Day 74 - Micro fun

The other day, my good buddy John "tweeted" a picture of a micro wooly bugger. Those in his circle laughed and had some fun about this fly.

In the spirit of this fly, I attempted my own version of the micro wooly bugger. It's a first attempt, and as an added plus the fly didn't go into the crap jar.

Micro Wooly Bugger, Black

Hook: Daiichi 1260, #16

Thread: Black 8/0

Bead: Brass

Weight: .015 lead free wire, wrapped 4-5 times around hook shank and pushed under brass bead

Tail: Black Marabou, with 4 strands of Black Krystal Flash tied on top

Body: Micro Chenille, Black

Hackle: Black Hackle, tied in by tip and wound forward

As always, I learned a few things at the vise. First, the outcome of this fly is very head heavy since I pushed the weight forward towards the hook eye. It may fish point side up, which might not be a bad thing actually. Second, I may substitute the micro chenille for embroidery thread. This will probably be necessary if I go down in size.

The next time I tie this pattern, I may add some additional marabou by the head. I really love the action that marabou has under water, and I'm convinced that you can't have too much movement on a leech pattern. I tied a leech pattern years ago that required three distinct sections of marabou that ended up being a proven "trout catcher".

Day 73 - Uncoordinated

Before I begin, I promised that I would show pictures of the fly that I tied to today if I was semi-successful at the pattern that I had in mind. Well, today I added another fly to the crap jar. It was an ugly monstrosity of a thing that I do not want to remember. Seriously, that fly was nothing to look at. In fact it was just plain ugly, and not ugly in a fishable way. So... no pictures (the camera would have broke if I tried to take a picture). On the plus side, I did read about a guy that had to practice daily for almost 2 years to get good at it. Hmmm... that sounds like another blog possibility, but maybe not one that I'm willing to tackle.

Maybe the reason why I'm having so much trouble with this pattern is that I'm uncoordinated. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. My dance moves are limited to mimicking the gopher on Caddyshack, and I no longer try to clap to the beat of a song. I suck. This could be the reason that team sports was never my forte as I would inevitably try to kick the ball and end up performing a Charlie Brown back flop.

I've grown to accept this quirk, and I think my wife has accepted the idea that I will never really truly honestly be able to dance with her. Yet despite this uncoordination, I do try. And I've managed to be able to cast a fly with some sort of precision. I would like to say that I perform this rudimentary fly fishing skill with grace, however I doubt it sometimes. The rod feels clunky in my hands on occasion and I end up getting wind knots more than I like (but less than I used to).

There are occasions though when fate whispers encouragingly to me. When I can feel the back cast load in the rod, where I can keep that load in the rod until I suddenly snap on the forward cast. And then... perfection. When a cast is done correctly, and the line shoots out like an arrow and the fly lands ever so softly to kiss the water... amazing grace how sweet it is. Mmmm... I can just picture it now in my mind and my heart beats a little slower.

I think this is one of the reason that I pursue fly fishing so much. When I can achieve a cast with such perfection, I suddenly don't feel so inept. I may never be able to dance like Fred Astaire, or throw a baseball well, or even play anything more than Greensleeves on my tin whistle. I'm tone deaf and can't carry a beat. I used to play the trumpet years ago (poorly I might add). But with fly fishing, I think I can truly find my grace.

Day 72 - The Fly Tying Bug

I looked at my fly box the other day and noticed that I have a few holes in my fly box. I'd also like to fill the holes in my wife's fly box. Therefore, I've been wanting to sit down at the vise and crank out a few patterns. Therein lies the problem, I don't know what pattern to tie up.

After reading up the other day on the Polish woven nymph, I thought I might be onto something. Thanks to a bug exhibit a few years ago at the Midwest Fly Expo, I realized that many of the nymph patterns that I tie, are wrong. They don't include that wonderful gill pattern on the underside of the fly. The Polish woven nymph pattern could be improved upon if it included gills that stuck out between the wraps. Hmmm... my mind started to churn some gears.

Hoping to get those gears moving even more, I decided I'd try the woven nymph pattern. Ugh! It was ugly, and I don't understand how people can weave without tying their hands into knots. It could be the fact that I was working with two different materials (wire and embroidery thread), or that my hands are inexperienced with that style. Either way, it's one for the crap jar.

