Cold Weather Tyin'

Got out of work a little early today and hit the vise hard.

These are sz 20 deer hair parachute trico/midge dry fly patterns. I've fished these during the trico hatches a few months ago and caught a fish on almost every drag free drift! I usually fished these in sz 24 but these should do the trick.

I've only ever tied bwo emergers in this pattern but these sz 20 flies are supposed to resemble a small trico emerger. The thread body creates a thin profile which seems more natural than the wooly flies sold at shops.

These pink squirrels of prey will catch fish. So will this hopper!

I hope to get out fishing by the end of the week if the weather cooperates but in the mean time I'll be tying up plenty of flies to last me through the summer and into next fall. Up next on the vise-midge emergers.

Messin' Around with Photoshop

That's me on the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. It is among the most beautiful trails in the world!

This picture was touched up for clarity. This was taken atop Swiftcurrent Mountain.

This is my buddy from Montana hiking and fishing deep in the Salish Mountains near his house. He didn't catch any fish and this picture perfectly captured it!

This oil painting effect makes me want to take up painting. We'll see what the New Year brings.

This was taken high above the banks on Belt Creek outside of Great Falls, MT. Great fishing, even better hiking!

Trip Report: Mild Success on the Midge

Today I fished a state park near home for a few hours late this afternoon. The temps hovered in the upper 30's and clouds prevailed. Expecting a few midges coming off the surface I rigged up with a sz 24 olive zebra midge emerger. The small fish couldn't resist while the larger fish were able to shake the hook. I turned one that was probably around 16 inches but he was able to quickly spit the hook. 

This guy was the biggest! He has good colors and looked really neat streaking through the deep green pool adjacent to the lie from which he came. After the quick snap of a pic he was released to grow bigger.

 I ended the day with 5 or 6 browns and 1 little rainbow. I kicked up a bunch of little brownies as I walked around the deepest pools. There looked to be a good number of small browns occupying all of of the prime pools and the largest fish that I hooked and lost came on a pink squirrel of prey dredged through a pool.

For Christmas I received a few hundred sz 20 and sz 16 dry fly hooks so I will occupy the vise as soon as the weather turns colder...but any time I'm off work and the temps reach the high 20's or better I'm gonna get out fishing! The Minnesota winter C&R season starts on January 1. This season will greatly expand my options and I have a few areas in mind to explore!

Trip Report: Cold Day at a State Park

Today I was able to cut out of work pretty early so I went fishin'! The first hole that I encountered held some nice fish this summer so I figured I'd try a Pink Squirrel of Prey fished deep. It worked!

 He put up a lethargic fight but had enough power that I had to chase him downstream a little ways. After steering him in to the bank I hoisted him up for a quick pic and let him go. I hoped that the remainder of the day would be so good. I headed up stream to another likely spot and managed to catch a few little browns, including the one below.

These little guys fell for a size 24 stripped quill zebra midge emerger. I tied into two nicer fish while casting at a pod of risers but both managed to shake the tiny hook. Not sure if I'll get out fishing again before the new year but on January 1 a number of other streams open up for the winter season! I already have a number of spots in mind!!!

Trip Report: Mild Temps, Mild Sucess

The morning started out damp and foggy but with temperatures at a comfortable 45 degrees. I posted up at the tail end of a deep pool and tossed my fly into the depths. The fish bit so lightly that I turned a few fish without hooking them while reaching back to execute my roll cast.

 These rainbows put up a spirited fight but not spirited enough! I hooked into two nice browns, one around 15 and one around 18 but they were able to put up a spirited enough fight and swam away without coming to hand. The bigger one knew exactly what to do. He gently pulled out drag as he calmly swam around a large submerged log.

Three browns came to hand today with this one being the largest. Most fish came on the pink squirrel of prey. The browns that got away and a few suckers fell for a red tungsten beaded zebra midge.

It was a productive couple hours of fishing but I can't call the cay a success without having laid net on either of those big browns!

Some Fishin' and Some Tyin'

Got out fishing a few times last week. It was chilly so I didn't stay out for long but I managed to catch a few fish! Last Sunday I fished for a few hours near home and caught two nice rainbows around 13" and a decent brown of around 15". I was proud of myself for catching one on a nymph, one on a streamer, and one on a dry fly! Unfortunately I only had the camera on my phone.

I did bring my camera on Monday when I was able to get out of work at noon. I tried a bunch of the new BWO patterns that I've tied up but I figured they wouldn't work! I did manage to catch a few fish on the pink squirrel of prey and a small midge emerger.

 This skinny brown came on a black midge emerger on a long downstream cast. The fish are easily spooked by this spot so I had to be extra sneaky!

I also caught a few rainbows.

 These guys came out of some fast, cold water. After a few hours of fishing I managed to catch three rainbows and three browns. No big fish but it's nice to go fly fishing in December! Usually December is tying season for me and I dedicate most tying to flies that will sell but this year I've been working on patterns that will work in the Driftless.

These BWO patterns should work very well but we'll have to wait for spring to see for sure. If you look at the reflection of the fly on the tin you can kinda see what the fish will see before he strikes.

More Fly Tying

I spent this evening tying some bwo dries, sculpin flies, and midges dries.

I've never fished a parachute bwo with a red post before!

I also tied some of the same pattern with a deer hair post and one made of some type of feather.

These little midge flies worked great in the past on little brookies. Tomorrow I'll find out if the browns like 'em too!

These are big trout food. I got out yesterday at a spot close to home and caught two nice rainbows around 14 inches and a nice brown of around 15!