Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Today's Mini Slam




The closest thing to SWFF in the Upper Midwest would be lake fishing for warmwater predators. While packing for a morning of fishing, I took a photo of this little swift resting on the tree near my place.

I was on the lake jetty at 9AM today, throwing 185 grain med-sink head/Slickshooter combo with my Ultralight SW 4wt... This combo makes effortless casts even in gentle to moderate breeze.

This has been a strange year, with lots of rain. The jetty was covered with 2-3ft of water, and I had to wade out there to reach the end. I had slight hopes for white bass, but didn't find any. Instead, I landed a crappie and a nice sized sauger, even though it shook the DNA Clouser while I was fumbling with the camera in a thigh-high water. The fishing was slow!

Little later, I stopped by the nearby trout stream, to add a trout to the list of species. The water was high and murky, but I was able to land a little tiger trout on the swung leech. Ultralight SW proved to be a fun rod on a trout stream with WF4F line-a true dual purpose stick.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Softicity



Thread: pale olive; Body: palmered ginger CDC ; Wing: pale dun CDC; Soft hackle: snipe

Striper, Spigola, Suzuki




Thursday, June 09, 2011

Bluewater Glass/Graphite 8'6" 12wt




Bluewater/offshore fly rod, built on Lamiglas composite 12wt blank, featuring EVA grip, and EVA/Syncork fighting butt. I used Fuji K's for strippers and Minima 4's for the running guides.




Friday, May 27, 2011

Another Norie Early Spring





I have just completed another Norie Early Spring 7' 2/3wt fiberglass fly rod...

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Clockwork Orange 7' #2/3


An ultralight fiberglass 7' 2/3wt fly rod, built on Norie "Early Spring" taper blank.





Sunday, March 27, 2011

Pompadour Hendrickson Emerger


Hook: curved, size 16

Thread: light olive

Shuck: golden-brown ice dub

Body: pink DNA Frosty Fiber

Thorax and legs: Simi-Seal "bloody leech" dub, picked

Wing: dun rabbit foot

Friday, March 25, 2011

Mochi


Mochi Baitfish, tied on 30 degree jig hook, lightly weighted. Materials used: pearl emulator flash, bucktail (body), slinky blend (topping/back).

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Ultralight Saltwater 4wt


An ultralight saltwater 9' 4wt fly rod...for bream, mullet, mackerel, surf perch, and many other small saltwater gamefish. Trout and panfish apply, too.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Cameron's Rod


I have just completed a rod for a friend of mine, Cameron Mortenson of The Fiberglass Manifesto. Cameron picked a very high quality S-glass blank from Mark Steffen, an 8 foot 8/9wt in a 3 piece configuration. We decided on a reddish color scheme and a combination of contemporary and retro aesthetics.



Thursday, February 17, 2011

GliderSlider


Glue a short foam cylinder on the 2/0 SS popper hook, and leave some space between the foam and the hook eye. Palmer pearl Mega Baitfish Emulator Flash first, and add some Hula Wrap turns in contrasting color. Brush some Liquid Fusion over fibers and foam, while pulling the fibers back. Let dry! Add eyes along with the second coat. Taper the tail at the end and draw some markings with the felt tip pen. GliderSlider is ready to roll!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Flatwing Piggy


A hybrid between Flatwing and Bush Pig, this is a big fish fly with sinuous action and water-pushing 3D profile.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

More Clousers...


... featuring 30 degree jig hook, pearl Mega Baitfish Emulator flash and fishair. You can use the taperizer scissors to adjust the length on the water to match the local baitfish.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Friday, December 03, 2010

Out of the Cellar


Just got a bottle of this year's Vintage Ale by Trader Joe's. Even though guys at Unibroue do a splendid job every year with this brew, I am little disappointed with this year's vintage. Too much spice and not enough beer taste, I must say...
On the bright note, this beer ages really well, and we just finished the last bottle of 2007 a month ago. The current favorite is 2008. The 2009 was unusually spicy, but definitely not as much as the 2010. We'll see if little aging will improve the taste of this year's vintage.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Full Dress Clousers (30 Degree Jig Hook)

Hula wrap and 30 degree jig hooks for extra pizzazz!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Fall Triptych


L/R: Window View, Wild Brown from Iowa, Last Week's Working Flies

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Gizzard Shad


Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepidianum) is a common forage fish. I captured this specimen in Lake Pepin while fishing for white bass. The first photo shows the natural and the Clouser Minnow, which works well enough, but doesn't imitate the silvery, compressed body quite well. Below is the picture of the anatomically correct floating gizzard shad imitation.