Chris_in_Louisiana

I spent some time during the recent freeze working on my EP Minnow patterns. Most are still fairly ugly, but a few have turned out alright. With temperatures warming up the past week, I've taken them out a few times for a trial run. Last Tuesday I headed for a roadside drainage a few miles from home in hopes of catching a few largemouth. No largemouth, but the shallow (<18" deep), clear water produced a number of black crappie. A more than pleasant lunchbreak surprise. Following a morning of redfish in the marsh the next day, I detoured to the same spot along my way home. No crappie this time, but I did manage my first largemouth of the year. He was fairly small compared to the one I spooked as I approached the water, but a pretty fish nonetheless. Wanting to keep my streak going, I ventured to the same drainage for one more lunch break trip this afternoon. It was fairly windy and still lightly raining, but I figured it beat sitting around the house. Working my way along the bank, I started off the session with a pair of nice bluegill and a few missed hook sets. Moving to a stretch of water largely shielded by vegetation on two sides, I immediately missed a decent strike and followed this up by pulling the fly from a sizeable bass's mouth. Two casts later, a large wake appeared behind my fly. The fish swiped once and missed, but kept coming and I was able to drive the hook home after the second strike. While I momentarily thought I was hooked into a massive largemouth, it quickly became apparent I was dealing with a different beast. Fifteen harrowing minutes later (the last five spent coaxing it through the above vegetation), the fish lay at my feet. The bowfin, a lifer, measured a little over 20" and was by far the strongest fish I've battled on my little Echo Base 3wt. Needless to say I was a little frazzled by the time it was over as these are the best two pictures I managed before sending the dinosaur on its way. I'm really starting to like this little roadside spot!

Appreciate the kind words, feathers5. I added a Fly Pattern Index recently to make it easier to skim through everything. There's a link at the bottom of the Fly Tying Tutorial drop down menu if you want to check it out. Chris

Hey guys, In anticipation of spring, I've begun to restock my warmwater boxes and, in the process, put together a few more Step-by-Step tutorials for my blog. Most are seen commonly enough to not warrant sharing here, but I did want to share this little crease fly tutorial. Not 100% true to Joe Blado's original design, it is still close enough to warrant the name Crease Fly. And more importantly, it works wonders with the bass and sunfish that inhabit my local streams and rivers. Here's a link: Crease Fly

The UV resin is on a size 16 jig hook. The parachute is a #18, though I tie them on a #16 and #20 as well. Admittedly haven't caught much beyond bluegill on them. Possibly a few brook trout on the parachute over the years in memory serves, but I just don't seem to use them all that frequently.

Great post. I tie a few different ant patterns, but rarely seem to use them. Guess I'll make a point of doing so a little more frequently this summer. Here are the two main styles I stick with: Paracute Dry UV Resin Sunken Ant

I have to say this has been an incredibly informative post. I've tied on and off for 25+ years. Yet, I am not the least bit familiar with a few of the styles of hackle pliers shown here.

Some interesting finds. Mine are generally limited to popping corks and topwater plugs deep in the marsh. Boat fishermen lose all sorts of lures and terminal tackle in depths where my kayak can go.

Some awesome hopper patterns here! At Kim's suggestion, I added some Golden Pheasant Tippet & Turkey wings to the Half-Drowned Hopper pattern I've posted here before. It doesn't look like much on the vise, but I really love the look in the water. Chris

Some nice looking flies! Hoping mine arrive soon. At last check, it had departed upstate NY, but is listed as "arriving late." Guess we'll see if USPS thaws out by end of the week. Chris

Tied up a few simple nymphs with Hare's Ice Dub to restock my spring panfish box. Hook: 3XL Curved Nymph #14 Thread: 12/0 Black Bead: 2.7mm Tungsten (Gold) Abdomen/Thorax: Hare's Ice Dub (Black) Rib: X-Small Ultrawire (Gold) Collar: Hare's Ice Dub (Black) in a dubbing loop

Lefty's Deceiver Gamakatsu B20S Stinger (1/0), 140 Denier thread, Hackle & Flashabou tail, Chartreuse over White Bucktail body with red flash throat.

Count me in, Kim. Chris

Starting to restock my stream box as I anticipate warmer weather. Spotted Bass, Largemouth and the occasional overzealous green sunfish all seem to love these little crease flies. Gamakatsu B10S #4, 140 denier thread, Marabou & flash tail, 2mm Craft Foam body. Quick, easy and fairly indestructible once coated with epoxy or UV resin.

My only Cat on the fly (small Blue, I believe) came as bycatch while fly fishing for crappie last spring. It was only 12-14" long, but put a heck of a bend in my 3wt. Hoping to target channels at some point this summer.

Nice tie, Jeff. What size hook do you use for it? Chris

@Bimini15 @Moshup Thanks guys! Now if the wind and rain would quit coming on my day's off, I might be able to put these Clousers to work. Chris

I purchased a few spools of Spyder 18/0 after Christmas and have to say I've been disappointed with the tensile strength and diameter compared to other 16/0 and 12/0 threads I've used in the past. From a tensile strength perspective, it is the weakest thread I've tied with. It seems to break on me almost every fly I tie. This of course could be contributed to the thin diameter, but, laid down side-by-side with my 12/0 Orvis thread, there doesn't appear to be a notable difference. I'll continue to use it until it is gone (all five spools I purchased), but can't imagine I'll purchase it again in the future. Chris

I've seen folks use the Nylon Rope fly as well. Never tried it myself, but my one and only gar came on a crease fly while fishing for largemouth last summer. Chris

Haven't tied too much the past few weeks, but finally sat down yesterday to replenish my supply of Clouser Minnows. Gamakatsu SP11-3L3H #4, 140 Denier Thread, Chartreuse over White bucktail with a bit of crystal flash, and brass dumbell eyes. *Taper of the head probably would have been better had I stuck with 70 denier.

Running a little late on this, but finally dropped mine in the mail as of this morning. Shipped priority, so you should see them no later than next Tuesday. Chris

I've taken to this method in recent years. Lots of "gone wrongs" were filling up make shift rubbermaid fly boxes in my closet as a result of working on my tying skills. I sat down one evening and recouped probably 50 nymph hooks and as many tungsten bead heads one evening this fall. Well worth the effort as it cleared space and restocked supplies I'd otherwise be spending more on in the coming months.

Great. I'll make sure mine get out Tuesday morning. Chris

Kim, Just noticed my name never made the list on the front page. Not sure if this will screw up our fly counts as folks have started to send. Chris

I received a number of similar ornaments (fly in clear bulb) from my grandfathers as a child, but also received one (still have) that was a hollow glass fish ornament just large enough to fit a small bucktail pattern (believe it originally had a mickey finn) inside. I've thought of doing something similar for my nephews, but have yet to attempt it.

I was more than a little shocked when I landed it. Did some googling last night, and there are folks who tie a "Wet Bread" fly pattern to target them. Guess my shrimp pattern fit the bill.