2010 IFTD show re-cap

After only spending one day at the latest IFTD show in Denver, I was able to see a few things.   This year's show felt a little "buzzless" to me.  To me, there wasn't much excitement  for any one thing.  There were new flies, and new rods and reels.  One of the most talked about reels was the new Ross F1.  I have never been a big Ross fan and do not own any of their rods or reels, but they put out a top notch product.  The new F1 looks good and will withstand anything you throw at it, but I squirmed when I heard the price tag was around $425.00-$525.00.   The looks seem to borrow from Naulilus Reels with the color and the red insert.  I joked about that and mentioned that last years model, the new Evolution LT looked like a Galvin. I don't think the Ross boys liked those comments.   I do love the fit of their hats though, so maybe I should just stop there.
Hardy has some new rods available and one that caught my eye was the new Sintrix Rod.  It was lightweight, similar to an Orvis Helios, and had a great feel.  I wasn't able to take it out and cast it since the casting ponds were always full of hero casters, trying to cast to the other end of the building.  I didn't want to get up there and embarrass myself casting only 35'.  This rod is worth checking out though.  The price starts right around $600.00 I think.  A bit pricey, but this is a high end rod.

As for new flies, there were a few that caught my attention.  Umpqua had a couple new ones that were good looking, but this is the second year in a row that they have released a new San Juan Worm.  Not very original there.  Also in their line up was a "Sawyer P.T. Nymph".  Again, not very original.  On the tying material front, Umpqua does have a few new products that really caught my eye.  New 16/0 thread and a new hair stacker that was heavy and felt great.  Also Umpqua had some new wing material that looked great. I can't wait to try that material out.  They also had 2 new hook styles that are sure to have new patterns tied up on them.

One of Umpqua's flies that I liked.  The Flutter Bug.

Rainey's has some good stuff out there, I wasn't able to get  a good look since it was always packed.  I guess that tells you and me something huh?  Orvis also has a few flies that looked good.  I have a couple of them listed below.  

Montana Fly Company didn't have a booth, but Adam Trina and Greg Cunningham were there meeting with people to show new flies.  I met with them to discuss my flies and what needed to be tweaked to meet my likeness.  That was nice.   I have to say that MFC had some really neat flies, most of them listed below.  No San Juan worms here, just a bunch of new flies for real fishing.  I think that in terms of new flies, MFC had the best, Rainey's was next, Solitude after them, and then Umpqua, followed by Orvis.  

I am not going to even begin the other product at the show that I saw.   There are other blogs out there that  have already done an outstanding report of the other products.  I took a bunch of photos of MFC flies as well as some others.  Take a look and enjoy.  

One of the flies from the Iron Fly Contest.  I don't know who tied this fly but it looks good.

Kevin Compton ties during the Iron Fly Contest Finals.  

Mongo Hopper

Wiese's Clacka Caddis

The Hopper Juan

More or Less Hopper

Korbay's October Caddis

Johnson's BDI caddis

Wiese's Glass Head Ant.

Love the name of this one!

Carl's BH Golden Stone.  

Wiese's Glass Head Ant.

Wike's Quick Caddis

Wiese's Clacka Caddis

I think this is the Chubby Chernobyl with the new stonefly body 

My Midge Ice Emerger.  It's kinda beat up as it has been picked up and looked at a lot.  

Hopper Juan 

Donky Kong Hopper

The same fly as a Morish Hopper

Osteen's Cricket

Mongo Hopper

Dunnigan's Green Drake Nymph

My Floss Back Emerger.  

The name cracks me up.  

PMD Ice Emerger

Orvis Hopper Pattern.

MFC new flies 2011

Oliver Edwards Stonefly Nymphs.

Oliver Edward's series caddis larva.

Orvis Stimicator.  This one looked a bit "out there".  I probably wouldn't throw one of these, but at least the idea is out there.

Orvis Hopper

Umpqua/TMC has this 16/0 thread.  It looks really nice and it comes in 200m spools.  Colors are limited but cover the most basic colors.

This Aero Dry Wing looks great.  It looks really nice. Can't wait to play with some of it.  

This is awesome.  This hair stacker is probably my favorite item of the show.  Maybe because I can afford to buy it?  

I liked the lok of this one.  It was one of Orvis's new patterns.  I didn't get the name of it.

Solitude's New Foam Wing Emerger.   This is a great San Juan pattern.  

Solitude's Double Digit Midge

One of Orvis's Flies for 2011

After the show was over, this greeted us.  

What's coming up?

