Anyone interested? Thought I'd wait until after the holidays. (So y'all can't use that for an excuse) I don't tie flies, but I'll be the hub.

M

I'm in as long as it's limited to 20 or fewer contributing. Also, one might establish a theme early on (i.e wet, dry, streamer, etc), as many might not benefit from some of my steelhead creations on gaff sized hooks. Thanks, 1Minute

I would pick a dry, but others might feel differently. We'll see what the response is. We haven't had to worry in the past about too many......

M

I'm in. I like tying streamers or wet flies, mainly because you can get pretty creative.
Jeff

I'll play M.

Is this the year that you start tying yourself and discover the true higher purpose for a spool of thread?

Ouch!

Naw, just funnin' with ya!

Although with your skills with thread, you could probably put us all to shame in the first week.

Thanks for being the hub. If I tie fast maybe I can hand deliver them?

I know you're jus' kiddin'!

If you tie really fast, maybe you could tie them here!

M

'Tis funny, though, I have so much patience for needle and thread, but not for hook and thread. Go figure.

M

Count Ned and I in!!!!

Well if you guys are playing I guess I could...

You too C&B...
Troopers tried to serve me again today!?!?

Count me in.
(If I have any hooks left.)

That's odd! I'll probably see them today or tomorrow then.

Was exactly the same... so they passed on delivering it...

It was another for 1/12?

Yup!!!

And here I am at exactly 16,000 posts...

I'm thinking the theme will be "trout flies." Mostly because you can tie either wet or dry flies, but I think considering our diverse geography, we all can fish for trout.

So, I have

HG
Ned
1Minute
CastandBlast
Sitka deer
Troutfly
Macrabbit

Where's that rotten kid of yours?

M,
Add me to the list, please.

Doug~RR

My friend Rick and Myself are in! Thanks for bringing it up again.

Here's the new, Revised edition.

HG
Ned
1Minute
CastandBlast
Sitka deer
Troutfly
Macrabbit
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick

Is he really a friend? Or just a way to double your Trick-or-Treat boodle?

I'm in. I'll start looking through my Fly Patterns of Alaska book and see what jumps out at me.

HG
Ned
1Minute
CastandBlast
Sitka deer
Troutfly
Macrabbit
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick
Hunterbug

He's real. He made the Adams thorax fly last year and prompted my search for the rusty "coachman" saddle so I could tie it too. He is also the guy who gave me the Sage rod that had been to the Miramichi River steelhead fishing. You remember reading the posts now don't you?

Steelhead in the Miramichi???? Last I checked, it was an Atlantic Salmon River, one of the best in the world.

Whoops. I remember one of you all told me about the river, and the rod having some serious Karma. I forgot the rest of the story. I know he said the rain changes the river's temper and could make or brake a trip. I thought it was steelhead.

Oh yeah, the Mirimachi imparts serious Karma into any fly rod or fly which is cast on it. WW Doak is THE flyshop on the river, I still order much of my tying supplies from them, much as I did when I first learned to tie flies and cast for salmon when I was living in Newfoundland in the mid 70's. Once a year we would travel to New Brunswick and stock up. Fished the River a time or two as well.

This is pretty cool. I buy all my flies though. Maybe next year.

How do you manage? Are there fish out there who'll take a fly that doesn't possess a smidgen of the fisherman/tier's soul?

You can add myself and the merry band of fly tiers, so I guess that'll add 4 too the list. I can't seem to keep my oldest boy from tying flies.

What does everyone think would be a good cut-off date? When should all the flies be in to me?

Also, pick what fly you want to do.

M

Ned
1Minute
CastandBlast
Sitka deer
Troutfly
Macrabbit
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick
Hunterbug
458Lott X 4

For the trout theme, are you thinking stillwater and/or stream patterns?

Acrylic Scud

Yes but only 6 and I have already caught them.

The fact is hat I just started fly fishing last year and I have not ventured into the fly tying arena. I just have not had time. However, it is something I would like to try after getting my "man room" done in our new house.

Hopefully I can participate next year.

Welcome.
Keep it up.
You'll enjoy tying when you get into it.

I was hoping you'd say that, really. Time to go to school!

What did HG do to get voted off? did you find out what REALLY happened when Art visited with her?

I have one of his incredible scuds... yup!

He also ties a mean muddler in acrylic...

