Saturday, November 26, 2011

T.D.C Nymph


T.D.C. Nymph
Thompson's Delectable Chironomid

Hook - Your favorite hook and style
Thread - Black
Ribbing - Oval/round silver tinsel
Body - Black wool yarn
Collar - White ostrich herl

The TDC (Thompson's Delectable Chironomid) was developed by Richard B. Thompson in the late 1950's. Richard was a Fishery Biologist for the State of Washington. Prior to this fly, Chironomid fishing within lakes was just not done. Richard developed techniques with this fly, such as utilizing an indicator for depth control and fishing the pattern off the bottom of the lake with a slow retrieve. He wrote an article , "Chironomids and Trout" that was published within the State of Washington's Game Bulletin describing his TDC fly. Many tried using the Chironomid pattern but failed, due to their habit of using a fast retireve. However, by the early 1960's, his techniques caught on with other lake fly fishermen and a number of other Chironomid patterns were developed. His TDC pattern, using a dubbed body, remains highly effective and is the basis for many new variations.

Reference - Popular Fly Patterns - Terry Hellekson


Adjustable Balloon Strike Indicator

Friday, November 25, 2011

Fly Box Inventory, Sorting & Cleaning


These are the trout boxes. 
Bass & panfish boxes will be taken care of over the Christmas Holiday work shutdown.

Since I have a 4 days off from designing submarines, I thought I would take out a few fly boxes and inspect them for rusted flies, flies coming apart from trout teeth etc and just do some basic resorting of the dry boxes.

Lady McConnell


Lady McConnell

Originator - Brian Chan

Hook - 2xl dry fly hook
Thread - Black
Shuck - Grizzly hackle tip
Shellback - Deer hair
Body - Gray dubbing
Hackle - Grizzly

A Brian Chan designed pattern for McConnell Lake in the Kamloops area of Canada.

Heathen




Heathen

Originator - Phil Camera

Hook - Your favorite curved hook
Thread - Black
Under body - Pearl krystal flash or tinsel
Over body - Larva Lace or equivalent
Ribbing - Spiral black thread forward
Post - White foam cylinder
Thorax - Hares ear dubbing

Tying Tip

Vary the thread, tinsel and tubing colors to make variations of this fly. 
This fly can also be tied with v-rib, d-rib, body glass etc. 

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Blackburn Tellico Nymph



BLACKBURN TELLICO NYMPH


Hook - Mustad 9671, 9672 or equivalent, size 6-12
Thread - Brown
Tail - Mink fibers or brown hackle fibers
Ribbing - 2 strands of peacock herl twisted into a rope around a fine gold wire
Wing Case* - Dark Brown turkey feather section
Body - Dirty golden-yellow dubbing
Hackle - Palmered through front half of body

This pattern was originated by Richard Blackburn of Tennessee to imitate the Golden Stonefly Nymphs that are common in the fast rocky streams of the Smokies.


Reference Information
http://www.uky.edu/~agrdanny/flyfish/ljdecuir/tellico.htm


* There is a lot of breakable fibers on the wing case, 
so a ribbing of wire or thread should be added for durability.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Cheater Soft Hackle

Can't find the right length feather for that soft hackle you're tying?

Try the following technique shown in this video.


Check out here for additional info.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Humpback Warrior


Humpback Warrior

Here is a variation of Lance Egans "Rainbow Warrior"

The recipe is exactly the same as a "Rainbow Warrior" except the bead is a "fringe bead" in a pearl color.


Charlie Craven Parachute Adams (Biot Body)


Here is Charlie Craven tying a variation of a parachute Adams. In this video he explains quite a few techniques that will help a beginner and an experienced tyer.

Enjoy!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

The Craft Shop

Always have a look in your local big box craft shop, home center, department store or dollar store. You can find some interesting fly tying materials that you wont usually find in a fly shop. Feathers, foam, beads, wire, organza, ribbons, tinsels, paints, markers, storage boxes, threads, metallic threads, yarns etc.

But by all means, support your local fly shop if you have one nearby.

Once again, thanks for looking.