Central Alberta Fly Tying Club: February 2015

Monday, February 23, 2015

Hi Everybody!

My buddy, Rick Miyauchi, was our guest presenter tonight. Rick showed us a very unique way to use an attractor type fly along with a subdued drab fly as a team of flies. The aggressive fish will strike the attractor fly while the cautious trout will take the more subtle fly. By using the 60 degree jig hooks, you can fish these flies in tandem. The heavier fly is the point fly and the lighter fly is the dropper.

As you can see below, the dropper is fished above the point fly in this set up. Rick has tried this set up a lot in the last year with a lot of success!

Next week, Doug Pullen is our guest instructor. Doug has requested that you bring along UTC 70 denier black and 70 denier olive thread.

Making a balanced Leech with a mottled look!

Mottled Balanced Leech

Hook: Daiichi 4640 or Hanak H 400 series Jig Hook size 10

Thread: Black 8/0

Pin: Sequin pin

Tail: Burnt Orange and Black Marabou

Body: Burnt Orange and Black Marabou

Rib: Brown Small Wire

Bead: 1/8 tungsten

Balanced Point Fly

Hook: Daiichi 4640 or Hanak H 400 series Jig Hook size 10

Thread: Olive 8/0

Tail: Mottled Tan Marabou

Body: UV Polar Micro Chenille Olive/Brown

Hot Spot: Chartreuse Thread

The Blob

Hook: Daiichi 4640 or Hanak H 400 series Jig Hook size 10 or 8

Thread: Color to match Fritz of the body

Tail: Flashabou

Body: Fritz

Why the ultimate boatmen below. They were prizes. Rick decided to reward the outstanding flies that were tied tonight with a prize of an ultimate boatman. Well the impartial judge had a great time deciding who would win these coveted Jennings Boatmen. Everybody's flies looked great. The judge's decision was FINAL!

Proposed Angling Changes for the Upcoming Season

Take a look right here:

http://esrd.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/fisheries-management/documents/Proposed2015AnglingChanges-Nov28-2014.pdf

Bob

Monday, February 9, 2015

Tying Dry Flies and Emergers Using Seal with Bernie Peet

Hi Everybody!

Well the library was full again with keen fly tyers who took in Bernie Peet's presentation about tying dry flies and emergers using seal as the main body material. Bernie took the time to show us how to manage a material that can be rather unruly and tough to tie flies with. Many of us use seal or a semi-seal to tie leeches. Bernie showed us that seal is a very worthy dry fly material as well! Several of the patterns we tied tonight can be used to imitate emerging chironomids. The Carrot Fly, tied with a larger hook, could also be used to imitate a travelling sedge or caddis!

Thanks Bernie for showing use how to use seal as an emerger and dry fly material. Great idea! Enjoy your upcoming trip!

Next week is Family Day and there is no fly tying. Enjoy the holiday. The week after, Rick Miyauchi is our guest tyer. See you then!

Bob's Bits (Bob Worts)

Hook: 10-14, dry fly, 1x

Thread: To suit body colour, 8/0.

Body: Seals fur, red, green, black or olive (original was green).

Rib: Fine gold wire (optional).

Wing: White cock hackle fibres (optional).

Hackle: Brown cock

Carrot fly (John Horsey)

Hook: Size 10-14, dry fly, 1x

Thread: Brown or orange, 8/0

Body: Bright orange seal's fur

Rib: (optional) Fine gold wire

Hackle: Brown cock

Claret Bob's Bits

Hook: 10-14, dry fly, 2x

Thread: Black or maroon, 8/0

Body: Claret seal's fur

Legs: Knotted pheasant tail (optional)

Rib: Pearl Mylar (fine)

Hackle: Brown cock

Bob's Bits Bibio Emerger ( after Davie McPhail)

Hook: Dry fly, 10-14, 2x

Thread: Black, 8/0

Rib: Pearl thread or Mylar

Body: Black seal's fur

Legs: Black and red knotted pheasant tail, or natural (optional)

Loop Wing: 2-3 Natural cul de canard feathers

Thorax: Red and black seal's fur

Friday, February 6, 2015

Teaching Fly Tying to the Next Generation of Fly Fishers

Bruce Tilbrook has taken the time to teach his grandkids the joy of both fly fishing and now tying their own flies. As you can see, the kids are having a great time. I love the concentration on their faces. Both kids are quite into tying some flies for this years fly fishing adventures with both Dad and Grandpa Bruce!

