The Tungsten Slim Shady Baetis

By adding two beads to a Slim Shady, it now becomes a heavy dropper fly or a heavy single baetis nymph that can be used in a nymph rig with no weight. Looking for a small euro nymph? Yep, that too.

Hook: Daiichi 1270, TMC 200R, Size 18-20
Beads: 2-1.5mm Tungsten Beads
Thread: MFC 8/0 Light Brown
Tail: Micro Fibbets, Split or Hackle
Rib: Juan's Slim Rib, Brown-e-mail me to order
Thorax: Thread/beads
Wingcase: Brown or Black Medium Holographic Tinsel
Legs: 12 Fibers of Flouro Fibre, Shrimp Pink, Black or Brown
Resin: Deer Creek Diamond Fine

Tungsten Slim Shady from "Hopper" Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.

BWO Time!!

After spending some time on the water the last few weeks, now is the time to get moving and make sure you have those patterns you rely on.  Right now, it's BWO time.  You have to make sure you have the lifecycle of this bug, from nymph to emerge to dun.  I've had a couple days with fish looking and feeding on duns on the Arkansas River.  They were also feeding well on nymphs and emergers too, so don't ignore that stage of the lifecycle.  I've attached a video of the CDC Sparkle Dun.  It's a go to pattern for me on top and it's an easy fly to tie.  I used a TMC 2488 hook on this video, but you can certainly use a standard TMC 100 or 101 hook.  Get out and have fun!
CDC Sparkle Dun from Juan Ramirez-Hopper Juan on Vimeo.

The Chubby

Last year, I shot a video on how to tie the Chubby Chernobyl.  It has gained a reputation over the last few years as a great attractor pattern.  It's easy to tie, to see and floats a dropper with ease.   This is one way to tie it and may not be the original way it was tied.  I do not know who created this pattern, but have heard that several people take credit for it.  I take credit for doing this video.  Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to learn how to fish this on the Arkansas River with me.

Tying and Giving Back Fly Tying Event

****Reminder****

Don't forget to get out on Tuesday night for the 1st Annual Tying & Giving Back Event.  This is an event you don't want to miss.  I will be tying along Pat Dorsey, Ken Iwamasa, Rick Takahashi, Jerry Huka and Charlie Craven  Please take the time for this benefit as these people mentioned above will take the time and money to attend.

Thanks!  

  

Images from The Fly Fishing Show.

After spending 3 days in Denver at The Fly Fishing Show, I looked through my photos and realized that I  didn't get nearly as many photos as I wanted to and I didn't get any shots other than the flies that everyone was tying.  I had planned on getting shots of some product and some presenters, but never got the chance to do so. So, you will just have to settle for pictures of flies.  I hope you don't mind.  

A peek into Shea's "reject box".  I don't see any rejects in there, do you?

More of Shea's box.

More Splatte patterns.

Flies from Kevin Compton.

Deward's little Midge Larva

Beadhead version.

Tim Mack's San Juan River Midge

I think this one was tied by Deward.

Mark Boname tying "spoon flies". 

Tube Flies!

Carl's Purple Prince.  This thing was sweet!  

Carl Pennington's Golden Stone.  

Casey Dunnigan, fellow MFC designer with an awesome Stonefly.   

Rick Takahashi's Chrinomids.  

Got Eggs?  

Walt Mueller (AKA "The Otter") is the egg man.  

Jason Goodale, another MFC designer, was spinning up some sweet bass flies.  

Deward's realistic mayfly.  This was in a display case.  

Same display case.

Tim's Foam Back.

I think this is an Envy Midge.  

 Tim tying away.

 Mark McMillian's Display.  Some really sweet flies on this display.  

 Jake Ruthven, a young tier, twisting up some bugs.

 A couple boxes of mine at my table.

One more shot of my boxes.  

Representing at the show.  

1/2 Done.

Happy New Year!  I hope 2011 is better for you than 2010 was.

Since I had some time and it's been pretty cold, I've been busy tying my little life away.  I finished one side of the box I posted about earlier.  It's mostly a caddis box right now, and all the beadheads are tungsten beads.   I don't know if I will have time to start the other side, but I have 3 days next weekend at the show to start filling it.  I tried to add some new patterns that I don't currently carry in this box.  It is geared more towards the bigger sizes, #14-18.  Now, what to put in the other side?

 X-Caddis in Tan & Dark Dun.

 CDC Caddis.

 More nymphs. 

 Caddis!

 Not sure the name on these.  I saw something like these somewhere, so it's not a truly original pattern of mine but it might be different enough from the one I saw.  I just can't remember.  

 Ready to go.

 Caddis dries.

 Droppers ready for action.

 Purple Stones and Golden Stones.  

 Mercury Caddis, Peeking Caddis, and my caddis larvas.  

 My version of the Arizona Prince Nymph.  

 Caddis and Stones.

 Purple Stones.  I've never seen purple stones, have you?

 #14 Tungsten Red Headed flies.  I need a name for these. 

 Mercury Caddis, Peeking caddis and my BH larvas. 

 CDC Caddis.

 Foam Caddis.

 X-Caddis, #16

 Arizona Prince Nymphs, #12-14

 Dun X-Caddis.

Time for the other side and then to the stream when things warm up.