Playin around with Chironomids

Been playin around with Tak's Crystal Chironomid. Here are a couple, 1 red & 1 black. I not happy with breathers at the head. Can't wait to get my new Diamond clear UV resin from Deer Creek to test on these patterns. My Loon clear fly finish is way to thick to level properly. I think we will be on the still water for a little while. Run off is going to get crazy around here very shortly.

Trip Report - Antero Res. - 5/5/11

Had the opportunity to call in fishing today, convinced two of my co-workers also to call in fishing. Left bright and early for Antero Res, weather forecast was in our favor today. We arrived at Antero around 8:30 am to very light winds and some what light crowd. Headed for the south shore boat ramp circus, pretty mild today. If you have been there you know what I mean. The day started of well, right out of the chute I hooked up with a real nice rainbow. Kelly started off a little slow but end up with a fury. Dale is fairly new to the lake fly fishing and had a good day.

Second fish of the day, nice cutty.



Kelly's fish of the day. Fat Rainbow



Dale's fish of the day



Fish of the day for me, male rainbow



This was the fly of the day, black chironomid (Buzzer). Olive scuds also worked well.

Sunday morning boredum set in. Organizing Tools

I was setting at my tying bench bored and wishing I was was on a river with a rod in my hand . So i decided to organize my fly tying tools. Started cleaning and organizing my tools that is when I realized I might have a problem. I'm a fly tying tool junkie, how many tools does one person need.

 Scissors- how many pairs dose one person need. I still have my original DH Thompson Ice scissors, midge and hair. This pile would be a lot bigger if I hadn't just threw a few pairs out.

 Whip finishers, just a few.

 Hackle Pliers

 This is the scary pile. Bobbins

 Dubbing brushes, a little small compared to the rest

 Dubbing twisters

 Bodkins, fancy word for dowel with needle.

Hair stacker's

This is what accumulates after 25 years of fly tying. Some of these tools are my original tools when I started tying.



Rubber Leg BH "D" Rib Golden Stone Nymph (Been resiting the urge)

I had been trying to resit the urge to tie my "D" rib stone with rubber legs, until yesterday. I was tying at the Anglers All Clave yesterday and wanted to try something new. I had seen Theo's Rubbermaid stone and thought it looked cool. So I broke down and tied my "D" rib stone with rubber legs and it looks pretty cool. I was hoping to field test today that will have to wait a weekend.  I'm using a light brown super floss from Umpqua for the legs. The proportions on this fly is a little off. The abdomen need to be a little longer, other than that I'm pretty pleased with the way the fly turned out. I can't bring my self to use the rubber material for the tails so I left the biots for the tails. Tell me what you think.

Biot Emerger - PMD Fly Pattern

I have had a few request here of late for this color variation of my Biot Emerger. I tie this pattern with and with out flash back. It is tied the same as my Biot Emerger BWO.

Material List

Hook: Std Scud hook sizes 16 thru 20

Thread: 8/0 cream or pale yellow

Shuck: Amber Z-Lon

Abdomen: Brown/Olive Goose Biot

Wing case: Mirage Opal Tinsel(optional)

Wing case/legs: Umpqua Fluoro Fibre Shrimp Color( I have only found Umpqua/Metz to carry this color)

Thorax: Montana Fly Co UV Frogs Hair Dubbing PMD Color(or any pale yellow dubbing)

Legs: Umpqua/Metz Fluoro Fibre Shrimp Color

This is a great summer time pattern. Fish dead drift on the bottom fly of a nymph rig. Can be tied with a brass bead. 

Product Review - Deer Creek Flies Oil Slick Scissors

After I posted about my new scissors from Temico, Nick with Deer Creek Flies got in contact me. First he thought I was out of my mind about what I spent on those scissors and he wanted to send me a pair of his oil slick scissors.  I have been tying with his oil slick scissors for the last 2 weeks and I'm very pleased with the performance of these scissors. When I first received them I was a little concerned with the size, they are a 5" scissors. After tying with them for a while you hardly notice the size. These scissors are very sharp and well balanced. The one thing that I really like is the size of the finger hole, plenty room for my big hands. These have become my primary scissors for working with foam and deer hair. The color is also very cool!! You can check them out out Deer Creek Flies web site.

http://www.deercreek.co.uk/default.html

360 Degree view on Montana Fly Company

Montana Fly Company is now showing the new flies for 2011 in 360 degree views. These are my two new patterns added for 2011. Check them out



http://www.montanafly.com/360_Reviwe_2011/360/02-0630/02-0630.html


http://www.montanafly.com/360_Reviwe_2011/360/27-0740/27-0740.html

Trip Report - Sunday 4/3/11 0- The Roaring Fork River

Had the opportunity to hit the water this last Sunday. Was invited to go to the Roaring Fork river with one of my customers and two of his friends. We pulled into Glennwood a little after 7:00am and started heading up the valley. We noticed the water was pretty off color, so we headed up above the Crystal river. Water clarity was better, not great. The morning started off  with a bang, within the first couple hours hooked and landed 6 to 8 fish. Biot Emerger, "D" rib golden stone nymph and Pats rubber leg where the flies of choice. Mid morning the weather turned a little for towards the bad side. We fished at Hooks Bridge and at Cathrine's Store. We did take a little break and went to check out the Frying Pan river. The snow was flat out coming down up on the Pan. Wish I had taken some more pictures. We had a little challenge getting home, I-70 was closed when we pulled into Vail. Come to find out it had been closed since about 11:00am. Shortly after we arrived in Vail they opened the highway.

 Nice little male taken at Hooks Bridge by Jeff

Justin and the fish of the day