I'll have to try this.

So when you have lots of flies to tie, what better to do than play around and see what you can come up with?  Here is my latest creation I think will be a winner.  It comes from an idea that I have been playing around with on a straight shanked hook.  I'll need to tie a few more and put them on the water.  But for now they look good enough to eat.

Rods I like

When heading out for a trip to the river, I usually try to think ahead to the weather conditions and bug activity when choosing what rod(s) I want to take.  Like many of you, I love to throw dries.  Whenever I get the chance, I take at least one of my "softer" rods with me.  There are those days that you know you are going to be slinging lead all day long and trying to get down where the fish are hanging out.  Those are the days where only my stiffer, heavier rods are packed up and taken.  During the spring, summer and fall, I always take one of my Scott G or G2 series rods with me. This is my dry fly rod.  Now, don't get me wrong, these rods can sling the lead just fine, but when you have options, I go stiffer in the wind and with the lead.  Scott G series and their newly updated G2 series rods are very similar in feel with the latter being "updated" recently.  This means "a tad bit stiffer".  The G2 series is just as fine as their predecessor, the most notable difference is the reduction in overall weight.  The G series rods were in production for nearly 30 years and is the benchmark for  a "dry fly rod".
If I know the BWOs will be out on the South Platte, I like to take a 9'4wt. G or a 8'8" 4wt G2.  For caddis on the Arkansas, I like a 9'5wt G.   I could go on and on with different conditions and rods, but given the hard question of which rod to take to the Arkansas or S. Platte River, it would be a 4wt.  Which one, I can't tell you.  Just give me one!  

9' 4wt Scott G Series, Rio Grande River, New Mexico

For the smaller creeks, I prefer the 2 and 3 wt. rods. Since moving to Colorado, I have used these less as I fish the bigger waters more often. These smaller rods are special to me as I fished these the most while in New Mexico casting over Rio Grande Cutthroats and wild browns in the Cimarron River.  

8'8" 3wt Scott G2, East Fork Jemez River, New Mexico 

The question I always ask my self is "which one rod would I keep if I could only keep one"?  Well I don't think I could ever answer that question.  It would be the one that I have in my hand at that time.  And it will be a Scott.  

Scott G2 Rods

Scott G2.  8'8" 6wt.  I wouldn't mind having this one.  

  

Copper John Tying Class

The Copper John is one of the most popular flies out there and for good reason.  It catches fish and it's durable.  If you have struggled with tying this fly correctly, swing by on Friday night for a tying class dedicated to the Copper John and some variations.  Call Gary at Ghillies Fly shop to sign up.

1st Annual Trout Clave! Anglers All, Denver, CO

Denver area residents, stop by on Sunday at 1:00PM to meet me and to watch me tie some patterns of mine.  This will be Anglers All's 1st Annual Trout Clave with many more to follow.  More information listed here but click here to go to Anglers All site.

Join us April 17th & 18th 2010 for the 1st Annual Anglers All Trout Clave! Beginner and expert fly anglers are welcome to come explore the wealth of information provided by a collection of signature fly tyers, guides, authors, angling personalities and industry reps. The Trout Clave will feature the following attractions -

• Speaking and exhibition by Ed Ward, Landon Mayer and John Barr
• Fly tying demonstrations by Rick Takahashi, Juan Ramirez, Carl Pennington and Jason Goodale
• Fly fish Colorado slide shows presented by Telluride Outside, Crested Butte Angler and Anasazi Angler
• International fly fishing adventure travel slide shows by Andrew Bennett of Deneki Outdoors featuring Alaska, Bahamas, Chile and British Columbia
• Test the latest gear and get casting instruction from representatives of Sage, Winston and Ross
• Wader fitting for men and women by Simms Fishing Products factory representatives
• Winter clothing clearance sale
• Door prizes, casting contests, hot dogs & drinks
• Free admission!
• Event Hours - 9:00am to 5:00pm

I hope to see you there!!!!  I'll have some Got Hoppers? stickers for you.  

I can't believe nobody...

Ever claimed the box!!! Yea, that's right, the two winners didn't claim their prize within the given time.  I will decide where this box ends up now.  Thanks again for participating with all the comments.  Maybe next time it will be bigger and better.  

Juan

The new winner of the flies is........

ERIC WELLER!!!    Shoot me an e-mail within 24 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Only if you want the flies.

juan@anglerscovey.com


Bill from Albuquerque is the winner of the Sharkstooth and 25 pack of hooks.
Please shoot me an e-mail with your address.
You have 24 hours to respond and then they will be up for grabs.

Thanks,
Juan

And the winner is................

With the #26 comments post is:   Dave @ www.thtchronicles.blogspot.com 


Dave please send me your address for the box of flies!  E-mail me at juan@anglerscovey.com 


Congratulations!


But we aren't finished yet.  


