Versatility of a Phesant Tail Nymph

I was looking in my mayfly nymph box today and noticed all the different variations of the pheasant tail nymph I carry. So It got me thinking is there a more versatile nymph than the pheasant tail nymph. Here are examples of the pheasant tail nymph I carry in my fly box.

Standard PT nymph natural

Sizes 16 thru 20

Standard PT nymph olive color

Sizes 16 thru 20

Standard PT nymph black color

Sizes 16 thru 20

Stand PT nymph black/red color

Sizes 16 thru 20

Soft Hackle PT nymph

Sizes 16 and 18

Flash Back Bead Head PT nymph natural

Sizes 16 and 18

Red BH PT Nymph

Sizes 16 and 18

Mercury Bead PT nymph

Sizes 16 thru 20

The question is can a person carry to many pheasant tail nymphs?

Is there a more versatile nymph than the Pheasant Tail Nymph?

Biot Emerger BWO

Hook: TMC 2457 size 16 thru 22

Thread: 8/0 grey

Tail: Amber Z-lon

Abdomen: Olive Brown Goose Biot

Wing case 1: UTC Mirage Opal Tinsel

Wing case 2: Grey Fluoro Fiber

Legs: Grey Fluoro Fiber

This fly is one that was picked up by Montana Fly Co.

Montana Fly Lucent Tungsten Beads - Christmas Red

I saw these colored tungsten beads by Montana Fly Co. thought I would give them a try. They are available in a few colors, I like the red the best. A lot of possibilities for different midge patterns. With the winter coming and a lot of midge fishing on its way, a lot of testing around the corner

Two Fly Patterns Picked up by Montana Fly

Today I was able to receive great confirmation that the two patterns below have been picked up by Montana Fly Company. They are listed in the new 2010 catalog addendum. I would like to thank Nick with Deer Creek Flies, Nick helped me get in contact with Adam Trina. Pretty exciting day. I look forward to working with Montana Fly Company.

"D" Rib Golden Stone Nymph

Biot Emerger BWO

South Platte River, Cheesman Canyon - 8/30/09

Got the chance to get out for the day to one of my favorite rivers. Arrived at the parking lot about 6:oo am, first car into the lot. Shortly after I started to gear up, two more cars pulled in. Started hiking in to the canyon about 6:45am, trying to come up with a game plan on where to fish. Decided to start fishing about mid point on the river. I call the area tree rock, because in the middle of the river is a big rock with a tree growing out of it. My first set was a size 14 golden stone nymph followed by a size 16 pheasant tail, followed by size 18 biot emerger. After about the 5th cast my indicator flat out disappeared, set the hook and after a few minutes I had this 18" rainbow into the net.

Worked to hole for about another hour picking up about 3 more fish. About mid morning I was noticing consistence fish rising on the other side of river. So I decided to change spots and dry my luck with a dry fly. After I relocated to the other side of the river I figured out it was a nice PMD hatch going on. Rigged up the rod with a size 16 parachute PMD, dropped a size 20 PMD emerger below. Sat there and watched refusal after refusal so I had to try something different. I took of the emerger and tied on a size 20 PMD compare dun. First cast with the compare dun on I landed this 16" rainbow. Fished the same area picking up a few more little fish. It has been a while since I fished a dry fly almost forgot how much fun it is to fish a dry fly.

Started working my way back to the car fishing my way out. I noticed this purple beetle on a tree stump. Never seen one this color before. I also watch a doe and fawn just of the trail from me. Did fish to much until I reached the lower river. Took advantage of the meat hole not being fished. Promptley landed a 17" rainbow and 16" brown. The one thing I noticed was how empty the river was for a Sunday. Then I realized NFL football is starting.

Overall it was a great day, fishing was great, scenery was great. Weather was awesome.

Stillwater fly swap 2009

There are only a couple of forums that I will participate in fly swaps, Rocky Mountain Fly is one of those sites. The quality of tiers are outstanding, and the flies are what I would fish with. Here are my two patterns for the swap. These two flies have been big producers on the still water this year.

This fly is my UV Callibaetis Nymph. Big producers at the mountain lakes. Spinney, Delany and Antero .

Hook: 2xl Nymph Hook

Thread: 8/0 Rusty Dun

Tail: Grey ostrich herl

Rib: 4lbs mono

Shell Back: Thin Skin Mottled Bustard Natural

Abdomen: Dubbing Mixture 60% Light tan hares mask, 40% UV tan Ice Dub. This mixture needs to be very light in color. Also after I tie the abdomen I brush out the dubbing on the sides to create the look of the gills.

Wing case: Thin Skin Mottled Bustard Natural

Thorax: Dubbing Mixture 60% Hares Mask, 40% UV Tan Ice Dub. This mixture is darker than that of the abdomen.

Legs: Natural Partridge

This fly is my No Name Red Midge. This fly is modeled after the cowboy midge from a Friend of mine.

Hook: 2xl Curved Nymph Hook

Thread: 8/0 red

Rib: Small Silver Wire

Abdomen: Red Fireworks Braid

Wing Case and Gills: White CDC Puff

Thorax: Red Dyed Peacock Herl

Hank Roberts Woven Stonefly nymph

About two week ago I was given a challenge by a good friend. He is a fly fishing guide in his sixties. He was looking for this nymph, Hank Roberts Woven stone fly nymph. This nymph has been around for a long time. Between a couple for sources I was able to figure out the nymph. The Internet did not a have a lot of info. The fly tying forum was a big help. One of the forum members was able to send me a couple of samples. Terry with Anglers All was a great help. After some time at the bench this is what I was able to come up with. Hank Roberts tied his flies with a different set of proportions, I'm tying mine with a more standard set of proportions.

Razor Foam - a under used dubbing subsitute

I have been playing with Razor foam in place of dubbing on dry flies for a while. Razor foam is a unique body material for dry flies. With razor foam in place of dubbing on the body, flies seem to float a little longer. Razor foam unlike dubbing dose not seem to soak up as much water as dubbing.What is razor foam? It is closed cell foam sliced into thinner thickness. The two thickness available is .5mm and 1mm.

There are two supplies of razor foam I have found. Waspi's Razor foam and Raniey's Cross link foam.

There are a couple of differences between the two foams. First the Wapsi razor foam has more stretch to it. With more stretch it enables you to work with smaller flies. Also Wapsi Razor foam comes in a opaque colors and translucent colors.

Below is a size 20 parachute Adams tied with the translucent grey razor foam from Wapsi

Tying with Razor foam is simple. Here I will go over the steps to tie a simple body with Razor Foam. General rule of thumb for thickness of foam to the size of fly. 1mm thickness size 12 fly and larger. .5mm thickness size 14 fly and smaller.

Notice the grain in the razor foam, always cut with the grain of the foam.

First cut a narrow strip of foam. The width of the strip depends on size of fly. This strip is about 1/8" wide, this is going to be tied on a size 14 hook. You also need to taper the tie in point.

Next step is to tie in the strip of foam to the fly. Tie in the strip of foam with taper facing up.

Next step is to wrap the foam around the hook. I wrap just like dubbing. You can vary the tension on the foam to create a nicely tapered body.

Go ahead and finish of the fly. The front half of the body is still dubbing. Here is the finished parachute Razor foam Adams.

Here are some samples of other flies you can tie.

Razor Foam Caddies

Razor Foam Caddies with Sharpie marker at the trailing edge.

This is my DH Hopper, tied in orange and black. This pattern can be tied in many different color combinations.