Finishing off Your Fly, ...Tie Off Techniques...from Renzetti

Micro Leeches and Ice Minnows (using Brill)

Tonight was all about micro leeches and ice minnows using brill. It was our last tying session of the year and the 24 tyers who came out in a spring snow storm, came away with 5 flies that they can certainly use on their favourite lakes. We started off tying the BMW (Brians Marabou Wriggler) designed by Brian Chan. This is his top micro leech that he likes to cast into the wind and let drift back to the boat. We then tied my go to leech, Glen's Leech. I use this leech more than any other leech pattern. We also tied a Micro Leech that is big just south of our border. It really doesn't have a name but it is a fish catcher. We then shifted gears and tied Bob Morensky's Ice Minnow followed by Rick Miyauchi's,  Kismet, a fly Rick has developed for early and late in the season.

Tonight was our final tying session of the season. The 16 sessions we had this year are thanks to the presenters from within our group who share their flies and knowledge. We all learn a great deal from each other, that is the strength of our group!

Remember that we are going to try to have a special presentation in about two weeks from Josh Nugent about hosted trips that we as club could get involved in! Stay tuned for the date!

Finally if you are interested in casting lessons, drop a note to either Troy at TC Outfitters or me. If there is enough interest, we will get things organized.

Lastly if you are willing to share some of your adventures, drop me an e-mail and I will post your pictures on the blog!

Have a great upcoming fly fishing season.

BMW (Brian's Marabou Wriggler) Brian Chan originator

Hook: Mustad C49S size 12 and 14

Bead: Gold 7/64ths

Tail Claret Marabou with red flahabou

Body: Claret marabou

Rib: Small red wire

Glen's Leech

Hook: Mustad C49S size 10-14

Tail: Black Pine Squirrel

Body: Black marabou

Rib: Small red wire

Bead: Entice Red 3/32 Cone with 8 wraps of 0.0015 wire

Baby Damsel  (Brian Chan originator)

Hook: C49s sizes 12 -14

Bead: Gold 7/64ths

Tail: Olive marabou

Body: Olive marabou

Rib: Gold wire

Ice Minnow (Bob Morensky originator)

Hook: Daiich 4640 jig hook sizes 10-12

Thread: Red 8/0

Bead: Mounted on a sequin pin 7/64ths or 1/8th tungsten

Tail: Black marabou

Body: Silver chenille and silver brill twisted in a rope
Rib (optional): Small red wire

Las Vegas Balanced Leech with Brill

Hook: Daiich 4640 jig hook sizes 10-12

Thread: Olive8/0

Bead: Mounted on a sequin pin 7/64ths or 1/8th tungsten

Tail: Black marabou

Body: Olive chenille and olive brill twisted in a rope

Midnight Fire Balanced Leech with Brill

Hook: Daiich 4640 jig hook sizes 10-12

Thread: Red 8/0

Bead: Mounted on a sequin pin 7/64ths or 1/8th tungsten

Tail: Black marabou

Body: Midnight Fire chenille and black brill twisted in a rope

Montana Micro Leech

Hook: TMC 200R sizes 14-16

Bead: 3/32nds gold

Tail: Olive marabou

Body: Black Peacock Ice Dub

Collar: Aftershaft feather or olive partridge

Kismet (Rick Miyauchi originator)

Hook: Daiich 4640 jig size 14

Bead: Orange tungsten 7/64ths mounted on a sequin pin

Tail: Black marabou

Body: olive-brown micro chenille

Evan Ritchie donated this book as a draw prize for one of the presenters. The winner was Darren Petersen!

Fly Fishing during the Fall in the Parkland Region of Manitoba

Get a coffee and enjoy watching Phil Rowley show the effectiveness of balanced flies in the Parkland Region of Manitoba!

Three Flies Using Hares Ears Dubbing with Larry Prowse

Larry Prowse was our guest tyer on Monday night! The theme was three nymphs using hares ear dubbing. The 17 fly tyers learned to properly use a hares mask to select dubbing for the patterns. All three patterns will be very useful out on the rivers. The Peeping Caddis is a very innovative pattern that runs upside down. The Hares Ear Prince Nymph has been a real winner out on our Eastern Slopes rivers and the Guides Choices Hares Ear is and excellent suggestive pattern using a soft hackle collar! Thanks Larry for a very informative fly tying session! Special thanks to Doug Pullen for the pictures from tonight's session!

Next Monday is our final session of the season. The theme will be micro leeches. See you then!

Peeping Caddis

Hook: 2 XL nymph hook sizes #10-16 or a jig hook

Thread: UTC 70 tan

Tail/Head: Ultra chenille, floss, yarn, ...burn tip

Legs: Partridge or mottled hen

Body: UV2 caddis nymph dubbing, squirrel or natural hare ears dubbing

Weight/Front: Split shot crimped onto 10 pound mono

Hare Ear Prince Nymph

Hook: Curved nymph sizes #10 to #16

Tail: Hare Mask Fibers

Rib: Gold wire or tinsel

Body: Lighter hares ear dubbing

Thorax: Darker hares ear dubbing

Wing: White biots

Bead: Gold

Guide's Choice Hares Ear

Hook: TMC 3761 #12-18

Thread: UTC 70 Red (for hot spot)

Tail: Hares Mask

Body: Tan dubbing

Rib: Gold wire or tinsel

Thorax: Peacock herl

Flashback/Casing: Pearl tinsel

Collar: Partridge

Bead: Gold or lead wire substitute

Bob Scammell's Thoughts about the Upcoming Fishing Season

...click on the article to make it larger

Early Season in Southern Alberta

Byron and his brother Nathan headed to the Crownest Pass yesterday to fly fish. Byron told me that the usual early season wind in the pass was rocking but they managed to find some excellent places to  fly fish. Byron said that they did not catch huge numbers but they did catch several quality fish that were absolutely gorgeous and had both of them into their backing. The San Juan Worm and a size 18 caddis pupa were working for the guys. They even tagged a nice bull trout on the tiny caddis pupa!

