Final Details for the Fly Tying Workshop with Phil Rowley on Saturday February 1

Hi Everybody!

Great news! We have a fantastic space for the fly tying workshop thanks to Shannon and Stuart. We owe the guys a BIG thanks for the space.

Try to arrive at 8:30 am! We will get rolling at 9 am. Allow yourself about 15 to 20 minutes to get to Lacombe. We will have coffee on and snacks!

If you get lost, call me: 403-598-3802

Those who wish can order pizza for lunch.

Pub Night is Friday Night at Mohave Grill Smokehouse and Bar-6608 Orr Drive, right behind the Tim Hortons on 67th Street close to the the highway! Phil, Patsy, Karen and I will be there for supper and visiting. Do come and join us! We will be there at 6:30 pm.

Please note: Any item you cannot find on the list below, I will bring along to share with the group. The workshop is going to be fantastic!

Troy has ordered these materials and you should be able to get them at West River Fly Shop.

Can you bring along the following items for Phil's Workshop on February1, 2020!

Hair Stacker

Hackle Pliers

8/0 or 70 denier black thread

Gold Holographic Flashabou

8/0 or 70 denier grey or tan thread

8/0 or 70 denier hot orange thread

crystal flash-pearl

6/0 or 140 denier olive thread

Unifloss-white

8/0 or 70 denier white thread

permanent marker-black

The address for the workshop is:

Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
5718 56 Ave
Lacombe, AB T4L 1B1

Back to the Backcountry in Banff National Park to Fly Fish

Tonight we headed back to the backcountry of Banff National Park. Dr. Bill, Steve, Bob, and Karen spent a few days enjoying some tremendous fly fishing for cutthroat trout and some brookies. We fly fished mainly with foam flies, aka chernobyls. So tonight, Steve and Bob taught the gang two excellent foam patterns. The first, a classic called the Fat Albert and the second fly was a Bullet Headed Hopper.

I have added some short video clips that Steve took during the trip as well as several images from the hiking and fly fishing. The images were supplied by Steve Luethi and Bob Vanderwater.

Fat Albert

Hook: Size 6 streamer hook

Thread: Colour to Match Foam, 6/0

Body: Foam

Legs: Rubber

Wing: Antron or EP Fibers

Bullet Head Foam Fly

Hook: Size 8 streamer hook

Thread: Colour to match foam

Dubbing: Orange Ice Dub

Body: Foam

Underwing: Web Wing

Overwing: Deer hair

Legs: Rubber

Fly Tying Information for the Phil Rowley Workshop on February 1, and Pub Night on Friday January 31

Hi Everybody!

We still have room for a few tyers! Drop me a note to sign up (bob.vanderwater@rdpsd.ab.ca)!

Pub Night is at Mohave Grill Smokehouse and Bar-6608 Orr Drive, right behind the Tim Hortons on 67th Street close to the the highway! Phil, Patsy, Karen and I will be there for supper and visiting. Do come and join us! We will be there at 6:30 pm.

Please note: Any item you cannot find on the list below, I will bring along to share with the group. The workshop is going to be fantastic!

Troy has ordered these materials and you should be able to get them at West River Fly Shop shortly!


Can you bring along the following items for Phil's Workshop on February1, 2020!

8/0 or 70 denier black thread

Gold Holographic Flashabou

8/0 or 70 denier grey or tan thread

8/0 or 70 denier hot orange thread

crystal flash-pearl

6/0 or 140 denier olive thread

Unifloss-white

8/0 or 70 denier white thread

permanent marker-black

Favourite Flies for the Missouri, aka the Mo, with Garnet Clews

Garnet is a regular with our fly tying gang. Not only is he a passionate fly fisher, but he has a tremendous amount of fly fishing experience on the "Mo," in Montana. Many rivers in Montana are tough to fly fish because the fish can be fickle and at times rather focussed on a specific phase of a mayfly hatch not to mention the fishing pressure. Tonight Garnet taught the gang, three of his favourite flies that he has used on the Missouri River. The Little Green Machine, a Bubble Emerger and a Rusty Spinner are all great flies to have in your fly box. Garnet related many stories of success and failure on the "Mo." As Garnet pointed out, every fishing moment can also be a great learning experience. It was fun to hear how catching a few fish on the right dry fly after getting the cast and drift of that fly just perfect, can make a good day; fantastic! Garnet is a very skilled teacher of fly tying. We were all impressed with his ability to guide everybody to the finished products! Well done Garnet.

Just a few reminders! 

1.We have a few spots left for the All Day Phil Rowley Workshop on February 1st. There are a few bits of tying material to gather for the workshop. I will post those right away!

2. Next week, we will travel to the Backcountry of Banff National Park. I will have a slide show ready to go and we will be tying more chernobyls. After all, chernobyls rock and they work great on the lakes in the backcountry of Banff National Park and beyond.

Little Green Machine

Hook: Curved pupa hook, sizes 16-22

Bead: copper 3/32nd-5/64ths

Thread: Brown 8/0 or 10/0

Tail: Pheasant fibers

Body: Red stretch tubing

Thorax: white antron or z-lon and olive sparkle dubbing

CDC Bubble Emerger

Hook: Curved pupa hook, sizes 16-22

Thread: Olive 8/0 or 10/0

Tail: Blue dun hackle fibers

Body: Olive thread

Thorax: CDC Blue Dun

Oh boy, can you imagine casting your imposter into a hatch like this?

Excellent floatant for CDC!

Rust Spinner

Hook: Size 14-20 dry fly

Thread: 8/0 or 10/0 rusty brown

Tail: Micro fibbets, tan

Body: Turkey or Goose 

Wing: CDC, blue dun

Wing Case: Rusty brown superfine dubbing

Hal with a nice rainbow on the "Mo!"

Yum, breakfast

IF 4 Film Festival is Coming to Red Deer on Thursday February 27th

I am excited to see the IF4 Film Festival here in Red Deer on Thursday February 27th at Carnival Theatre. The doors open at 6 pm and the show begins at 7 pm. 

Why am I excited? Four of our very own Central Alberta fly fishers have a film in the film festival called Finding Oman! Dana Lattery, Troy Langelaar, Tim Hepworth and Steve Luethi went to Oman last fall. All of the video has been developed into a very cool film. The film editing was done by team leader, Dana Lattery. The film has an excellent message along with some outstanding video. You do not want to miss the opportunity to see our own guys on the big screen.

The evening will also have several fly fishing films from all corners of the world. The show lasts 2 hours and is a great way to kick start our upcoming new fly fishing season. Not just that, it is a fun evening of visiting and enjoying some excellent fly fishing films.

Dana has generously sent me some great images from their adventure to wet your appetite.

Let's fill the barn everybody! It is going to be a great evening.

Dreaming of Fly Fishing in Belize

-43C Air temperature this morning. That is just insane weather! All I can think of is staying warm and warmer climates. Karen and I love our fly fishing adventures to Belize. We love the pace of life and the people. It will not be too long before we have a return visit. Meanwhile we have to endure this frigid weather. Anticipation is always a good thing. It is nice to have something to look forward to! Go away polar vortex, we have had enough!