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 

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 

Featured Fly - Hard Candy Stone

The Hard Candy Stone is the close cousin to the Thumpin Jack Flash Stonefly. It is very close to it, with a few new twists. The Thumper has proven itself over the past 3 seasons from the Great Lakes to Alaska. Change the color and it can be a golden stone, little winter stone, or even a giant black stone. Check it out.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 2457 sz. 10 - 6

Tail: Goose Biots - Black 

Abdomen: Ultra Wire - Black & Matching Color

Legs: Goose Biots - Black

 Thorax: Estaz -  Black, Pink, Blue, Chart

Wing Case: Thin Skin - Mottled Oak 

Step 1:  Tie in the first color of ultra wire, on the side of the hook.

Step 2: Tie in the second color of ultra wire, on the other side of the hook.

Step 3: Make a small dubbing ball, to help split the biot tails.

Step 4: Tie in 2 biots making the tail. Wrap your thread half way to the hook eye.

Step 5: Wrap both colors of ultra wire to the thread point.

Step 6: Take a pair of pliers, with tape(Helps to not scratch the ultra wire) smash the wire down  making a flat body.

Step 7:  Tie in 2 biots for the first set of legs.

Step 8: Tie in the estaz and make 2 wraps forward.

Step 9: Tie in the first wing case.

Step 10:  Tie in 2 more biots, making the second set of legs.

Step 11: Make 2 more wraps of estaz.

Step 12: Tie in the second wing case.

Step 13: Tie in 2 more biots, making a total of 6 legs.

Step 14: Whip Finish and cut off. Add a little head cement to seal the head.

Step 15: Take a pair of scissors, and trim the estaz on the bottom. Making a thin profile.

 Finished Fly:

Featured Fly - Winter Stone

Here is an awesome Winter Stone Fly pattern that I have been tying up since the Fall. Stoneflies be a common bug, found in most streams in the Mid Atlantic, this is a great fly to have in both your trout and Steelhead boxes. This fly has done very well for me this year, fooling fish on streams from NY for steelhead and browns, to trout streams in PA. I tie it from a 14 to a 10, for the black and brown winter stones.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 2302 sz. 10-14

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Black

Bead: Cyclopes Black - Sz to match hook

Tail: Goose Biot - Black or Brown

Rib: Ultra Wire - Brassie - Brown

Body: SLF Dubbing - Black Stone or Brown Stone 

Shellback: Swiss Straw - Black or Brown 

Legs: Mallard or Partridge - Black or Brown

Wing Case: Swiss Straw - Black or Brown 

Thorax: SLF Dubbing - Black Stone or Brown Stone 

Antenna: Goose Biots - Black or Brown 

Step 1: Make a thread base, tying in the ultra wire at the same time. Once at the hook bend, make a    small thread ball. (this will help split the biot tails)

Step 2: Tie in the 2 goose biots in front of the thread ball.

Step 3: Move your thread to the front of the fly, tie in a piece of swiss straw. (for the smaller flies split the straw into 3rds length wise)

Step 4: Add the dubbing the the thread and dub moving forward, about half way up the hook shank.

Step 5: Pull the Swiss straw forward, pull tight, then tie down.

Step 6: Rib the body with ultra wire.

Step 7: Dub the back of the thorax.

Step 8: Take a partridge feather and split the tips of the feather forming a "V". Then lay the feather down with the fibers sticking out each side, making the first set of legs.

Step 9: Fold the swiss straw forward making a wing case. 

Step 10:  Repeat step 8 and 9.

Step 11: Tie in goose biots out the front forming the antennas. 

Step 12: Trim the goose biots, then whip finish.

Finished Fly:

Here are a couple fish that fell to the Winter Stone this past fall and winter:

This Oak Orchard Brown fell to the Winter Stone  

This Salmon River Steelhead fell to the Winter Stone