All Day Fly Tying Workshop with Phil Rowley

This is a workshop you do not want to miss! Drop me a note to sign up:

bob.vanderwater@rdpsd.ab.ca

Attractors and Stillwater Callibaetis with Larry Prowse

Larry Prowse was our guest instructor on Monday evening here at TC Outfitters. 23 fly tyers learned to tie three excellent patterns. Curtis Fry developed an excellent stillwater callibaetis pattern called the Deep Dish Callibaetis. The two toned look of this pattern is a winner in the spring!  We then tied the Chimera which has a very interesting "trigger point," the tell tale orange bead! Give this fly some movement under an indicator, and you will get some action! Finally, we tied Frosty the Snowman! It is an oversized Lightening Bug and works well on getting the attention of aggressive brown trout! Add a dropper to Frosty for excellent results!

Thanks Larry for an excellent tying session!

This is our last tying session until January 8th where we will have a special presentation on a trip to the Arctic that 5 of us took. More details will follow!

Finally we have 15 signed up for the Phil Rowley Workshop on February 3rd. We need 10 more tyers to make it a go! It is a stillwater workshop that will focus on all aspects of stillwater fly fishing. The cost is $40!

Have a very Merry Christmas everybody! See you in 2018!

Deep Dish Callibaetis (Curtis Fry)

Hook: C49S size 10-18

Bead: 1/8 gold

Thread: UTC tan 8/0

Wing Case: Brown Thin Skin, Black Holographic tinsel

Tail: Mallard Flank died Wood Duck

Rib: UTC silver, small

Overbody Shellback: Holographic Tinsel, Copper Medium

Body: Pearl Mylar(Large)

Gills: Ostrich Herl , Tan

Thorax: Hare's Ear

Legs: Crystal Flash, Root Beer

Wing Case coated with UV resin

Chimera (Curtis Fry)

Hook: C49S size 8 to 12

Thread: UTC 70 Black, 8/0

Eyes: Medium Plastic or melted

Bead: 1/8 Hot Orange

Tail: Black Hen Fibers

Body:/Thorax: UV Ice Dub, Black

Overbody: Thinskin, black

Ribbing: UTC Ultrawire, Silver

Thorax Stripe; Holographic pink tinsel

Top Coat: UV Finish

Frosty the Snowman (Hans Stephenson)

Hook: TMC 2457 #10-14

Thread: 140 Denier White or 6/0

Bead: Optional

Weight: 0.015  or 0.020

Tails: Goose Biots, White

Rib: Silver or Copper Wire

Abdomen:Pearl Mylar, 2 Strands

Wingcase: Pearl Mylar, Medium

Legs: Rubber

Thorax: Peacock or Black Ice Dub

Hoppers and Attractors

TC Outfitters was filled to capacity again with 25 fly tyers. We spent the evening tying 3 hopper/attractor patterns that will be excellent on our rivers in Central Alberta. We started off with Charlie Craven's "Charlie Boy Hopper", then tied tied a Chernobyl Ant and followed that up with a Stimulator tied with a brill body! Brill can be purchased from The Canadian Llama Company.

Next week Larry Prowse is our guest tyer. Larry would like you to bring white UTC 140 or 6/0, tan UTC 70, black UTC 70 and your UV resin and light!

Remember to drop me a note to sign up for the all day Philip Rowley Workshop on February 3rd. We have 12 signed up so far. We need 24 or so participants to make it a go! It will cost approximately $40/person.

See you next week!

Love foam hopper patterns and stimulators in the summer!

Brill Stimulator

Hook: 3XL long dry fly sizes 6 to 12

Thread: Orange or yellow UTC 8/0

Body: Brill: Orange, yellow, golden, chartreuse

Tail: Deer

Hackle: Brown and Grizzly or Cree

Wing: Deer

Charlie Boy Hopper

Hook: 3XL Dry fly Hook Sizes 8 to 12

Thread: Tan, Orange or Yellow 6/0 (maybe even 3/0)

Body: 2 mm foam, colour to suit (tan, yellow, orange )

Underwing: Wing web

Overbody: Deer

Legs: Rubber

Chernobyl Ant

Video of How to Tie

Hook: 3XL long dry fly sizes 6 to 12

Thread: Orange or Yellow UTC 8/0 or 6/0

Body: Two layers of foam-colour to suit

Legs: Rubber

A New Tying Season and a New Location, TC Outfitters! All About Semi Seal Balanced Flies

What a great start to another fly tying season. We had 30 fly tyers head to TC Outfitters tonight to learn about tying balanced flies. We had a few challenges to get up and running but we think that we have most of the problem solving figured out. We can accommodate  up to 35 fly tyers and tonight we had 28 fly tyers. Our new space is cozy but it has a lot of positives!