Makynna, Bruce's granddaughter, decided to teach her Dad how to tie a fly. Her coaching included lots of wisdom that was passed on by grandpa. I can just picture Makynna reminding her dad to replace the lid on the head cement after using it. "No Dad, not too much! Just a little bit of cement after each step!" were some of the suggestions Makynna gave her Dad! ....and finally, "Now just clip the extra parts that don't look right!" ...great coaching Makynna!

Passing on our passion for a sport to the younger generation keeps our sport alive to be enjoyed by many others over the years.

Well done Bruce.

I wonder how Dad's fly looked?

Noah is quite proud of his flies! They look like fish catchers too!

Makynna perfecting whip finishing her flies!

Monday, February 2, 2015

An Evening with Evan Ritchie

Hi Everybody!

Evan Ritchie was our guest fly tyer tonight and he showed us how to tie three excellent fly patterns. Two very unique patterns and a very reliable BWO Thorax pattern that can easily be used to also tie Tricos.

Over the years Evan has been the glue that has kept the fly tying club together. He has taught us all some great patterns and tonight was no exception! The unique chironomid tied with moose main, and a damsel pattern that uses larva lace as a body material made for some interesting fish catching patterns.

Thanks Evan for the neat patterns.

Next week, Bernie Peet is our guest tyer. I am already looking forward to his presentation!

Evan Ritchie

Damsel with Larva Lace Body!

Hook: C53S Mustad #10-12

Thread: Olive 8/0

Tail: Pheasant tail threaded through Larva Lace

Body: Larva Lace, Olive or Yellow with flashabou

Wing Case: Stretch floss, Olive

Thorax: Olive dubbing

Place the tail material in the loop and pull through the Larva Lace

Great fly tying tool to pull tails through the Larva Lace Body!

Mr. Moose Chironomid

Hook: C53S #12-14

Thread: Olive 8/0

Body: Moose Main, alternating brown and white fibers

Thorax: White Ostrich

Bead: Olive, White or Orange glass

BWO Thorax

Hook: Standard dry fly #16-22

Tail: Coq de Leon

Body: Green Antron

Hackle: Grizzly

Everybody was comparing their flies tonight!

How do you pull that tail through the Larva Lace?

Rick was quite excited when the size 18 hooks came out for the BWO's!

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Euro Nymphing with Phil Rowley

It has become a tradition to have Phil Rowley spend the day with our gang in the Central Alberta Fly Tying Club, teaching us about a variety of fly fishing techniques and how to tie the flies that go with it! Yesterday was the 8th all day workshop that Phil did for our club. The theme was Euro Nymphing. On several trips to Red Deer, Phil has brought a snow storm along with him and this year was no exception. We had a few "no shows" because of the weather although 24 tyers made it out to take in another fabulous, comprehensive workshop. As usual, it was a "hands on" workshop where everybody learned how to tie several euro nymphing flies, build their own slinkys (indicators), how to fly fish with a "train" of nymphs, learn to set up their terminal tackle and look at the fly rods one uses for euro nymphing!

Thanks Phil for braving the storm to spend the weekend in Central Alberta. We also owe Patsy, Phil's wife a huge thank you for preparing many of the materials we used in the fly tying portion of the weekend!

The weekend started with Pub Night. The weather was miserable but the turn out was fabulous. Way to go those of you who were able to make it!

Yes we do have Fly Tying Monday on February 2nd. Evan Ritchie is our guest tyer! See you there!

