At the vise with Ed Engle

Ed Engle ties a pattern from Roger Hill's fly box, the Stillborn Midge.  A great pattern from two great fisherman.  Enjoy!


Ed Engle tying a Stillborn Midge from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
Ed Engle tying at Anglers Covey for the Autumn Splendor.  Ed ties one of Roger Hill's patterns for the South Platte River.

Sunday Morning Golden Stones

I have been playing around with computer packing foam for a while now and just can't get it to work right for me.  Last night and this morning I played around a bit and found a good use for the foam by using it as stonefly wings.  Take a look at the photos and let me know what you think.

These stones are a standard pattern tied with biots, dubbing and wire rib.  I used a shelback of Thin Skin on some and Medallion Sheeting on one. They will both work fine and I am sure the fish can't tell the difference.  The dubbing I used was Nature's Spirit Amber Emergence Dubbing, one I am becoming to love on nymphs.  The wings are computer packing foam, the kind you find your keyboard and other computer parts wrapped up in when you first open it up.  I used a caddis wing cutter to get the shape of the wings and on this particular size, I used a #18 caddis cutter.  For smaller stones, such as a #14, you might have to cut these by hand as I think the wings would be too big for that size bug.  I colored the wings with a brown marker making sure to make a few coats as this foam really doesn't take maker all that well.  I made sure to hit the edges well, so that the ink soaks up into the foam edges, giving it a nice, bold outline. For the black stone, I used some MFC Phoenix Dubbing in Black Beetle color.  Any buggy dubbing will work for you as long as it is buggy.   I will be tying up more of these and tweaking things here and there, but for now I like the look.  

T-Motion Issue #7 - Catch Magazine - by Todd Moen

Here is a great, relaxing video. Makes me wish for more time in the summer.

Floss Back Emerger

Tied at Colorado Skies Fly Tying Demo on 10/16/10

Video or Photo Tutorials?

Thank you to those who took the time to vote.  I kept the poll up long enough to get an idea of what you guys like.  Last week, I noticed a huge jump in votes for the photos, from about 6 votes to 26, within a couple hours, while the video stayed the same.  I think something silly happened there.  I don't think the final count accurately represents everyone's vote; 51% Video & 49% Photo.

I think the actual un-skewed votes for video would have been somewhere around 3 to 1 as they started out as.  With that, I will continue to do some photo tutorials for those that can't view video at work, but will also try to continue to improve and provide more high definition tying videos for you guys.  I still have a few unprocessed from last winter, so be on he look out for those.  I just need to  find time to edit them.  Thanks again for checking out this blog and feel free to let me know what I can improve or some things you might want to see on here.

Tying the Peacock Caddis.

Tied at the Colorado Skies demo on 10/16/10.

Juan's 719 Beatis Nymph

Tied at Colorado Skies Fly Shop, 10/16/10

Colorado Skies Outfitters Tying Demo

I will be in Parker, Colorado this Saturday for Colorado Skies Customer Appreciation Day.  I'll be doing some tying, starting at 10:00AM until 11:00am or so.  I hear that there is going to be a BBQ after and that may be the main reason I am headed that way!  I am planning to tie a few of my patterns including the newly re-named 719 Baetis Nymph.  Stop by and say hi.

11020 S Pikes Peak Dr. Suite 105 Parker, CO, 80138
720-851-HOOK

Look to the right side bar......

I have added a poll on what you prefer.  Video or photo tutorials.  Please take a couple of seconds to let me know.
Thanks!

Tying the Stimulator, Step by Step.

