Photos from the West Branch

Despite crazy winds and high sun, we made it happen again. Bob and Rob made their second trip to the West Branch with me this year. After having to cancel three times last year because of high water, we had perfect water levels and rising water temps. Warming water had fish and bugs moving around, Blue Quill and Hendricksons were everywhere, and when the wind died down, the fish were up and munching.

Nice work Guys!

Featured Fly - Iron Lotus

Some of you may already use this fly, or at least know the name, but this is one of my favorite big water flies. It can mimic just about any mayfly nymph just by changing size of the hook, and color of the thread. A couple years ago before the lotus was in the Umpqua catalogs, I watched George pull 5 fish out of one run on the west branch while we all just stood around waiting for a fish to rise. I was tying up a dozen the other day, and thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to use this one a featured fly.

Materials:

Hook: TMC C200BL sz. 12-16

Rib: Danville 210 - White or Tan 

Tail: CDL Fibers 

Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead - Copper 

Body: Danville 210 - Olive, Lt. Olive, Brown 

Shell Back:  Scud Back - Black 

Thorax: Peacock Colored Dubbing 

Hot Collar: UNI Thread - Fl. Fire Orange

Over Body: Lacquer 

Step 1: Tie in the rib, making a small taper to the body.

Step 2: Tie in the CDL Feathers. The length of the tail should be about half the hook shank.

Step 3: To add some bulk to the body, wrap the thread forward, covering the CDL.

Step 4: Cut off the extra CDL, then wrap back and forth making a nice tapered body.

Step 5: Wrap the rib forward, leaving enough space for the thorax. This is usually where I lacquer the body.

Step 6: Tie in the Scud Back.

Step 7: Dub the thorax.

Step 8: Brush the dubbing out to the sides.

Step 9: Pull the Scud Back forward and tie it off.

Step 10: Whip finish the olive thread, then tie in and make a hot collar with the UNI Thread.

Step 11: Whip finish the hot collar, cut off, then add a little head cement to the shellback and collar.

Finished Fly:

West Branch Weekend with the Parenti's

One thing I love about my job, is sharing my obsession with others. This past weekend I had the privilege of sharing not one but two of mine, travel and rising trout.

After one smallmouth trip, countless fly tying lessons, and a few weeks of house sitting, Drew and Linda became more than just customers/clients. Sometime over the winter while eating chicken tacos, and talking about last years fishing trips, the West Branch came up. After a few months of planning and picking a weekend, we were finally on our way.

Drew and Linda make a trip to Montana each year, to see the best the west has to offer, so I felt the need to show them the best the east has to offer. High winds made the first day tough, but we made the best of it. Day two was a new adventure, no wind, but high sun, we were head hunting. Quill Gordons, and Blue Quills floated down the river like micro sailboats, as we watched the banks for rings and white mouths. It was a challenge, big fish mean smart fish, but we made it count.