Fly-Fishing, Through the Eyes of a Dirtbag

So I finally have been able to get out and catch a few fish. It took a long time in 2012, but I just like to wait until I don’t have to freeze to death. Carp fishing in town is picking up in a big way and this weekend I took to the trout waters. Greg and I are making our yearly Colorado road trip and I’m hoping tomorrow will be just as good.

Rainbow

Brown

Big Mouth

Mysis in Colorado carry a mystique of black magic. People have their special patterns to emulate the small crustaceans and for the most part are unwilling to part with their secret recipes. Some of the largest trout in the state and even the country are caught every year on mysis. In certain tailwaters it is a fly that you can never take off, no matter how slow a day has been, you always keep the mysis as the lead fly. This is probably my favorite collection Scott tied this winter, and the one that I want to steal.

In part two of our six part mini-series Scott presents us with his midge collection from this past winter. This box includes not only the typical fare of midges but also some unique prototypes and true to form, a few annelids. I couldn’t count how many he made because I actually had to work today, but as you can see from the pictures there are hundreds. Most of the flies have UV knot sense which he cures first with a UV light, and then puts in a homemade outdoor oven. His proprietary outdoor oven focuses direct sunlight to fully cure the knot sense creating a perfectly clear finish.

Lots of hours and I’m sure lots of beers went into this one.

All these new patterns and virtual friends I have made through the swap have gotten my brain moving. I think I might even pick up a new box and fill it up with more of my little prototypes. I stopped by and saw Tyler Kendrick this evening and one of the things we came up with was this guy.

Using some of the patterns submitted as inspiration we came up with about a half dozen new ideas that I can’t wait to tie up and try. I think this one will be perfect for some lakes as it will land soft in the stillwater. We mixed a little rust and yellow dubbing together, threw in some gold rabbit, added rubber legs, a little india hen, and we were done.

I think I like the idea of keeping it simple with your materials and your technique. The uglier the carp fly, the better the carp fly. I’m going to work on some really ugly stuff, and in the back of my mind I’m going to be looking for the most perfect grass carp fly in the world.

Is winter almost over? Will I ever catch another fish again? Just in case, I continue to stock my boxes and checking how thick the ice sheets are at local golf courses.

My job has taken me to some interesting places, most of which you would never care about. However, this past week I found myself at a urinal and couldn’t help but notice this poster hanging above me.

Apparently my father lied to me when he taught me about dry flies and wet flies. Ignorance is bliss.

Rest assured dear friends, that soon I won’t have time for antique urinal posters and my manager’s TPS reports. My armament is almost complete, and I am anxiously awaiting my fly shipment from McTage.