Saturday, June 28, 2008

One-Feather Flatwing

Flawings are my favorite striper flies for hot summer days. They are sparse flies that can be cast with light lines, and they move so well with the current. I like to think of them as 'oceanic soft hackles', since classic wet fly presentations work so well with flatwing flies. I tied this one in baby bunker color scheme: white, cerise, lavender, gray, with touch of blue and yellow. The tail is one long, thin cream saddle, and two strands of rainbow flash.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Early Summer Moods



Pale emergers on the surface...



Hatching wets swung across...



Henri Bresson's La Peute, a French classic, fished either greased on top or pulled under...

Monday, June 16, 2008

Wit & Flatwings


My current favorite while tying flatwings...

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Before the Storm


We arrive on the stream with the ominous light falling into the softness of the evening mist. March Browns (Maccaffertium sp.) are hatching quietly...


My wet imitation is inspired by Irish mayflies, the ones ghillies still use on loughs Sheelin and Corrib... an old fly in the New World.


I throw a gentle cast and yellow glass rod moves the line in a slow style. Fly line and the fly tango together on the rippled water surface... Little trout rushes to join the dance...


A quick pose before the freedom... Heavy raindrops are falling, while the thunder from the East speeds up our run to the car.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Red


Two red flies: "The Red Baron" Crease Fly (above) and the Bloodworm (below)

Monday, June 02, 2008

Going Deep...


When sun is high and surface is calm, heavy tungsten-head pupae save the day...short line style.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Firetiger Sea Habit Bucktail


Sea Habit (or is it a Pike Habit ;-)) Bucktail, dressed in the Firetiger color scheme... I hope it will work well for pike!