Archive for the ‘ Winter ’ Category
I’ve never been one to carry a multitude of different streamers. Perhaps I have not been properly schooled in the ancient arts but I have always just carried a few basic streamer patterns. I love the addition of his rubber tails which incorporates everything that works on a Meatwhistle and adds a little bit of McKittrick’s Jawbreaker.
A few saltwater patterns Scott tied up this winter in hopes of making it to the ocean during 2012.
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.
Green Drakes in my mind are not a staple pattern of Colorado as much as they were for me in Montana. That being said, for a couple weeks every summer you look up and realize you are in the midst of thousands of Drakes wishing you were more prepared. When July comes around you better be ready to fish drakes, and fish them hard. Fishing the nymphs below riffles and the dries anywhere else can provide you with a day you will never forget. The nymph doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be big and buggy, and that is exactly what Scott was thinking…apparently.
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.
This winter many of us tied flies for the upcoming season. Flies we love, flies that we want to try, and of course a few bugs that are “just going to kill it”. I applaud all of you but, I think that the MVP award belongs to Scott Spooner. Over the next week I will be displaying Scott’s great pieces of work but today we are starting with his collection of Juju Baetis. Even Charlie Craven would be jealous of his collection featuring over 350 Juju Baetis. Enjoy.
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.
I had a special valentine present today when I arrived home from work. While the rest of the participants are eagerly awaiting their packages I have already begun enjoying my bounty. I have an alien specimen courtesy of Kevin Morlock which I’m not sure what I’m going to do with. You’ll know which one is his, it is the one with half a rabbit hide and a size 3/0 hook.
Lots of good flies all around, I already have some new ideas and I can’t wait to try out what other people are using. The swap was a great time and I think it was a great way to introduce yourself to different ideas and concepts for carp flies. Good bless you McTage.
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.
The remainder of 2011 is a non event for me. Things are frozen pretty solid and while I could still fish, it is nothing like what it will be in the spring or summer. Instead, I’m using my time earning brownie points, tying flies, and putting Adam Smith’s theories in practice.
I have this vision of creating my own fly shop of sorts on my bookshelf. You know, a few bins with my favorite flies so when someone calls me I can head over to the ole’ stash, throw a few in the box, and I’m off to the river. I got to working on this theory this weekend and I got about 50 flies done this weekend to fill my nice little bins. Carp of 2012 be wary, I’m coming next year and I promise it is going to get ugly.
Mello Yellow
It seems that I picked a great time to take a fishing hiatus as cold weather has taken a nice grip here in Colorado. While I haven’t had time to go fishing, I had some free time to stich together a few clips and photos from a weekend or two this summer. I’ll get up some more videos and flies in preparation for the spring thaw, hell that is right around the corner. What else do you have to look forward to during a deep winter hibernation?
