Little Bugs

I was finally able to get out today and headed to Cheesman Canyon.  The fish were there and some of them were even eating!  Fishing the Canyon isn't always easy, especially in the winter when the bugs are super small.  It always amazes how watching fish and fishing to them in unconventional ways can result in a few hook-ups.  I won't get into it here, just that it worked better than nymphing!  Bugs of the day were #24 midges of various colors, nothing in particular.

Bugs of choice today

#28 or so

#24 Top Secret Midge

#24 Top Secret Midge

Furimsky's Fluttering Caddis Tying Video

As requested, here is the video for the Fluttering Foam Caddis.  You can change out the color of the pattern by changing out the color of the foam.  I spent around 3 years trying to figure out how to tie this in this style.  Give it a try and see what you think.  I think you will like it.

The KF Emerger

Krystal Flash Emerger
This is the second posting of this video.  I feel that this is such a good pattern, why not share it again.
My buddy Greg Faught ties this pattern and showed it to me several years ago.  It has it's roots on the San Juan River, but has been productive everywhere I have fished it.  Give it a try, as it is effective and easy to tie.

36th Annual Fly Tying Clinic, Denver, CO

West Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited

36th Annual Fly Tying Clinic

                           

Saturday, February 11, 2012

9:00am to 3:00pm

Jefferson County Fairgrounds

http://www.westdenvertu.org/Fly-Tying-Clinic.html

This is a must-see fly tying event for all fly tiers.  There will be around 60 of the areas best tiers there and you can sit down and visit and ask questions while they crank out some of the best flies for the surrounding area.  Make sure to stop by and say hi to me.  I will have some Hopper Juan material kits available for sale as well as some hoppers if you choose not to tie them.  I will also have some Montana Fly Company thread to hand out as free samples.  

Make sure to attend this event.  See you there!  

Hardy Fly Rods

Recently, I was able to pick up a new Hardy Zenith fly rod.  This is the same rod that was hailed as the best 5 weight in the every once in a while "5 weight shootout" done by George Anderson.  While I have only fished it once, I cannot say with a definite answer that it is better than any of my beloved Scott fly rods or any of the other rods that are out there right now.  Give me a few more times with it and I can give a better opinion as far as the fishing goes.  As far as the casting goes, it is a great rod, no doubt about that.  Again, I cannot say it is better than any of the other high end rods I have now or have cast in the past.  What I can say is that it certainly feels good.  While it is a 4-piece, which is pretty much the industry standard, Hardy has now come out with new models of this rod.  While at the recent Fly Fishing Show, I was able to check them out.  They are 1 piece rods and they only come in 1 length, that I know of.  The length is 8' 10".  An 8'10" 1 piece rod is probably not going to be a popular rod, especially with the traveling fisherman.  But once I took the 4wt. to the casting pond, I was blown away!  On the water, whether you have a 7 piece or 1 piece rod, it is assembled and fished to be a 1 piece so if you can get over the idea of having to transport it, then all things will be equal.   This rod felt like no other rod I have cast before.  It was light and had some touch to it.  It felt great in my hand and I was able to hit all the spots I wanted to hit.  I wasn't trying to cast all 90' of line, but just any where from 15' to 40', as I would while fishing.  If I could, I would love to have one of these rods.  I would get the 4 wt. as that seems to be my favorite dry fly rod.  I know this rod could lay down a dry fly perfectly, I just don't know how it would do slinging lead.  I would assume that it would have no problem since it has a very powerful butt section.  The issue of having a 1 piece rod would limit your travel, but for me, I only fish around here so it's not a problem for me.  A 9' rod fits well in my car or if you happen to have a rod rack on the top of your fishing mobile, that wouldn't be a problem.  To me, a 1 piece rod makes sense.  It's only when you have to store or transport the thing when it becomes an issue.  But on the river, we all have a 1 piece rod!  I just might have to trade this 4 piece rod for a 1 piece rod.     

All tied up.

Here are a few of the patterns I have been tying over the winter.  Why tie flies for winter fishing when spring and summer are right around the corner?  Yep, that's what I thought too.   

Sample Foam X-Caddis 

Tan X-Caddis, one of my favorite to tie.   

Furmisky's Fluttering Caddis-Yellow Sally

Furmisky's Fluttering Caddis-Black

Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis

Furmisky's Fluttering Caddis-Tan

Dark Tan Elk Hair Caddis

Foam Caddis #14

Royal Gorgeous #16

Yellow Stimulator, tied with deer hair

Chartreuse Stimulator tied with Antron body and elk hair.  

All flies will be available at Ghillies Fly Shop