Road Trip - Westbound

The time is finally here, Jack and I take off on what could potentially be the best road trip of my life. We are heading out to Idaho Falls to pick up my new drift boat and fish our way back home. We are going to be hopping all over from the Henry's Fork in Idaho, to the Bighorn in Montana, then stopping to visit some friends and do some small stream trout fishing in the Driftless. I kinda gave up my fishing time the past week or so (besides guiding), to spend it with my wife and get things done around the house before I take off. This has however given me a bit more time to tie some flies late at night. Going out west always allows for some abnormal flies that we wouldn't necessarily fish on the east coast, like Salmonflies!!! Take a gander at some of the flies tied for the trip.

Extended Body Golden Stonefly

Extended Body Salmonfly Pattern

The Chubby Nugget Golden Stone

The Chubby Nugget Salmonfly 

RT Tube Steak Caddis Larva - Video

This is an awesome caddis larva fly. My buddy Rob Thrash came up with a similar fly, so I commandeered some of his ideas and added them to my blended caddis. The rib is made out of stretch tubbing so it is very durable. Check it out.

Featured Fly - Double Squirrel Nymph

I will start this feature fly off by apologizing for not doing one for a long time. I was camera and computer less for a while, but I'm back up and running. This is a very basic nymph, but it has been working well for me. Tied from size 16 up to size 10, it works well for an anchor fly or just a general attractor. 

Materials:

Hook: Orvis Tactical Hook - Wide Gape - 16-10

Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead - Copper or Black 

Thread:  Ultra Thread 170 - Fl. Orange 

Rib: Mirage Tinsel - Opal - Sm. or Med. 

Tail: CDL Fibers - Dark

Body: SLF Squirrel Dub - Fox Squirrel 

Collar: SLF Squirrel Dub - Drk. Brown 

Step 1: Slide the proper sized bead on the hook.

Step 2: Make a solid thread base, tying in your ribbing as you move towards the hook bend.

Step 3: Tie in your CDL tail, making a few extra wraps of thread to form a Hot Butt.

Step 4: Making tight wraps, dub the body, leaving a small space open behind the bead.

Step 5: Taking the ribbing under the tail towards the backside of the fly, make your forward ribs.

Step 6: Dub the collar with Drk. Brown squirrel.

Step 7: While doing your whip finish, make a small "hot" collar with the orange thread.

Finished Fly: Double Squirrel Nymph 

Featured Fly - Tactical PT

The Tactical PT is not anything ground breaking. I tied this fly to feature a style of hook more than a fly itself. The Orvis tactical hook has become of of my favorite hooks. It is ultra sharp, and the design of the hook gap is perfect. However this little nymph has worked well for me all over the state. The Fl. Fire Red thread hot spot really gives it some pop in the water.

Materials:

Hook: Orvis Tactical Wide Gape sz. 16 - 12

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

Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead - Copper 

Rib: Ultra Wire - Sm - Copper

Tail: CDL Tail Fibers 

Body: Pheasant Tail - Natural, Olive, Black, Orange 

Thorax: SLF Nymph Thorax

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

Step 2: Make thread base while tying in the ultra wire. Make your thread base of down the bend a couple wraps. 

Step 3: Tie in about 8 CDL fibers all the way to the bead.

Step 4: Take the thread back to the tail, then wrap it forward 4 time. This will make a hot spot. 

Step 5: Tie in the Pheasant tail tips first, advance your thread to the bead. 

Step 6: Wrap the Pheasant Tail forward.

Step 7: Wrap the Ultra Wire forward, making a rib. 

Step 8: Dub the thorax.

Step 9: Whip Finish and cut off.

Finished Fly:

 

Barbless Hooks - Nymph

I have decided that this year everything is barbless. I am not saying its because I no longer believe in barbs, but these hooks just look mean, and really stick. Not having a barb really allows the hook to penetrate the fish's mouth with little resistance when taking it out. They are also all black or black nickel finishes and I think that makes a huge difference in clear water.  They are not new to the industry or to the shop, however more and more companies are producing their own variations. The top three companies that I really like are Orvis, Umpqua, and Partridge. Orvis makes one of my favorite hooks the Tactical Wide Gape, it is a 3x short hook with a very aggressive point, and really digs in when you set the hook. Umpqua makes an awesome variety of hooks, from jig style hooks to big Czech style hooks. All Umpqua hooks are quality. The other company is Partridge, they make some very nice hooks and the smallest out of them all, you can now get a sz 18 or 20 Czech nymph hook and a sz 18 jig hook. Orvis also makes a beautiful curved shank hook that goes down to a true 16, and that is my favorite for all my caddis pupa and larva flies.