Monday January 26, 2009

Hi Everybody!

Another excellent turn out tonight. Twenty fly tyers came out to learn two new patterns led by the dynamic duo of Roy Saunders and Jock MacKenzie. I certainly enjoyed the way both Roy and Jock presented their patterns. I have seen moths along the river but I have never fished a pattern to match one. Great idea Jock. Roy pulled out a smolt pattern that he used to catch sea run cutthroat on Vancouver Island. Roy has successfully used this pattern at Bullshead Reservoir near Medicine Hat to catch rainbows.

Next week we have Don Andersen from Rocky Mountain House. Don is presenting an evening of Chronomids for Lakes and Rivers. As many of you know, Don is a very colorful character who puts a lot of thought into his patterns. You certainly will want to take in Don's fly tying session on February 2, 2009.

Jock MacKenzie

Moth

Hook: size 10 2x dry fly hook

Body: White chenille

Hackle: White  or ginger

Wing: White deer hair 

Thorax: White diamond dub

Roy Saunders

Smolt

Hook: Size 10  2x nymph hook

Body: Silver holographic tinsel

Rib: Gold Tinsel

Beard: Orange wool

Underwing: Natural Mallard (sparse)

Overwing: Olive Marabou (sparse) 

Devon Tying an "Orange Crush" 

Karen concentrating on her moth pattern

Monday January 19th, 2009

Hi Everybody!

Tonight 20 fly fishers came out to see Dave and Amelia Jensen's presentation on Fly Fishing New Zealand. Dave was able to par down over 20 hours of video into a 90 minute presentation that was simply stunning. The video of big browns sipping mayflies and caddis  is superb. The photography that was added to the video added some incredible moments that certainly will make New Zealand a destination we all want to visit. Amelia and Dave you are both outstanding fly fishers. Thanks for the marvelous evening you two!

Next Monday we have two presenters. Jock MacKenzie and Roy Saunders are our guest tyers. See you all then!

Monday January 12, 2009

Hi Everybody!

What a surprise tonight. We had 26 tyers just two days ago for the Phil Rowley Workshop and tonight we had 22 fly tyers come to learn a few more excellent patterns. I guess we learned a valuable lesson. Keep Fly Tying Mondays going throughout the winter. A special welcome to Lisa who tried fly tying for the first time. Karen says you did very well. We also had Devon out for the first time. Devon is 8 years old and thanks to his dad Roy, he has already become a very capable fly fisherman. 

Next Monday we have a special presentation from Dave and Amelia Jensen. Dave and Amelia spent part of November and part of December in New Zealand fly fishing for trophy browns. This is their second trip down under in the last two years.  Their video is amazing. Be sure to come out next Monday and enjoy incredible scenery; neat rivers, some only a few meters wide. Some of these small rivers had browns to 10 plus pounds. Bring your fly fishing friends for sure on Monday January 19th at Annie L Gaetz School.

Bob

Reid working on his Light Cahill

The library was full of tyers tonight.

Alberta Stone

Hook: size 8 2x Nymph Hook

Bead: 1/8 inch gold bead

Tail: ginger biots

Rib: Cooper wire

Shellback: 10-12 pheasant tail fibers

Legs: Brown Midge Flex

Body: Seal (golden) or stone fly dubbing

Thorax:  Seal (golden) or stone fly dubbing

March Brown

Hook: size 14 standard dry fly hook

Tail: Microfibetts cream colored

Body: Turkey quill

Wing: Mallard dyed wood duck

Hackle: Ginger

Light Cahill

Hook: Standard dry fly hook sizes 12 to 18

Tail: Cream microfibetts

Body: Cream antron

Wing: Mallard dyed wood duck

Hackle: Cream or ginger

Phil Rowley Workshop January 10, 2009

26 fly tyers spent today learning to tie nymphs with Phil Rowley. It was an excellent opportunity to learn so much about nymph fly construction, some neat tying techniques and how to fish nymphs. Phil is an amazing instructor. He is a very patient instructor who gives very detailed tying steps that allowed everybody in the room to go home with several excellent patterns for their fly box. I am sure that many of the participants will be practicing many of the tying techniques, especially the weaving of the dragon nymph.

Thanks for sharing some video from the upcoming 2009 New Fly Fisher television show, Phil.

Just a note: There is a Fly Tying Session this Monday January 12th. We will be tying the Alberta Stone and a BWO Thorax. Two excellent patterns for Alberta.

