Repopulation

We at TCO, have to thank everyone for your support towards our new Fingerling Program! We raised enough money last year to put 1,500 fingerlings in this year, at this years movie night we did the same, next year we will be putting in another 1,500 fish. We hope to keep this tradition alive each year. The fingerlings are now swimming around the Tully!

Big Thank You to everyone who helped, and supported our cause!

Fall on the West Branch

After a very successful movie night at the shop, I woke up to my alarm at 3 am, in a semi zombie state, I went outside and hooked the boat up. Jack, Casey, and I were headed for the west branch with 6wts, sinking lines, and boat boxes full of streamers. Jack had asked me about 2 months ago if we could go strip streamers on the WB in the fall, umm yeah! So we checked the gauges and it looked perfect. I 100% forgot to look at the wind, opps 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40, I rowed my ass off. But we managed 2 fish on streamers, and 2 nymphing the fast water. Cold beer, deer sausage, and brats for a hot lunch, and home made monkey bread for dessert. A short story but some awesome pictures to go with, enjoy!

Tully Report - Low Water, but It's Cold

Well water is back to a nice temp to get out and fish. Water levels on the other hand, not so much. I went out Sunday and Monday, flows were 74 cfs, I thought that was low. Now its 45 cfs. Either was the fishing was awesome both days, my main reason for going out was to test out a new streamer I came up with. It doesn't have a name just yet, but the trout love it. While I was out throwing some meat around, fish were consistently coming up for Caddis, Tricos, BWOs, and Midges. If you don't want to look at a 22 or 26 tie on a beetle or an ant, trout can't resist them this time of year!

Movie Night - Low and Clear

Just wanted to shoot everyone a reminder about this weekends event. Everything is in place for a great movie night, with all proceeds going to TCO's fingerling stocking program. We will be having a raffle before the movie, silent auction with some pretty cool stuff (simms pack, smith glasses, guided trip). Victory Brewing Company has donated 10 cases of beer, and Philly pretzels will also be there to munch on. We also have a guest tier coming to the shop all day Frank "Chip" Swarner, will be at the shop tying flies all day. So stop in and pick his brain about steelhead in the great lakes and watch him work.

Fishing Report - Late September

Well, its been a while since I wrote a Tully report, the Schuylkill took the front seat throughout the summer. So here we go, Casey and Kyle went out Friday morning, it was a tough morning of nymphing, only a couple fish landed. They covered a decent amount of water, zebra midges, lighting bugs, and BWO nymphs, were the ticket.

I went out Sunday evening to find a nice selection of bugs flying around. White Flies, BWOs, tiny sulphurs, Caddis, and Cream midges. I only had a short time to fish, that was all I needed. I took fish on size 20 CDC BWO patterns. The water is low and clear, so light tippet is a must have.

Tully Nymph selection for the fall

Tully Dry Fly Selection for the fall

Schuylkill on the other hand, well I try to keep everyone up to date weekly. Last weeks rain storm brought levels up for about 24 hours. Then it plummeted back down to, super low and clear. The fishing has been slow, but we have moved a few super nice fish despite the levels. So pray for a couple more storms and the bass will be on. Water temps are dropping, mid day to evening is the best time to get out, with the cooler temps the bass are putting their feed bags on, getting ready for the winter. Zuddler minnows in olive still prove to be my favorite fly of the season, and last season, and the season before that, pattern hmm, I think not.

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:

Calendar of Events - TCO Reading

We have been busy planning a few fall and winter events. Below you will see dates, times, and costs of the events. But first I want to talk about the first event coming up, October 5th we will be having our second TCO Movie night to raise money for the Tully Fingerling Program. Last year we had plans to stock them the weekend Sandy hit, high water, turning into cold water, made us postpone the stocking. This year we will be stocking 1500 fingerlings on the 14th of October. We will plan on doing this each year for as long as we can. We will be having Frank "Chip" Swarner Tying flies at the shop all day, and throughout the event. Every fly he ties that day will go into a box and be raffled off to support the program. Just like last year, we will have a silent auction, including a 1/2 day guide trip with me, Chip's flies, and a few other products, and a raffle at the end of the event. We will have a local micro brew supplying beer, Pizza, and other drinks. Oh yeah and the movie, Low and Clear a steelhead video from BC, with some Colorado Trout, and Texas Redfish, an awesome video with great footage, and fish. So come out and support your local fly shop, and help us put fingerlings back in the stream we all love!!!