What I loved about their day is two brothers spending the day together! We get caught up in our lives in the rush of day to day reality. When we escape for a few days with friends and family, those precious hours become very special! 

Way to go Byron and Nathan!

Skinny Chironomids with Bernie Peet

Bernie Peet was our guest presenter tonight. Bernie loves to fly fish with chironomids and tonight he took the time to show us several techniques that we all can apply to our chironomids when we are at the vice. As you can see from Bernie's chironomid boxes, he emphasizes slim profiles on his chironomid pupa patterns. The 22 tyers who took in Bernie's presentation were challenged to keep the profile of their chironomids slim, tapered and well proportioned!

Next week, Larry Prowse is our guest tyer. See you then!

Bernie Peet

General Techniques:

Use a bead size slightly smaller than normal for the hook size, for example use a 3/32nd bead rather than a 7/64th bead for a size 12 hook.

Use a thin, flat thread, Bernie suggests using 70 denier Ultra Thread.

Spin thread anti-clockwise to flatten.

Use thin materials such as flashabou, thin tinsels, holographic tinsels and mylar. Bernie prefers flat mylar or flashabou body to create translucence. A fine silver or red wire rib can go over the mylar if a flat rib is not used under the mylar.

The narrow materials can be used to give a segmented effect, for example the main body colour can be wound with gaps so that the thread colour shows through and then the ribbing wound on.

Use minimal thread wraps to tie in materials.

Be very precise about wrapping the thread to create a narrow tapered body.

Remember that the finished fly will be thicker when clear coating is added (e.g. UV resin).

Tying:

Bernie likes to use curved midge hooks, e.g. Daiichi 1130, but also use curved nymph hooks. When using curved midge hooks, the tying thread can be taken quite far around the bend as the body is so thin at the back, it will not impede setting the hook.

Bernie prefers white antron for the gills.

The key to getting the right profile is to take your time and build the body slowly, with the thread laid on in touching turns. If a lamp develops, unwind the thread and redo!

If the pattern has a thorax, form a slim thorax first before tying in cheeks and/or thorax cover, the build up the required final profile before securing those materials behind the bead.

Make sure the UV resin or other clear coating is not put on too thickly as it will make the surface uneven. The profile of the chironomid will also be too thick.

Black and Red

Hook: Daiichi 1130, size 12-16

Thread: Ultra 70 denier black or 8/0 Uni

Bead: 3/32nd, pearl (smaller sizes for size 16)

Body: Black or Gunmedal Flashabou

Rib 1: Red Flashabou or fine red tinsel

Rib2: Silver Flashabou or fine holographic tinsel

Green and Red

Hook: Daiichi 1130, size 12-16

Thread: Ultra 70 denier fluorescent green, or 8/0 Uni

Bead: 3/32nd, pearl (smaller for size 16)

Body: Fluorescent green thread

Rib: Red Flashabou or fine red holographic tinsel

Overbody: Pearl Mylar

Thorax: (Optional) Peacock herl

Flashback Black and Yellow

Hook: Daiichi 1130, size 12-16

Thread: Ultra 70 denier black or 8/0 Uni

Bead: 3/32nd, nickel (smaller sizes for size 16)

Gills: White Antron or Unistretch

Body: Black Thread

Rib: Pearl Flashabou or Mirage Opal Tinsel

Thorax: Black thread

Cheeks: Orange Goose Biots, or orande/yellow stretch floss

Thorax cover: Opal Mylar, medium

Blackberry (John Kent originator)

Hook: Daiichi 1130, size 12-16

Thread: Ultra 70 denier black or 8/0 Uni

Bead: Black nickel 

Gills: Unistretch

Underbody: Black thread

Overbody: Cranberry Buzzer Wrap

Rib: Small Black Wire

Thorax: Black Thread

Bernie Showing the gang several chironomid techniques.

That is one small slim blood worm Rick!

Darren Made it to the Bow River!

Darren Petersen "got on his horse" and hiked a good stretch down from Policeman's Flats on the Bow River. He was had a lot of success nymphing. The weather has certainly allowed for some pleasant early season fly fishing!

Balanced Possibilities with Phil Rowley's Bruised Leech

I enjoy playing around with a tried and true combination and trying some variations. Below you can see Phil Rowley's highly successful Balanced Bruised Leech tied three slightly different ways. Which one do I tie on first? ...the Ruby Eyed Balanced Bruised Leech!

Balanced Bruised Leech #1

Hook: Knapek Jig Hook Size 10

Thread: Black 8/0

Bead: 1/8th tungsten gold

Tail: Black Marabou

Body: Black/Blue Semi Seal spun with a dubbing loop on small red ultrawire

Balanced Bruised Leech #2

Hook: Knapek Jig Hook Size 10

Thread: Black 8/0

Bead: 1/8th tungsten rainbow

Tail: Black Marabou

Body: Black/Blue Semi Seal spun with a dubbing loop on small red ultra wire

Balanced Bruised Leech #3:Ruby Eyed Balanced

Hook: Knapek Jig Hook Size 10

Thread: Black 8/0

Bead: red silver lined glass with 5/32nd tungsten cone head

Tail: Black Marabou

Body: Black/Blue Semi Seal spun with a dubbing loop