2017 Fly Tying Resolution

'Tis the season for new years resolutions, when people seek change in the hope for the better. I have many new years resolutions, but those do not need to be stated here. However, as for fly tying, my 2017 resolution is to simply expand from the patterns I always tie, and learn new flies and tying methods. For instance, lately I have been tying some comparadun dry flies. This is a tried and true method for tying dry flies, originating much before my time. I can tell you it has been a challenge to learn how to set the deer hair just right. But this is exactly what I am looking to do this new year. Challenge myself. Push myself to try more difficult patterns, and not just rely on the basic flies I always tie. Yes they catch fish, but tying the same thing over and over can get boring. Besides, I have a copious amount of material that needs to see the light of day. It seems a lot of my tying material just sits there and doesn't get a date with the hook. I hope to change that this upcoming year. I know that by challenging myself my tying will improve. Stay tuned for more patterns.

2017 Goals:

- Get better with deer hair (tie some deer hair bass bugs and streamers).
- Change up the standard material for a particular fly with a different material.
- Learn how to tie a wally wing
- Tie a dragonfly
- Develop/create my own flies.
- Tie older classic fly patterns.
- Develop a fly that will entice wipers
- Work on dry flies! Mainly parachute posts and wrapping hackle.
- When tying streamers,working on not putting loads of material on a hook.
- Finally, a few basics: Less thread wraps and crowding the eye. Fly proportions.

Here's to 2017, the year my fly tying will reach a new level.

Beetle Bug

Simple and hopefully deadly

For some reason, and I have yet to find out why, I have never fished a beetle fly before. Whenever I think of terrestrial insects, I think of grasshoppers and ants. The only terrestrial I have ever tied are grasshopper patterns. Maybe it's the aesthetics of a beautifully tied hopper pattern, or simply when fishing in summer the only terrestrial insect I see are hoppers. Rarely do I see beetles in the water. I know that it happens, maybe I just need to get on all fours and look for beetles crawling? Well, after seeing a few patterns recently on the inter-webs, I decided it was time to shift my terrestrial paradigm. The beetle will be a bug I will try more often this upcoming year. Besides, I hear they work great, and am excited to tie up some different patterns.

Recently, I tied my first beetle pattern. It's nothing special, but I am confident it will do the trick. I did not have black foam so I used brown. There are brown beetles right? For the legs I mixed two Fly Tyers Dungeon dubbings together. If you know his dubbing, you know that most of it contains rubber legs. The body on this fly is made up entirely of dubbing and foam, and I hope the micro legs will make for a great underwater profile. I also added some big outer rubber legs, to make sure that it sits upright in the water. Come summer, I'll be tossing beetle patterns along the bank of a high alpine lake, and watching fish come up and snatch em. Awesome.

Hook: Size 12 Dry Fly Hook
Foam: Brown
Body: Fly Tyers Dungeon Wee Folk & MS Bugger Dubbing (blended)
Legs: Black Rubber Legs
Hotspot: Fly Tyers Dungeon P.I.P Hot Yellow

Sunday Streamer

I have been reading lately that gold is a good streamer color, so I decided to whip one up. I used my new Loon Gator Grip Dubbing Spinner for the first time, and must say it performed well. The gator grip has a strong solid grip on material, which gives confidence when wrapping. I also incorporated some UV Polar Chenille, which is an awesome buggy material. Lately, I have been watching countless streamer videos (they are slightly addicting) and a lot of top streamer guys out there are using this material. The only thing I wish i'd included was some flash for the tail. When I tie this again, I will add gold flash. A while back I won some streamers from Oskar Hagelin, whom incorporates a flash tail for his Beef Jerky Streamer. When in water, the flash looks great and gives the streamer lots of movement and color.  Come spring, I cannot wait to throw this bug. Hopefully it will entice some nice fish.

Rear Hook: Allen B200 #6
Tail: Tan Marabou
Body: Tan Schlappen & Hareline UV Polar Chenille Gold UV (twisted together)

Front Hook: Gamakatsu B10S #1
Eyes: Dumbell Eyes
Articulation Wire: 49 Strand Nylon Coated Wire
Articulation Bead: Gold
Tail: Tan Marabou
Body: Tan Schlappen & Hareline UV Polar Chenille Gold UV (twisted together)
Collar: Palmered Tan & Dark Brown Marabou
Head: Senyo Laser Dub Silver Minnow Belly (Colored to match)

Cyber Monday Fly Tying Purchase

When it comes to buying fly tying materials, i'm like a kid in a candy store. The options are literally endless and come in all shapes, colors and sizes. How does one not spend copious amounts when buying tying material? Recently, I purchased some great material as a pre-Christmas present for myself.  A cyber Monday deal came up from Fly Fish Food that I could not pass up. I have been itching for some new material, and finally made the plunge. I'm looking forward to many flies coming off the vice this winter.

Great Article On Streamer Fly Design

Being a so called "streamer junkie"as we say in the fly fishing community, I found this article very intriguing on streamer fly design. Brammer breaks down how to tie baitfish patterns, and what triggers fish into striking . If you tie streamers, this is a must read.

https://flymenfishingcompany.com/blogs/blog/the-power-of-suggestion-3-key-elements-of-streamer-fly-design

New YouTube Video

Check out my new video on one of my trips I took this past fall. You can read the story on this fishing trip here. Lots of beautiful cutthroat and tigers were caught, and the setting was spectacular.

I Met a Fly Fishing Celebrity

About a month ago, I met what I would call a fly fishing celebrity. Although the setting we met was mediocre, it was awesome to meet him nonetheless. During our conversation, we talked fly rods, places we have fished (mine is very sparse in comparison to his), how long we have both been in the sport, and where we were from. I learn that he knows and is friends with many people in the fly fishing community. It was fun to hear him talk about people I have read about in magazines and seen online.

I also had the great privilege to meet his wife. She was very friendly, just like him, and we had fun talking about fishing. She, like him, was very well known in the fly fishing community. I learn that she has held records in salt water fly fishing, and has been featured on fly fishing television shows. "What an awesome couple", I remember thinking to myself. And they couldn't have been nicer. Before we said our goodbyes, they were kind enough to give me one of their newly released books. I was ecstatic. Needless to say, I will cherish this book for the rest of my life. I also exchanged information with him so we can stay in touch in the future. Turns out, he owns some property on a river that I frequently fish. Score!