Go BIG or Go Fishless

Hi Everybody!

Rick Miyauchi was our guest fly tyer tonight and he taught 15 fly fishers two patterns he learned from Silvia D'Amelio. Silvia is an avid fly fisher who is also a biologist with Trout Unlimited Canada. Rick watched Silvia tie flies at Arrow Lake Lodge after having fly fished the trophy lakes in the Parkland Region of Manitoba. These streamers were BIG and they had a lot going on. Rick brought these BIG ideas to the vice tonight and shared these streamers with our gang. Many of us had not tied flies that included Fish Skull heads. One fly in particular had lots of steps. We handled it just fine after following Rick's instruction. As the saying goes, " Imitation is a form of flattery." Thanks Silvia for the patterns and thanks Rick for the instruction. Make note Silvia, Rick owes you some Disaranno in June!

We still have 8 spots for the Phil Rowley Workshop on June 9th. Give Bob a call or drop him an e-mail.

See everybody next week.

Bob

Silvia D'Amelio

Rick Miyauchi

Tonight's Flies

Almost a Chicken (top)

Hook: size 2 - 6 XL streamer

Tail: Pearl crystal flash

Body: UV Ice Dub Pearl Ice Dub

Body: Magnum rabbit strip (split after the curve of the hook)

Legs: Orange and olive silly legs

Throat: Red Antron

Overwing #1 Green flashabou

Overwing #2: Black Antron

Underbody: Tan antron

Head: Fish skull

Soggy Bog (bottom fly)

Hook: Size 2 - 6 XL streamer

Cone Head: Large gold

Body: Quick decent olive ice dub

Wing: Veriegated rabbit strip

Collar: Deer Hair

Throat: Red or orange antron

We had problems finding magnum rabbit strips so we had to do some glueing.

Variegated Rabbit Strips

Colton Concentrating

Concentration

Caddis and Stones with Tim Maley

Hi Everybody!

Tim Maley was our guest instructor tonight and 21 avid fly tyers came out to learn about a very cool way to make caddis wings and a new way to make stonefly dry flies. The caddis wings were made from partridge feathers and packing tape. A very durable wing is made from sticking the feather right onto clear packing tape (maybe scotch tape would work too) and then cutting out the wing. You could use a caddis cutter to shape your wings once the tape is applied to the feathers. Tie your caddis size 12 to 18 for the Red Deer River. This particular caddis pattern sits low in the water column and will be a great addition to your fly box. We also tied a foam caddis emerger. Another excellent pattern that sits right in the surface film of the water. Our final pattern tonight was tied with three different types of foam. Again you could use a stonefly cutter to form your bodies. This pattern will work great for golden stones and skwalas. Thanks for the neat patterns tonight Tim!

Next week Rick Miyauchi is our guest tyer.

We still have 8 spots left for the Phil Rowley seminar on March 9th, Give me a call or drop me an e-mail to sign up.

Remember the Western Canadian Fly Fishing Exposition is on this weekend at Spruce Meadows in Calgary.

Tim Maley

Tape Wing Caddis

Hook: Standard dry fly sizes 12 to 16

Thread: Tan 8/0

Body: Antron dubbing and a CDC feather

Wing: Packing tape and a partridge feather cut to shape

Indicator: Bright antron

Hackle: Brown

Foam Caddis Emerger

Hook: size 12-14 curved caddis hook

Thread: Olive or tan 8/0 

Shuck: antron

Body: antron

Rib: wire

Thorax: Arizona peacock dubbing

Wing: Brown foam

Indicator: Bright antron

Foam Stonefly (Skwala)

Hook: TMC 200R sizes 8 to 12

Thread: Olive 8/0 or 6/0

Ovipost: Black foam

Body: Olive razor foam

Thorax: antron

Wing: Tan foam

Legs: rubber leg material

Skwala Stones near Little Chief Park (late May)

Pine Squirrel Potpourri

 Hi Everybody!

Tonight was about pine squirrel streamers. None of the 4 patterns that the twenty tyers worked on are complicated. They all incorporated pine squirrel. Pine squirrel micro zonker strips can be used for smaller flies like Glen's Leech or for larger flies like a pine squirrel streamer. Pine squirrel becomes very life like when pulsing through the water.  Take a look at this short video to see how great the action is from a pine squirrel streamer. The Slumpbuster and Bouface are two flies that are John Barr creations. John Barr is mosted noted for his copper john nymph but these two flies tied mainly with pine squirrel are simple and effective. The last fly we tied, the pine squirrel leech, was modified by Charlie Craven by adding a collar that was was less bulky by making a dubbing loop and eliminating the skin park of the squirrel.

Wapsi makes a variety of squirrel colours. Take a look.

We still have 9 spots available for the Phil Rowley Workshop on March 9th. Drop Bob (bvanderwater@rdpsd.ab.ca) a note to sign up. Its a great deal ($40).

Next week, Tim Maley is our guest instructor. See you then!

gathering the pine squirrel

jotting down a few notes, ... great idea!

Darwin's first fly ever. It looks like a fish catcher!

Bouface (John Barr originator)

see tutorial

Hook: Tiemco 200R sizes 6 to 12

Body: Pine squirrel zonker strip

Collar: Marabou

Bead: Gold

Pine Squirrel Leech (modified by Charlie Craven)

see tutorial

Hook: Mustad C49S sizes 10-12

Body: Pine squirrel

Collar: Pine squirrel

Bead: Gold or orange

Slumpbuster (John Barr originator)

...see tutorial

Hook: Mustad 9672 size 6 or 12

Body: Flat diamond braid

Rib: Gold wire

Wing: Pine squirrel

Collar: Pine squirrel

Cone head: Gold

Pine Squirrel Streamer

Hook: size 4 6 XL streamer hook

Under body: foam

Tail: Pine Squirrel

Body: Pine Squirrel

Two more examples of Pine Squirrel Leeches