Thinking I will do something ridiculously tiny... even if Paul's kids are the only ones that will be able to see them!
art in search of magnification

I think the girth of the fish I posted the other day is due in part to lots of scuds in the river, and I really have no excuse for not being dialed in on how to fish 'em.

No, I made a mistake.

HG
Ned
1Minute
CastandBlast
Sitka deer
Troutfly
Macrabbit
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick
Hunterbug
458Lott X 4

I'll turn in some gold ribbed hare's ears. Can we go about 45 days? I have a ton of hunter safety stuff coming up, so evenings are getting busy. 1Minute

Ah, sheesh, guys! I don't do well under pressure!
And although I won't submit rejects, I don't at all mind letting my imperfections out of my inner sanctum. You have been warned!

Macrabbit.
Thanks, I may very well attend a beginner class to learn the basics.
They are offered at our local Bass Pro Shops.

I hope you will all post some pictures of your creations. I look forward to seeing them.

Doug

Okay, so shall we call the cut off date March 1?

Now I need to figure out 4 patterns.

I'd like to do a muddler minnow if I can learn how to get the head and collar to come out. The tangle lakes teaser looks interesting, probably a caddis and maybe an mre.

Works for me.
I'll tie Queen of the Waters wet style.

March 1 is fine with me. Still mulling what to tie....

Well, you have lots of time....

Here's what I have so far.

HG * Blue Winged Olive
Ned
1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
CastandBlast
Sitka deer
Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick
Hunterbug
458Lott X 4 * muddler minnow, tangle lakes teaser, caddis, mre

MT, don't hold me to my previous musings. Art's suggested letting the kids choose their patterns, and I tried a few brown bombers last night, so might pick that as my pattern.

No worries, just keep us posted in case someone wants to tie something you said you would, and then change your mind.

M

HG * Blue Winged Olive
Ned
1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
CastandBlast
Sitka deer
Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick
Hunterbug
458Lott * muddler minnow
458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
458Lott3 * caddis
458Lott4 * mre


M

M- I have decided to step outside the box. I will not be tying BWOs, like I always do.......but, will instead, dance a suprise, of sorts!

Okay, so HG is tying the "mystery fly"

I am thinking I will tie a smallish Thunder Creek.

HG * Mystery fly
Ned
1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
CastandBlast
Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick
Hunterbug
458Lott * muddler minnow
458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
458Lott3 * caddis
458Lott4 * mre

Ned calls a beadhead hair's ear.

Oooops....just looked at the list and that is taken. I will tell him.

He is going to do a Clouser.

I'll do a "cinnamon twist".

HG * Mystery fly
Ned * Clouser
1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick
Hunterbug
458Lott * muddler minnow
458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
458Lott3 * caddis
458Lott4 * mre

Rick was talking about doing a leach pattern he likes. It's black with a mane of red around the front. I caught 22 trout on one, promptly following the stocking truck. I parked over a hole, and pulled out fish after fish until I lost the fly. I put on a black wooley bugger and caught a couple more but nothing like the little leach. He ties them with black thread if they're not weighted, and red if they are. Kind of smart. I have no Earthly idea what to tie. I've had my nose in a pattern book too. I thought about a streamer called a Joe's Smelt we have a lot of fun with up here. I don't know though. Hunting season's going to officially end before I pack up my stuff and cart out the fly stuff.

Tie the red-maned leech if it catches fish!

Joe's Smelt would be a good choice. I know most folks consider it an Eastern pattern but I have used them here in Alberta in the Crowsnest and some mountain still waters.

HG * Mystery fly
Ned * Clouser
1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech ?
Hunterbug
458Lott * muddler minnow
458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
458Lott3 * caddis
458Lott4 * mre

Oops, I see I misread RobP, and Rick is the one thinking about doing the red-maned leech. As long as somebody does it, as I am ALWAYS on the lookout for a good leech pattern!

Maybe I'll set up the vise in front of the Superbowl today and start twisting cinnamon....

I'll do a flash back Pheasant Tail. Are we tying 12 flies or 15?

HG * Mystery fly
Ned * Clouser
1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
Redrabbit
RobP
RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech ?
Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
458Lott * muddler minnow
458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
458Lott3 * caddis
458Lott4 * mre
M


We're tying 16, cuz Art talked me into tying one, too. I don't know what I'm going to tie, cuz it has to be easy.

