Bass Poppers and Grandkids

Bruce Tilbook sent me these images of his inventive grandkids making bass poppers! It is neat to see the kids design their own creations. You can tell they are having a great time. I know the bass are going to smash these delights. Well done!

Stillwater Fly Tying Seminar with Phil Rowley

 

I always looks forward to our all day fly tying seminar and today was no exception. Phil Rowley spent the the day teaching 28 keen students many aspects of stillwater fly fishing. Today was a hands on workshop that included tying chironomids, damsels, dragons, leeches and some attractor fly patterns that will add to all of our fly boxes. Phil challenged all of us with a few patterns that included spinning deer hair, tying an articulated fly that included 4 sections while also introducing a new balanced minnow pattern that has already shown its effectiveness while field tested in the fall! We also spent time learning strategies to approaching a new lake.

Every time Phil makes a stop in Red Deer, we all become better fly tyers. Learning new techniques and patterns make fly tying such a neat hobby that adds extra enjoyment out on the river.

Thanks Phil for keeping us on your calendar. You are an exceptional instructor!

Take a look right here to view Phil's You Tube Channel!

It was awesome to see an excellent turn out for pub night. It was good to meet many spouses and have lots of laughs with the gang!

Yes, we do have fly tying session on Monday. Rick Miyauchi is our guest tyer. Rick says that he is going to surprise us. It should be lots of fun!

Silvia putting the final touches on her gomphus fly!

I know that the "young guns" will be fishing their "Game Changers" right away!

Hopper, ...Dropper!

Rick had to rescue his mom at short notice tonight so we had to unearth the "emergency lesson," for the 25 tyers that came out tonight. There is always a "healthy" supply of Orange Crush foam bodies in the lesson box so we tied up a fly that won the Jackson Hole One Fly Contest. It floats like a cork and works great on our Eastern slopes rivers. Another fly that floats high and cutthroat, browns and rainbows love is the Madam X. We finally tied a great nymph called the Flashback that can be attached about 18 inches below one of the above two flies as a dropper. Flashbacks work great in both flowing waters and rivers.

Here are a few added details about our all day fly tying seminar with Phil Rowley this Saturday January 30th.

The seminar is at Mattie McCullough School gym starting at 9 am. Come a bit early and have a coffee with everybody before we get rolling!

Mattie McCullough School's address is 26 Lawford Avenue. The easiest way to get there is to travel east on 32nd street until 32nd street ends (well past Hunting Hills High School). Turn right onto Lawford Avenue. The school is just a block down the street to the right!

If you are travelling down QEII, exit on 32nds street and head east right to the end of 32nd street and turn right!

For lunch, you can bring your own or order pizza.  If you are going to have pizza for lunch, we will collect $10 at the door!

Friday night we will also have Pub Night at Tiffany's just at the top of the south hill. Phil, Patsy, Karen and I will be there right after we set up for the workshop! We will be there about 7:30 ish!

Remember to bring along the following items. Remember, if you do not have some of these items, we can do some sharing! Copper flashabou and E6000 glue will be there for all to use. Bring it along these items if you have them!

·        8/0 or 70 denier Red

·        8/0 or 70 denier Black

·        8/0 or 70 denier Brown

·        8/0 or 70 denier Olive

·        8/0 or 70 denier Chartreuse

·        6/0 or 140 denier Olive

·        6/0 or 140 denier White

·        Copper Flashabou

·        White Uni Stretch

·        Holographic Mylar Medium

·        Silver Wire, Small

·        UV Crystal Flash

·        Gold Wire, Small

·        Mirage Opal Mylar Medium

·        Gel Super Glue or E6000 Adhesive (Michaels)

·        Brushable Superglue

·        Red Sharpie Permanent Marker

Yes we do have a fly tying session next Monday February 1! Rick successfully got the hot water tank flood fixed with minimal damage. He will be our presenter next Monday!

Orange Crush

Hook: 3 XL dry fly hook sizes 8 to 12 or a 2 XL streamer hook

Thread: Orange or tan 8/0

Underbody: Yellow or orange (antron) dubbing

Body: Foam

Legs: Rubber

Madam X

Hook: 3 XL dry fly hook sizes 8 to 12 or a 2 XL streamer hook

Thread: Orange, yellow  or tan 8/0

Tail: Deer hair

Body: Golden Stone dubbing

Wing: Deer hair

Legs: Rubber

Flashback Pheasant Tail

Hook: 2457 TMC or Daiichi 1120, sizes 12 to 18

Thread: Red 8/0

Tail: Pheasant 

Body: Pheasant

Shellback: Opal mylar, medium

Rib: Copper wire, small

Thorax: Peacock herl