Phil Rowley

The gang taking in Phil's lecture

Concentrating on Tying

Half Back Nymph

Hook: Mustad R73-9671

Thread 8/0 Black or Olive

Tail: Pheasant Rump

Body: Peacock Herl

Wingcase: Pheasant Rump

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Legs: Pheasant Rump

Wooven Body Dragon Nymph

Hook: Mustad C53S #4-#10

Thread: 6/0, color to match

Tail: Marabou, color to match naturals

Under Body: Poly Yarn color to compliment body

2nd Under Body: Seal Fur color to match natural

Body: Larva Lace or V-rib, use 2 contrasting colors, 1 light and 1 dark

Wingcase: Raffia or Swiss straw, color to match naturals

Legs: Sili legs or Super Stretch Floss, colors to match naturals

Head: Tan foam sheet, use permanent marker to create eyes and mottle as necessary to match natural nymphs

Pheasant Tail Nymph

Hook: Mustad S82-3906B

Thread: 8/0 Black, Olive or Brown

Tail: Pheasant Tail

Rib: Fine Copper Wire

Body: Pheasant Tail

Wingcase: Pheasant Tail

Thorax: Peacock Hurl

Legs: Pheasant Tail

Foam Dragon

Hook: Mustad C53S

Thread: 6/0 Olive

Under body: 7/8" Foam Body, slim

Body: Stillwater Solutions Peacock Green Crystal Chenille, Medium and 

Stillwater Solutions Sparkle Blend Dubbing Dark Olive Green, spun

together in  a dubbing loop

Legs: Pheasant Rump, dyed Olive

Head: 3MM Tan Sheet Foam, folded around hook shank

Rubber Leg Kaufman Stone Nymph

Hook: Mustad C53S

Thread: 8/0 Black

Tails: Black Goose Biots

Rib: Black V-Rib

Body: Black Seal Fur or similar dubbing

Wingcase: Mottled Turkey Quill or 1/4" Scud back

Thorax: Black Seal Fur or similar dubbing

Legs: Black Round Rubber Hackle

Antenna: Black Goose Biots

Head: Gold Bead

Hare's Ear

Hook: Mustad S80-3906

Thread: 8/0 Black, Olive or Brown

Tail: Pheasant Tail or Hare's Mask Guard Hairs

Rib:Fine Gold Wire or Tinsel

Body: Hare's Ear Dubbing

Wingcase: Mottled Turkey Quill

Thorax: Hare's Ear Dubbing

Pearly Damsel

Hook: Mustad S80-3906

Thread: 8/0, Color to match fly color

Tail: Strung Marabou, color to match naturals

Rib: Fine copper wire

Shellback: Pearlescent Mylar

Body: Strung Marabou, color to match naturals, tied in by the tips

Wingcase: 1/8" Scud back, color to match naturals

Legs: Strung Marabou fibers,color to match naturals

Eyes: Mono Eyes, black or olive

Head: Dubbed Strung Marabou fibers, color to match naturals

Czech Nymph

Hook: Mustad C49S

Thread: 8/0 Olive or Brown

Rib #1: 5X Mono Tippet

Rib #2: 1 strand of pearlescent Superflash

Shellback: 1/8" Scud back, olive

Body: Rabbit or similar dubbing

Thorax: Squirrel Dubbing

Copper John

Hook: Mustad S82-3906B

Thread: 8/0 Black, Olive, or Brown

Tail: Brown Goose Biots

Body: Copper Wire

Wingcase: Black or Brown 1/8" Scud Back and 1 strand of Pearl Mylar

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Legs: Hen Hackle or Partridge

Head: Copper Bead

Monday January 5, 2009

Happy 2009 Everybody!

Doug Cook was our guest tyer tonight. Eighteen keen fly tyers worked on tying a Boatman pattern and the always reliable Adams. I am always impressed by the quality of the patterns that we are taught by our guest tyers, Doug's boatman recipe included a cool way to add eyes to the pattern. The Adams is a very reliable pattern that is a must in all our fly boxes. I love seeing our club members learning to tye patterns using size 16 and smaller hooks. I appreciate Doug's attention to detail that makes a big difference in the quality of the end product. Doug did a great job getting around to the gang and giving excellent feedback on their tying. Thanks again Doug!

See everybody on Saturday at the Phil Rowley Workshop!

Doug Cook

Water Boatman

Hook: size 14

Body: small crystal chenille either white or green

(light layer of crazy glue over the raffia and mylar)

Shellback: Black Raffia (straw) with pearl mylar tinsel over top

Legs: size 0 Danvil thread

Eyes: Red small larva lace

Adams

Hook: size 16 dry fly

Tail: 5 moose main fibers

Body: grey muskrat or rabbit

Wings: tips of grizzly hackle

Hackle: grizzly and brown hackle

The gang working on their Boatman and Adams patterns.