Meet the Sultan!

So you know about the copper john, and you most likely have used or seen a prince nymph.  Well le me introduce you to the Sultan.  The Sultan is a cross bred of the Copper John , the prince nymph and some elements Mercer Nymph and what became the Sultan.  Now won't that sound interesting when out fishing with your buddies or guiding some clients and one asks what are you using.  This here is the Sultan! 

The Sultan flew in from the middle east on its ancient flying carpet. Really! it did, I don't know how else to explain it.  I was going through my boxes recently and realized I only had a couple copper johns floating around in the boxes and decided I need to restock them for an upcoming trip, but I wanted something a bit more fishier.  Yeah, you are thinking, make the copper john fishier... well, I had the same thoughts and it took me a few thoughts and ideas until I came up with, the Sultan.  Not to take away from the original copper johns that were floating around in my box, I  twisted, dubbed and spun up, these and they look to
be fishier then the originals.  Not really, but a combination of the three flies have this one screaming for fish.

Here they are in several colors.  The fly is pretty simple tie.  Here I tied them on Knapek, Skalka and TMC hooks.  The Knapek and Skalka are on Pupa size 14 and 14 hooks. TMC 5262 size 16.
Tails - Goose Biots
Body- 2 small Ultra Wires
Thorax- Blend of Squirrel, Hare, Cdc and synthetic dubbing
Bubble- UV and SLF Prism Dubbing
Prince Style wings Goose Biots.
Head- Tungsten Bead
Thread- Veevus, MFC, Bennechi or UTC.

 

One Year Vacation

Howdy Folks of the great cyber world. 

It has been almost one year since my last post and just want to apologize for the lack of commitment of keeping this up to date and posting new goodies, patterns, trips and anything else juicy from my Life on the Fly. 

Instead of recapping the past year of my disappearance I will instead start fresh of things to look forward in the coming months.  I have been making trips into the dungeon regularly for the past few weeks spinning up a few patterns to replenish my fly boxes.   I have tied Juju's, mysis, midges, tungsten torpedo's and a few other various patterns.  But before I jump right back into blogging world, I want to know if folks are still interested in seeing new and old patterns, materials of late, anything else that comes to light. 

So the real question is does anyone still take the time to read this.  If so I will march forward and put up some new content, if not, well we just see what happens.   So if any one is still really interested in this little blog, please sound off. 

A bunch of New products

Howdy all,

I just wanted to update you with a couple new products hitting the shelves (or monitor screens) over at Performanceflies.com .

The first one is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.  It is the Tungsten Thread!  Yes you read that correctly. Tungsten Thread.  It adds the twice the weight but not the bulk of lead or leadfree wire.  Great for tying midge bodies with lots of weight to sink pretty fast.  Also great for those underbody weight.  Comes in two sizes right now, Fine and extra fine. Also makes great ribs!  Have a pair of beat up scissors on hand to cut this stuff though, because it will dull those Dr. Slicks pretty quickly.  

Next up is a new product from Hends, Patinal Tinsel which is a matte tinsel, not as flashy as the mylar tinsels we are used to getting here in the States.  It makes great body ribs and midge bodies.  Kevin says it very narrow, 1/69" but tough, with some stretch with no need to coat it with lacquer or head cement or Sally's! Comes in a whole bunch of colors so pick some up today. Great for fishing low, clear water conditions for tough to catch trout. Some sample pics below.   

Kevin is also adding products as I type this.  Look for some new Polish Quills, some new Jack Poly dry fly dubbing, Hooks, ect...   More to come later.  Cheers.  

The Yeah Mon.

Straight from Trenchtown, a we be jammin inspired fly. 

A few flies for fall.

Here are a few flies that I had recently tied for this fall and winter.  Showcasing both Partridge and Dohiku Hooks.  Tungsten, Coq De Leon, UV, Squirrel, Hare, Benecchi and Sulky!  Fish appetizers! 

Deal of the Day

Check out Performance Flies Deal of the Day.

A while ago I posted about Performance Fly Wire.  Kevin has it on sale so get it while it last.

Tight wraps.

Hijacked and more

Wow,  It has been a while since I have last posted. Boy how time flies, when you are having fun, recovering, learning something new, working hard, enjoying life and keeping busy.

Well lets recap the year to date.  The year started off a bang for me, busy tying at shows, orders, and creating a few new patterns.  Only got out to fish a handful times early in the spring.  Had a minor longboarding accident that kept me away from the rivers, as did my son's lacrosse practices, games and just a busy spring doing many other things other then fishing or tying.

After recovering from my little longboarding accident I suffered and son's lax season came to an end, I found some fishing time. Spent a longweekend fishing the yampa, fished the dream, fished the colorado, and fished a few other places I have since forgotten, but in all was a great time.

 In the mean time my blog was hijacked and I lost control of it for while. I didn't have the time to spend trying to recover and work things out all summer and just kind of let it go.  As I also did with fishing and tying.  I took the month of July off from work and spent it camping and on the beach. Gave my hand at some salt water fishing.  I also picked up the banjo and began lesson learning how to play the banjo.  I am slowly learning my way around the banjo, it is coming along so hopefully in due time I will get it together.

