Central Alberta Fly Tying Club: December 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Information about the Fly Tying Workshop with Phil Rowley

Hi Everybody!

Here is some valuable information about the fly tying workshop with Phil Rowley that starts at 9 am on January 7th at Mattie McCullough School. The school is located on Lawford Avenue. Travel east on 32nd Street until you get to the very end of the street (its almost 6 km from Highway 2). You will pass Hunting Hills High School as you travel east on 32nd Street. There is a traffic light right at the far east end of 32nd Street. When you get the end of 32nd Street, turn right and the school is immediately on your right. Use the front door!

The coffee will be on from 8:30 am. Come early and visit!

We will order pizza. If you prefer to bring your own lunch, feel free to do so! We will have coffee, water and juice at the workshop.

The workshop will continue until 4 ish!

If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me!

Bob

...here is a note from Phil

I have all of the materials and Patsy and I just have to sort them into the various sample packs for everyone. I will put 30 together per fly pattern.

In addition to their tying vise and basic tools, bobbin, scissors etc. the students will need to ensure they have a few things on hand specific to this class.

· Fine sewing needle
· Exacto Knife or small utility knife for cutting foam
· Gel Control Superglue from Loctite, it can’t be the runny stuff we use for chironomids. It needs to be viscous so it doesn’t flow.
· White, Olive, Black, Hot Orange and Brown 6/0 tying thread. Try to avoid 8/0 as it isn’t the best choice for foam.

Monday, December 19, 2011

December 19th, 2011 Cool Caddis Patterns

Hi Everybody!

Larry Prowse was our guest tyer tonight. Larry taught 32 students 4 cool caddis patterns. Three of the fly patterns were introduced for fishing on Montana rivers and spring creeks. None of the patterns use hackle which allows the patterns to ride right in the surface water. All of these patterns are quite straight forward. The use of antron and z-lon makes tying these patterns quite quick to construct. You can tie these patterns in a variety of sizes and colors. In Central Alberta, be sure to have olive and tan bodies on your caddis patterns. All 4 patterns will be effective on our rivers in Alberta. This was Larry's first time in front of the camera and he handled it like a seasoned pro! Well done Larry, great instruction tonight.

The Phil Rowley Workshop on January 7th is now FULL. The theme is "FUN with Foam."

Have a Merry Christmas everybody !

Larry Prowse

The library was full of fly tyers tonight.

LITTLE bro was showing BIG bro how to tie flies.

Iris Caddis

Hook:TMC 100 sizes 14 to 18

Thread: 8/0 color to match

Shuck: crinkled z-lon gold or amber/color to match

Body: Hares mask or antron -keep it shaggy and rough

Wing: White z-lon

Head: Hares mask or antron

Improved X-Caddis

Hook: TMC 100 sizes 12 to 20

Thread: 8/0 color to match

Shuck: crinkled z-lon gold or amber/color to match

Rib: pearl UV light crystal flash

Body: Hares mask or antron -keep it shaggy and rough

Underwing: White Z-Lon

Wing: Carabou hair or deer hair

Head: same as body material

Crystal Serendipity

Hook: TMC 2487 sizes 14 to 18

Thread: 8/0 Tan

Body: 2 to 4 strands of pearl crystal flash

Rib: small gold wire

Wing: Deer hair

Balloon Caddis

Hook: standard dry fly hook sizes 12 to 18

Thread: 8/0 color to match

Abdomen: antron/rabbit mix or natural hares ear

Thorax: Same as abdomen

Wing: Deer hair

Head: foam- you can use a variety of colors

Monday, December 12, 2011

Monday December 12th, 2011 Tying Large and Small

Hi Everybody!

Les Kolibaba was our guest tyer tonight. We split into two tying groups. Evan Ritchie did a lesson on basic skills for the gang who needed a lesson/refresher to help their tying. While that was going on, Les taught the rest of the gang three cool patterns. We started off small, really small; tying a trico spinner. We tied our trico spinner quite large although we should all be prepared to tie them size 20 and even smaller. That means Bernie is going to need three pairs of glasses on his nose. We then tied a very cool salmon fly that closely resembled a Gartside Leech. Finally the group tied a Marabou Jig. Les did a great job teaching us these neat patterns. Thanks again Les.

We have 3 spots left for the Phil Rowley "Fun with Foam" workshop that will occur on January 7th.

Next week, Larry Prowse is our guest tyer. Our theme is caddis patterns. See you then!

Les Kolibaba

Doug is evaluating Bernie's progress. His body fur collar looks good, right Doug?

Betty and Phil comparing their streamers.

Taking care of the basics.

Trico Spinner

Hook: standard dry fly hook sizes 16 to 24

Tail: 2 microfibetts

Body: thread-black or brown 8/0

Wing: white polypropylene

Shellback: craft foam/ethafoam

Popsicle Salmon Fly

Hook: salmon hook size 2

Tag: silver mylar

collar 1: body fur

Body: marabou (3 plums)

black/red crystal flash

Collar 2: cross cut rabbit fur

Marabou Jig

Hook: Small jig hook

Tail: Black and red crystal flash

Body: Two marabou feathers

Monday, December 5, 2011

Monday December 5th, 2011 Two Essential British Columbia Lake Flies

Hi Everybody!

It was a full house again tonight to take in Dr. Bill Young's fly tying session. Bill taught the group "Two Essential B.C. Lake Flies". I had to smile when Bill taught us how to tie a Tom Thumb. It was the first fly I ever tied and I was ALL THUMBS. Bill reminded us that A.K. Best always believed that you have to tie 20 to 30 flies of a select pattern before you get good at it. Getting the perfect sense of quantity of materials and proportion can be challenging. Bill's Green and Gold Fly is definitely going to be a welcome addition to my fly box. The Green and Gold could represent a damsel nymph. Thanks for sharing these two fly patterns with us, Bill!

The Phil Rowley Workshop on January 7th is almost full. Contact Bob if you want to take in the workshop.

Next week, Les Kolibaba is our guest tyer. See you then!