Bugs

As anyone who fishes with flies can tell you, there seems to be an almost infinite selection of flies on the market today, and at times it can border on the overwhelming. Add to this the fact that, if you are a tier, the selection is limited really only by the imagination, there are really endless possibilities of fly patterns at an angler's disposal. These endless selections can generally be separated into two broad categories: Hatch-matching flies and general attractor flies (I realize that is a gross oversimplification). Hatch-matching flies represent decades and decades of careful observation and tying innovation by the most experienced anglers and guides, and provide the best chance to catch selective fish that are keying in on specific insect activity. By contract, general attractor style flies focus more on the overall size and shape of insects, and are not necessarily specific imitations of any one insect, but rather are simply "buggy" enough to attract fish to strike.

The first two fly patterns that I want to share fall into the ladder group described, and are flies that I've found monumental success with in the past few seasons regardless of not being specific imitations.

First, the almighty Royal Trude. If I was forced to select just one fly to fish with on any given day or even season, I would hands-down select this fly. I've caught fish in great numbers during prolific mayfly hatches, on mountain lakes with a wide array of much smaller insect activity, and in about all points in between. This is a "must have" in any fly angler's box, and there are a number of acceptable variations to materials listed. Photo and recipe are here:

CDC Royal Trude:

Thread: Black 8/0 Uni-thread

Hook: TMC 100 Size 12-16 (12 shown)

Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets

Abdomen: Peacock Herl, Red Floss, Peacock Herl (alternated as shown)

Wing: Paired White CDC feathers, tied down-wing style

Thorax: Furnace or Brown Hackle

Next we have the stimulator, or in this case, the "foamulator". This fly is another fantastic tool in my arsenal because it is large and easy to see, works as a credible stonefly and/or hopper imitation, and has enough flotation to easy drop a nymph underneath on a dual setup. This fly is also especially sentimental to me because it is tied using hair from the Deer that I harvested this fall! Photo and recipe are here:

Foamulator:

Hook: Mustad long-curved 8-16 (#10 shown)

Tail: Natural Deer or Elk hair

Abdomen: Yellow closed-cell 2MM foam

Rear Hackle: Grizzly saddle hackle

Wing: Same as tail

Thorax: Peacock herl

Front Hackle: Furnace or Brown hackle

Credit Bridgette with the excellent close-up photography!

Before and After

Well it's the winter, and accordingly the time when I restock my fly boxes and spend some time behind the vice tying flies. In 2006 I built a little fly tying bench for myself because I was disturbed by the cost of them at local shops. It served its purpose admirably for several years (with may modifications/additions along the way), but I have finally just plain outgrown it! Now it will be relegated to storage - perhaps Drake or Connor will take an interest in tying flies and I can pass it along to one of them (I hope!).

I did some prowling around the web and found a few photos of benches that I thought I would like, and taking into consideration all the factors of what I wanted in a bench (things like light reflection, magnetic strips for hooks/beads, easy access to tools, and a build in thread storage rack), came up with this one. It's quite a bit bigger than it was in my mind, but with a little more organization should work out great.

The best part is that I did this entire bench for $30.00!! Bridgette should be so proud of me!

First Things First....

Most people can look to the past and recognize their life to the present time through a series of memories, punctuated naturally by the most profound. Interestingly enough, not all of these memories are good; in fact I challenge you to consider memories that register in your mind from your own past and think about what makes you retain certain moments of joy or frustration or disappointment or happiness while you forget others – and think further about how these memories in turn have shaped your perception of these emotions.

I think you’ll find the trip interesting: getting lost in supermarkets, first dates, the “high stakes” emotions of a YMCA basketball game or soccer game or little league game, “vacation bible school” and the irony associated with that title, first days of middle school/high school, the day the schoolyard bully put you in his crosshairs, the first day of Army basic training (those that have been there can certainly relate to this one!), etc., etc.

