Central Alberta Fly Tying Club: February 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

Dragons and a Prince with Evan Ritchie

Hi Everybody!

Twenty one keen fly tyers braved another frigid night to take in Evan Ritchie's fly tying session. Evan is one of the original members of the fly tying group that began many years ago as an exclusive group. Over the last 20 years the group has evolved into a rather diverse group of fly tyers. Luckily Evan kept the group going almost single handed for several years. He has taught a lot of people how to tie flies, including me.

Tonight, Evan showed us a dragon pattern made mainly from foam. This dragon pattern needs to be fished with either a full sink line or a sink tip. The second pattern is a variation on a prince nymph. It is a variation that will work great in either a lake or river. We tied the prince nymph variant both as a straight nymph and as a soft hackle.

Thanks Evan for the two excellent patterns.

Next week, Larry Prowse is our guest instructor.

Remember that the International Fly Fishing Film Festival is next Thursday March the 6th at Carnival Theatre. The films look excellent this year. Get your tickets on line right here! The IF4 Film Festival should be an excellent evening. Josh Nugent will be here as well!

Foam Dragon Nymph

Hook: Size 8 to 12 3XL dry fly hook

Thread: Olive 8/0

Eyes: Bead Chain (make them bright)

Body: Foam

Thorax: Olive Dubbing

Legs: Rubber

Prince Nymph Variation

Hook: TMC 200R sizes 8 to 12

Bead: Orange 1/8 to 7/64ths

Thread: Olive 8/0

Tail: Tan goose biots

Rib: Small gold wire

Body: Olive antron

Wing: White goose biots

Thorax: Peacock herl

Hackle: (optional) Partridge

Monday, February 10, 2014

Tying an Articulated Fly

We tied just one fly tonight BUT it had 54 steps to get the job done. Yes we made a mess, yes 20 fly tyers had a great time creating their own version of Kelly Galloup's famous articulating fly called the Sex Dungeon. Why the crazy name, I believe it got its name because there is a lot going on in this fly. The basics of the fly are not too tough until it is time to spin on the deer hair and then trim to make a deer hair head that will "push" water. This fly will catch big bulls, browns on the Bow River and of course toothy critters like pike!

The version we tied tonight was modified slightly by Charlie Craven. Here is an excellent step by step tutorial of how to put the Sex Dungeon together.

Take a look right here to see one version of a Sex Dungeon.

Some tiers avoid the use of rabbit hair. Here is another version.

We missed seeing Josh Nugent tonight. Josh is at the bedside of a very sick friend. Family and friends always rule. Take care Josh! We hope to see you at the vice here in Red Deer another time!

Remember that next week is Family Day and there is no tying. Our next session is two weeks away when Evan Ritchie is our guest tyer! See you then!

Great advice from Evan tonight is to lightly spray some static guard on your deer hair. It will make it easier to spin on the hook! Great idea Evan!

Here is an excellent finished Sex Dungeon from Bill Young. Nice job on the deer hair head Bill!

Taryn was a bit shocked at the name of the fly but she did a great job! Deer hair is not easy to spin for the first time.

Using a double edged razor blade to trim the deer hair.

Building the second half of this articulated fly!

Time for the fly to get a hair cut!

Friday, February 7, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014

Brilliant Balanced Flies

Hi Everybody!

Today we took another look at balanced flies. Jerry McBride from the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club in Spokane would be thrilled to see all the new ideas that have evolved from his original concept of presenting leeches in horizontally in the water under a strike indicator.

We looked at different construction ideas including a double balanced system so you can hang two balanced flies on the same set up or dangle a chironomid under a balanced leech instead of above it.

Below is an example of this double system. It can also be tied using a streamer hook (e.g. 9672) with the shank of a jig hook on top of the shank and one below. I saw Evan Ritchie and Don Andersen playing around with these ideas in the past.

If you want to purchase tungsten beads, regular beads as well as a variety of tying materials at a great price, visit the Canadian Llama Company!

We also looked at some great pattern ideas.

I want to extend positive thoughts to Les Kolibaba and his family from all of us at the Central Alberta Fly Tying group!

Next week Josh Nugent will be joining us from Calgary. Josh is a guide and television host. He spends lots of time guiding on the Bow River and southern Alberta. I have seen Josh hosting Fly Nation television shows in the Caribbean, Spain, Southern Alberta and Northern Saskatchewan. It will be a neat evening of fly tying!

Lastly the IF4 Film festival has changed their date in Red Deer. It will now be screened on Thursday March 6th at Carnival Theatre. If you have already bought a ticket, it will be honoured at the door!

Bob