CaddisCowboy

Thanks everyone for the input. I found the solution! Apparently, the rabbit-strip wing is supposed to be tied securely to the trailing "stinger" hook as well as the lead hook. After hooking a few fish, the thread wraps had slipped or frayed and caused the wing to seperate. In turn, the hook hung underneath the fly (supposedly causing missed strikes.) All I had to do was re-attach the wing to the trailing hook......simple fix. Below is a "before-and-after" photo to help you all understand the problem and the repair. Is this a common problem with articulated streamers tied like this? ~Evan

Alright, I've got myself an assignment and frankly I'm not sure where to begin so I'd love some suggestions. My boss at the fly shop (after he continually heard me brag about my tying ) brought me 8 streamers that he'd like me to alter for him. All 8 streamers are the Sculpzilla pattern from Solitude Fly Company. He indicated that he was missing hook-ups and would like the articulated hook to be drawn closer to the body of the fly. My question is, how can I do that without disassembling the fly entirely? There's a short bit of exposed shank (an eye's length) on the lead hook where I might be able to shorten things up and thread wrap over the top, but I'm not sure what kind of pressure that limited space will withstand. I'm definately puzzled...... but I would love to get it right and score a few brownie points with the new boss. Ideas?!?!?!? :help: ~Evan

Thanks for the suggestion.....indeed, orange/black variegated chenille would definately give the effect I'd like to imitate. This one's just a prototype, there's a ton of color combos that I think could be successful though. Black/orange and golden/brown are on the list of things to try (but I've gotta buck up and buy some materials!!! :crying: ). I'll post some pictures when I get around to playing with the colors. ~Evan

I've been tooling around with a few different stonefly ideas and I've come up with the fly above. It's sorta a Bitch Creek/Rubberlegs/Halfback combo and I really like the looks of it. I'd like to sub some Hot Orange Ultrawire for the ribbing to serve as a Salmonfly "trigger" but I didn't have any on hand. I put in an order with Stockard though, so I'll add some pictures once I give it a try. Thanks in advance for your comments, ~Evan

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by CaddisCowboy: Hunk 'O Meat

This is an outstaning idea and seeing the amount of responses, it looks like it will be very successful. I'm in! ~Evan

Hey James, Welcome to the site! There are a ton of talented tiers on this forum, and it's great to see another veteran. As to your club, you might consider checking with the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) for some items. I founded a Fly Fishing Club at my college, and we've really benefited from their Equipment Loan Program. They'll loan vices and materials for your members free of charge (shipping not included). Here's a link: Equipment Loan Program Hope that helps! ~Evan

Well tied! Sorta has the looks of an Autumn Splendor. Great color combo for big aggressive pre-spawn browns in the fall. I dig it! ~Evan

I've got a set of the "BIC Mark-It Color Collection" and I'm very satisfied with them. With 24 different colors, there's more options than I would ever need in a practical sense, but I like having the options. They were fairly cheap too, and the colors are bright and durable. I haven't had any issues with bleeding whatsoever. If you're interested, here's a link: BIC Mark-It Color Collection ~Evan

That sure is unfortunate, Mike. A big part of a guide's job requirement is to serve as an example of ethical behavior and sportsmanship. I'd be tempted to "loosen a few teeth" if I ever witnessed that sort of lousy behavior on one of my local rivers! ~Evan

Just tied a few of these up for a swap and thought I should share the recipe. Can't wait 'till the highcountry lakes open up and I can put these suckers to use. ~Evan

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by CaddisCowboy: Bi-Colored Chironomid

I've never seen these, but it looks like a sweet design. I guess my only concern would be floatation with all of that hook to float? I'd love to see a fly tied on one when you get around to it. ~Evan

Hey, I don't mean to sound like a granola-crunching "save the world" hippy telling other people what's right and what's wrong. If your fishery can support you taking your legal limit of fish on occasion, go for it. And do it with a clear conscience. As BDH point out, it's your privelage as a sportsman. Along with my passion for fly fishing, I'm an avid hunter and I try to approach that sport with same sense of ethics and respect for wildlife that I do when fishing. I hunt elk each fall, and I can't say I have ever shed a tear when I drop one because I know that the elk population in Colorado is stronger now than it historically has ever been. I'm not trying to bash people who keep a few fish, as I've already clarified: I'm one of them. I'm just pointing out that it really sucks that stocking has become a neccessity on some waters with the amount of catch-and-keep pressure. Knowing that, I think you have to approach "limits" with a certain sense of ethical responsiblility. I think Steve hit the nail on the head earlier in this thread: You've gotta be able to justify the ammount of fish you keep in relation to your local population because the regulations set by natural resource managers are generally fairly broad and unspecific. Again, I don't mean to preach or piss anyone off. I just like to share and compare my values with others. No matter where your opinions stand on C&R or put-and-take fisheries we all have one thing in common................. we love to fish! ~Evan

