Sunday, February 28, 2010

Donation T.U. Fly Box

It's that time of the year for fly-fishing orginizations to hold their annual auctions for fundrasing.  This year, I was approached by our local Cheyenne Mountain Trout Unlimited Chapter and the Colorado Trout Unlimited to donate some flies.  I said I would donate a small box for each.  Here is the box that will be going to the Colorado T.U. auction.  Included are:  Club Sandwiches, Hopper Juans, Tung. Hot Wired Prices, Tung. Glossy Back Baetis, Baetis Ice Emergers, Wired Juju Midges, and Floss Back Emergers.  This should cover most hatches and may last all summer or maybe a trip or two depending on the user.  If you are interested in purchasing a box like this, please let me know at juan@anglerscovey.com.  





Thursday, February 25, 2010

Larry Kingrey and Curtis Andrews Fly tying Demo

On Saturday, Larry Kingrey and Curtis Andrews will be discussing and demonstrating the tying of springtime patterns for the Arkansas River. Kingrey is a master designer of trout flies, often using a combination of synthetic materials and natural fibers. He is head guide and instructor for Royal Gorge Anglers in Canon City and a contract designer for the Idlywilde Fly Company, based in Portland, Oregon. He also operates Larry's Line, a commercial tying and material company. Some of his most-popular flies include the Better Foam Caddis and Ice series of flies.Andrews, also of Canon City, also is a contract designer for Idlywilde, and with Kingrey ties thousands of flies for the Royal Gorge shop every year. He designed the High Voltage PT nymph, among many others.The clinic will begin at 10 a.m. and continue at least until noon.



Larry's Striped Ape

Larry's Better Foam Caddis

Ghillies Fly Shop
Colorado Springs, CO
719-531-5413

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Fishing......Finally Some Action

I was finally able to get out last Friday.  It had been a while since I last got out.  With all the tying classes, demos and the weekly demos at the shop, there wasn't time to get out.  I finally got the chance on Friday.  Where to go?  That is always the question I ask.  I am fortunate enough to have a few tailwaters to choose from in the winter.  This time I decided on the Deckers stretch of the South Platte River.  I had wanted to go to Cheeseman Canyon, but going in alone, I thought, might not be the best idea, espically in the winter.
On the way up, a friend of mine pulled along side of me and he was also on the way to Deckers.  I jumped in with him and off to Deckers we went.   The fishing was not great, but we did manage a few and "at least got the smell on our hands".  We mostly nymphed and it's not always my favorite form of fishing, espically if it is not sight fishing.   













Next, we headed downstream and ran into several rising fish and proceeded to have a good time throwing dries to the risers.   I managed a few on #18 Parachute Adams and my buddy Kent fooled some on Griffith's Gnats. 
Yea, it was a bit cold.

Notice the change from the bright white Simms truker hat to the more subtle winter cap?

This one was the last fish of the day.  It came on a #22 parachute. 
We are almost there.  The days of the BWOs.  My favorite hatch to fish---I think.  Maybe it's the Tricos, although not reallly a hatch, but a spinner fall. I won't sit here and argue which one is my favorite.  Just put me in front of one and I'll fish it.  Now that things are starting to wind down, hopefully I'll have more from the water.  More stories and more pictures.  Stay tuned. 

Oh, one more thing.  I am having trouble getting motivated to start tying again.  I can't seem to find what I need on my table. 

Sunday, February 21, 2010

New Hopper Pattern--Prototypes

Here is a new hopper that I have been playing around with recently.  I have borrowed from other patterns as well as from the Hopper Juan to have a pattern that has a more tapered look to it.  It still needs some work and I will continue to tweek it until I like it or it may just end up in my "idea" pile.  I will test them out this summer and see how they work.  If they work, I'll need some name ideas. 









Let me know what you think of this thing.

Juan

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Images from the 34th annual West Denver TU tying event.

Carl Pennington's razor stimi.
Got hoppers?
My Graphic Caddis.
Deward Yocum's realistic stonefly.  Awesome!


Rick Takahashi



Rim Chung tying his RS2.  Note the vise.
Larry Kingrey's
John Gordon's
John's
My Copper John's.

Charlie Craven's Juju Midge.
Dennis Collier's Damsel.
Morrish Hopper.
Casey Dunnigan's awesome fly.
Carl's Razor Stimi.

Extended body Parachute Adams.
Nancy Cloos working on a Graphic Caddis.
Bob Dye's box.


My caddis pupa.
Bob Dye's.

Friday, February 12, 2010

34th Annual WDTU Fly Tying Clinic

I will be tying flies this Saturday at the 34th annual WDTU fly tying clinic.  If you are a tier, you will want to make sure you stop by to check this out.  You can sit down with some of the West's best tiers and learn a thing or two.  Please stop by and say hi to me if you can. 

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Landon Mayer presentation and book signing 02/06/10.


Set your sights on the big one on Saturday when Landon Mayer will be at Ghillies with a presentation on "Seeing the Fight," which includes a detailed look at his newly published book, "Sight Fishing for Trout," complete with graphics, illustrations and video feeds. He also will be available for signing the book.

The program will run 10 a.m. to noon and will be free.

Mayer is a fishing guide in the Colorado Springs area, who calls the South Platte River his home stream. He has guided regionally for 11 years and one year in Alaska, and has earned a reputation as one of fly fishing's rising stars. His specialty has been catching exceptionally large trout on small flies and light tackle, and teaching his skills to his fellow anglers.

His earlier works include "How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life," "Landing the Biggest Trout of Your Life" and "Weapons of Bass Production," with John Barr. He is a contributor to High Country Angler and Fly Fisherman magazine, and has written for a number of other major fly fishing magazines.

A pair of Smith Action Optics will be given out through a free raffle at the end of the presentation.



Monday, February 1, 2010

New Sparkle Wing RS2 Video.


RS2 Sparkle Wing from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
RS2 Sparkle Wing tied during the favorite South Platte patterns class on 01/29/10. This pattern is a varation on the famous RS2. Tie some up and give them a try. They work great for baetis and I fish them year round.