PMDs and Ants with Tim Maley

 Hi Everybody!

Spring is finally showing itself as we take in our final three sessions of the fly tying season. Tonight Tom Maley showed us some very innovative ant and PMD patterns that will certainly be fish catchers. It is fun to see Tim show us how to take rubber shelving material and transform it into an ant pattern that will fool fussy trout. For 8 dollars you can have enough tying material for 20 guys tying ants for life! Wow! Tim also showed us a second ant pattern that he came up with. For our final fly of the evening, we tied a PMD pattern that you can find in Shane Stalcup's book, Mayflies -Top to Bottom!

Next week, Doug Pullen is our guest instructor. You know Doug has planned an educational evening of fly tying. Come on out for the second last session of the season!

Biot PMD

Hook: Standard dr fly #14-18

Tail: Antron

Rib: Thread PMD 8/0

Body: Turkey Biot

Wing: Medallion sheeting

Thorax: CDC

Shelving material makes great ants!

Tim's Ant #1

Hook: Standard dry fly size 16

Body: Shelving material

Wing: White Antron

Legs: Black Flashabou

Tim's Ant #2

Hook: Standard dry fly size 16

Under Body: Black antron

Over Body: Black 2 mm foam

Wing: White antron

Legs: Black antron

Terrestrials and an Ant with Larry Prowse

Eighteen fly tyers came out to take in Larry Prowse's presentation that included three excellent fly patterns. The first pattern was developed by Mike Lawson. It is called the Henry's Fork Foam Golden Stone. This pattern included using EP fibres for the wing and a unique way to finish the front of the fly. We then tied Davie McPhail's Black Cricket. It is a very neat looking pattern that will have a welcome spot in my fly box. We had time to also tie Mike's Honey Ant. Another excellent pattern.

Remember that the IF4 Film Festival is this Thursday at Carnival Theatre. Josh Nugent will be there to greet you at 6:30 p.m. with the films starting at 7 p.m. You can get your tickets on line right here. You save a few bucks by getting your ticket on line!

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

Henry's Fork Foam Golden Stone (Mike Lawson originator)

Video of Mike Lawson Tying the Henry's Fork Foam Golden Stone

Hook: Mustad 9672 size 10 or TMC 5212 size 10

Thread: TMC 70 rust brown

Egg Sac: Crystal Flash Balck Pearl

Overbody: 2 mm Cinnamon Foam

Head: Razor Foam Brown

Dubbing: Wapsi Ginger

Wing: EP Fibers Golden Olive

Legs: Barred Pumpkin

Davie's Black Cricket (Davie McPhail originator)

Watch Davie McPhail Tying the Black Cricket

Hook: TMC 100 size 10

Thread: Black UTC Black 70 denier

Tail: Black Turkey Biots

Body 1: Micro Thin Foam

Body 2: Black Superfine Dubbing

Back: Micro Thin Foam

Legs: Dyed Black Turkey Biots

Legs 2: Dyed Black Hen Hackle

Thorax Cover: Micro Thin Foam

Head: Black Superfine Dubbing

Horns: Dyed Black Pheasant Tail

Mike's Honey Ant

Hook: TMC 100 #14-18

Thread: TMC Olive 70 Denier

Abdomen: Wapsi Sow Bug Dubbing

Legs: Pearlescent Copper Krystal Flash

Wing: Dun zelon

Head: Rusty Brown Opossum

Dragons and a Prince with Evan Ritchie

Hi Everybody!

Twenty one keen fly tyers braved another frigid night to take in Evan Ritchie's fly tying session. Evan is one of the original members of the fly tying group that began many years ago as an exclusive group. Over the last 20 years the group has evolved into a rather diverse group of fly tyers. Luckily Evan kept the group going almost single handed for several years. He has taught a lot of people how to tie flies, including me.

Tonight, Evan showed us a dragon pattern made mainly from foam. This dragon pattern needs to be fished with either a full sink line or a sink tip. The second pattern is a variation on a prince nymph. It is a variation that will work great in either a lake or river. We tied the prince nymph variant both as a straight nymph and as a soft hackle.

Thanks Evan for the two excellent patterns.

Next week, Larry Prowse is our guest instructor. 

Remember that the International Fly Fishing Film Festival is next Thursday March the 6th at Carnival Theatre. The films look excellent this year. Get your tickets on line right here! The IF4 Film Festival should be an excellent evening. Josh Nugent will be here as well!

Foam Dragon Nymph

Hook: Size 8 to 12 3XL dry fly hook

Thread: Olive 8/0

Eyes: Bead Chain (make them bright)

Body: Foam

Thorax: Olive Dubbing

Legs: Rubber

Prince Nymph Variation

Hook: TMC 200R sizes 8 to 12

Bead: Orange 1/8 to 7/64ths

Thread: Olive 8/0

Tail: Tan goose biots

Rib: Small gold wire

Body: Olive antron 

Wing: White goose biots

Thorax: Peacock herl

Hackle: (optional) Partridge