M

I am going to tie a fly called a "fuzz puppy." My friend Rick gave me a clinic today. Tomorrow he is going off to buy me some material. I found the leach is a piece of black zonker strip for the tail, and a two tone (red with black tip) cross cut rabbit strip wound for the body and a tungsten bead for a head. A fuzz puppy is another favorite with bead chain eyes, holographic tinsel ribbing, marabou tail and rabbit fur dubbing. It looks like a damselfly larva pattern, but he says no. It's another fly to try in the same category as leaches and wooley buggers. Rick worked for a sporting goods store I frequented growing up, and I love listening to him talk about this stuff.

HG * Mystery fly
Ned * Clouser
1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
Redrabbit
RobP * Fuzz Puppy
RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech ?
Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
458Lott * muddler minnow
458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
458Lott3 * caddis
458Lott4 * mre
M

We're tying 16




M

Here's a pic of the fuzz puppy and red/black leach for the swap, courtesy of the 8 degree day we had today. Oh, by the way, Rick tied the puppy, and I'm going to try the leach. I've got to learn how to spin on the cross cut bunny strips anyway.

Wow, what a camera! I didn't expect that amount of clarity!

Lookin' good!!!

M

One of our participants thought it would be a cool thing if all of us tied 20 flies and then the extras could be donated to worthy causes to use as they see fit, for fundraiser, auctions, gifts, etc. I think it's an awesome idea, and so, I'm tossing it out to you, the participants, and asking if you'd be willing to match that number. If so, great, include the extras (it's only 4 more) with your original 16 and we'll put together some cool things for a couple of very appreciative organizations.

Thanks!

M

Would they be deductible?

yup!

Then I'll do it.
But I bet the mentioned "one of our participants" is tying a simple fly!

You do not consider the San Juan Worm a complex tie???

LOL
I'm in.

I was given a lecture on the San Juan worm the other day. In RI, sometime in June the salt ponds warm to a certain degree and the cinder worms hatch. Striped bass come in and set up shop for a couple of weeks and everyone goes after them. The fly of choice is a big San Juan worm tied on a salt water hook. They also use a fly based on a salmon fly called a Torpedo style fly. I've never been able to get on the fish. I'll try again this year.

I chose to tie a furled body mayfly. All 20 are done and I even did 15 more for my flybox!!!

If I had to do 15 more for my box I'd go bonkers!
Finished mine today, they'll be in the mail soon.




Running a batch of a fly sure makes the tying easier than only occasionally doing a single (practice makes perfect).
Not perfect, really. I amazed myself that I tied them all satisfactorily - I had no rejects. Although that could say something about low standards...
I could pick nits about nearly every one, but they're all acceptable.

If any participant wants to go through what I just did, PM me with your USPS address and I'll send the detailed instructions, to arrive about the time the flies get to you from MissTreated.

That looks GREAT!!! I just tied 5 of something that was supposed to look like that, but mine aren't nearly so nice!

M

I've got one in the package just for you-

Wow!!! Where is the power cord, or is it battery powered illumination?

Nice!

Art showed me that pattern and I've tied a few dozen of them. They don't anywhere as nice as yours. But you do get the hang of it and can tie them much faster after banging out a few.

I still need to figure out what pattern I'm going to tie for the fly swap, and bang some out.

The secret is either in my magic fingers or in the detailed (4 pages) instructions. I'll let you guess which!

I love, love, LOVE it!!!!

M

Box of fur and feathers on the way.

I'm in for 20. Hailing fron the home of the Adams; I'll go for them. If wanted I will cast them in the pool where Judge Adams in 1922 first tried them and told Hallady- "Man these are great!!" Tight lines- Lwr308

1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Troutfly * Queen of the Waters wet style
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech ?
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly


Enrollment closed at this point.

We're tying 20




M

I was at a site called fly anglers on line last night, and they have a thread entitled fly swaps. They have a fly of the month swap, a clouser swap, a mayfly life cycle swap. We're doing better in terms of enrollment, and this isn't a fly fishing board. I think that's cool.

Maybe next year we can do this before Christmas and I can tie some of these:

Heehee.

A Reindeerhair Caddis?

It's soooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!! Yep, tie me one of those!!!

M

Good evening folks,
I am afraid I have to withdraw from the swap. We have had a death in the family. My wife lost her mom. I'm not going to have much time to tie and don't want hold you folks up by asking for an extention.
I'll be up for the next one.
Jeff

Fly Anglers Online is a pretty cool site. Been hanging out there for many years. They have an incredible list of patterns including their histories in many cases. The BB is fairly new though.