These are obviously random examples, but my point is this: certain memories lend themselves to the development of certain emotions in life, and the vast majority of these memories are entered only in the mind. The truly fortunate are able to find a visual depiction of something in their life that had a profound impact on them, and in this case I happen to reside among the lucky.

Bridgette and I took our boys and traveled to Idaho Falls for Thanksgiving to spend it with my parents, and while we were there I took a few small boxes of my things from my old room. Among them I rediscovered this photo that I had completely forgotten about (although the memory was not lost): This is a photo of the very first fish that I ever caught on a fly rod!! This modestly-sized wild brown trout from the Big Horn in Montana was released unharmed, yet he unknowingly forever changed my perception of angling, and introduced me to an activity that I am still now beginning to fully appreciate.

The incredibly eclectic outfit notwithstanding, (thankfully my dad had extra stuff), I can look back on this trip as a profound moment in my life. This trip was punctuated by both the memory of some great success on a fly rod, and also by a harsh reminder of the danger of the activity as I would slip and fall in the river the day after this photo was taken, marking an early quitting time for the rest of the group and earning a few scoffs in the process.

Incompetence on the river aside, my Dad still included me on this trip even though I had two older, stronger brothers who would have probably been able to better handle to cold temperatures and fast moving water. This is something that I will never forget, especially as I raise two sons of my own and attempt to pass down to them a lifestyle that, from the moment of this photo above, has slowly shaped the person that I am today.

I can say without hesitation that I will know the true meaning of happiness if I can get two more photos just like this one in the next decade.

Cheers

Skunk in the Snow

This past Sunday, I had decided to try my hand at catching some of the steelhead that are planted annually in the Boise River. What I woke up to was anything but ideal weather, and it snowed on me all day! As a result of the weather (and of course a serious preparation blunder on my part), no fish were hooked.

Nevertheless I went and stood in the water for a few hours - I was even able to capture a few fleeting moments of solitude on an otherwise very crowded stretch of river, and it was quite pretty amid an early winter snowfall!

Since there are no fish to discuss, I thought I'd take this opportunity to discuss a few things that are on my mind about fishing in general.

First, there is no substitute for good equipment, and for dressing in layers for the conditions

Secondly, and I really don't want to harp on this, but it's time to discuss etiquette. There is a code amongst most fly-fisherman I know about etiquette on the river. This is centered typically around the goal of silence and solitude. I can suppose that this is, at least in part, due to a heightened sense of patience a fly angler has simply by the nature of the activity; watching, waiting, and observing for feeding behavior and insect activity. Unfortunately, this is not a value that is shared by bait fisherman, and if you are a member of the latter group, please read this with an open mind.

Naturally, the Boise river gets pretty crowded when steelhead are present, and everyone is entitled to engage it whatever type of fishing they would like. What happened to me on Sunday was, however, regrettable. I was standing in the middle of the river working a small, slow moving pocket of when I heard commotion in the brush behind me that would usually indicate a bear rummaging through a campsite garbage container. Unfortunately however it was three gentlemen looking for a place to fish from the bank. They settled on a location within casting range of me (had I turned around), and proceeded to discuss where they would all cast their bobber-laden rigs surely tipped with earthworms and power bait (all of which were locations that would have snagged my drift if I continued to fish in my spot). So, I slowly and quietly began moving upriver to get away from a potential snag but unfortunately could not have moved far enough to avoid the next punishing hour of very loud, obnoxious cursing and bar speak generally reserved for a low-rent tavern in a red light district. To get out of earshot of their incredibly underwhelming conversation would have put me somewhere in New Mexico.

The point is this: There is plenty of river in this world, and particularly in the great state of Idaho. There is simply no point in getting so close to someone else on the River, especially when it is evident that this person is trying to be alone. And if you simply “must” get so close to someone, please do your best do so in a manner that is not so entirely off-putting. If you would like to discuss the finer points of life like how hot Jenny McCarthy is – please do so at your local tavern. In other words, BE QUIET!! (And for God’s sakes pick up your friggin’ garbage!!!).

