Central Alberta Fly Tying Club

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Euro Nymphing with Phil Rowley

It has become a tradition to have Phil Rowley spend the day with our gang in the Central Alberta Fly Tying Club, teaching us about a variety of fly fishing techniques and how to tie the flies that go with it! Yesterday was the 8th all day workshop that Phil did for our club. The theme was Euro Nymphing. On several trips to Red Deer, Phil has brought a snow storm along with him and this year was no exception. We had a few "no shows" because of the weather although 24 tyers made it out to take in another fabulous, comprehensive workshop. As usual, it was a "hands on" workshop where everybody learned how to tie several euro nymphing flies, build their own slinkys (indicators), how to fly fish with a "train" of nymphs, learn to set up their terminal tackle and look at the fly rods one uses for euro nymphing!

Thanks Phil for braving the storm to spend the weekend in Central Alberta. We also owe Patsy, Phil's wife a huge thank you for preparing many of the materials we used in the fly tying portion of the weekend!

The weekend started with Pub Night. The weather was miserable but the turn out was fabulous. Way to go those of you who were able to make it!

Yes we do have Fly Tying Monday on February 2nd. Evan Ritchie is our guest tyer! See you there!

Phil Euro Nymphing on the Eastern Slopes of Alberta

We still had a great turn out despite the weather!

Phil is a master at teaching fly tying on camera!

Polish Woven Nymph

Hook: Curved Scud Hook (#8-#12) Weighted

Thread: Color to compliment Body/Thorax

Rib: Small UTC Wire to Match Bead

Body: Woven Embroidery Yarn, One Light Color and One Dark Color

Thorax: Arizona Synthetic Dubbing

Bead: Tungsten

Czech Nymph

Hook: Curved Scud Hook (#8-#12) Weighted

Thread: Color to compliment Body/Thorax

Shellback: Scudback or Shrimp Foil

Rib#1 Mirage Opal Mylar, Pearlescent Flashabou, or Krinkle Mirror Flash

Rib#2: 3X or 4X Mono

Body: Dubbing or Dubbing Brush

Frenchie (Lance Egan)

Hook: 2xl Nymph (#12-#16)

Thread: Hot Orange

Tail: Mottled Hen or Coq De Leon Fibres

Rib: Gold Wire

Body: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Thorax: Ice Dubbing Hot Pink or Hot Orange

Bead: Gold Tungsten

Rainbow Warrior

Hook: Curved Scud (#12-#16)

Thread: Red

Tail: Mottled hen or Pheasant Tail Fibers

Body: Mirage Opal Mylar

Wingcase: Mirage Opal Mylar

Thorax: Sow Scud Dubbing (Rainbow)

Tungsten Torpedo

Hook: 2xl Nymph (#12-#16)

Thread: Olive

Tail: Mottled hen or Coq De Leon Fibres

Rib #1: Gold Wire

Rib #2: Black Flashabou or Sulky Thread

Body: Olive Thread

Thorax: Arizona Synthetic Peacock (Bronze)

Bead: Gold Tungsten

CDC Red Tag
(Watch Phil tie Andy Larkin's CDC Red Tag)

Hook: Up Eye Jig Hook #12-#16

Thread: 8/0 or 70 Denier, Black

Tail: Daytum Globrite Floss #4 (Fire Orande)

Rib: Red Wire

Body: Arizona Synthetic Peacock, Bronze Peacock Spectra Dub #45 or Peacock Dyed Red

Collar: Natural CDC

Bead: Slotted Silver or Metallic Pink Tungsten

E.N.T. Girdle Bug

Hook: 90 Degree Eye Eye Jig Hook #8-#6

Thread: Color to Match Body

Tail: Superfloss, or Sezy Floss

Body: Varigated Chenille, Medium

legs: Superfloss, or Sezy Floss

Eyes: Eyes n Tubes Y-Tube

Hydrophysche

Hook: Curved Scud Hook (#8-#12) Weighted

Thread: Color to compliment Body/Thorax

Shellback: Scudback (Tan or Olive)

Tails: UV2 Grizzly Saddle (Olive or Tan)

Rib#1 Mirage Opal Mylar, Pearlescent Flashabou, or Krinkle Mirror Flash

Rib#2: 3X or 4X Mono

Body: Ostrich Herl (Olive or Tan)

Thorax: Arizona Synthetic Dubbing (Olive or Brown)

Vladi Worm

Hook: Daiich 1870 Larva Hook (weighted)

Thread: Pink, Red or Orange

Rib: 3X or 4X Mono

Shellback: Mirage Opal Mylar, Medium

Body: Pink Latex

Th famous Vladi Worm is made from Crown Condoms!

Silvia and Doug constructing their nymphs!

Flat lead is a great way to add weight to nymphs that you want to to "get down deep" quickly!

Weighing your nymphs can be important so you can ensure your flies are at the right depth!

The Gang Tying their Nymphs!

The slinky system that is very much like a strike indicator when Euro Nymphing can be easily constructed with bright monofilment wrapped on wooden doweling or something round (like plastic tubing), then it is boiled and finally frozen. The final effect is the bungy looking line that will act as your indicator!