Sorry to hear that, troutfly.

20! You guys are killing me! Why not 50 or 100?

I can tell you're not the San Juan Worm guy!

rob
FAOL is the only other site I visit much. I post as hap over there.
art

troutfly
Sorry about your loss.
art

troutfly,
My condolences to you and your family.

M

No, but I might be if you guys keep adding on. The first dozen are no problem. It's anything past that that I for some reason have a hard time finishing.

Thanks folks. I'll pass them to my wife.
I'll play next year or sooner if there is another swap this year.

Sorry to hear about your loss




Is there room to jump in since troutfly is out?

Make that 21, Hunterbug!! HeeHee!
(I'm safe - I've mailed mine; my enlistment is finished!)

Sure! you have just shy of 2 weeks! Last of February is our destination time frame.

M

let me know where to send them and i will work on them tonight, 20 flies correct?

20 flies it is. What fly are you going to tie?

M

1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Huntinfool *
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech ?
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly


M

Whooohoooooo! The flies are comin' in! I'll scratch your name off as you send them in. Here's the list!

1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Huntinfool *
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly


You would think I'd be able to scratch off Art, since he's right here and all, but NO!

M

The rest of us scratched him off long ago.

M,
A package of Grand Poopahs will go in the mail tomorrow. A caddis imitation that also works well in AZ lakes with the red and peacock.



Doug~RR

A pipe cleaner?

Never underestimate a multi-purpose fly in case your Meerschaum needs streamside attention.

RR
Thanks for sharing the photo! I'll cross you off the list as soon as they get here.

The rest of you better have fly tying plans for the weekend!

M

Since you're already tying faster and better than I do, can I just PM you the recipe and let you do 'em? It would save on shipping! (wink!)

What on earth gave you the idea I was tying faster? I knew I was working with a handicap, so I had to start a lot earlier.

Somebody was bragging on the way you quickly shrunk your time per fly, and he wasn't too good at concealing his pride at your progress!

Now you've done it!

Don't swell her head -- my eyes couldn't take twice as much shocking pink hair!

MissTreated: Could you PM a shipping/mailing address please? 1Minute

1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Huntinfool * stimulator
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly



Tick-tock, Clarice!

PM sent

you got them already, wow that was fast

Mayhap one of Mrs. Palin's demands, in exchange for joining the ticket, was speedier mail service to Alaska.
So now we know- McCain keeps his word.

RR, your package arrived yesterday, so here are the current standings....


1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Huntinfool * stimulator
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit * Grand Poopahs
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly

The USPS is faster from AZ to AK than it is to UT. They were mailed on Friday and arrived Monday.

I wish it were that way around the state! Sometimes it seems to take forever to mail a package just a couple of hundred miles to the south.

M

MissTreated: The Hare's ears went into Priority mail this morning. To those that have not shipped yet, remember to drop a little dust in the box to help MissTreated with return postage. Dispersal might require a co-signer if we don't help out. Happy trails, 1Minute

Yeah! I didn't get anything in the mail today, but HG and Ned's should hit the doorstep any day, as a few more. I was hoping to get them all by this weekend so I could get them out in Monday's mail. We'll see......................

Thanks everyone!
M

I better get the crew kicked into gear. We're 1/2 way there, tied up 20 flesh flies and 20 leaches. I'll see if we can get the entire lot over to the mt/sd homestead this weekend.





I figured going to simpler patterns we actually get tied beat a pattern I'd like to tie but only don't have the time to get together 20.

Here's my second attempt at a muddler, guess this one can be called a fat head

Cool! Looking forward to getting them into the mix. Don't forget to make the toe-tags for them, too.

M

Gold dust or Angel dust? Which decade are you from- 1870 or 1970? Or should I have swept out under my bed instead of including with my flies a little of Uncle Sam's long green?

$Gold$

Isn't gold to Alaska approaching coals to Newcastle?
Besides, I bet MissTreated has more gold than she knows what to do with. I hear that folks up there don't dare swim in the rivers- each time they take a stroke, they gather handfuls of flakes, soon sinking and drowning under the weight.

As far as dust is concerned, the most dust we have around here is saw dust. But I like to refer to it as "designer smoker chips."


Anyway, here is the current standings as of mail delivery today. 1Minute's came in the mail today.

