Fall Days on the Water

Yes, all the mayflies are done hatching, and the smallmouth have gone deep; but who says we have to call it quits on our favorite local water? Not us, fall means a lot for us, musky fishing is just starting to pick up, trout are eating midges, and steelhead are starting to run. We are still doing trout trips on the Tully, and the fishing is only getting better as the temps drop. With the water at an awesome 234 cfs, the fish are eating like crazy, even the freshly released fingerlings are munching down. Musky fishing, well its musky fishing, but with cool nights and warm days, we can only hope to put one in the boat very soon. But lets not forget whats rapidly approaching right now, steelhead, we are getting mixed reports from day to day, but the fact is they are coming in everyday. I can't wait till next weekend to get up there and try to find some hungry fish.

Featured Fly - Steelhead Lip Ring

I have to say, this is not my personal fly creation, this one was found pages and pages deep into the internet. I saw a picture of it while looking for new Tube flies, pulled the vice out and started tying right way. This is a perfect combination of flash, and movement, I do not have any pictures with it hanging from a fishes lip, but I am hoping to very soon.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 2303 or 200R

Bead: Tungsten Bomb Beads - Black 

Tails: Goose Biots - Black 

Body: Mirage Tinsel 

Rib: Ultra Wire - Black

Thorax: Ice Dub - Brown Olive 

Wing Cases: Goose Biots - Black 

Collar: Partridge - Natural or Black 

Step 1: Make a thread base, stopping at the bend of the hook

Step 2: Make a small dubbing ball, where you stopped your base. This helps spread the biots.

Step 3: Tie in the biots.

Step 4: Wrap the thread forward, I like to tie the rest of the biots forward, this helps keep the fly tapered.

Step 5: Tie in the tinsel and ultra wire.

Step 6: Wrap the tinsel forward, tying it off about half way up the shank.

Step 7: Wrap the wire forward, making a nice rib and securing the tinsel down.

Step 8: Make a small dubbing ball.

Step 9: Tie in two more biots, these will be your wing cases of sorts.

Step 10: Make another dubbing ball in front of the biots.

Step 11: Tie in two more biots.

Step 12: Tie in the soft hackle.

Step 13: Fill the rest of the thorax with dubbing.

Step 14: Wrap the partridge feather forward.

Step 15: Once the feather is tied off and trimmed, make a small collar of ice dub. Whip Finish and cut off.

Finished Fly 

Thank You - Drinks for Dinks

Just wanted to thank everyone who came out to support the Movie Night, I know this is a little late, but thank you!!!

Huge thanks to all the sponsors of the event: Tony Gehman - Glasses, Doug Bear- Orvis, Brian Benner - Patagonia, Ken Lagerveld - Scott & Airflo, Kevin Klunk - Beer, Net, and Stocking, Brad Adams -  Shirts & Posters, Sherry Thrash - Bartender, Dave Troop - Tier, Frank Swarner - Tier, and all the TCO Staff!!!

There are now 3000 fingerlings calling the Tully home as of Monday October 20th!

Thank you once again Kevin! For not only donating stuff, building a net, buying raffle tickets, but for coming out and stocking the "Dinks" with Tony and I!

Featured Fly - Iced-Out Pheasnt Tail

This is a fast and simple little fly. I was tying some smaller pheasant tails up for our last New Hampshire trip, to mimic BWO nymphs. This little guy was what came out of the pile of fly tying crap all over my desk. It worked well on Landlocks and Brook Trout. This one should be a great fly for the up and coming winter months.

Materials:

Hook: 2499 SPBL sz. 16-20

Beadhead: Tungsten Bomb Bead - Gold 

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Fl. Fire Orange 

Rib: Ultra Wire - Small - Gold

Body: Ice Dub - Brown/Olive 

Thorax: Ice Dub - Peacock 

Tail/Back: Pheasant Tail - Olive

Step 1: Make a small thread base, just behind the bead.

Step 2: Finish the thread base, tying in the wire as you go back.

Step 3: Making one wrap, secure the pheasant tail, at the bend of the hook.

Step 4: Dub the body with ice dub.

Step 5: Pull the pheasant tail forward, tying in right behind the bead.

Step 6: Wrap the wire forward, securing the pheasant tail and making a nice rib.

Step 7: Cut off extra pheasant tail.

Step 8: Dub the thorax with a small amount of peacock ice dub.

Step 9: Whip fishing and cut off.

Fooled Fish!