Mayfly Gnats Revisited

Mayfly Gnats revisited... Didn't have best of luck with Gamakatsu R10-B hooks, since they get opened by strong fish easy (and many weren't large, but 100% wild!) These are tied on Firehole Sticks 413 hooks.

 

Sisevac Caddis Revisited

Always fun to tie...and works in mysterious ways. I believe the success of this fly is tied to the light refraction through the emu feather barbules. They move almost like CDC, but do need a good bath in a quality desiccant powder prior to use (like Tiemco Shimazaki Fly Shake). The powder will make the fly ooze the "moth factor." It is a flat water fly, best fished dead drift, or with tiny twitches.

 

Pheasant Tail and Squirrel

Emerging nymphs and one flymph

Flat Water Sulphurs

Easy-tying pale yellow duns...with hot orange thorax and undersize "messy" hackle.

At the Show

The Bear's Den Fly Fishing Expo yesterday was a lot of fun... seeing old friends and meeting new ones, while talking about fly tying, fishing and fly rods. If you are reading this and were there yesterday, thanks for stopping by!

Orange S-glass 7'6" by V. Milenkovic

More pics: https://rodcatalog.blogspot.com/2019/02/orange-s-glass-76-45wt-3pc.html
#vladanmilenkovicflyrods

CDC Squirrel Caddis

Ultra-quick to tie, two materials only...size 12.

New "Antiquary Edition" Fiberglass Build

More pics: https://rodcatalog.blogspot.com/2019/02/milenkovic-antiquary-edition-cts-golden.html
#vladanmilenkovicflyrods

Feathertail Sand Eel and Sightcast Minnow

Feathertail Sand Eel (L): colored tubing, thin saddle feathers and UV resin.
Sightcast Minnow (R): worm hook, bucktail and faux bucktail, bleached peacock

Winter Fishing in Med

I just got back late last night from Samos, Greece. I had a great time, partly due to wonderful Greek family who were my hosts. The fishing was quite slow, the main culprit being very cold weather which rolled over during the second part of my stay and shut everything off. I fished through most days, skipping only the coldest/wettest mornings. Managed to catch only scad. First several mornings looked quite promising, with decent amount of surface activity. I did have one hit/miss from a bonito, since some were around during most mornings. Also threw at barracuda who lingered near the pier, without takes. I observed either large false albacore or baby bluefin in the middle of the bay, smashing through schools of finger mullet. Nothing close within fly range, though. The piers and jetties did harbor a good amount of bait. I am hoping to return for another round in the future... Best time to go would be September-November, which is not surprising.

Baitfish Variety

Baitfish comparison...  Hooks sizes 2/0 and 3/0, narrow vs wider profiles.

Sardinella aurita

Round sardinella (Sardinella aurita), another important Med baitfish for small tunas...

Sardina pilchardus

Tying few more for Med... European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus), tied somewhat more elongated than the naturals. Small tuna attractor, 6" on 3/0 hook. Versions on the second photo are slightly smaller.

Eco-Masterplan for Balkan Rivers

Preventing biodiversity loss in the heart of Europe: Eco-Masterplan for Balkan Rivers 

Colored Tubing Baitfish

Few craft fur candies tied with Hends colored tubing, L to R: pale yellow, olive, pink, sand.

Suspended Squid and Heart-Foam Slider

Inspired by my old heart-foam squids...just smaller. Crease slider below is tied on 3/0 Varivas hook.