The new issue of This is Fly magazine is live!
Monthly Archives: September 2017
This is Fly Magazine – Issue 64
Comments Off on This is Fly Magazine – Issue 64
Filed under emagazine
October Caddis Skater
Tim Flagler ties up an October Caddis Skater, just in time for October!
Comments Off on October Caddis Skater
Filed under Foam, Trout flies
Clark Fork Shop Vac
From the Kingfisher Fly Shop:
“The Clark Fork Shop Vac is a pike fly that has been effective for us around the Missoula, Montana area.”
Materials list:
Hook: 4/0
Eyes: White Lead Eyes
Tail: White Bucktail
Feather: Tan Saddle Hackle
Body: Bucktail
Side feathers: Grizzly Soft Hackle
Head: White & Tan Craft Fur
Flash: Speckled Copper Flashabou
New Ride
Hello FrankenFly readers! I haven’t checked in and made a post about what’s happening in my fly fishing world for quite some time, so I figured I would throw something up.
I was finally able to pickup the boat for me recently and I couldn’t be happier. I have tried bass boats, canoes, and smaller kayaks, but haven’t been that happy. I enjoy drift boats, but they don’t fit the fishing in my area. So I’ve been into fly fishing from a kayak for two seasons now and love it! I just enjoy paddling my kayak, even if I’m not catching fish, so that’s huge. I recently sold my Perception Sound 10.5 that I have enjoyed and picked up a Jackson Kayak Kilroy. It is a longer boat with more stability and some advanced features, like a terrific seat and gear tracks for mounts. I took her out on a maiden voyage this past weekend and she paddles smooth and tracks very well. I was even able to stand up in the kayak, something I do not normally do. But with this boat, it’s easy.
Coming in at 12 feet 4 inches, it’s a couple of feet longer than my Perception and I love the added room. One thing I have debated on was removing the black pod that rides on top in front of the kayak. It is easily removable, but I wanted to try it first on the water. Now that I have, I think I am going to take it off to enjoy even more room in the front of the boat. This is a sit inside kayak, that reminds me a lot of a canoe, but with a lot more stability. I mean a lot more! The seat can be adjusted to a low or high position. I mainly keep it in the high position for better casting while sitting. That way you don’t hit the water on your backcast.
If you want a boat to get out on the water, I definitely recommend kayaks. You can get them at a reasonable cost and with no motor to deal with, it’s a no fuss way to get you out there.
Besides the new kayak, I’ve had a wonderful season of fishing. I caught some awesome fish while on vacation in Michigan this summer. I fished my local smallmouth river much more this season to learn more about the fishery. Lately, I’ve been concentrating on tying and fishing for bluegill and doing some Bucket Mouth League style of fishing.
I have two events coming up soon if you want to check them out. October 7th, I’ll be at J.L. Waters Adventure Outfitters in Bloomington, Indiana from 10am to 2pm tying flies. You are welcome to come in and watch or bring your vise and sit and tie with me. On October 19th, I’ll be in Fort Wayne, Indiana giving a bluegill presentation to the Three River Fly Fishers club. The meeting starts at 7pm. If you are interested in going, contact the Three Rivers Fly Fishers.
I hope all of you had a great fishing season as well. It’s not over yet, so get out there and fish! Thank you all for reading FrankenFly, I really appreciate it!
Comments Off on New Ride
Filed under Bucket Mouth League, Fly Fishing, FrankenFly
Flash Tag Caddis Pupa – Justin Aldrich
Justin Aldrich is just beginning to make fly tying videos and here is one of his first. I’ve been noticing his tying skills for awhile now, so check it out!
-Paul
From Justin:
“This easy to tie Caddis Pupa is a great “Guide’s Choice” Caddis is terms of being able to represent the Pupa, the Emerger on the swing, and in some hotter colors it works really well as an Attractor pattern…. even tied with the natural colors it’s got a great Flash Tag triggering characteristic. Fish it dead drift, Euro Nymphed and/or High sticked, or down and across on the swing for some real excitement.”
Materials list:
•Hook: Scud/Pupa. #14
•Bead: Tungsten or Brass. Gold 7/64″ (Size to fit hook.)
•Thread: Veevus 8/0. Chartreuse.
•Thorax: Black Hares Ear Plus & Black Peacock Ice Dub. (60%/40% mixture)
•Wing: Mallard flank fibers.
•Body/Abdomen: Olive Hare’s Ear Dub.
•Ribbing: UTC Sm. Gold Oval tinsel
•Flash Tag: Sm. Pearlesent Flashabou.
Comments Off on Flash Tag Caddis Pupa – Justin Aldrich
Filed under nymphs
Rich Strolis’s Juggernaut
This is the latest from Brian Wise of Fly Fishing the Ozarks.
From Brian:
Recipe:
Rear Hook – SP11-3L3H #1
Tail – Marabou
Body – EP Sparkle Brush (OK, I couldn’t track them down for the LIFE OF ME, so I used Polar Chenille)
Wing – Arctic Fox Tail
Front Hook – Gamakatsu B10s 1/0
Arctic Fox Tail UV Polar Chenille
Wing – Arctic Fox Tail
Collar – Laser Dub
Wing – Shimmer Fringe
Head – Flymen Fish Skull
Comments Off on Rich Strolis’s Juggernaut
Filed under Brian Wise, Streamers
Bluegill Belly Bean – Now available!
Bluegill Belly Bean
My new bluegill jig, I named the Bluegill Belly Bean, is now available in the FrankenFly online store.
Bluegills will often hit just about anything when it is spring time and they are on their beds. They are tenacious when guarding their beds and will strike at anything in their territory. But if they are not bedding, things change, especially in late summer.
I designed the Bluegill Belly Bean for late summer time when the bluegill are no longer on their beds and usually stay deep in the water. You can get the Bluegill Belly Bean down to find them and get their attention. Cast it out and countdown and let it sink. How long to count down depends on how deep the body of water is you are fishing or where the bluegill are holding. But I would say 10 or 15 seconds is a good start. Sometimes you might be able to just give it a twitch and the bluegill will take it. Other times you might just have to leave it sitting still or you may have to strip it and get it moving before they will strike. You just have to try different tactics to see what they like on that particular day. Normally they are not as easy to catch when they are not guarding their beds.
Even if you want to use this as a small swimjig for bass, this will do the trick. Bass like the movement of this little fly and will readily take it.
-Paul
Comments Off on Bluegill Belly Bean – Now available!
Filed under Panfish
Baby Gonga – Charlie Craven
Below is from Charlie, haha.
“I can’t take all the credit for the Baby Gonga. It was in fact given to me by an Angel who visited me in my sleep. The Angel told me that the streamer was a gift from God herself. The Angel went on to say that I am the chosen one who is tasked to share it with the world. Behold the Baby Gonga here in all its holy glory.”
Materials list:
HOOKS: TMC 5262 #8
THREAD: TAN 3/0 MONOCORD
TAIL: YELLOW OVER TAN MARABOU
HACKLE: PALE GINGER HEN SADDLE
BODY: LIGHT YELLOW ICE DUB
ATTACHMENT: 30 POUND TEST SPIDER WIRE
BEADS: TWO 6/0 GOLD
EYES: SMALL LEAD DUMBBELL, YELLOW WITH BLACK PUPIL
LEGS: GOLD/BLACK CHROME SILI LEGS
HEAD: POLAR FIBRE
Comments Off on Baby Gonga – Charlie Craven
Filed under Streamers
