The Central Alberta Fly Tying Club meets during winter months. Weekly tying sessions begin at 6:30pm. Call Bob Vanderwater 403. 347. 3802 or email rdvanderwater@gmail.com
Dr. Bill Young is our presenter this Monday December 15th. Dr. Bill has asked everyone to bring black or grey 8/0 or 6/0 thread as well as an eraser. Sounds like an interesting tying session!
I hope to see you on Monday at 6:30 pm at Reliance Oilfield Services Learning Centre!
Bead: White, either brass or tungsten size to match hook-3/32nd-7/64ths
Thread: UTC 70, wine
Body: Mirage Flashabou or Mirage Opal Tinsel, medium
Rib: Mahogany micro tubing (you definitely can use black or red micro tubing as well)
As I get started on my winter fly tying, I take the time to see what I have used and needs to be added to fly boxes. I have chosen to start with chironomids. Karen and I have used John Kent's Rusty Nail chironomid a lot this past season. That is where I am beginning!
Bob Edens at Stream Weaver Flies (right here in Red Deer) has all you need. I also order from Canadian Llama Company because I often order bulk when it comes to hooks and beads!
Karen laughed when I started in on chironomids. There are 1000s of sub species of chironomids. I try to focus on about a dozen different chironomids that I like. You could head down the chironomid rabbit hole all winter but I try to limit myself to what I have used with success. There are definitely times when a specific chironomid is needed, then I get busy and tie that specific pattern.
I love fly fishing with chironomids. The action can be explosive. Throat samples can certainly help solve the riddle of what the trout are dining on! Once you have the depth figured out and then what the fish are feeding on, you are likely going to have a decent day on the water!
Another tying season is upon us and tonight we got off to a great start! Twenty fly tyers filled Reliance Oilfield Learning Centre. We started off with tying a Blue Flash Damsel, tied woolly bugger style as well as the tried and true Pumpkin Head that was originated by John Kent. In the late season, I used both flies with a lot of success. I matched these great little streamers with an intermediate sinking line. Rainbows, browns, brook and tiger trout were aggressively hitting these flies.
Next week Dr. Bill Young is going to do a tribute to A.K. Best who passed away recently! A.K. was an amazing fly tyer. He left us many fly patterns to use that he designed! See you next week!
