The Fly Fishing Show

January 7, 8 & 9, 2011
Denver,  Colorado

Stop by at the upcoming Fly Fishing Show and visit with me. I'd like to meet and talk to as many of you as I can.  I'll share as much as possible with you and give you a new sicker that I have.  I will also have 5 dozen Hopper Juans for sale as well as the materials kits so you can tie them yourself.  The kits are $5.00 for enough materials to tie 6 Hoppers and the Hoppers are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00.  I hope to see you soon.

2010 Fly Fishing Show

Some Hopper pattern in the Denver Post

Carl Pennington called me up as I was driving to Denver to catch the final Broncos game of the year and asked me if I got his e-mail.  I said no.  He then told me that there was a picture of my hopper in the outdoors section of the Denver Post.  When I got to Denver, I found a Sunday Denver Post and headed straight for the Outdoors section and there it was!  I was suprised by the size of the photo.  Usually they put a small photo attached to the story and that's it.  So here it is, the happenings this week in Denver and some Hopper pattern.

Here is the link: http://www.denverpost.com/outdoors/ci_16989062

PHOTOS STOLEN FROM CARL PENNINGTON AND USED WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION 

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.

Time Flies!

First of all, there is a new poll on the right side---------->

During the Holidays, it seems to always be busy.  Somewhere along the way, I find time to sit down and tie a few flies.  This year, I made sure to spend some time working on a few flies for a new box that I want to fill.  I am also busy trying to figure out what I want to tie during next week's Fly Fishing Show in Denver.  Yep, that's next weekend!  I better get things in gear.  I have more stickers and some more of my hopper kits for you again this year.  Which reminds me, I better get moving!  For now, here are a few pictures on what I have been working on.

Merry Christmas!!

To all viewers of this blog!  I hope you and your family enjoy some time together, get to watch some movies, eat some good food, relax, tie flies and maybe, just maybe, get to get out and fool some fish.  Here's to a great 2010 and looking forward to a great 2011.  I wish all of you the best!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

Hopper Juan

"Buddy Dog Ramirez"

Christmas Hopper Juan tied by Dave Caracciolo.

Upcoming tying class and Jimbo Busse tying demo

This Friday night will be the 2nd fly tying class covering "How to tie Better Parachutes and Working with Natural Hairs".   This class will cover two different topics, and if you are struggling tying parachutes or just want to improve them, this is the class for you.  Also, working with natural hairs will cover some patterns using deer and elk hair. This will be a great class to improve your skills.

On Saturday's tying demo, Jimbo Busse will dazzle us with his tried and true still water patterns.  Jimbo loves fishing the lakes and has proven patterns and techniques.  Stop by to check it out.  It begins at 10:00am and runs till 12:00pm.  Both events are at Ghillies Fly Shop.

Tying the Colorado Caddis

I first saw this little bug over on Midgeman's old blog and being the simple little thing it is, I fell in love with it.  After tying and fishing a few of these things, I knew that they would always have a place in my box.


Tying the Colorado Caddis from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
The Colorado Caddis, tied in either green or cream, will cover most of your caddis species during the hatch.  This little bug will work well when there is not a hatch too.  Tie it heavy or light, It will work well for you.

Jim Auman Tying a midge pattern. 12/04/10

Jim Auman is the sort of trout bum you'd like to be.  Clean cut, no grungy, curly hair trying to escape from the inside of his faded Scott hat, he is the typical fisher that has friends in all the right places.   This is why I asked to have him down to do a tying demo.  The video below highlights one of his patterns. A simple midge that borrows from a couple great patterns to achieve a pattern that not only looks good, but also fishes good.  Being a fishing bum, I'd bet it does


Jim Auman Tying one of his Midges from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
Jim Auman, of Ft. Collins, CO, puts a new spin on a couple of flies and comes up with this simple midge.

What people are fishing.

According to a very scientific experiment conducted this week, it seems the majority of the people polled liked to fish a Sage fly rod.  Sage is more than likely the most popular rod company out there.  Sage took 37% of the pie, followed by Winston at 22%.  My favorite rod company, Scott Fly Rod Company was 3rd with 14% of the votes.  It's nice to see that the top three favored rod companies are American made.  Winston may have a few rods produced overseas, but I am not 100% sure of that, and I am going to assume that most folks enjoy the finer rods of that company that are made in Montana.  TFO, Orvis, St Croix and Redington rounded out the rest of the choices.  In another poll to be posted later, I will ask the more specific question of what rods from what companies are preferred.  And where does price fit in?

For now, take a look at the new poll to the right----->
What is your favorite fly company?

A peek into the midge box

 Generic Midges

Floss Back Emergers

  Princess Pearls-Listed in "Modern Midges"

 Top Secret Midges

 If a brown with white rib is a Top Secret Midge, what is a black with silver rib pattern called?  

A Classified Midge?

 Barr's Pure Midges

 Red Disco Midges

 #26 Floss Back Emergers

 U.V. Pearl Jam Midges.  (AKA Disco Midge)

 A few Foam Back Emergers

 Some Mercury Midges

 A UFO midge or Yong Special?