The Stimulator is one of my favorite flies to tie and to fish.  Year after year, I find a "Stimi" tied to the end of my fly line, usually while I am on some pocket water or a small to medium sized stream.  It works well in a hopper/dropper set up, usually holding up a BH Prince Nymph or BH Pheasant Tail.   While fishing the tailwaters, this is usually not my first choice as an attractor, but on the freestone rivers like the Arkansas, it is definitely in the top 3 for an attractor.  Over the years, there has been many "additions" to this fly, but I generally prefer the "standard" or original style over the pimp my Stimi styles.  Now I have plenty of these tied with legs and overwings stashed in my boxes, but I find the original style usually works just fine.  As for colors, the orange/yellow body and yellow/orange body is a great start, but don't forget to try these in a peacock style or a golden tan color for both Caddis and Golden Stoneflies.  I think if I had only one choice to carry a dry fly for the rest of my fly fishing days, I would have trouble making a case for not picking this pattern.  It covers the Caddis, Golden Stones, Salmonflies, Hoppers, Yellow Sallys and a few others here and there so well, the fish can't resist it.  

The following pattern is how I like to tie my Stimulators.  A well tied pattern will last for many fish and makes for a more enjoyable day on the stream not having to change flies so many times.  I don't mind changing out flies after a fish has chewed it to shreds, I just prefer that I don't have to do it after 3 fish.  

Stimulator

Hook:  TMC 200R, MFC, 7002 #4-16

Thread:  UTC 70 Deiner or MFC 8/0 Flour. Fire Orange

Tail:  Nature's Spirit Deer Hock

Rib:  X-Small copper Wire

Body:  Nature's Spirit Fine Dubbing or Antron Dubbing, Orange

Hackle:  Whiting Farms Neck Hackle, Brown and Grizzly

Wing:  Elk Hair

Thorax:  Nature's Spirit Fine Dubbing or Antron Dubbing, Yellow

Start your thread and work it back to opposite the barb.  

Tie in the deer hock.  While it is short and stiff, it has just the right amount of flair for the tail.

It also compresses pretty well so my body doesn't start out too fat.  

Clip the butts close to the body and start to compress the body.  

Note the well-compressed hair and a flared tail.  Don't forget to tie in the copper wire for the rib.  

Start dubbing the body with even wraps of dubbing.

Notice the even body and the location of where I stopped the body.

Tie in a good hackle for the body.  I prefer to use necks for the hackle, but saddles also work well.  

Start wrapping the hackle in even wraps back to the back of the fly.  

Once you are there, hold the hackle at a 45 degree angle and capture with the first wrap of the wire rib.  

Wrap the rib to the front of the body and tie off.  Clip the hackle tip from the rear of the fly.  

This is the completed body.  

Clean and stack some good cow elk hair; I also use deer hair for the wing.  Make sure you use good hair for the wing.  Good hair=good flies.  

Tie down the hair and compress the butts...

And make a good, clean-angled cut.  You will want to cover all the butts for the next step.

Notice all the butts are covered by the thread at an angle; this is important for the next step.  Tie in an appropriate sized hackle for the thorax.  I like this hackle to be a bit bigger than the body hackle.  

Dub the thorax area, starting from the bottom of the taper and work your way up.  This helps the thread and dubbing from slipping down to the eye.  

Work the hackle down to behind the eye.  Don't crowd the eye! Tie off a nice head and make sure to clip  any stray hackle fibers that might be in the way.  

Finished Stimulator.  Note the proportions on the fly and the full hackle, wing and thorax.  Now tie up a few more and get in the hills.  There isn't much time left!  

Nature's Spirit Fly Tying Materials

This afternoon I came home from work to find a package filled with Nature's Spirit fly tying material.  If you haven't heard of Nature's Spirit, you are in for a treat.  Not only do they have some top notch fly-tying materials, but the have, bar none, the best tying hair out there.  They do a tremendous job sorting through the deer and elk hides to deliver you the best possible hair.  Not all fly shops carry this product, but when you do find one, pick up some of their materials and make sure you try out some of their hair.  You will not be disappointed.  This hair has made a huge difference in how my flies look and fish.  There is not a web site for them, but click here to see some of their product.

                                              

 Awesome piece of hair for Hoppers, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators and more.  Select Cow Elk.

 Early Season Cow Elk, Bleached

 Deer Hock, Bleached

If you can help...

Please come fishing with us!