Calendar of Events

October 5^th: Movie Night 

Movie -  Low and Clear

Beer – Working with a local brew company – saucony creek or Appalachian 

Start Time – 5pm

Movie Start Time – Dark 

October 5^th: Frank “Chip” Swarner Fly Tying 

Time -  All Day 

Tying Salmon and Steelhead Flies

Details – Chip will be donating the flies he ties that day to the raffle, Stop by throughout the day, and check out Chip’s talents with tying steelhead flies. Pick is brain about his extensive knowledge of these fish and the waters around the Great Lakes where he fishes.

October 9^th: Fly Tying with Casey 65.00 per person

Time 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Lake Erie Basics

Details – Casey has been fishing and tying flies for Lake Erie steelhead for over 10 years now. He knows the ins and outs of size, color, and style fly to tie for Erie success. He will be teaching how to tie some of his go to flies, from eggs to small nymphs that will work any given time you go up.

October 12^th: Fly Tying with Frank Chip Swarner 65.00 per person 

Time: Noon 

Steelhead and Salmon Beginner Class 

Want to learn how to tie steelhead flies? Chip will be going over the basics for steelhead fly tying, types of hooks, materials, and of course tying them. You will learn how to tie stoneflies, Eggs, and everything in between. Get yourself ready for the fall, learn skills that will help you fill that steelhead box for any Great Lakes Trip you have planned for the season. 

October 23: Fly Tying with Jake – 65.00 per person 

Steelhead Tube Flies

Time: 6:00 Pm 

Details – Join Jake for a fly tying lesson, learning one of his favorite types of flies to tie. Tube Flies have been around for a while now, and there is so much to learn about tying on them. Jake had been tying tubes for steelhead, trout, and bass for some time now, check out these awesome flies, and learn the technology behind them.

November 6^th:  Fly Tying with Jake – 65.00 per person 

Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm

Stoneflies and other Natural flies for Steelhead

The creator of the Thumpin Jack Flash Stonefly, Jake is borderline obsessed with tying stonefly nymphs for great lakes steelhead and browns. Come learn how to tie “guide simple” stones, to more complex stones. Jake has almost 10 years of steelhead experience from Alaska to New York, and one thing has stayed the same, he’s always loaded up with stoneflies. 

November 13^th:  Fly Tying with Casey 65.00 per person

Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm

Lake Erie Streamers

Now that you have the nymphs down, come check out some of Casey’s go to streamers for Lake Erie steelhead. Size is everything out there when the water is low and clear, pick Casey’s brain about his years of experience walking the banks of Elk and many other Erie streams, while he teaches you his favorite streamers.

November 16^th:  Fly Tying with Chip 65.00 per person

Time: Noon 

Intermediate Steelhead and Salmon Class

Ok, now that you have the basics down, sign up to take the next step in fly tying for steelhead and salmon. Chip will be teaching the fine art of streamer tying for the great lakes. You will learn skills like, tying in a shank with stinger hook, and tying on a hook directly. Chip has been swinging and striping flies for great lakes fish for over a decade, so while he is teaching pick his brain on, anything great lakes. 

December 14^th: Tropical Movie Night 

Time: 5:00 pm

Are you ready for it to warm up yet? Well if you are, take a break from tying your steelhead flies, come grab a beer, some pizza, and relax while we show a movie “not sure yet” to warm your thoughts up. Enjoy a 10% off coupon for your next purchase at TCO for the holiday season. We will have fly tying demos, Holiday gift ideas, food, and drinks. So Stop out and say hi and enjoy a nice evening at your local fly shop.