Garage Sale Monday February 23, 2009

Well today was Garage Sale Monday. Evan filled his car with a load of fly tying material from the late Harvey MacIntyre. His family generously donated the material and all the proceeds this time will be donated to Stream Watch. Apparently there is still another car load for next year's garage sale. I hope everybody got the "stuff" in the door without being caught (grin). 

After the garage sale, 19 keen tyers got to work on three patterns. All three patterns are excellent cutthroat trout patterns. Evan Ritchie said the Royal Trude was his "go to" fly on the Elk River for many a trip!

...next week Byron Stearns is our guest tyer. 

By the way, we still have two Mondays with no presenter. Any

body interested?

Bob leading the group through tonight's patterns (thanks Amelia for the picture).

Bob with Bob Overland (welcome Bob O! to the group)

Foam Madam X

Hook: size 6 to 10 3X long dry fly hook (try Tiemco 200s)

Body: Golden Dubbing (2 parts yellow and 1 part orange phentex ground up in a coffee grinder) with a foam tan and orange body tied in 4 segments

Head: deer hair

Legs: Rubber legs

Foam Madam X

Body: Yellow and tan foam

Royal Trude

Hook: size 12 to 16 3XL dry fly hook

Tail: golden pheasant

Body: Peacock herl and red midge material (rubbery)

Wing: white macrame or white calf tail

Hackle: brown

CFF (100 Fish Fly) orginated by Don Andersen

Hook: standard dry fly hook (Don ties this in small sizes with no hackle)

Tail: Z-lon or brown macrame

Body: Peacock herl

Wing: white macrame

Hackle: use webby grizzly (the above fly uses brown)

CFF

This photo includes the brown macrame brown tail and webby grizzly hackle.

Garage Sale Mania

Monday February 9th, 2009 Steelhead Night

Tonight was Steelhead Night. It was a very nice change of pace for the 15 tyers who took in Doug Pullen's presentation. Not only did the audience learn to tie three steelhead flies, they also were given an excellent overview of what steelhead flyfishing is all about. Doug put a lot of thought into his presentation. The evening was both educational and many of us had our first experience tying steelhead flies. Thanks Doug. 

There are so many items to consider before you go steelheading. Do take the time to take a casting course if you are hitting the bigger rivers with a spey rod. Doug also recommended three books that will help you get started in the right direction:

Steelhead Fly Fishing by Troy Combs

A Passion for Steelhead by Dec Hogan

Spey Casting by Simon Gawesworth

Darren Petersen brought several glass blown pieces tonight to show "the gang." I have included a couple examples of Darren's fine glass art work. If you want any further information, do drop him an e-mail.

Doug Pullen with his 15 foot spey rod

Tonight's Flies

The Purple Star Steelhead Fly

Hook: Standard Salmon or Steelhead hook, size 2

Thread: 6/0 black

Tag: Silver tinsel

Body: Purple dubbing

Rib: Oval silver tinsel

Wing: Black bucktail with a few strands of purple Flashabou

Collar: Black bucktail

This pattern was developed by Doug Pullen. The wing material can be changed to black bear.

The Boss Stealhead Fly

Hook: Standard Salmon or Steelhead hook, size 4

Thread: 6/0 black

Tail: Black bucktail, shank length

Body: Black chenille

Rib: Oval silver tinsel

Collar: Long red or orange hackle tied back slightly

Eyes: Silver bead chain 

The Green Butt Skunk Steelhead Fly

Hook: Standard Salmon or Steelhead hook, size 4

Thread: 6/0 black

Tail: Red hackle fibers

Butt: medium fluorescent green chenille

Body: medium black chenille

Rib: Oval silver tinsel

Collar: Black hackle tied as a collar and tied back and down

Wing: White calf tail

Monday February 2, 2009

The library was jammed. Twenty seven fly tyers spent the evening learning about chronomids for both lakes and rivers. We were fortunate to have Don Anderson spend the evening with us. Don is a stellar stillwater fly fisher who also is an authority on building bamboo fly rods.

Don led us through 6 patterns. Interestingly enough, 4 of the chronomids are river patterns. Don has experimented with many tying materials and he shared his thoughts about how to effectively imitate several types of chronomids.

Don encouraged his audience tonight to be more aware of the fish along the edges of the banks where we walk. Many a time we spook these fish and completely miss the opportunity to cast to them.  Don also encouraged us to be observant. Sometimes casting over fish that have seen a lot of flies needs to be done with smaller flies of the same pattern or with an alternative method that the fish have not seen very often.

We also talked about the illegally introduced perch that have ruined several fine trout lakes in west central Alberta. Go to:

http://www.mywildalberta.com/Fishing/StockingReports/SurveyUnwantedPerch.aspx

...complete the survey when you get a chance.

Thanks Don for a very informative evening! We appreciate your effort to drive in from Rocky Mountain House to spend the evening with us!

Next week Doug Pullen is our guest tyer. I am quite excited about Doug's theme! Steelhead flies! See everybody next week!

Don Anderson

Central Alberta Fly Tyers taking in Don's presentation

Lake Chronomid 1

Hook: size 10 C49S

Underbody: Bronze flashabou (3 or 4 strands)

Overbody: Clear vinyl material from the front of a binder cut in thin strips

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Gills: Bridge Floss (Oral B)

Black Midge for Rivers

Hook: Size 18 nymph

Body: Black thread

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Brassie

Hook: size 18 nymph 

Body: Red Wire

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Commando Whitehead (rivers)

Hook: size 18 nymph hook

Body: Copper wire and rust brown embroidery thread (two strands)

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Post: White foam

River Chronomid

Hook: size 18 nymph

Body: Rusty brown embroidery thread, copper wire and black flashabou

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Lake Chronomid #2

Hook: Size 10 C49S

Underbody: Silver flashabou (2 strands) with a black flashabou rib

Overbody: Smokey vinyl from from an anti static bag

Thorax: peacock Herl

Gills: Bridge Floss (Oral B)