Monday, January 30, 2012

Monday January 30th, 2012 An Evening with Evan Ritchie

Evan Ritchie was our guest presenter tonight. Evan taught 22 fly tyers some variations on fly patterns that we all rely on. Have you ever watched a fly fisherman have an amazing day on the same water where your success rate was minimal? Evan's scud pattern came from modifications that he learned from a fellow fly fisherman at Summit Lake in British Columbia. Evan makes his own dubbing and adding some to the tried and true woolly bugger made a good pattern even better. Evan's backswimmer pattern evolved when he needed some backswimmers NOW! Again simplicity rules. Three great patterns that will get you into trout everywhere! Thanks for presenting tonight, Evan.

Bruce Tilbrook from our tying gang has published a book called Sausage Men. It has a fly fishing theme and it is available as an e-book. You can read 15% of the book on line for free. I think you will enjoy the anecdotes and real life experiences that Bruce writes about. Well done Bruce!

Many of you took in the Western Canadian Fly Fishing Exposition. I hope you enjoyed the displays, people and workshops. Our buddy Doug Pullen never misses workshops that are put on by the Steelhead Queen herself, April Volkey. We always tease Doug, but a picture speaks a thousand words.

Don't forget that International Fly Fishing Film Festival comes to Red Deer on Sunday February 12th at 3:30 pm at Carnival Theatre. You can buy your tickets right here.

Next week, Phil Nash is our guest instructor. See you then.

Evan Ritchie

Rick working on making his fly buggy with a velcro stick.

Doug Pullen and the Steelhead Queen, April Volkey. You won this round Doug!

Woolly Bugger

Hook: Mustad 9672 sizes 4 to 10
Tail: Black marabou and black crystal flash
Body: Black chenille and black sparkle dubbing combined with a dubbing loop
Hackle: Black

Backswimmer

Hook: dry fly 2 XL size 10 or 12
Underbody: brown foam
Body: Gold or silver tinsel
Shellback: Brown foam
Legs: Brown rubber leg material

Doug DeWitt uses this material for his backswimmer legs. It can be found in the bead department at Michaels.

Evan's Scud

Hook: C53S or TMC 200R size 14
Body: Olive rabbit or an alternate buggy material
Shellback: Clear plastic
Rib: Red wire or red sparkle thread


Monday, January 23, 2012

Monday January 23rd Loch Style Fly Fishing

Bernie Peet was our guest presenter tonight and his theme was Loch Style Fly Fishing. Bernie peaked the curiosity of 32 fly tyers who came out to take in his presentation and learn to tie 3 Loch Style flies. Bernie is a particular fly tyer. He choose 3 flies that would be perfect to fish in tandem when fishing Loch Style.

Below you will see Bernie's notes which are quite detailed. Bernie takes lots of ribbing because of his English accent. We all even learned a new fishing word. Dibbling, yes dibbling your flies along or just below the surface is hanging your flies just before you pick them up and recast. Thanks Bernie for a very informative evening. You did a great job leading the group tonight. Our buddy, Phil Rowley, would have enjoyed your presentation.

Remember that the Canadian Fly Fishing Exposition is on this weekend at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. There are several excellent presenters.

...also the International Fly Fishing Film Festival is making a stop in Red Deer on Sunday February 12th at Carnival Theatre starting at 3:30 pm. There is a fabulous list of fly fishing films to take in. You can get your tickets on line.

Next week, Evan Ritchie is our guest presenter. I wonder what he has planned for us?

Bernie Peet

The Gang taking in Bernie's presentation.

Loch Style Fishing with Traditional Wet Flies

Loch style fishing is a technique used for many years in the British Isles which is now becoming more popular in other parts of the world. A loch style competition was held for the first time in BC in 2011 (see http://lochstyleflyfishing.com/ ) which also gives some good information on the method.) The key elements of loch style fishing are:

· Fishing in a boat using a drogue to slow down its speed, and casting with the wind. This is called a drift.

· Using a long (minimum 10ft, usually 11ft) mid-to-soft action rod (usually Wt 5) with a team of three wet flies.

· Making short casts with little false casting. Fish usually strike when the flies hit the water, when they are being retrieved or when the flies are ‘hung’ prior to re-casting. The ‘hang’ or ‘dibble’ (as I call it) is a very important part of the technique and many hits will come at this time.

The dibble is made more effective by using a well hackled fly on the top dropper which is often greased up to increase buoyancy. Skating this across the surface provokes a take on this fly or the next dropper down. Presentation is best when there is a wave or good ripple, which not only means the boat is covering more ground, but results in more movement of the flies.

By its nature, this method is only really effective when fish are in the top few feet of water, something which is less common here than in the UK. However, I have had some good success with loch style on Beaver Mines Lake in the Crowsnest area in September when the fish were very free rising. It is possible to fish with an intermediate or sinking line where the fish are further down in the water.

In comparison to fishing in a stationary or anchored boat, loch style fishing allows the fisherman to effectively cover a much greater area and number of trout within a similar time-frame. Fishing from a drifting boat provides the added advantage of a stealthy approach that significantly reduces the chance of spooking the trout as the fly is usually the first object they will see.

While the flies used traditionally have been wet flies, chironomids, nymphs and fry patterns may also be used. In addition, lures, boobies and other monstrosities are also seen as appropriate in some circles!

Some useful links:

http://lochstyleflyfishing.com/ (Canadian loch style fishing competition)

http://www.manictackleproject.com/flyfishingarticlelakefishinglochstyle/ (New Zealand)

http://americanangler.com/technique/loch-style (Article on the loch style technique)


Bernie's Loch Style fly box is ready to go!

A typical Lock Style fly rod.

Colton and Adam working on their flies.

Kate McLaren (top dropper fly)

Hook: Size 8 - 14 wet fly hook

Thread: Black 6/0

Tail: Golden pheasant topping

Body: Black seal’s fur or coarse synthetic dubbing

Rib: Oval gold tinsel (or silver)

Body Hackle: Black cock

Head Hackle: Brown or red-brown cock


Mallard and Claret (middle dropper or point fly)

Hook: Size 8 – 14 wet fly

Thread: Black 6/0

Tail: Golden Pheasant tippet feathers

Rib: Fine gold wire

Body: Dark claret seal’s fur or coarse synthetic dubbing

Wings: Bronze mallard

Hackle: Red game cock


Wingless Wickham’s variant (any position)

Hook: Size 8 – 10 wet fly

Thread: brown 6/0

Tail: 4-5 strands of pearl Lureflash or similar (flashabou)

Body: Mid-brown seal’s fur or coarse synthetic dubbing

Rib: Oval gold tinsel

Body Hackle: Red-brown cock

Head Hackle: Red-brown cock


Bernie's licence plate. Can you tell he is in the piggy business?