in a lake, different tactics are required to be successful. Unlike rivers, lakes do not have a current to influence your streamer, therefore slow and steady retrieves are necessary. Other aspects to consider are:

  • - Water temperature: 52-64F, fish are actively feeding in this range.
  • - Water clarity: Murky water is best to disguise your fly line, leader and tippet.
  • - Protection: Fish feel safe when they can find cover and at drop offs where they can flee if they feel threated.
  • - Stealth: Avoid having the streamer slap the water, always aim for a light drop onto the water’s surface.
  • - Retrievals: If stripping the streamer produces no results, try jigging the fly.
  • - Colour: If natural coloured streamers are not successful, try a more colourful attractor  streamer.
  • - Use weighted flies and sink tip fly lines to get your fly deeper.

Streamer fishing is an aggressive style of fly fishing. Due to the streamer being within the water column and retrieved energetically; fish will instinctually be attracted. 


Remember, big fish eat little fish.



Kreelex Minnow

Hook: 3X or 4X Streamer hook  Size 2 -10

Thread: White UTC 140

Eyes: Medium Hourglass eyes

Tail: Kreinik Flash Silver

Belly Wing: Kreinik Flash Silver 

Top Wing: Kreinik Flash Gold