Birds of a feather....

I have recently visited fly shops in both Phoenix, AZ, and in my hometown of Boise.  A common, theme in both of these shops was empty rack space where chicken feathers called "hackles" are sold.  Listening to ongoing dialogue by employees and customers at the shops, and follow on research from the trusty "google machine" have led to me a deeply disturbing conclusion:  there is a large shortage in the coveted hackle feathers for fly-tiers not because of increased demand from anglers, but rather from absurd demand from the fashion industry.

It seems a stupid, ridiculous popular trend has emerged in the world of hair upkeep that involves placing hackle feathers in hair extensions in what can only be viewed as the latest in a series of "look at me" tactics by people who simply need gimmicks like this to supplant a lack of personality and interactive skills (I'm certain this is what they are compensating for).  I will curtail this rant here....

Here's the crux of the matter:  These feathers come from birds that are genetically bred to produce long, consistent feathers.  Unlike birds bred to eat (which typically live about six weeks before slaughter), these birds live for a full year before slaughter, and are bred in America by only a handful of small outfits catering to the fly-tying industry.  Simply put, this demand cannot be supported without 1.) an increase in price as a function of increased demand (bad for people like me), and 2.) a shortage of feathers for the intended end-user. 

My only hope is that by the time supply is increased to meet a new breed of demand, this trend has passed and the end result is a surplus of the genetically raised, carefully dyed gems that end up in the hands of people who truly appreciate the effort required to obtain such a product, and who spend time crafting tackle with their hands in an effort to fully appreciate the activity of fishing  

The moral of the story is this:  Real hair has roots, as does evil: celebrities and fashionistas should think about that. 

Spring is in the air (but BURRRR)

As usual, those of us fortunate enough to live in the treasure valley were teased with a few 60 degree days only to watch our thermometers plummet back into the low 30's for a while and get the most sustained period of snow flurries we have had since December. The Weather Channel called it a "'wintry mix", and at one point it was the same story every day for the 10 day forecast.

Like many who have seen this before, I've come to appreciate this ridiculous load of shit the term "wintry mix" as simply weather-man-code for "stayinsideanddamnitthissucksandfortheloveofGODdon'tgoflyfishing". However, things are looking up. We are about to experience the lion and the lamb, and we can only hope that the lamb will win. As I discovered today, one of my favorite days of the year is approaching- daylight savings!!

Sure, Christmas is a fantastic day - and is even more so now that I get to watch two little hooligans loose themselves the way I did. And yes, my anniversary is very special. But after those, I gotta choose the annual "spring ahead" as the best day of the year.  Perhaps it's my growing addiction to fishing, but this has sure seemed like a long, cold winter.  Add to that a successful (albeit stressful) open heart surgery for my mother, and a nasty leg-breaking fall for my grandmother, and what you get is even more reason to rejoice that spring is inbound and the season of doom and gloom is finally over (no, I am NOT a winter sports enthusiast). 

Coupled with the fact that daylight savings is fast approaching is the second indicator that spring is arriving - the "fullness" of my fly boxes.  Another winter of fly-tying and daydreaming has left me with a large selection of flies just begging to be introduced to a wild trout, and a strong desire to put them to work.  Here's a C&F designs fly box that I got for Christmas, nearly full of attractors - see you when the days are longer!!

Learner's Permit

Since I got the crazy idea (this happens frequently with me) to teach Bridgette to cast a fly rod this year, I decided that she would need her own tool. After a lot of thought, I decided that a short 7'6" 4 weight would be ideal for her to learn on, and that way the same rod can (hopefully) be used to teach the boys as they get older.

This was also my first experience doing a feather inlay, as I carefully layered in 12 individual grizzly saddle hackle feathers one at a time, end for end, to create this really neat looking weave effect. Here are the photos:

Another fun project - can't wait for it to land a trout!

Big. Red. Sides. (to cure the winter blues)

Well it has been a while since I last posted, and a lot has happened. Most notably, the holidays. I hope yours were safe and merry. Mine were excellent - it was truly a remarkable experience to watch Drake rip open all that Santa brought him, and run full-speed all day playing with everything, eating sweets, and in general acting exactly like I did when I was a little boy! The change in perspective is truly amazing, and SOOO much fun to experience. For more on this and other recent Rutz events, swing over and check out Bridgette's blog.

As for me - Santa (with some help I'm sure) hooked me up with some nice new fishing gear! Notably: Fishpond's Gore Range tech pack (an absolutely fantastic score), new rubber catch and release net with magnetic release, a new C&F design's fly box (LOVE them), and a new set of pant waders (once I find some that fit!).

Accordingly, until recently it had been pure agony gazing at the thermometer in my kitchen (or the weather report at drill for the National Guard) and seeing below freezing conditions for two sustained weeks. I had been dying to get out and fish! Flies were tied and I was finally ready when the temperatures took an unseasonably warm turn on MLK day (which I happened to have off as a federal employee), and I took off for the South Fork of the Boise - and there were a few redsides that made my day!

Before I show the photos, let me preface this with a couple of statements: First, I can't stress enough how cool it is to have Drake so interested in the fly-tying process. He is so observant, and can name every pattern in my midge box. He also says some of the most hilarious things! Sunday night he helped me tie a few winter staples that I thought I'd need, San Juan Worms, and Zebra Midges. He likes to sit on my lap and "help" while I tie these patterns, and I don't mind with these since they are super easy to tie. Second, the two largest fish of my first day in 2011 were both taken on one of the tiny #20 zebra midges that Drake helped me tie!!

Here's Drake pointing at his favorite - the San Juan Worm, and here's the images from my first day out in this new year - Thanks for the help Drake!!

The River was ready

I was ready (there's the new vest)

First fish of 2011 - what a dandy!! Also a good shot of my new net.

Almost like the twin brother of the first one.

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