Damsels in Distress Video

Check out this awesome short video.  Make sure you watch this in HD!

Damsels in Distress from Sharptail Media on Vimeo.

2014 Denver Fly Fishing Show

The 2014 Fly Fishing Show in Denver has come and gone and with it was another great year.  This year was pretty busy with Friday being much busier than the past years.  It may have something to do with people still on vacation as the show was a bit early this year.  It may have also been that there was a storm expected over the weekend and many people wanted to get there before the snow started falling.  Either way, it was a great way to kick off the show.  

I want to thank everyone who stopped by and thanked me for doing this blog.  It certainly is nice to hear that I am helping you get better at fly tying.  I really appreciate the followers that I have and it is appreciated.  Thank you.

As a beginner fly tier and fly fisher, I could only imagine that one day I would be sitting at the same table sharing lunch or dinner and jokes with some of the people who were teaching me at the time through their articles and books.  Phil Rowley, Rick Takahashi & Jeff Currier are the people I look up to in the industry.  As time goes on, I hope I can be as helpful and gracious as they are.  I thank them for offering the help and guidance they provide. 

This year, I didn't get to get out and take many photos.  Before I knew it, it was late Sunday afternoon and I had yet to take a photo.  The following photos were taken quickly and in poor lighting.   Next year, I will have to make it a point to spend more time visiting with other tiers and vendors.  Hmmm. What should I tie next year?

Orange Stimi

My "Slim Shady"

Chubby Chernobyl

Shea's awesome box

More

Got Damsels?

Rich Pilatzke is a tying fool!

Lots of eggs!

Jerry Hubka's big ass hopper

Tak's vise

Austin Manthey's box

Big ass stones look good right?

My Slim Shady #22 and Trico Spinner #26

Lots of hoppers!  MFC sample box

The Slim Shady Baetis V3.0

Version 3.0.  This is not the V5.0

I've been messing around with this pattern for a while now.  You may remember it as Juan's Baetis, or the 719 Baetis.  I really didn't have a good name for it, but it fished well.  It's a fairly easy pattern to tie as there are only a few materials.  I like to fish this early and late in the year when more baetis nymphs are in the current.  If you tie this in a larger size, say size 14-16, it can pass as a small stonefly.   Just change the colors to match what you need it to look like.
I'll be tying these in Denver this weekend, so stop by and I'll show you how to tie them.

The Family

Holographic Black

Holographic Bronze

Holographic Red

Holographic Purple

Slim Shady Baetis V 3.0

Cream, Holo. Fuchsia, Bronze, Holo. Purple

Hook:      MFC 7002 #18-22

Thread:   MFC 8/0 Cream, Black, Red & Brown

Body:      MFC 8/0, Cream Thread. MFC Holographic High Voltage Holo.  Black,  Holo. Red, Bronze and Holo. Purple

Rib:         Hareline Ice Thread, Brown or Black                                                                                          

Wingcase/Legs:  Spirit River Fluoro Fibre, Brown or Black.  12 strands split on both sides for legs.

Tail:         Hareline India Hen Back, Natural Brown, well mottled.  Back hen for Holo. Fuchsia or Pheasant Tail.