The crap jar, is really no more than a cup full of flies that I've attempted with little or no success. The idea is that someday in the future I'll take a razor blade and cut off all the "stuff" to salvage the hook (and possibly bead). Reality is that I've been adding to this pile pretty regularly for the past few years, and not once thought about salvaging the hook. Instead, it stands as a testament to my crappy tying skills, a history lesson of failures (or one could say experience).

I did learn from my experience at weaving. I won't share because they are super top secret and none of you have clearance. OK, that's not true. I learned that when you do this technique, great care should be given that your top wraps have to touch, or you'll have an ugly fly. Seriously, I was going to take a picture of it and post here, but I was too embarrassed by the outcome.

Since this outcome, I've been thinking more about this pattern and how I want to tie it. I may have to take another trip to the Art & Craft store to pick up some more thread. At a whopping $.97, I don't think I'll have to fight this battle too hard with my wife. I'm sure I could upturn some couch cushions or look in the console of my Trout-mobile to find the money. Also, I'll have to search through my materials chest for the pheasant skin that I think I still have (unless my dad has it in his chest).

Years ago, one of the fly magazines that I read talked about using filo-plumes from a pheasant skin. Filo-plumes are the secondary under feathers hidden below the main feathers. They are webby and under water give a lot of movement. The downside is that they are very fragile and short. However, my mind thinks that these little feathers could be tied to the underside of a hook. When using the Polish woven nymph technique, if these little feathers were left to stick out a little bit between the wraps they could look like gills.

I may have to take a trip to the store tomorrow. I'm liking this idea more and more. If this turns into success I'll post pictures tomorrow. If not, you can just believe that I've added one more pattern to the crap jar.

Day 71 - Sometimes it's best...

...to get out of the house.

Last week my wife went travelling to do speak at a conference in Iowa. While there she was able to see my parents (and my aunt) and then was able to head up into Minnesota to see some friends. Meanwhile, as you know, I remained home to watch after the Wonderpup and the two cats. Also, it rained the entire time she was gone (as if the state was mourning her absence).

She returned Saturday afternoon, and she looked green around the gills (pardon the fishing pun). Evidently she somehow managed to pick up H1N1, AKA the piggy flu. I have to admit that I hate getting sick. I make a horrible patient and tend to whine and make a big deal about little things. So, despite missing my wife, I've kept my distance (I haven't even kissed her yet) in hopes of not becoming a whining little baby.

On top of all this, I've been riding the emotional roller coaster of not having a job and the bills piling up (I know, put me in a skirt and call me Sally). Thanks to my new fishing buddy here in NC, I managed to get a lead on a possible job. I ended leaving a message on the machine, and then followed up a couple times thereafter with no avail.

You can then imagine what state of mind I was in, when my wife questioned us on our finances. I totally admit that I was in the wrong, and that she did not deserve what came next. In order to save my marriage, I decided it was best to get some fresh air (and perspective). I jumped into the Trout-mobile and resisted the temptation to lay down some rubber leaving the driveway.

I ended up at the private lake that our housing development owns. I pulled into the lot and was relieved not to see the teenagers who hang out there. I try to withhold judgement against them, as I was a stupid teen once, but the appearance is that they are always up to no good. I pulled into the parking spot and tried to get some perspective. Nope, not yet.

After a few moments in the car to just be, I decided that since I was here I should at least cast a line. Ever since this blog has started, the Trout-mobile has always had a fly rod in the trunk. I went to load up my old standby, but then decided to go with the 4 weight. I grabbed the graphite rod tube, unscrewed the top, and then proceeded to put the rod together.

I walked to the dock, all the while keeping my eyes open for the tell tale signs of fish. A couple rings a little further out, but nothing too promising. I tied on a Pink Squirrel and then flipped the line over the end of the dock. It was then that I noticed how murky the water actually was. It wasn't just the failing light that made the water look dark, it was the week of rain. Great...

I only had my line in the water for a moment when a guy walks up on the dock. I could tell by his demeanor that he was having the same kind of day that I was. We spoke a few words, and then I was asked if I had caught anything yet. Not yet. Nor had I gained any perspective. I told him that I expected a fish soon.

