Fly Tying

Clara's Green Drake

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Of all the kids, Clara is by far most interested in learning about fly tying.  Granted, I dont expect 4 and 5 year-olds to really get into fly tying, but Clara loves anything artistic and creative.  And she has a million questions.  

So when I tie some flies, (which seems pretty rare these days) I make sure to call Clara and invite her to hang out.   I was tying up some green drakes for a trip to Penns and she was helping with some of the coloring activities of the wings and bodies.  She loved it!

In my messy box of fly materials, I have a straw that I cut notches into for a makeshift nailknot tool. Clara found this straw and asked me if she could borrow it. ‘Of course sweetie’ and she ran off into the other room. As I finished up my last fly, she came running back into the room and said, “here Daddy, …I made you a green drake!” She had cut out a head and wings, colored them and then taped them to the straw. She also gave me a picture of us together.

I felt my heart swell to the size of the moon and instantly melted. I’ll never loose this green drake straw for the rest of my life. So precious. And what creativity ?!?! She’s 5!

 

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Tying Buddy

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The last couple weeks after surgery has slowed me down as I just focus on getting back on my feet for the spring time.  Fortunately, Declan is at a point where I can keep him semi-occupied while I tie up some new trout streamers for the early season.  I can't wait!

Surgical Streamers

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February is a great time of year to restock the fly boxes and stave off the cabin fever.  So, it was no accident that I strategically scheduled my needed hernia surgery for mid-February right between hunting and fishing season.  I was also smart enough to place an order for new materials and hooks that came right before my surgery date.  #DaddyDowntime.  

By day 3 post-surgery, I was able to sit in a chair and it was time to lash some feathers and flash!  I probably should have refilled my nymph boxes, but tying streamers and dreaming of two-foot browns was so much better than tying size 16 Pheasant Tails.

As I cleaned up the explosion of hair, feathers, flash, and fur, I got a little creative and took some finished fly pictures.  My wife made fun of me as I set them up like my 5 year-old lines up his to cars and dinosaurs.  I believe her comment was ' I'm surprised you don't have them in the bathtub with you swimming laps to test them out....."  Hmmm, now, that's not a half-bad idea!!!

 

An ode to Spring and Blue Wing Olives

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"Several years ago, I set aside a certain category for those things that reach so deeply and so successfully into first principles, that one's trust in them is absolute. Among them are brown trout, the Grateful Dead, and Blue Wing Olives."

Ted Leeson, The Habits of Rivers, 1994

There is nothing more therapeutic to get one through the cabin fever months than to tie up some blue wings at the vice and daydream about watching a wild brown sip new duns on a cloudy afternoon.

Here's the latest batch that will find a home on the end of my tippet this spring.

Nymphs:

Hot spot

BH Flashback

Mercury Baetis

As close as it gets...

Emergers / Duns

BWO Emerger

BWO RS2

BWO CDC Dun

BWO Cripple

BWO SS Biot Emerger

BWO SS Sparkle Emerger

Spinners

Rusty Hackle Spinner

Spinner

Musky Flies

Finally pulled myself away from those annoying pheasant tails and midges and tied some bad ass musky flies.  My mom thought I tied up some toys for the twins...until she saw the 4/0 hook hanging in the bucktail...hahah. 

I can't wait to throw some meat for river monsters.