Phil Euro Nymphing on the Eastern Slopes of Alberta

We still had a great turn out despite the weather!

Phil is a master at teaching fly tying on camera!

Polish Woven Nymph

Hook: Curved Scud Hook (#8-#12) Weighted

Thread: Color to compliment Body/Thorax

Rib: Small UTC Wire to Match Bead

Body: Woven Embroidery Yarn, One Light Color and One Dark Color

Thorax: Arizona Synthetic Dubbing

Bead: Tungsten

Czech Nymph

Hook: Curved Scud Hook (#8-#12) Weighted

Thread: Color to compliment Body/Thorax

Shellback: Scudback or Shrimp Foil

Rib#1 Mirage Opal Mylar, Pearlescent Flashabou, or Krinkle Mirror Flash

Rib#2: 3X or 4X Mono

Body: Dubbing or Dubbing Brush

Frenchie (Lance Egan)

Hook: 2xl Nymph (#12-#16)

Thread: Hot Orange

Tail: Mottled Hen or Coq De Leon Fibres

Rib: Gold Wire

Body: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Thorax: Ice Dubbing Hot Pink or Hot Orange

Bead: Gold Tungsten

Rainbow Warrior

Hook: Curved Scud (#12-#16)

Thread: Red

Tail: Mottled hen or Pheasant Tail Fibers

Body: Mirage Opal Mylar

Wingcase: Mirage Opal Mylar

Thorax: Sow Scud Dubbing (Rainbow)

Tungsten Torpedo

Hook: 2xl Nymph (#12-#16)

Thread: Olive

Tail: Mottled hen or Coq De Leon Fibres

Rib #1: Gold Wire

Rib #2: Black Flashabou or Sulky Thread

Body: Olive Thread

Thorax: Arizona Synthetic Peacock (Bronze)

Bead: Gold Tungsten

CDC Red Tag
(Watch Phil tie Andy Larkin's CDC Red Tag)

Hook: Up Eye Jig Hook #12-#16

Thread: 8/0 or 70 Denier, Black

Tail: Daytum Globrite Floss #4 (Fire Orande)

Rib: Red Wire

Body: Arizona Synthetic Peacock, Bronze Peacock Spectra Dub #45 or Peacock Dyed Red

Collar: Natural CDC

Bead: Slotted Silver or Metallic Pink Tungsten

E.N.T. Girdle Bug

Hook: 90 Degree Eye Eye Jig Hook #8-#6

Thread: Color to Match Body

Tail: Superfloss, or Sezy Floss

Body: Varigated Chenille, Medium

legs: Superfloss, or Sezy Floss

Eyes: Eyes n Tubes Y-Tube

Hydrophysche

Hook: Curved Scud Hook (#8-#12) Weighted

Thread: Color to compliment Body/Thorax

Shellback: Scudback (Tan or Olive)

Tails: UV2 Grizzly Saddle (Olive or Tan)

Rib#1 Mirage Opal Mylar, Pearlescent Flashabou, or Krinkle Mirror Flash

Rib#2: 3X or 4X Mono

Body: Ostrich Herl (Olive or Tan)

Thorax: Arizona Synthetic Dubbing (Olive or Brown)

Vladi Worm

Hook: Daiich 1870 Larva Hook (weighted)

Thread: Pink, Red or Orange

Rib: 3X or 4X Mono

Shellback: Mirage Opal Mylar, Medium

Body: Pink Latex

Th famous Vladi Worm is made from Crown Condoms!

Silvia and Doug constructing their nymphs!

Flat lead is a great way to add weight to nymphs that you want to to "get down deep" quickly!

Weighing your nymphs can be important so you can ensure your flies are at the right depth!

The Gang Tying their Nymphs!

The slinky system that is very much like a strike indicator when Euro Nymphing can be easily constructed with bright monofilment wrapped on wooden doweling or something round (like plastic tubing), then it is boiled and finally frozen. The final effect is the bungy looking line that will act as your indicator!