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