I'd like to see a whole lot more water designated as C&R Wild Trout waters that don't depend on stocking programs. That designation doesn't take away from fishing success whatsoever. To the contrary, it benefits the fishing experience by way of substantially larger wild fish with all of their instinctual tendencies (not to argue that that behavior isn't learned by hatchery trout). For example, on a local tailwater river that I guide the first 3/4 mile section of the river has C&R regulations in place. The remaining 21 miles downstream are supported by stocking programs and given the standard 4 trout bag limit / 8 trout possession limit. The C&R is nationally renowned for its unusually large fish. I can guarantee that you've seen one of it's massive rainbows gracing the cover of your favorite fishing magazine at one point or another. Eight-pound trout aren't uncommon and fish up to seventeen pounds have been reported........ all on flies/lures, and all released. Nonetheless, if you walk downriver 100 yards to the unprotected water a 16" fish is a trophy. It's the same river. It's just as rich in nutrients and able to support fish, but the protection isn't there and for the most part, neither are the big healthy fish. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the wild trout fishery is far more successful than the manged one. I'm not saying there's no place for artificial fisheries, I just think there ought to be less of them. ~Evan

I think "put-and-take" fisheries in general are a crying shame. :crying: Sure, they allow fishermen of all sorts (especially novices and urban folks) to experience the thrill of the sport. Also, they offer an opportunity for the "meat fishermen" to fill their freezers without impacting naturally producing ecosystems. On the other hand, it really angers me that we have tinkered with and depleted our aquatic resources to the point that artificial management is neccessary in order to sustain fish populations. There is an infinate difference between a hatchery raised fish and the wild stream-bred variety, and as an admirer of trout, I prefer the latter 10:1. It's too bad that our resource managers don't share those same values. Instead, they invest in hatcheries and stocking programs and set bag limits that (if filled) are far from sustainable. They do this because frankly, the majority of fishing license holders couldn't care less about where the fish came from and the money has got to come from somewhere. I think that leaves our fisheries and wildlife managers at fault here, not Joe Schmoe and his stringer of 10" stocked 'bows. Sorry to get up on my soapbox, but this is an issue that definately strikes a chord with me. I keep a fish once in a great while and I have no issues with others that do either........ if it's SUSTAINABLE! I'm no biologist, but I live, work, and recreate on the river and I know for a fact that limits are often grossly unreasonable for sustaining a naturally producing trout population. It's too bad. On a side note, check out An Entirely Synthetic Fish: How Rainbow Trout Beguiled America and Overran The World. It's an interesting book, that addresses the exact issue that I just brought up. ~Evan

Dropped a few of these in the mail this morning. Thanks for hosting, E! I look forward to seeing everyone's ties........ and fishing them! The lakes in my neck of the woods ought to break up in another week or two and I can't wait to chuck a few of my new Chiros! ~Evan

Beautiful tie! In small sizes I think this pattern could make an outstanding midge emerger. I'll definately be tying a few in the near future. Great work. ~Evan

Nice tying, Jan! I wouldn't be too critical of yourself, dude. I think those are some terrific-looking flies and there's no doubt the fish will feel the same way. I'm gonna jump back into this swap with a recent database submission by Siestafred: The Adams Biot Klinkhammer. I think it'll make a great midge emerger, so I plan on tying a few in a size 22. I'll have a half-dozen done by May 15. ~Evan

Beautiful photos, both of you. As far as I'm concerned, there's not a prettier fish on this green earth than a wild cutthroat trout. Tybugs, is that photo color enhanced? The reds, oranges, and yellows are on fire! Really a neat image.

Thanks, Hub. You certainly could tie this fly a bit larger and still match the naturals. It's tied on a 2xl hook though, so I like to downsize a little keeping that in mind.

This is a fly that I just recently came up with, in order to better imitate the large Western Green Drake nymphs that we see a lot of in my local rivers. In the past, I have had a lot of success with a "20-incher Stone" as a drake imitation and this pattern is simply an attempt to re-hash that pattern into a more accurate profile (chunkier body, thinner tail, and gilled abdomen). Here's a link to a photo of the natural since I know that some of you Eastern fishermen may be unfamiliar with this particular insect. Let me know what you think! I've yet to fish it, but can't wait to try it out in another couple months. ~Evan

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by CaddisCowboy: Western Green Drake Nymph

That's a sweet lookin' fly, Ray! They'll eat that one.....no doubt about it. ~Evan

This is my first post in the photography forum, because frankly, my photography skills suck! :wallbash: On a recent outing though, I lucked out and got a few really neat close-up shots of a few fish and I wanna show 'em off! So, I'll share them with you and I'd like to invite anyone else to join this thread with interesting close-up fish shots of their own. No "hero shots", just up-close-and-personal images of the beautiful gamefish that we all love to pursue. ~Evan Check out the scar on this ol' brown's nose! Osprey...treble hook...who knows? I thought this was a really cool shot of a released rainbow darting out of the shallows.