Have a nice day…………

'Tis the Season..........almost

Well it is beginning to feel like the holiday season, although this post is about a birthday gift......


About a month ago I was wanting to build another fly rod because, as with all things, rod building improvement is only made through experience. Since I really do not "need" another fly rod, and could not justify the expense based on a "want", I put the word out via Facebook to see if anyone wanted one. My Sister-in-law Jennie requested that I build one for my Brother as a birthday gift from her, and so began another rod building project.


The rod turned out better than I could have ever imagined - it was a deep blue glossy rod with matching thread - I was wanting to build a rod where the guide wraps blended seamlessly within the color of the rod, and I accomplished that with this rod.


It was also my first experience building a 4 piece travel rod, but it will most definitely not be my last - I like the fact that each section of the rod can be tackled independent of the others, and it seems to lend itself to a more careful attention to detail in terms of both overall fit and finish of the rod, and also in terms of accurately finding the spine for casting accuracy.


Unfortunately, and with a deep regret, I must confess that I never photographed this rod. I wish I had that decision back. However I can assure you that the rod casts nicer than any of my own. I took it outside in the grassy common area adjacent to my house and put it through some demanding paces. The rod possessed balance and casting ability unparalleled to any rod I have had the pleasure of casting. I was able to cast with pinpoint accuracy at a very close range, and yet almost effortlessly shoot 65 feet of line out with little strain. Not bad for a 5 weight.....


Now I anxiously await the feedback as the gift should be received this Friday.


So, what better companion gift could I give to my brother to accompany his Wife's than some flies?? I put some thought into patterns that I've found success with over the years, and decided on 10 patterns that I though would be useful to someone just beginning to acquaint himself with fly fishing: This is a gift that cost $6 for a small fly box - I already had the materials, and the rest was simply time. Here is the result............

2010 has been a remarkable year: Bridgette and I bought a new home, had another amazing son (Connor), and became landlords. I also had time to do some fishing! A few of the places I visited this year with a fly rod include: Duck lake, Hum lake, Lake Fork Creek, Silver Creek, Boise River (in town), South fork of the Boise, South fork of the Snake, and my first trip to the Owhyee river in Oregon.


While I almost entirely fish alone, this year I had the pleasure of some company on several occasions. What follows is a brief pictorial rundown of the 2010 year of fly fishing. Enjoy!

Here goes nothin'.....

Well I’ve finally decided to join the digital age and maintain a blog (despite telling myself several times that I never would). After watching the job Bridgette has done capturing the fun times we have had with our two sons Drake and Connor, I have realized that blog’s are more than just an outlet for random fodder on a public domain – they are yet another way that we as a technological generation are able to capture memories through a different medium than scrapbooking or photo albums, and to share those memories with whomever we choose no matter what distance may separate us.

To that end (and is a DISCLAIMER), I must mention that the purpose of this site is just that: to capture memories that might otherwise be lost. This is a blog about fly fishing – and I am most certainly an amateur angler. I make no claim of using this site to pass along information worthy of a local fishing report – but rather to simply showcase some of the breathtaking places that my hobby takes me, to share some fly patterns that I’ve found success with, and to discuss the act of standing quietly in water with a fly rod in hand – and finally, to display how this activity shapes an opinion about life in general.

Please note that I have not (and will never) used the word “sport” in this introduction. That is because fly fishing is not a sport – it is much more than that. The term sport implies competition, and there is simply nothing competitive about fly fishing – in fact, fly fishing is competitions antithesis. Bass fishing has become a competitive sport in the modern day and this is, at least in my view, shameful. If fishing is a sport to you, this reading will likely not appeal to you.

Simply put – this is a blog for people who enjoy and appreciate being outside. It’s a blog that espouses catch-and-release ethics when dealing with wild trout. It’s a blog for people who believe in tying their own flies even when it means sacrificing some quality. And finally, it’s a blog for people who understand that the simple act of casting a fly line, independent of whether or not the fish are eating, can be the most remarkably therapeutic thing on earth.

See you soon………..