November 2009 Monthly Fly Tying

[Tippecanoe Fly Fishers Admin]

I just wanted to get this started. I am sure any suggestions will be entertained.

[trent]

What if we did a series on either specific regional flies or style of flies?

We could do a session on Catskill Dries and someone could find a handout to pass out that might explain the origin of those particular flies.

Having come back from Yellowstone not too long ago, you could do one on common patterns for that fishery.

I would be interested in a session on full dress salmon and spey flies.

Another easy one would be a session on soft hackles, maybe one with a bead, one with no bead and a body of some kind and then one that is just a thread base and the hackle tied sparse to kind of run the gamut.

Or what about some old school british flies?

Just some ideas.

[rstaight]

All good ideas. Most of the soft hackles I have seen have thread bodies. I know of a few that have peacock bodies. I'll research this.

I'll look into the Catskill Dries.

Regarding the full dress salmon flies, some of these materials are hard to find and when you do they are expensive. There are substitutions that can be made.

I have a book written by Ron Alcott titled Building Classic Salmon Flies. I opend to a pattern called the Benchill. The body calls for orange, scarlet, claret, and pale blue seal's fur. The wings call for a pair of golden pheasent tippets, married strips of peacock wing,scarlet and blue swan (goose), golden pheasent tail, and speckled bustard (no, it's not buzzard).

To do a class would require getting someone who ties these on a regular basis. They can be complicated and time consuming.

[rstaight]

Just to let everyone know I have been looking into items for the next tying session.

I appears that most of the dry flies we use are technically Catskill Dry Flies. The dry fly was invented in the Catskill region. (either that our my internet seraches have been bogus)

I am still researching soft hackles. Found a few. I have even considered hair wing salmon flies instead of the full dress feather wings.

[barryl]

I'm not suggesting this for Nov. but maybe Jan. or Feb.

Carp flies? The resent post of the grass carp fly stirred up quite a bit of interest.
We could show say five patterns and then this summer have an outing. you know like say maybe a CARP TOURNAMENT!!!!!!! using only the five patterns shown in class. Class participation is not necessary but only those five patterns can be used. May be on Sugar creek it's got a few.

this sound like fun to anyone?

[trent]

Barry, I think a carp tourney might be interesting.

I'm not sure how involved you would want it to be, but I believe there is supposed to be some place on either Shafer or Freeman where you can find tailing carp. There is also some "flats" kind of place on Lake Michigan, although I believe it is a hike in. If you really wanted to get creative, you could do a "flats" trip to Lake St. Clair up by the "D".

Rick, another interesting session for fly tying might be where you give everyone a baggie of material (it could be the same for everyone or everyone could be a little different) and then you tell people to create a fly pattern from the materials. Then everyone could vote on who's pattern they like the best or have a judge or something like that. Just an idea.

[flyfishingpastor]

Why not a "Tie your own fly night" some month where we just bring our own stuff and tie whatever we need/want to tie instead of a particular recipe?

Pat

[barryl]

I like the flat's idea. Having lived on Freeman for 20 years I just might know where you are talking about.
I also like the "create a fly " it could be a lot of fun! I once heard of a club who did what they called a Texas Hold'em fly tie. Each participant was given a bag of materials one hook and then in the middle of the table there was 5 different communal materials they all voted on best fly. It was just for fun.

[krebsie]

Absolutely love the Texas hold'em Idea! Check with Rick and see if that's something he would want to do!
As for the carp fly and tournament Ideas Slow down just a bit. There are some things in the workings for CARP. Have been talking with Kevin Morlock of Indigo guide services out of Walhalla Mi. about doing a tying class with us covering his favorite flies for carp. Then possibly the next month doing a seminar about carp for a monthly meeting. Then setting up a trip with him and his guides for a carp fishing trip. Also have mentioned to some of the board members about a carp tournament, all in favor. So sounds like you guys are on board? Love to hear more of your interests about these subjects.
Indigo Guide Services www.indigoguideservice.com 231-898-4320
make sure to down load a copy of the article on Beaver Island that Kevin wrote for InFisherman magazine

[barryl]

Fresh water red fish! I'm always up for that. If any of you have not tried carp on a fly rod don't miss this, it's as close to salt water action as we get around here.
Press on Krebsie press on

[trent]

I don't know about Indigo. I see a bunch of ugly pictures of giant trout and salmon. Are you sure they are really serious about catching carp?


Am I thinking of a different place, or is Beaver Island only accessible by plane? (and boat, obviously)

[barryl]

Be verwey verwey careful what you type in your web brouser.

[trent]

Barry, you may want to make sure you have your filter turned on and don't press the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button on Google unless you are.

[rstaight]

I like the create a fly deal. So how does this sound? We have the "community material chest". I have a little idea of whats in it but not everything. That's what we will use.

Since I'm not sure if there are any hooks in the box, bring a selection of hooks with you. If there is a material that you just have to use, bring enough to go around.

I also have this crazy idea of a "round robin" fly. Someone starts the thread on the hook and passes it on. The next person adds a material (tail, wing, body material) and passes it on. Everybody does one step and the vise moves on until we have somekind of creation. Just a thought.

[krebsie]

This could be really fun!! Can't wait!
Krebsie