Monday, January 26, 2009

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 19, 2009

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

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

Saturday, January 10, 2009

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

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.