Phil and Doug examining a slinky!

Larry perfecting his Euro Nymphing technique!

Euro Nymphing Product Sources

Canadian Llama-www.canadianllama.com (hooks, beads and lots of other good stuff)

Knapek Hooks can be purchased from Canadian Llama Company. These are excellent barbless Curved Caddis/Scud Hooks!

Fly Tying Specialities-www.flytyingspecialties.com (European tying materials, sighter materials etc.)

Eyes n’ Tubes-www.eyes-n-tubes.com (Y tube and barbell tungsten eyes)

Condom Depot-www.condomdepot.com (Crown Skinless Skin Condoms Item #ok21000)

Robinson’s Outdoor Store-www.robinsonsoutdoors.com (European tying materials, beads, Hanak hooks)

Spirit River-www.spiritriver.com (UV2 Tying Materials)

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Pub Night Change of Location and Final Details for the Euro Nymphing Workshop

Tomorrow Night, Friday, is Pub Night and we have had to change locations. Bo Diddleys has a band and a substantial cover charge so we are moving to Tiffany's Pub right at the top of the south hill! Karen, Phil, Patsy and I will be there about 7:30 pm!

I have added the details about Saturday below for the Euro Nymphing Workshop. All the tying packages for those of you who signed up have been made up and are ready to go! This is going to be a very informative workshop.

Hi Gang!

Can you please try to bring the following material along with you to the Euro Nymphing Workshop with Phil Rowley! If you are having trouble finding any of these materials, TC Outfitters will have most of these materials at the workshop for purchase or you can share materials with another fellow fly tyer!

I know TC Outfitters carries most of these materials.

UTC 70 Red

UTC 70 Shrimp Pink

UTC 140 Olive

UTC 70-Black

UTC 70-Olive

.030" Lead Wire

3X or 4X Tippet (for ribbing)

Mirage Opal Mylar-Medium

Mirage Opal Mylar-Small

Copper Wire (Fine or Small)

Gold Wire (Fine or Small)

Black Flashabou

Fine Silver Wire

Dubbing Wax

.... the rest of the materials will be supplied

The Workshop is at Mattie McCullough School which is located at 26 Lawford Avenue. The easiest way to get to Mattie McCullough School is to travel east on 32nd Street right to its end. The school is just to your right about a block down Lawford Avenue. We will get started at 9 am and finish about 4:30 pm.

If you are travelling down Highway 2, take the 32nd Street exit and head east towards Red Deer College and continue to travel all of the way up 32nd Street travelling east for about 4 km.

Remember to bring all of your tying tools because this is a hands on workshop!

We will supply snacks, coffee, water, etc.

Come early (8:30 am to set up and to have coffee with Phil!)

We will also order pizza as a group although you are welcome to bring a lunch!

Bob

Monday, January 26, 2015

Chironomids That Work!

Hi Everybody!

We had another great turn out of fly tyers who spent the evening tying chironomids. The entire evening was especially successful thanks to Troy Langelaar at TC Outfitters. Troy ordered in most of the materials for the evening. Some of the materials were tough to run down. Thanks Troy!

Just a few reminders:

1. Pub Night is this Friday, January 30th at Bo Diddley's Pub on the south end of Red Deer near Bower Mall.

2. Our all day Euro Nymphing Workshop with Phil Rowley is this Saturday January 31st. All the details are in a previous post! There are a few spots left!

3. Next Monday, Evan Ritchie is our guest tyer.

4. All the details about tonight's chironomids that we tied are detailed below!

I have been very fortunate to learn about chironomids from two very knowledgable fly fishers. Phil Rowley and John Kent have taught me a great deal about lake fly fishing. Today, I want to take the time to recognize John for his great fly patterns and fly tying ideas.

John is an innovative fly tyer who has spent many hours designing and tying lake flies. His time at Tunkwa Lake Resort certainly gave John the opportunity to develop flies that work! John's chironomids do an excellent job of imitating the naturals.

John told me about how the Dragon Lake Special came to be from a customer who described the chironomids at Dragon Lake. John got to work and quickly got this great pattern to his customer who had a lot of success. I have personally chironomid fished with this pattern in Manitoba with a lot of hook ups.

John also steered me into fishing a chartreuse chironomid while we were chasing the trophy fish in the Parkland Region of Manitoba. Well I had no chartreuse chironomids. I borrowed some beads from Barry Stokes and found some chartreuse diamond braid that I dismantled to create a chartreuse chironomid. I was giving this creation a try at Patterson Lake in Manitoba and I was surprised with its effectiveness.

The chironomid called The Patriot was shown to me by Doyle Clark from Idaho. I know Doyle has had a lot of success with this pattern and I do know that lahontan cutthroats will devour this chironomid.I have seen a few variations of this chironomid but the basics; red, white and blue seem to to be the winning ingredients.

There is always something to learn in fly fishing. I consider myself lucky to have some very knowledgeable individuals point me in the right direction. I appreciate their wisdom and advice.