Some footsteps on the wooden dock alerted me to a new visitor. A kid in red flip flops was watching me and my clanking vest. I said hello. A couple more words exchanged, then I got the same question again. Again I said not yet, but if he waited I would catch one soon enough. I made a few casts and sure enough a little sunfish took the fly.

I'm sitting here trying to make a connection between that fish and the perspective that I gained from this outing. I truly can't make one. In fact, now that I think about it, the perspective didn't come until I was at home having supper. What I did gain was a calming feeling. I was comfortable with the rod in my hand and my mind released the anger that I had, in order to make room for the fishing mentality. As all good anglers understand, nervous energy does not make for good fishing.

Maybe this is one of the reasons I go fishing. Maybe it's to get in the right frame of mind so that we can then accept the perspective that we are looking for. Nervous energy equals bad fishing, therefore we calm ourselves down so that we can catch fish. Which then allows our body to accept new realities. Hmmm... interesting.

Day 70 - Tedium

This past week I have to admit that I didn't venture too far away from the house. Given the fact that I don't have a job and the bills are piling up higher than I'd like to see, I chose to live off of Hot Pockets, Cheerwine, and an occasional baked potato. In case you're not from the Greensboro area, it rained last week... a lot! As such, my practice pond wasn't even much of an option.

These dark days of rain, cold, and boredom drive me crazy. At one point I even scrubbed the shower clean. And by clean, I mean I reverted back to my military days of clean. I don't know how other anglers bear the tedium. Maybe they get a reprieve from the dreary mundane by actually making a living. I think that would help, but every true angler has a piece of wild stream hidden in their hearts beckoning them back into the wild.

How I dealt with the monotony of life was that I (in between filing bills, playing with the Wonderpup, and cleaning the bathroom) read about fly fishing, watched videos on fly fishing, and even tied a few flies. Will this be the answer to the upcoming months ahead? Possibly.

When I lived up north, it may have been a different answer. The beginning of every season, my buddy Mike and I would gather on the frozen waters of Wisconsin and attempt to fish the opener. Sometimes it would just consist of us getting together and talking about fish as the wind chill, the snow, and the sub zero weather would keep us off the water.

But here in North Carolina, I have different expectations. It is the middle of November and today pushed the 70's. It dipped into the 50's a few weeks back and I put on a jacket when I got to church. As I was walking in, I overheard one of the ladies mentioning that this weather wasn't due until Christmas. Really?? When you add to that the streams remain open year round here, monotony may not get too much of a chance to set in.

This upcoming week I have higher hopes. I may not be able to hit a real trout river, but I may get some practice time in at the "casting pond" in my subdivision. The panfish I've got pretty well figured out (thanks to fishing that species growing up). I may try to work the banks and try for a few bass. I've been told by a fellow brother of the angle that there are some decent ones cruising in there. I'll have to find my box with the bigger bugs if I decide to go that route.

The last couple of times I've hit the panfish pretty hard. I mentioned this to my dad and he asked how many I kept. Sheepishly, I replied I threw them all back (despite having some decent fish). I may gather a few this week (if the regulations allow me to) and fry them up with a little cornmeal and some butter.

I guess no matter how you look at it, we all have to do something to keep us from going stir crazy when we can't fish. Some of us tie flies, others tell stories, while others listen/read those stories. In the end, I imagine that we do whatever we can to ease that calling of the wild.

Day 69 - The Internet

So, I have something to say... it's a little embarrassing... OK, here goes... (long pause) I love YouTube. Phew!! Glad I got that off my chest, the guilt was eating me up inside.

Unlike other hockey hosers, who watch stupid stuff like dancing hamsters and David after the dentist, I prefer to watch fly fishing related videos. The web is full of crazy people (like me), who have video cameras (unlike me), and have a passion for fly fishing (like me).

When I'm not busy filling out yet another application on line for a job, playing Fish Wrangler on Facebook, or writing this blog, I'm probably checking out some fly fishing video on YouTube. I do swing towards fly tying also.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm a fly angler from the School of Hard Knocks. As such, without a fly fishing mentor, I am forced to observe other anglers to pick up new tricks, tactics, or fly patterns. Good form and polite manners keep me from observing anglers in the wild, so opt for the less invasive approach by watching on the Internet.

