Featured Fly - Dave Whitlock's Hare Sculpin

Here is a pattern that I had in my trout streamer box from Montana, I never used it. The while we were out last week, I looked in Jack's fly box, and told him to put it on (not realizing it was the same fly I had). Jack proceeded to catch fish left and right, the colors of choice were tan and olive. So naturally I asked Jack for one, and I came home and tied up a bunch. And now I'm sharing it with you.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 8089 sz. 10-6

Thread: Danville 210 - White

Eyes: Dumbbell Eyes - Red or Black 

Tail: Rabbit Zonker - Natural Brown or Dark Olive 

Under Body: Rabbit Zonker - White 

Gills: Saddle Hackle - Red

Fins: Pheasant Rump - Natural 

Step 1: Tie on the dumbbell eyes.

Step 2: Wrap your thread back to the bend of the hook, tie in rabbit zonker.

Step 3: Take the other rabbit, punch the hook through the middle of the zonker.

Step 4: Measure and cut the rabbit the length of the hook. This just helps keep extra material out of  the way.

Step 5: Wrap thread forward, tie in saddle hackle, make 3 or 4 wraps behind the eyes.

Step 6: Take 2 rump feathers and tie in front of the saddle hackle, they will flare out making fins.

Step 7: Bring the white rabbit forward and tie off in front of the eyes.

Step 8: Flip the fly over, do the same with the other rabbit zonker.

Step 9: Trim the rabbit fur off the white zonker, some variations leave it on, I like it trimmed.

Step 10: Put a small drop of super glue at the back of the white zonker, push down onto the other zonker, securing the two together.

Step 11: Whip Finish, and you're done!

Finished Photo Gallery:

Flooded with Smallmouth Bass

You all might get sick of reading about my smallmouth trips, but the season is in full swing, and the fishing is awesome. I get so excited when the boat gets pushed in the water every morning, so when my alarm goes off at 4 am to meet up with Jack and Casey, I'm up and out the door before I realize, I might still be tired from staying up tying flies until 11 the night before. The water is clear and the fish are getting more aggressive every day, we have seen the average size of  fish getting bigger. On top of that we have moved a lot more big fish, and if I wouldn't have blown it on the last float, I we would have boated at least 2 over 16".

  

Other than fishing, the fly tying has picked up at the bench as well, Casey and I have been messing around with Fish Skull Frantic Tails, they move awesome in the water, and really drive the bass nuts. Being a guide who ties his own flies, I love simple, the faster I can refill my box after a couple trips the better. These tails are awesome for that, tie the tail, wrap some rabbit, and slide a skull on, you're done!

Hot Flies: Hellgrammites, Zuddler Minnow, Hare Sculpin (new featured fly coming soon), Clouser

High Sun, but Happy Fish

Six out of the last nine days, I've spent on the river. High sun and random thunderstorms, have made it a tough few days, but if you stick with it, you will get rewarded. We have boated a few nice fish so far this year, and our average fish are getting bigger. Its hard to say if its just the new water we are fishing, or if the system is continuing to get healthier. Either way, happy clients, make happy guides, and I'm happy! Yesterday was an awesome day, I floated solo for most of the day, bring a few nice fish to the boat, and one monster. On top of that, the number of big fish that have been seen is promising for a great season. Casey and Kyle met up with me around 5:30, and the rest of the evening proved that even the "pros", if you want to call us that, can have a rough time on the water. Kyle getting stuff about 100 times on the bottom, Casey wrapping is fly line around a log, then almost loosing 3 sections of his fly rod, that ended with him going swiming to get his line unwrapped. Me, well my morning was about the same, rocks, trees, and a broken fly line. Ha, but it was still an awesome and beautiful day on the river, I can't get over how beautiful the river is above Reading. Its just worth floating to look at the surroundings, oh yeah, and the Bald Eagles. OK enough typing, enjoy the pictures. 

 

Hot Flies: Clousers, Zuddlers, Deceivers. Colors: Chartreuse, White, and Olive 

One More Day on the River

Jack, Casey, and I decided yesterday, to get get up at 4 and load the boat up and hit the river. It was a slow morning, a few rock bass, and creek chubs to start, but once we got into the fast water, the bass were ready to eat. Streamers, Hellgrammites, and Crayfish all worked well.

Its hard to take a picture of a follow, you are so entranced by just seeing one, that you just focus on the now, and don't take your eye off it until its gone. Then you look at each other and say, Damn that was a musky, and it was right at the boat. Getting a follow in the musky world is good day, they dont come easy, and just seeing one, can make your day. About 5 minutes before, Jack was sitting in the front seat, just letting his flies slowly drift on the deep bottom, when everything stopped. Jack lifted, and the rod doubled over, I got one look, the net was in my hand, and i was screaming at Jack "Dont Lose it!!!" He didn't.

Schuylkill River Smallmouth

Well despite the rain, and muddy water, smallmouth season has started. After postponing a couple trips due to the high and muddy water, I was able to get out this past weekend to do a couple trips. Most of the pictures were taken by the clients, I'm waiting on them, but here are a few from my camera. But first lets get to the report, the water has dropped to a great floating level, it is still a bit off color, and the temps are in the high 60s still. I have been fishing slow, and keeping the flies very close to the bottom, that seems to be working the best. Small bait fish patterns, Hellgrammites, Sculpin patterns, and Zuddlers have all been producing fish. I'm hoping to get out a few more times this week to do some "research"on a couple new floats, lets see if the weather with hold until then.

Tully Report - Hot Water

!!!HOT WATER 70 DEGREES!!!

Water temps are starting to get too hot to fish, the fish can survive temps up to about 74 degrees if they are not hassled. I know that with tricos on the water we all want to be out fishing, but please be mindful of the temps. Looking at the gauge every morning, for the past week, it seems that overnight the temps drop into a safe zone, so fishing in the early mornings is still ok, I'd try to be off the water by 10am at the latest.

On other news, its bass and musky season!!! With the Schuylkill River muddy and high, its a perfect time to try out the fish skull big game shanks. My smallmouth and musky boxes are starting to look healthy, now if we could just get a couple nice days to lower the water level.