Featured Fly - Tiny Wonder

Back in PA, no more redfish for me, so its back to winter trout fishing. This time I went small, this is an awesome little midge, that has been in my box for a while. It is also featured in this issue of Fly Tyer, so I figured it would be a good one to choose for a featured fly. This one is tied on a size 20, TMC 2488, I will go down to a 22, but this size seems to work the best.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 2488 - 20

Thread: UNI Thread -  Black & White 

Bead: Bomb Bead -  Copper 

Rib: Ultra Wire - Small - Gold 

Flashback: Holo Tinsel - Black 

Step 1: Slide bead on, and make a small thread base behind the bead.

Step 2: Tie in ultra wire as you wrap the thread to the bend of the hook.

Step 3: Wrap thread forward, forming the body, stop about 3/4 of the way to the bead.

Step 4: Wrap the ultra wire forward, forming the rib. Whip finish the white thread and cut off.

Step 5: Tie in the black thread.

Step 6: Tie in the Holo. tinsel. 

Step 7: Pull the tinsel forward and tie off.

Step 8: Cut off extra tinsel, and whip finish.

Finished Fly:

It's All About the Quest

That's what my guide said to me as we pulled up in 40 mph winds, but I'll get back to that part. Last week, about 4 days before my much awaited Redfish trip, my guide calls and says, the weather isnt looking to good. Great, after 2 other failed attempts this year to catch a Redfish, the whole trip I planned was shot. We went anyway, after day one, I was moping around, and Elizabeth said, "lets to to the fly shop, see if there is anywhere for you to fish.", "ok lets go, I need a hat anyway". Now all I can do is thank her for that.

I was talking to the guy at the shop, he gave me a few local places to catch bass, if I just wanted to catch something. So I did, it was about 3 inches long, on an 8wt. But he also gave me the name of a guide they use down in Grand Isle, said it might be worth going down there, call Capt. Danny, he will set you up. So I called, he said it wouldn't be the "outdoors channel", but he thought he could find me a fish or two.

Alarm went off at 4am, and Elizabeth and I were south bound, and I was starting to get excited. The winds and rain only got worse as we got closer to Grand Isle, white capes, and 4 foot waves destroyed the bay, there was no way poling around the flats was at all possible. We pulled up and Danny said "its all about the quest!", haha yup lets do this. So he took us to a location called 1000 mile, he only took us there because we lived over 1000 miles away. We were not taking the flats boat or bay boat, instead we launched the kayaks, and away we paddled. First cast E had one, first cast I had one, no trophies, but we had constant action the whole time. I have to thanks Uptown Angler , and Capt. Danny of Calm Water Charters for their awesome service and expertise, getting me into some redfish. If it wasn't for Elizabeth, this would have never happened, so thank you!

Redfish, freaking awesome fish!

 

TCO Company Meeting - Salmon River

"What time you getting there", "you going up the night before?", its like we are all little kids again. I think the best part is the morning before the meetings, its a race to get there, "i'm leaving at 3:30", "ok perfect, ill leave then too".

Thats what the week before our annual company meeting sounds like, with text messages and phone calls all day and night, its like we are all kids again. Thats what I love about this company, we all still get excited about even the smallest fishing trips. Its rare that you can wake up very morning and know you are going to work and love it. Fly fishing is for all of us, our hobby, and our carriers, and I think I speak for all of the TCO employees, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Anyway, I can go on and on about the excitement we all share fishing together, and talk about how grateful I am for having such an awesome job. But once again, ill just let the pictures tell the story.

More Photos to come from George's camera!