1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Huntinfool * stimulator
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit * Grand Poopahs
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly

Monday. 458Lott's delivery today put us well over the 1/2 way mark. AND lwr308's. Still some trickling in. (Read that as drumming my fingers on my desk...) Five more to go!


1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Huntinfool * stimulator
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit * Grand Poopahs
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly

There's one guy on the list who should get more than fingers drumming on a desk. How about knuckles rapping on a noggin?

It seems we have a prize-winning tyer in our midst... The
"People's Choice" award at the AFF fly tying contest might have gone to one of our own...

Do you have some photos to share?

soon....

Congratulations, castandblast. Nice to have someone of your caliber among us.

No, castandblast is from a whole other state... SHE might be getting hard to live with...
art

Let's hope M doesn't get too hard to live with - some winners let stuff like this go to their heads.

p.s. any chance of a photo of the prize-winner? I heard it was stolen.

As I said to Art earlier, so that means they'll be two people that are hard to live with in their house

Yous guys cut me to the quick! I'm humble! Really! There is no room for two big heads in this house!

M

Then how do you and Riley do it?

Do what? Get around your big head????

So ah, any news on flys arriving?

She Who Draws Flies attracted nothing new today...

Jane and Ned's came today! Only 3 left!



1. HG * Mystery fly
2. Ned * Clouser
3. 1Minute * gold ribbed hare's ears
4. CastandBlast * cinnamon twist
5. Sitka deer * smallish Thunder Creek
6. Huntinfool * stimulator
7. Macrabbit * Acrylic Scud
8. Redrabbit * Grand Poopahs
9. RobP * Fuzz Puppy
10. RobP'sFriendRick * red-maned leech
11. Hunterbug * flash back Pheasant Tail
12. 458Lott * muddler minnow
13. 458Lott2 * tangle lakes teaser
14. 458Lott3 * caddis
15. 458Lott4 * mre
16. lwr308 * adams
17. M * furled tail mayfly

getting close now

Looks like stinky deer needs to get into gear.

I am a lot closer to done than someone is letting on...

Now you know why I gave Miss T a little box of flys last year, for getting you off your, um you know! 2nd Saturday in April is opening day here!

I'll have them to you before then, I promise!

M

I'm five long days into a rock fireplace. Thought I'd be done by now but I'm only a little over half way. I'm under the gun to finish it before I can play so feel free to give me the boot and send them out without my flies. I am late already with no free time in sight and I don't want y'all waiting on my sorry butt!

I want to see pictures of the rock fireplace!

M

When I get a few more rocks off the floor and onto the wall I'll send some!

I'm betting it's BEAUTIFUL!

Having your fly tying supplies scattered all over the kitchen table don't count

Something better happen soon because I'm finding myself staring at the trout in the tank at Bass Pro Shops again imagining emergers coming off and the trout rising to take them. I may find myself there tomorrow on the bench made of a steel cut out of a trout eating fudge from upstairs staring mindlessly at the fishies.

I'm reading a Bill Heavey book and liking it.

I'm sorting out the flies tonight.


M

I stared at the little stream by the house today. There's little white caddis coming off. There's still ice on the banks for crying out loud. Woodcock are peenting here now as well, and I just spent a half hour or so watching them out the garden. The season's definitely changing. The herring are running up Gilbert Stuart too so the Stripers will be in in a couple weeks.

M,
A package of flies arrived today. Thank you for organizing the swap this year. I went to Lake Mary last evening and caught 7 northerns on a Rapala. Am thinking that Ned's Clouser may be the ticket for the next trip.

Doug~RR

I got mine yesterday also

Got a package of flies yesterday. Nice job folks. The lakes are frozen, and the streams are out of their banks. Is there no justice? 1Minute

Is she delivering them personally? It seems as if two of us each week are reporting arrival.
I hope she is. I'd like to shake the iron fist that can control those two kids.

So where's the pics?

Until the second Saturday in April no fishy here in RI. Figures I have a driver's ed professional development class that day.

I was talking pics of the flies!

My box finally came. Here's your dang picture!!-





Don't you guys use cement?!?!

Gruesome...that white rabbit leech in the upper left with the blood stains on his coat. Also appears that the coroner showed up and put some toe tags on the deceased victims. Owing to the yellow feathers, bet they were ambushed by a yellow Easter chick.

Just kidding! They came through with fly-ing colors.

Got some cuties here.
Thanks, all.

458, all your flies just say 458. Did your merry band desert you, or are the labels abbreviated?

