Extended Body Parachute Mayflies with Rick Miyauchi

A few weeks ago, Rick Miyauchi offered to do a second fly tying session for our group! There was a request to do extended body flies and another to do a session on parachute flies. Well Rick was able to put the two tying ideas into one session! After tying a basic Klinkhammer like fly so everyone could learn how to tie a parachute onto a fly, the group learned how to tie extended body flies. We focussed on green and brown drakes. That was an excellent decision because we see brown drakes on the Red Deer River and green drakes can be found in so many locations on flowing water in Alberta. Once everyone got the hang of tying an extended foam bodies using a long narrow sewing needle; adding a post, thorax and parachute hackle made the green and brown drake mayflies look like an imposter that will definitely fool the wary brown trout and suspicious rainbows and cutthroat trout.

Thanks Rick for the fantastic instruction. We all learned a lot!

Next week, Garnet Clews is our guest presenter. Garnet asks you to bring 70 denier olive thread, thin resin like Loon Flow or something similar, thin brown thread (the thinner the better) and a nail knot tool!

Turn the fly 90 degrees to install the hackle.

Klinkhammer Special (Originator: Hans van Klinken)

Hook: Klinkhammer Style or Mustad C49s

Thread: UTC 70 color to match

Post: Polypropelene Yarn-color to suit visibility

Body: Natural Fur

Rib: Optional: wire or tinsel

Thorax: Peacock herl

Hackle: Dry Fly grade: grizzly, brown or dun

Extended Body Mayfly (green, brown drake, hexagenia)

Hook: Curved Scud Hook

Thread: UTC 70 color to match

Post: Polypropelene Yarn-color to suit visibility

Body: 2 mm sheet foam, cut strips 3-4mm in width

Rib: Tying Thread

Tail: 4-5 black or natural pheasant tain fibres

Thorax: Peacock herl

Hackle: Dry Fly grade: grizzly, brown or dun

Markers: Waterproof to add maottling

Two examples of drakes tied with deer hair bodies.

Hexagenia

This brown ate a brown drake imposter!

Brown Drakes

Perfectly Tied Jecinda

Doug with a perfectly tied brown drake!

Oh Garnet!

 

Thanks to Eugene, Jecinda, Willy, George, Garnet and their Helpers at the Sportsman Show

The Red Deer Sportsman Show was this past weekend. I was away but Willy organized an army of volunteers to help with fly tying demonstrations. The gang even got many of the attendees to tie their first flies. This is outstanding positive public relations for our club! 

I wanted to give a huge shout out to the volunteers. I know that Willy spearheads the effort to make this weekend a success. Well done everyone!

 

Some Excellent Chironomid Patterns to Add to Your Fly Box

Chironomids are a staple for all stillwater fly fishers. There are so many chironomid patterns out there. Many tyers will gear their patterns to match the colours of their local chironomids. Tonight we took a look at 4 great chironomid patterns. The blue dun thread chironomid, two antistatic chironomids and a basic black and red chironomid where we blended threads.

Here are some places you can buy precut Antistatic Bag (there are definitely other sources too) Tonight we used .5mm antistatic strips:

1. https://flyguys.net/store/fly-tying-materials/anti-static-bag-asb-fly-tying-capes

2. /https://www.chinookwindoutfitters.com/

3. https://togensflyshop.com/search?type=product&options[prefix]=last&q=ASB*

4.https://purityflyco.ca/products/chronicuts

5. Contact: Heidi Barby on Facebook

Next week, Rick Miyauchi is our guest tyer. Rick is going to be tying some extended body mayflies. Bring a long needle that is not too thick (sewing needle). I think we will also be tying some parachute flies. See you next week!

Adult chironomids

Chromies

Blue Dun Chironomid (BC FlyGuys)

Hook: 1760 size 14

Bead: Black, 3/32nd

Gills: Unistretch

Rib: UTC 70 thread

Body: Blue Dun Thread 8/0

Collar: Burnt Orange UTC 70

Black and Red Chironomid with Blended Thread

Hook: 1760 sizes 16-12

Bead: White 3/32nd

Thread: UTC Black and Red 8/0

Rib: Red wire extra small