This week we tied a variety of balanced flies. Once the gang got the hang of how to construct the chassis of a balanced fly, everybody set to work building lots of different balanced creations. I know that the originator of the balanced fly concept, Jerry McBride, would have been smiling with all of the ideas. The main material tonight was semi seal. We concentrated on tying with Canadian Olive, Canadian Brown, Blood Leech, Black/Blue and Black/Red semi seal! Everybody got the "hang" of using a dubbing loop as well. 

The hooks and beads were ordered from the Canadian Llama Company. Kent and Amanda Govett are very reliable at getting bead orders out. They also have a wide variety of tying materials. Check them out!

Next week, we will be tying some grasshopper patterns. That will include tying a stimulator using brill, a very cool synthetic material. We will also be tying Charlie Boy Hoppers! Come on out next Monday for a fun filled evening of fly tying.

Balanced Blood Red Semi Seal Leech

Hook: Daiichi 4640 size 10 or 12

Extension for the Fly: Sequin Pin

Bead: 1/8 tungsten

Thread: Black 70 or 140 denier

Tail: Marabou or rabbit

Body: Blood Black Semi Seal

A successful dubbing loop with Canadian Olive Semi Seal

Balanced Bruised Leech

Canadian Olive Balanced Leech

Hook: Daiichi 4640 size 10 or 12

Extension for the Fly: Sequin Pin

Bead: 1/8 tungsten

Thread: Brown  70 or 140 denier

Tail: Marabou or rabbit

Body: Canadian Olive Semi Seal

A Balanced Ruby Eyed Leech

Fly Tying Mondays Start on Monday December 4th at TC Outfitters

Well the fly tying season kicks off on Monday, December 4th at TC Outfitters starting at  7 pm. We generally are all finished up at 9 pm. Remember that each session costs $3.00 per person. That covers the costs of the fly tying materials for the evening per person!

New fly tyers are always welcome!

What do you need to have along with you? Here are the basics:

• a fly tying vice
• sharp pair of scissors (you can get cheap sharp ones at Michaels for about $8
• whip finishing tool
• a bobbin or two (to hold tying thread)
• fly tying thread: I suggest back, red, olive, orange (8/0) and the same colours in 6/0; you at times will need other colours but these are the basic colours that will get you by!
• some crazy glue (brushable type, can get at Michaels)
• dubbing twister
• hair stacker
• velcro brush

Gearing Up for Fly Tying Mondays Starting on December 4th

Hi Everybody!

Well after a lot of searching and talking with others, we have decided to try to have Fly Tying Mondays right at TC Outfitters. There is plenty of parking and the back space will not cost us anything.

There is a catch. We need to gather tables and folding chairs. We are going to ask for donations to get this done. We want to use 4 foot folding tables (cost is about $40 to $60). We are on a bit of a search to find tables where it is easy to attach a fly tying vice clamp. Most folding chairs cost between $10.00 and $17.00.

We hope to gather 35 chairs and 8 tables.

If you are willing to donate a table or 4 chairs or money to purchase any of the above, please get in contact with me by replying to this e-mail. Once we have gathered the tables and chairs we are in business.

The space at TC Outfitters will be tight at times but we are now going to be in control of coming and going; having pop/coffee; easy parking; no insurance or booking fees necessary and we can leave our set up gear at the shop. All of this will be a major convenience!

...and now

We need presenters! You do not have to be a pro to do this, just willing and enthusiastic to share three fly tying patterns. You organize all the materials, lead us in tying the patterns. We will cover the costs of the materials.

Here are the dates. Please drop me a note and tell me what date works for you!

December 4th Bob Vanderwater The Canadian Series of Balanced Flies

December 11th

December 18th

Christmas Break

January 9th Special Presentation Rick, Bob and Karen in the Arctic

January 16th

January 23rd

January 30th

February 3rd Saturday all day workshop with Phil Rowley cost $45

February 5th

February 12th

February 19th No Tying Family Day

February 26th

March 5th

March 12th

March 19th

March 26th

Another Amazing Day Out West

Only 4 days until our Eastern slopes rivers are put to bed for another year. But, yesterday, what a day. 17C, no wind and willing cutthroat! Stuart and his buddy, Murray, joined me for a day on what truly is a blue ribbon cutthroat river. The river is no secret and those who know me understand my love for the area I like to hang out in!

Well it was -2C when we started to walk and everything was frosty. Even the mud was easy to walk on first thing! After 3 km of walking it was time to fish! It is rare to see rising fish this time of the year although later in the day we encountered a light BWO hatch that had the attention of several sizeable cutthroat and of course, us!

The gin clear water allowed us to see the fish in the runs. They were spooky because of the perfectly clear water but we did catch our share of beautifully conditioned late season west slope cutthroat!

As usual, the day moved way too fast. I did not fish much today. I love getting the camera out and trying to catch some fun moments! Many of the cutthroat trout were quite colourful.

The walk back was slippery because the frost was off the mud.

We washed off our gear and headed back to Red Deer. Stuart made sure I got home at the appointed time. A little driftin' as were rumbled down the gravel!

One awesome day Murray and Stuart. I enjoyed my day with you two!