Central Alberta Fly Tying Club: March 2010

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Renew Your Fishing License on Line

You can get your fishing license for the year on line here in the Province of Alberta at:

https://www.albertarelm.com/

...and get your British Columbia Licenses here: (have last year's licence handy, it makes everything a bit easier)

http://www.fishing.gov.bc.ca/

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Bead and Wire Reference

When I get into the tying mode, I often forget what bead size and lead wire (or equivalent) I use for a selected hook. The following chart will help:

Bead to Hook Size

Diameter - Hook Size

1/4"bead #2-4

7/32"bead #2-8

3/16"bead #4-8

5/32"bead #8-12

1/8"bead #10-14

7/64"bead # 14-16

3/32"bead #14-18

5/64"bead #18-22

1/16"bead #22-26

Lead Wire or Equivalent to Hook Size

Diameter - Hook Size

.035" #4 and larger

.030" #4-6

.025" #6-10

.020" #12-14

.015" # 14-16

.010" #16 and smaller

Monday, March 15, 2010

A Big Thank You to the Presenters

Well another tying season has come to a close except for the special session for the group heading to Parkland Region of Manitoba. We tied an incredible variety of trout patterns for both lakes and moving water during the 13 sessions. I would like to thank the following presenters:

Evan Ritchie

Dr. Bill Young

Bob Vanderwater

Doug Cook

Roy Saunders

Reid Stoyberg

Doug Pullen

Les Kolibaba

Phil Rowley

Jock MacKenzie

Byron Stearns

We have an incredible amount of knowledge within Central Alberta Fly Tyers. As many of you know, Karen and I are in travel mode next year and the club will have to carry on with some new leadership for the year. As the school year winds down we will endeavor to help get the group organized for next year.

Do get out and enjoy our waters. Find some new waters to fish this year and if you can, take a youngster out and introduce them to fly fishing.

I will be adding posts onto the Central Alberta Fly Tyers' Blog with great patterns and information that might be of some use to our group. Do check back often.

Bob and Karen

Monday March 15, 2010

Hi Everybody!

Doug DeWitt was our guest tyer tonight. Doug taught 20 tyers how to tie both a Green Drake dry fly and a Green Drake nymph. Doug encouraged us to consider this style of tying for the other "drakes" by adjusting hook size and dubbing. Grey drakes in size 12 and brown drakes in size 8 can be made with this pattern. Doug likes a deer hair wing because it doesn't spin, a proper sized and positioned tail to help with floatation and a hackle that is properly trimmed so the fly rides upright. The green drake nymph is basically made from the most important natural tying material we have, peacock herl.

You can tell that Doug developed these patterns after plenty of field testing. These patterns will definitely be in my fly box. Bring on the Green Drake hatch!

Thanks for leading our last session of the year Doug. A very enjoyable evening.

Doug DeWitt

The Gang Concentrating on their Drake Patterns

Green Drake Dry

Hook: Size 10 -2X Dry fly

Tail: 4 Microfibbets

Wing Deer hair

Body: Light olive

Rib: 6/0 Green Thread

Hackle: Ginger

Green Drake Nymph

Hook: Size 10 2 x dry fly

Tail: (not shown here) Black rubber

Body: Peacock herl

Rib: copper wire

Thorax: Peacock herl

Monday, March 8, 2010

Monday March 8, 2010

I recall speaking with Doug Cook at Beaver Lake in early November. Beaver Lake was already 50% encased in ice. We were still out there hanging leeches under indicators and catching some nice rainbows while adorned in our winter wear. I casually mentioned to Doug that he should consider leading a tying session. Well, tonight 25 tyers took in Doug's session. He taught us how to construct an articulated leech. The "bag" had 2 hooks, a rabbit strip, a cone head, 25 pound backing and a needle. Hmmm, this looks interesting. After a lot of steps that included sewing, gluing, measuring, and generally holding your jaw just right, the entire gang successfully tied this gigantic leech. The neat thing about this leech is the position of the hook at the back of the leech attached to 25 pound backing. The free flowing rabbit strip will certainly attract big fish. Once hooked, fish have no lever to help them get off. This pattern, I know, will spur some extra tying by the guys, Doug. Great job!

A special welcome to Tracey Birch. New tyers are always welcome.

Next week is our final tying session. Doug DeWitt is our final guest tyer of the season. Doug loves to construct small flies so bring your glasses!

Doug Cook

Phil, you just have to stitch the backing up the rabbit strip! Whhhaaatt?

Articulated Leech

Trailer hook: Mustad 3906B size 4 with the eye cut off

Front hook: Size 6- Mustad 37140 with the back half of the hook cut away

Body: Black or brown rabbit zonker strip

Cone: Large

Collar: Black or brown hackle

Sewing material: 25 pound white backing colored brown or black depending on the color of the rabbit strip

Thread: Black or brown 3/0

Friday, March 5, 2010

Now that is a Brown Trout

World Record Brown caught in the Manistee River, 41.45 lbs and 43.75 inches long. (Michigan, USA)

P.S. I am not a big fan of the grippers used on the brown trout.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Stream Weaver Flies

In 1997, I bought my first fly rod from Stream Weaver Fly Shop right behind the Ice Cream Shop at the top of the Ross Street hill. That was the start of my fly fishing and now the sport has evolved into a passion that I certainly would not have anticipated back then. My buddy Jay got me started. Bob Edens, owner of Stream Weaver Flies, set me up with a 5 weight rod, reel and line for $150.

Bob Eden's Fly Shop is now in his garage about 3 blocks further east of the location behind the Ice Cream shop. As you can see from the photos below, Stream Weaver Flies is alive and well in Red Deer. Bob carries everything that you might want for fly tying or he will bring it in for you. His garage is extremely well stocked and he has kept quite current with recent materials that have have been made available to fly tyers.

Bob is more than glad to open up the shop. You can give him a call and drop by. Call him at 403-343-8699 or e-mail Bob at bedens@shaw.ca . The shop is located at 3829-50A Street. Do call before you drop over.

Head here: Stream Weaver Flies to see Bob's web site.

Watch out though. Bob Edens loves to talk about fly fishing. He is extremely devoted to the sport.

Bob Edens and Doug Pullen

Monday, March 1, 2010

Monday March 1, 2010

Hi Everybody!

Les Kolibaba was our presenter tonight. Les taught 17 tyers how to construct a Devil Bug, the Wet/Dry fly and a black midge.

The Devil Bug's origins can be traced back to the early 1900's in the eastern United States. Gary Borger rejuvenated the pattern in the late 1980s. He loved to use it during heavy caddis hatches on the Bow River, the Big Horn and the Missouri River (in Montana). Its a very effective pattern, especially with selective trout.

The Wet/Dry Fly is also a Gary Borger pattern that he developed for heavy mayfly hatches to take picky trout even on the most difficult flat water situations. It is a very versatile pattern that can be fished as either a dry or wet fly. It matches the emergent mayfly. It also can be swung near the bottom of a river or in the surface film as a dry fly/cripple.

The black midge is another small fly that will be useful during midge hatches. Have several of these tied in size 20 for the Bow for late in February, early March.

Great job Les. You did a great job teaching us three useful patterns.

Next week Doug Cook is our guest presenter. See you then!