Not quite. You need to spend more time with Sherlock, Dr. Watson, and less time with his cocaine.

I finally got a chance to try my hand at one of the Swap flies, the Thunder Creek. I googled up an old 'Fly of the Month' from Alaska Flyfishers, used those instructions as foundation, guessed at Sitka's embellishments, and came up with a decent first effort. Of course, I don't have access to MissTreated's pink bead chain!
I used bucktail for the first time- it doesn't stack any more easily than calf!

9672 #14?
Did you use two different colors of Crystal Hair? (That stuff's too psychedelic for my old eyes to distinguish.)

Next up will probably be that one with the German/Spanish/Indian name. My google examples are not ribbed. But without the rib I wouldn't have been so intrigued.
Any tips, 458 Lott?

(Troutfly, there might be a slight delay. )

Actually, that is polar and grizzly bear hair, rather than bucktail and a pearleasent flash. It has been my ace dolly fly for years, but only this past year did I figure out why. I always considered it an alevin pattern, but now think it is a sea louse pattern...
art

I thought it was your charter business employees that you called 'sea lice'.

I dunno. I don't think I'd be fooled if I ordered a bowl of sea louse soup and found it filled with Thunder Creeks.


OK, polar and grizz it is. My attempt used white and brown bucktail, as per the article. Now I gotta dig deeper in the materials box!
But you also tied in four strands of flash. I think two yellow and two violet? (Neato - the violet ones show a polka dot pattern/texture under magnification.

No panic lol

Second (and third) time's the charm. I can tie a passable macrabbit version of Sitka's version of ...'s version ... of the Thunder Creek. The fly looks like a wide-eyed innocent, ready to be taken advantage of by the big, bad trout (apologies to Goldilocks).

I tie them very sparse for myself... Maybe 15 hairs total... But they look better with more junk on 'em...

They illicit the hard strikes like a smallmouth on a hellegramite... That is what I really like... You are of course exactly correct on the hook.

I understand the sparsosity. You're right- they look better with a bit more. I'm aiming for about a dozen each. Short lengths of translucent PB don't much show up!

The color in the bead chain eyes is quite the touch. I only have the usual brass or silver.

No comment yet on the flash?


On another note, I tied up one of those Cootchie-Booties. (I know, coch y bondhu drips with history)
Does it need a good Ginking in order to float well?

Thanks again to all the Swappers.

The flash is "rainbow" and depending on the exact little section used runs to just about any color. Atherton made a lot of sense to me many moons ago and I have been throwing lots of colors into stuff ever since.

At a garage sale some years bcak I got a tin box full of bead chains. A bunch of it... and have been long on chain and choices since.

I like lots of Gink pretty much anytime I want a floater...

Yup, I was deserted. The boys wanted to tie, but just had too much homework and other extra caricular activities, and my daughter just didn't get hooked with the tying bug.

I still need to wander over to Stinky deers to pick up our fly swap flies.

The coch y bondhu isn't true to the pattern as I didn't use the proper hackle, but I figure the fish won't know the difference. I coulda sworn I cemented all the flies I tied.

So, most importantly, has anyone caught any fish yet with any of the fly swap flies???

Good luck with that! I've been told that some of our Swappees enshrine the flies and never use them. There oughta be a law.

I got out today for a couple hours of pond fishing. The beginning of the week I fished the Wood River and got skunked. Fast cold water was keeping the bugs from coming off and the fish weren't biting. Today, I hit a tiny pond and caught two tiny brookies on the ugliest fly in my box: a Mickey Finn. I threw flyswap flys and other standbys at the risers, let them sink and stripped them in.... I got nada until the sun was up a couple hours. I got 2 brookies and a yellow perch, and then another hour of nada and I went home. The River is still cold and we're all waiting on it.

You get a gold star for trying.
To coin a phrase, "There's always tomorrow". (You have my permission to use that.)

I just caught a nice rainbow on Chester Creek (right in the heart of the city, complete with drunks, homeless and floating flotsam) using the adams. (or was that last year's? )

M

Hip, hip, hooray for our SwapMistress!
Anyone else making our effort worthwhile?

I heard yesterday that Trout Unlimited is float stocking a stretch of the Wood this weekend. I will be going up Sunday or Monday to try fresh water again. Salt water fishing has been hot so we've been concentrating on it but this weekend, it's trout fishing.

If you're not using the Swap Flies, I'm not interested!