With comment # 46, Jayfish of Billings, MT will receive a 25 pack of TMC hooks and a Loon Outdoors Shark Tooth Tippet Cutter donated by Ghillies Fly Shop in Colorado Springs, CO.

And for one more last prize, comment # 70 from Sam at www.headwatersofhistory.com will also receive a 25 pack of TMC hooks and a Loon Outdoors Shark Tooth Tippet Cutter donated by Ghillies Fly Shop in Colorado Springs, CO.


Just send me you addresses and I'll get these to you guys. 


Thanks to everyone that participated in this one.  I'll try to keep these going and remember if you are a winner, you have 48 hours to respond and if no response, I draw again. The clock is ticking. 
Thanks,
Juan 

How to Mix Your Own Dubbing Video

Here is something a little different than a tying tutorial.  I learned this trick from Charlie Craven's book and can say it is way more fun than the old coffee grinder method.  I have made some really cool dubbing mixes with this method.  Take a look.


How to mix your own dubbing from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
Using a compressed air canister and a plastic bag, you can make any dubbing blend you like. It's fun and it's easy.

Fly Box Giveaway! Leave your comment.

Here we are again, time for another random drawing for a free fly box to the winner!  If you missed the last drawing, it was for a 1/2 dozen Hoper Juan's and a 1/2 dozen Ice Emergers.  This time it's going to be a BWO/Caddis fly box.

Here is how it works:


1.  Leave a comment here about anything.  Let me know what you think about the blog, what you would like to see or any other comment.  What are your favorite flies, places to fish, flies to tie, ect. Only one comment please.  If you wish, just leave your name and location.

2.  Leave some sort of identifying information like a name, location, link, email address (it's up to you). Please do not e-mail me.   

3.  I am hoping for 100 comments so we will go until then or Saturday 04/10/10 which ever comes first.   I will then visit http://www.random.org/ and have a number generated.  I will then list the winners name and number on a new blog post.  The winner will have 2 days after I post to contact me with their mailing address. If I don't hear from the winner after 2 days I will select a new winner and then I will post it on the blog.

4.  Winner will receive 18 flies in a small Umpqua Fly Box.  The flies are 3 of each:  Juan's Chartreuse Caddis Larva #16,  Juan's Chartreuse Caddis Pupa #16, Peacock Caddis #16, Juan's Baetis Nymph #20, Sparkle Wing RS2 #20 & CDC Baetis Dun #20.

5.  I will ship to the US only (sorry). 

That's it.  Have fun.

Make the Best of It.

When I thought about fishing the Ark today, I imaged a dark, cloudy day, occasionally spitting snow and about 1:00 or so the BWOs would come off and the fish would rise to them in the clear, low water.  Well  today was not quite what I had imaged.  After a few days of warm weather, some of the lower elevation snow was melting and made it's way to the river.  While it was slowly dropping and clearing, it definitely  was not how I had hoped it would be.  The day started clear and cold.  The wind was blowing as it always does this time of year.  The water was higher and off color and the fishing was a bit harder than usual.   After about an hour of fishing I had a terrible thought.  Could a skunk be coming?  I haven't been skunked since leaving the Rio Grande in New Mexico where on any given day it could happen, but on the Arkansas?  Really? I realized this is possible but not for me.  I have invested way too much time in this passion and since this was not the Rio Grande, I didn't have to worry.  The fish would come.  Soon the first fish and second fish were found in a usual spot and on a usual fly, the cream caddis larva.  With the weather hot and cold, snow and bright sunshine, the fishing was still slow.   I kept telling myself to throw on a woolly bugger, as I love to fish them in this type of water and in these conditions.  When I did, it was pretty intense.  Follows right to the rod tip and then they were gone.  I knew I would see lots of fish this way and also assumed I could hook up with 1 out of 4 or 5 follows and I did.  The rest of the day was spent this way all the while I was waiting for the BWOs to start emerging.  I saw about a handful and that was it.  The sun would come out after a few minutes and the bugs would disappear along with the clouds.  I didn't see a single rise all day long and after a good day on the water and some testing of new patterns, I called it a day and headed home.  Some days, no matter how bad, are just plain better than sitting in front of a computer at work.    

Love the old cars in the canyon.  Do they ever move them?

First fish on the bugger.

Lots of these in the water.  

Pretty little things.  

Although I see these the most, I still throw a cream colored one and they eat it.  Hmm, I wonder if they would eat an olive one????

About a size 14

There were only a few of these out today.  I didn't see a single rise today.  

Caddis are out, but not many.

Testing out a new hopper pattern.  It floated well but it needs to be tweaked a bit before summer.

This is a cool pattern that I want to use more on this river.  It's a Jeremy's Arizona Prince.

I eventually hooked up with a few of these.

 Currently my favorite fly on the Ark. My cream caddis larva.