Lately, I've been interested in polish woven nymphs. I first learned about them in a DVD that I received a couple years ago that came in a British fly magazine. The technique is a little more difficult, and I've misplaced the DVD (I've moved twice since I received it). So going to YouTube, I typed in the search engine Polish Woven Nymph. Sure enough, I found what I was looking for.



But, my search doesn't end there. Noooo... afterwards, I follow the rabbit trails. After the video plays, a couple of "related" videos are suggested. Finding one that looks interesting, I click that one. After watching, another suggestion and another click. Kind of like the instructions for shampoo (Lather, Rinse, Repeat).

After 30 minutes of this, I've now gleaned new information. I've learned that some people use super glue to stop their lead from moving on them. I wonder what in the world is Uni-Stretch and where do I find some? And finally, whip finishing fine wire is an option to secure it quickly and easily (I've lately been prone to wrap the wire 2-3 times over itself and then securing it with thread). I tell you, learning new things every time I watch a video.

(Pssst! I have another confession to make. I didn't know how to embed YouTube videos into Blogger. After a quick YouTube search, I learned and wanted to give it a try. Thanks for bearing with.)

Day 68 - The Search for the Lost Fly

Dust off your fedora and grab your whips. Today I'm on an adventure for the lost fly.

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Yesterday I mentioned that I'd like to find a forgotten fly pattern. One which history has forgotten and anglers can no longer recognize as a proven trout getter. Since yesterday my mind has been swarming around the idea of a possible "secret forgotten" fly. As always, I'm on the hunt for the Holy Grail of flies.

Now before I begin, I have to admit that the odds are stacked against me in my pursuit. Let's face it, if an old pattern is a proven trout catcher, would it have been forgotten? Patterns like the Adams and the Royal Coachman are a testament to this logic. So, how does one find a forgotten pattern that still produces fish?

Time to blow off the dust off the cover of the "Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art" by Terry Hellekson. To me this is the first place I go to search for fly patterns. With just shy of 3,000 patterns, a handful of full color plates, and ranging from wet flies to nymphs to dry flies it is definitely the first place to start looking for a "Lost Fly".

Now before we begin, we have to have an idea of what we are looking for. Are we looking for a dry fly pattern? A nymph? Wet fly? If you don't know, then you are the one that is lost. For me, I tend to be a card carrying member of the wet fly/nymph club. Purists will tell me that I'm on the wrong side of this debate, and I will calmly tell them that the wet fly came before the dry fly (so put that in your hat and sit on it). This doesn't mean I don't like to catch trout on the dry, but when fish feed 90% sub surface... can you blame me?

I think part of the search has to do with the name of the fly. When you're on the stream and hammering fish when no one else is and you get the question, "What are they biting on?" After suppressing the statement, "The end of my line," wouldn't it just be grand to say a #16 Lindgren's Woodduck or #12 Spitfire or even a #8 Dark Assum Dragon? Wouldn't that propel you into fly fishing infamy? "Yes it would," you say with a smile.

Now here comes the hard part. Like any good quest it must require some sort of trial. It has to be searched out, tied, tested, and the retested. It has to produce under typical and non-typical situations. It not only has to work on Joe's farm pond, but it has to produce on the freestone stream, the mountain lake, and any other place that fish are at and you're likely to be at.

"No problem," someone might say. Don't listen to them, they're an idiot. The annals of history have lost more effective fly patterns than a person can tie. This giant book that is sitting next to me is full of patterns that someone, somewhere was able to produce fish on. They say that fish don't learn, and I say that's a load of crap. Anyone who has caught fish behind the stocking truck and then returned two weeks later to fish the same section will tell you this: Fish learn quickly!

And so on with the search. I've narrowed it down to either a wet fly pattern or a nymph pattern. But where to next? Do I start out with the ones that look like the ones that I normally fish, or do I go bold and tie a big hairy abomination of a fly? Do I choose a pattern with a mundane name like the Medium Emerger or go fancy like the Red Sheep Creek Special?

Then comes the hard part of putting the fly to the test. Maybe I'll tie a few and send some out to you all, and get your feedback? What say you?