Tomorrow is the start of the International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD), which is an industry only show where shop owners, staff, guides and other shop rats get to go to check out some of the industries new items that will hittingt the shelves this upcoming year, meet up with old friends, drink beer and occasionally get some free schwag.   This show runs September 9-11, 2010 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.  I will be there on Friday the 10th if any one wants to meet up.

Starting on September 17th, I will conducting a Beginner Fly Tying Class for those people in the Colorado Springs Area.  These classes are a great way to get started in fly tying.  All classes utilize HD video for step by step detail.  These classes run for three weeks and will hopefully fill up quickly so if you are interested please let me know.  See the flyer for more info.

Lastly, on the 25th of September, Anglers Covey will be holding the First Annual Autumn Splendor Fly Tying Festival.  This tying event is being sponsored by Umpqua, Peak Fishing and High Country Angler.  There will be several local fly tiers from the Front Range of Colorado demonstrating their skills.  Tiers scheduled to participate are:  Al Ritt, Carl Pennington, Ed Engle, Shea Gunkel and yours truly, Hopper Juan.  More names will be released once they are confirmed.  This is a must see event.

#28

I figured I'd tie a #28 fly just for the heck of it.  It came out good.  It's a Rusty Brown Floss Back Emerger.

I think this sucker will put a hurting on some fish this winter.

Foam Wing RS2

All of a sudden it's September!  Where did the summer go?  As we head closer to Fall, it's time to think about the BWOs.  BWOs are my favorite hatch of the year.  While I make sure I have plenty of dries with me and try to get out on those nasty days, I usually end up fishing more nymphs and emergers to fish than the actual adults.  As many of you know, the RS2 is one of my favorite flies to tie and to fish.  It just works and the fish don't mind eating it.  The pattern below is a Foam Wing RS2.  There are many different variations of this fly and they all work.  This is just one of the variations.   Tie this just as you would a regular RS2, just replace the antron or fluff wing with white foam.  Tie some up and give them a try and let us know how you did.

FOAM WING RS2 
Hook:  TMC 101 18-24
Thread: 8/0 Gray
Tails:  Mayfly Tails (microfibetts)
Dubbing:  Superfine
Wing:  White Evazote foam cut to size with a razor
Thorax:  Superfine Dubbing

Why am I not fishing?

Often times we have so many things to do, we can't do the "fun" things in life like fishing.  In my life, and I would bet yours also,  there is always something else that needs to be done.  As a new homeowner, I have finally figured out that there will always be something that needs to get done.  Over the last few months, I had a big project that needed to get done.  There was this big tree right next to our house that needed to be taken care of.  It had to come down.  We prayed it would come down on the date we scheduled it to come down and not before.  This was a big tree!

There were two trunks that made it even more dangerous.  The trunks split about a foot off the ground.

The second trunk almost took out the cherry picker truck.

Now after the crew was gone, all that remained were about 30-40 logs.  My plan was to chop all of these up for firewood.  Little did I know how hard that would be.

In between the tree coming down and splitting the wood, we did many things.  One weekend we traveled to my parents house in New Mexico to help pick up hay from the fields.  I always know that a good days work is in store, but looking back, it was pretty easy...compared to splitting all that wood.  It's not all work when we visit and I found some time to go out shooting with my cousin who was there that weekend.  I tried to trade a few fly rods for his rifle but it didn't work.

"SWAT shot"

The Colfax County Fair was that weekend and we checked out the parade.  We ate steak for dinner  and had a good time.

Now to this past weekend.  Wood splitting time.  Luckily I had some help from the neighbors and it made it easier, if I dare say that.  

This was about the average size.  Some were much bigger though.  

This was one of the bigger, lower logs above the split about 8' from the base of the tree, and it had an "inner core", the wrist sized beginning of the massive tree.  

We estimate that this tree was planted around 1960 and was near 90' tall.  It was a beautiful tree, but so close to the house. It was about 18" from the outside wall.  

This is the beginning of the wood pile.  It is now about 4 times that amount.  We were unable to use the fire place since the tree was basically right over the chimney.  Hopefully this wood will provide the warmth as I sit at the tying bench tying hoppers for the upcoming season and wishing it was summer time again.  

I will wake up tomorrow and feel better than I did today.  I should be able to walk near normal and not have to worry about getting across the street before that car that is pretty far away will run me over like I have the last few days.  I should be able to get out of my chair at work a little easier and the first few steps won't kill my legs like they have the last two days.  Man, I was a sore sucker.  I still am.  

What would you do???

If you had 5 days on the Bighorn River in Montana?  If you were lucky enough to go with fellow blogger, Dave Zielinski at The Happy Trout Chronicles, you would have fished Hoppers all of those 5 days.  Dave and his party gave the Hopper Juan a good workout on the Bighorn.  Take a look at his most recent post at The Happy Trout Chronicles.  http://thtchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/08/montana-bighorn-river.html

A couple tips for you.

