A kick off for the upcoming random drawings.

I've waited long enough to do this, so I am going to kick off the Hopper Juan free random drawings with a small giveaway.  We'll start things off with a random drawing of some fly tying materials.  I am going to give away a Hopper Juan material kit and a small amount of Glamour Madera material.  The Glamour Madera is an embroidery thread that is all the rage in Colorado and it's not found in the usual spots.  There are only a few places to get it and nobody knows where those are! It works well as an RS2 wing and is used in the "Top Secret Midge".  I know, this isn't much, but what I have in store is product from Montana Fly Company and Scott Fly Rod Company.  They are the sponsors for these giveaways. So stay tuned because they sent enough stuff to do several months worth of giveaways!  Here are just some of the items that will be offered in the future.

So here is the deal.  Leave a comment here and a name and let us all know what 3 rivers you think are the greatest in the world.  They can be your home river or one that you want to eventually get on.
I will take the first 25 comments and randomly draw from the 25.  Thanks and have fun!

The 2011 Clave.

This Saturday, I will be in Denver to tie at the 2nd Annual Clave at Anglers All.  If you want to see some of my newer flies, stop by.  I will be tying at 11:00am.  There will be a lot more going on at that time also, so stop by and check it out.

Also, check out the new buttons on the right side bar.  I have added a button to e-mail me.   If you need to contact me or just want to say hi, click on the button and you will be able to shoot me a message.

Some people have asked where to buy my patterns.  I have made it easy to find them.   These are tied by MFC and sold by Dream Drift Flies, an online site.  Click on the button, and you will be presented with a page with all my flies offered and right there to add into your cart.  Easy huh?  So take a look and see if you need to add any hopppers to your boxes.  

Arkansas River 04/08/11

Arkansas River, CO

I was finally able to get out yesterday, the first time this year.  I used to be able to get out more, but right now my free days are filled with laundry, grocery shopping trips,  kids and fly tying demos.  My time on the river has been replaced with the time behind the vice.
I hit the Arkansas River with a couple of friends and it was pretty good.  The fish were eager to eat and there were even some BWOs coming off despite clear skies.  The wind wasn't as bad as I thought it would be although it was blowing all day.  The set up was a Hopper Juan on top, followed by a #14 Golden Stone and a #16 Royal Gorgeous Caddis (RGC).  The RGC was the early favorite with many fish eating it.  In a different stretch of water, the Golden Stone was the favorite.  As the day went on, I switched to an Ice Emerger as the last fly.  A few fish came on it, but the caddis was still the preferred fly, although my friends had success with a Barr Emerger.

The Three Amigos

The set up I used worked great on the water I was fishing.  I was usually running through knee deep water and both my bottom flies had tungsten beads to get deep.  I think this is the best way to fish the Arkansas River or any fast pocket water stream.  It's a lot of fun and I thought of switching to dries or a bugger yesterday, but they way I was fishing was producing so why not stay with it.  As summer rolls around, I hope to be able to provide more fish pictures and stories.  Today will be laundry day and grocery shopping day mixed in with some fly tying.  I am already planning the next trip!

A typical brown trout from the Ark. 

The Golden Stonefly

My Royal Gorgeous Caddis #16

#22 BWO Ice Emeger

I didn't tie this one. 

Closer.

Closest.

The Hopper Juan is a bit bigger and could take this dude.

My buddy Kent, wondering how to wind the reel when the reel is set up wrong! 

MFC showing some 360' images.

Check out this link for a great look at MFC's new flies for 2011.  It's pretty cool and shows the Hopper Juan, Floss Back Emerger, PMD Ice Emerger and the Midge Ice Emerger along with many, many more.    Take a look and enjoy!

Click here

Galvan Spoke Reel for Sale.