Catamount Institute’s after school club kids are studying all things water this semester, catching bugs in the creek, tying flies, and going fishing.  We are still short on volunteers, especially for fishing.  If you think you’d like to fish Catamount’s private ponds at the end of Edlowe Rd past Woodland Park, please give me a call or email. 

·         Fishing groups are small-TU is lending youth rods for kids

·         I will teach as much as you need me to

·         You cast (my casting needs work)

·         You catch a fish (We hope- for the kids to see)

Here is the most recent schedule for fly tying and fishing as of 10/6/10.  Not much has changed- which is why we need your help!

·         Strike through indicates passed event

·         Highlighted “Volunteer Needed” indicates we still need an experienced fly fisher

I look forward to hearing from somebody ;)

-Tracy Jackson

Education Director, Catamount Institute

Jackson@catamountinstitute.org (719) 471-0910 X104

Fishing –Call Tracy for exact times

ALL fishing events are at the Catamount Mountain Site at the end of Edlowe Rd between Woodland Park and Divide between ~3:00 and 5:00pm

9/23 Thursday- Columbine Elm- Sam Humpert volunteered

9/27 Monday- Howbert Elm Chris Powell volunteered

10/4 Monday- Taylor Elm- Doug Downey is volunteering

10/11 Monday- Lincoln Elm- Volunteer Needed ~3:00-4:30pm

10/12 Tuesday- Manitou Elementary- Volunteer Needed ~4:00-5:30pm

10/13 Wednesday- GLOBE Charter School & Summit Elm- Volunteer Needed  ~3-5 & 5-6

10/14 Thursday- Stratmoor Hills Elm- Volunteer Needed ~4:15-5:45

10/20  Wednesday Cresson Elm - Volunteer Needed

10/21 Thursday- Lake George- Volunteer Needed

Tying- Call Tracy for Exact times (all between ~ 3:00 and 5:00pm)

ALL tying lessons are at the schools listed below

9/20 Monday Howbert Elm- Sam Humpert volunteered

9/23 Wednesday Cresson & Summit Elm- Sam Humpert volunteered

9/30 Thursday- Doug Downey volunteered

10/4 Monday- Lincoln Elementary- Mike Clifford is volunteering

10/5 Tuesday- Manitou Elementary- Mike Clifford is volunteering

10/6 Wednesday- GLOBE Charter School- Juan Ramirez is volunteering

10/7 Thursday- Stratmoor Hills Elm- Mike Clifford is volunteering

10/14 Thursday- Columbine Elementary Travis Newsome is volunteering

10/28 Thursday- Lake George- Volunteer Needed

I helped the fly tying class on 10/06 and it was fun and the kids are excited about tying and fishing.  If you can help, that would be awesome!  Contact Tracy Jackson at her e-mail listed above.  

Thanks,

Juan 

Pretty in Pink

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, my fly of the month is the Pink San Juan Worm.  Following is a step by step on how to tie the SJ worm.  

Step 1.  Gather all your material.  #14 Scud hook, pink chenille, pink thread and a lighter.  

Step#2.  Start your thread and wrap down the chenille with the thread at 2 or 3 locations.  Tie off, cut chenille to length and singe the end.  That's it!

Ha!  In all seriousness, this is an often overlooked color of the SJ worm.  While I have never seen an actual pink worm, apparently the fish have or maybe they just have a pea sized brain.  But then again, I don't spend much time with my head underwater, so maybe they do exist, I just haven't seen them.  But the fish eat them and even those technical tailwater biggies like a pink worm every now and then.  The NFL isn't the only ones to be rockin' the pink this month.  I'll be throwing pink all month as it has been one of my most productive patterns in October.

I need a name.

Hi, I am a baetis nymph and have been going by the name, Juan's Baetis Nymph for  awhile, but recently my name was changed to "Bringing Sexy Back Baetis".  Yea, pretty lame.  So now I need a new, cooler name.  I need your help in finding a new name for myself. So go ahead and let me know if you have any ideas.  Once I have a good name, I'll have my creator post a tying tutorial for you.

Thanks,

____________Baetis Nymph.