Since I can't think of any good fishing stories or have any new patterns ready to unveil, I thought I would toss a few things out there for you that might be helpful.

The first tip I want to share with you is the sizes of the foam bodies I use for The Hopper Juan.  While many people don't have the foam  cutters I use, I recommend them for the ease of making these bodies.  If you can't obtain them or would just rather use scissors, here are the sizes that you should aim for.

For size 6 Hopper Juan's, I use the large cutter, which is roughly 7mm in width.  For my favorite size, size 8, I use the medium size which is about 6mm.  The small is about 5mm, and I use those for size 10 Hoppers.  If you want to cut these bodies straight, I recommend using a piece of glass or a self healing mat and a very sharp razor and a metal straight edge such as the one in the picture above.  Measure the widths and run the blade down the straight edge and try not to cut yourself.  It doesn't take much using a sharp bade.  Using these tools, you can make several strips of foam for hopper use.  

 The other tip I will share with you is the use of Water Shed on your dry flies.  I use this on all my dry flies and I do believe that it does help.  If you want proof, just put a drop of it on an untreated fly.  It soaks it up like a sponge. The same thing happens when you put your untreated fly on the water for the first time.  I even go so far as to treat my hoppers with this stuff.  Elk hair and synthetics soak up water and if you can help prevent that, then you are a step ahead of most people.  Your flies will still eventually soak up water and may need to be changed, but I usually don't mind if it's the fish that are causing that problem.  Water Shed is distributed through Hareline Dubbin Inc.

A day on the Middle Fork of the South Platte River

Middle Fork, S. Platte River

The only Hopper Juan-ish type I had in my box.  I wonder where the rest went?   

RS2

Tungsten F.B. Pheasant Tail Nymph #16

I suppose this could pass as a midge with the dark head...or a small caddis larva.......or....

I love the soft wings on the RS2s.  

A worthy trio

#20

Black foam Caddis worked well also.  

New patterns available from MFC, Spring 2011

Montana Fly Company (MFC) is adding 5 of my patterns to their 2011 catalog and I'd like to share those with you.   I am honored to have fly patterns picked two years straight with them.  I believe that they are one of the hottest companies moving up in the fly fishing industry, if not the hottest.  Just take a look at their website here and see what products they have out.  From fly boxes to tying materials, they are adding innovative and useful products to it each year.  So the flies you ask, well here they are:

 Juan's Midge Ice Emerger 

This is a great fly to use during the winter or even during the trico hatches.  We all know that midges are in the water year round and the fish know that too.

 Juan's Chocolate Floss Back Emerger

This is a great fly to use during the BWO and PMD hatches.  I love to put this behind a parachute when the fish are eating emergers and will not take a dry or a deep running nymph.  By doing this, you can sight fish and watch the fish eat the fly.  

 Juan's Grey Floss Back Emerger 

Again, just as with the chocolate version, this one can be fished high to fish eating emergers, or it can be fished deep in a double nymph rig.  These are very versatile flies.  

Juan's Ice Emerger, PMD

The second in the Ice Emerger series, this one sports a yellowish wing bud of Ice Dubbing to represent the emerging body or the wings.  Fish may take this as a cripple or as an emerger.  It's up to them.  You can also fish it deep or behind a dry fly.  That's up to you.  

The Hopper Juan

Thanks to those fly shops that demanded that MFC carry this pattern so they could offer it to customers, it will soon be available to you.  I couldn't keep up with the demand and I only have one or two in my box.  I hope that this becomes one of your favorite flies.  I love to throw this thing all summer long and put a heavy nymph behind it like my Glossy Back and fish those areas where the nymph fishers just can't hit.  Oh, it also works well as a stonefly and a hopper.  It's just buggy and big and fish like it.  

These flies will be available this coming spring at your local fly shop if they carry MFC flies.  If not, just look up someone that does and order from them.  

Tying the Mercury RS2, PMD

Here is a short video on tying the Mercury RS2.  This is the PMD version, but you can change colors easily to match any insect you want to .  I only tie these in PMD and Adams Gray color.  Maybe black as a third color.  Do me a favor and tie your tails a bit shorter than I did.  I didn't notice that they were a bit long until I looked at the fished fly in my hands.   I was in a hurry to get this done.  See what happens when you rush things?


Tying the PMD Mercury RS2 from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
A quick and easy tie, this is a true guide fly.  Easy to change colors and to get a different look, this thing is effective in PMD, gray and black to name a few.  I would keep the tails a bit shorter than what I did here.