SOLD


Update:  I still have this and want to move it.  I am now asking $240.00+shipping.  Retail price is $410.00


I have a new, never been used, Galvan Spoke S-5 for sale.  It has a blue "spoke" and is made to hold a 5/6 weight line.  If you are interested, please let me know.  I need to purchase a smaller reel and I am asking $290.00 + shipping for this reel.  Please see the specs. below.   Warranty card included.

juan@anglerscovey.com

S5    .900"   4.45   WF5-6  125 yd/100 yd   20lb.  $410.00

Up for a Challenge?

Last year, I built a box full of flies for my local Trout Unlimited Chapter's annual auction.  This year I was approached to donate flies and again I agreed.  I am only going to do a couple dozen beadheads, but I wanted to ask the readers of this blog to pitch in to help me be able to make another fly box for the auction.  What I am asking is for a few willing souls to send me some of their favorite patterns to include in the box.  I am needing these by 04/18/11.  If you are interested, please send me an e-mail at juan@anglerscovey.com.  I will include the tier's name and pattern name with the box. I'd like to make this something that will outsell last year's box.  I think it sold for $60.00 and had about  5 1/2 dozen flies in it.  

I'll send out a prize to the top 3 contributors.  I appreciate your help.   

Click below for more info on the auction. 

The "Country Club"

The official clock of the "Country Club".

“Do we have to go home?”  This was the question of the day on Sunday.  “Is it mandatory to go to school?  What if we just stay here?”  That was another question asked to me when I said we have to go home today.  And what kid would want to go home after having the time of their young spring?  We were at my parent’s house in Northern New Mexico, my childhood home.  With so many things to do like keep the wood fire burning, working on the tractor, branding the calves, riding the horse, looking for the wild turkeys, and driving the mule (4x4), what kid would want to come home.  Oh, I forgot to mention eating Gamama’s cooking and hanging out at Papa’s new Country Club which happened to be one of the more popular things to do.  The “Country Club” is a converted sheep pen/chicken coop/storage shed to a cozy man cave.  With thick adobe walls made by my grandfather way back when, it has withstood the wind and weather of Northeastern New Mexico.  So far, it has withstood the growing Chinese Elms threatening to push up its walls.  Inside is a couple of tables with various tools and projects, some art work, chairs and in the center is a cool old cast iron stove found at a garage sale.  In the early morning it was nice to retreat into the warmth of the “Country Club”.   This was the base used by the kids after eating breakfast each morning.  They would rush out and gather inside, making plans for the day.   The plans usually involved a horse, a mule a dog and a tractor all led by big brother Ben.  When the playing was done, it was time to work.  And when the work was done, it was time to eat.  When they finished eating, it was time to play again, and so on until darkness came and it was time to relax and watch some cartoons.
On the ride home, it was pretty quite as they were tired from all the playing, working and all the planning they did for the next trip down.  There are plans of Big Ben staying a few weeks during the summer to help out around the house and to maybe learn how to drive the truck and the tractor.  Maybe a few days can be spent fishing.  Or maybe just some time spent at the "Country Club" escaping the summer heat behind those thick adobe walls. 

 This was from an old wagon tongue.

 This is the type of clock that my dad makes. 

 I spent many a time staring at this painting/drawing as a kid and it is one of my favorites.

 The walls at the Country Club are a bit "rough", but can withstand the years.  

 The official heater.  This was a great garage sale find.  It's pretty awesome.

 Canadian River, NM

Jack and Jamie bustin through the brush.

 We spooked out this Jack Rabbit.  Jamie said they should be called "Fast Rabbits".

Jamie riding "Poncho"

 She loves that horse!

 And she even has the "cowboots" to prove she is a cowgirl!

 It is pretty harsh out here.  The wind always blows and tears things away.

 This is one of my favorite things to see every time I go back.  I don't think this post is going anywhere.  

MFC ties the Hopper Juan

I received a recent batch of Hopper Juans from Montana Fly Company.  Take a look and see what you think.  There have been a few changes and a few tweaks here and there that they took care of.  Now all I need you to do is to ask for them in your local fly shop.  They are available in sizes 8, 10 & 12.  I fish the size 8s most often but the 10s & 12s will work great for the smaller streams.

 #8, 10, & 12s