Cormorant Flies to Kick Off the 2024-2025 Fly Tying Season

Hot Spot Cormorant (Dave McPhail)

Hook: Hanak 230 #10

Thread: Orange 8/0

Butt: Chartreuse Glo Bright

Body: Peacock herl, black 

Rib: Silver wire, small

Wing: Marabou Cheeks: Goose Biots

Hi Everyone!

Another excellent start to the new fly tying season with the Central Alberta Fly Tyers. Tonight we tied Cormorants. They are a staple in the United Kingdom and it was time that we added several cormorants to our fly tying box. They can be fished on a washing line as droppers or stripped. They look like bait fish but they can also represent a chironomid. What a versatile pattern! The 4 cormorant patterns came from  inspirations from both Davie McPhail and Lyndsay Simpson.

Next week, Dr. Bill Young is our instructor.  I wonder what he has up his sleeve? 

See you next week!

The Gang is Focussed! 

Traffic Light Cormorant

Hook: Hanak 230 #10

Thread: Black: 8/0

Body: Peacock herl, black

Rib: Red Holographic tinsel covered by pearl mylar, medium

Wing: Marabou, black

Cormorant Fry (Davie McPhail)

Hook: Hanak 230 #10

Thread: Orange 8/0

Body: Red Holographic tinsel covered with Mirage Opal Tinsel

Collar: Red Ice Dub

Wing: Marabou, black

Eyes: Small

Competition Cormorant (Lindsay Simpson)

Hook: Hanak 230 #10

Thread: White and orange 8/0- hot spot head

Body: White thread covered by pearl tinsel

Rib: Stretch Flex, light brown

Wing: Marabou, black

 

The Dam Man Changes My Day Big Time ... for the Good!

I had a very interesting morning fly fishing for walleye on the Red Deer River just below the Dickson Dam. With the warm air still hanging around, I decided to head back to chase walleye. Why not, the fly fishing has been excellent.

After setting up, I made my first few casts and connected with walleye right away. It was quite overcast and very little wind. 

...AND THEN the horn sounds at the penstocks which usually means the dam man is increasing the flow. In a few minutes, the Red Deer River starts to rise and I have to move my gear bag away from the rapidly rising water along the shore. From past experiences, when this happens, the fish on the Red Deer River adjust where they are hanging out!

Well the eddy line I am working is now flowing quite fast. I wonder what the walleye will do? The walleye seemed to move alongside the fast water and several started to feed. I had to figure out how to keep my balanced silver minnow in the zone. I added some split shot and moved my strike indicator a bit deeper. It took a bit of trial and error to get the depth right. I also had to high stick so my line did not swing my fly out away from my intended path.  As always I am jigging my balanced silver minnow as it drifts along. I do not over jig it! The next 90 minutes was steady hook ups and I am sure I had a big smile on my face!

Eventually, the speed of the flow slowed and soon came to a stop. The fly fishing also slowed dramatically so I headed home for a late lunch.

Today the Dam Man was my friend. I have had other experiences where opening the spillway abruptly ended my day of fly fishing. Today I had a great day thanks to the Dam Man.

 

Dr. Bill Chases Salmon in the Yukon

Dr. Bill has family in the Yukon and they love the outdoors, just like Bill! Well on a very recent visit, Bill had the opportunity to swing flies with his spey rod for coho! As you can see, Bill connected with several coho! Those bear prints look incredibly fresh too. I would be keeping my head on a swivel! Dr. Bill just like our family loves nordic skiing and Whitehorse Ski Trails were up and running. Of course Bill enjoyed some early season skiing at the first nordic ski area to open in Canada! Way to go Bill. Carpe Diem!