Back to fishing, after returning in August.  I made it out and fished a few places, Cheesman, Gore Canyon, San Miguel, Deckers, and floated the Colorado Pumphouse to Statebridge.  I also fished the Williams Fork and had a great time right up until I broke my rod, no biggie there, Ill send it back to be fixed.

Worked with Google and got control of the blog back, and now the crisp is in the air they are calling for Snow this weekend here in Denver, which has me excited to think the change of the season is coming and my favorite time of year is coming up.  Yup winter, because the fishing is still great, no crowds, and technical fishing at its best.  Always up for the Challenge.  Have a few demos set up this year.  Ill post the dates and places here in the next few weeks.

I am about to get ready and start twisting up some patterns again, Got some new materials, hooks, and ideas, but Ill have to knock the rust off.    Other then that, hope everyone had a great summer.  Looking forward to tying and more fishing moving forward.  It was good to take a nice long break and do some other things.

Denver Fly Fishing Show

Well the Denver Fly Fishing Show is done and has moved out of town for another year. I tied flies again this year at show Saturday and Sunday. Had a good time as always, got to see old friends, made some new ones, received a few custom orders, Thanks Gents! Want to thank all who stopped by to watch me twist up a few bugs. Here is a photo of one of Sunday's more popular bugs. The photo was taken by Carl P. Check out his blog CP's Fly Fishing and Tying.

This fly is my Prince Nymph Hybrid called The Stoned Prince.

Hook: Partridge CZ #12

Thread: Benecchi 12/0 Brown

Bead: Gold Tungsten 1/8

Tail: Dubbing Mix of Performance Flies UV Black Ice Dub and Life Cycle Golden Stone

Body: Same as above

Rib: Mono Chameleon

Wings: Spirit River vinyl wing material Wings and Things Clear motted

Legs: Partridge

Thorax Same as tail and body

Prince Style wings: White Goose Biots

Hot Spot: UV black Ice mix with blue fine sybai flash.

other version tied over the weekend, had hot spots added by using Glo Brite Thread Fl. Pink and Fl. Yellow. Thorax's had Bronze Siman Peacock. Will try and post pictures later this week.

Soldarini Barbless Hooks

Just a quick update on Soldarini Barbless Hooks! I have received quite a few emails about where to get these hooks, they are available at http://www.performanceflies.com/ Check them out. I think you will enjoy these hooks.

Also I will be tying at the Denver Fly Fishing Show this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Come by and check it out.

Go Barbless in 2012

2012 is here and the world is upon a re-birthing of sorts. The Mayan calendar comes to an end this year and all sorts of folks have different views to what is going to happen. From the complete destruction of earth, to Alien invasion, to higher level of consciousness, and many other crazy ideas have emerged.

I am going to suggest another crazy idea for 2012! Let us as fly fisherman, go to barbless hooks! I have been using barbless for years, I find they are easier to release a fish without using forceps, because the hooks easily slides out. I have also found it is easier to remove from my skin on an errant gone bad cast. I think they some of the barbless hooks hold better then barbed hooks, they are easier to penetrate the fish lips for a good hook up. The barb sometime complicates the hook up and you lose your fish. There are some great barbless hooks on the market from some of the well known names you know and use daily, to some European style models, and this year landing stateside is yet another new barbless brand.

These barbless hooks are called Soldarini and come from Italy and the mind of Sandro Soldarini himself. He is introducing a very well thought out and strong barbless hook. These Hooks went through years of ongoing research, development and testing and is made from some of the best steel on the market. The series of hooks has four different models. The D-Series is a classic nymph hook straight, black finish and in sizes 10-16. The J series is a jig hook(not pictured) black nickle finish in sizes 10-16. The G series is the grub/scud hook, bronze finish in sizes 10-16. The S series is a long shank streamer hook, with a black nickle finish in sizes 8-10.

At first glance of the g or grub/scud hook it should intrigue the tyers here in the U.S. because of the uniformed shape of this particular hook. When looking at it, it appears to be the same shape as most scud hooks that you are used to tying on. Like the TMC 2487, 2457, Dai Riki 135 and the Daiichi 1120 hooks. This hook resembles these hooks with its very uniformed curved shape that will appeal to tyers here in the US. Take a glance below at the continued curved shank. They also have a brownish bronze-patina finish, and hook spear is pointed up much like the Dohiku Grub hook, but the curved shank is what is appealing about this hook and the hook gap looks to be a sure fish holder as well.

Grub/Scud Hooks

Classic Nymph Hook

Streamer Hooks

Various Twists

Just finished up a few orders of flies. Here is some various pics of flies that were twisted up.

Have a Happy Holiday Season.

Dynamic Nymphing

Once in awhile comes along a good read and here is the newest good read. This book is worth checking out and learning a few new tricks. I think its actual release date is in January. But you can get a copy now for the Holidays from Performance Flies.

Here is book worth looking into.

M.I.A. missing in action

Howdy,

Sorry I have been missing in action. It has been sometime since my last post. Have had a very busy fall. Wish I could say I have been fishing and tying flies like crazy and taking a ton of pictures, but neither has happened for some time. Hopefully going to get some river time here very soon.

With the kids back in school and my social director keeping us pretty busy, I have found very little time at the bench and on the river. I how ever did escape to Jamaica for a nice relaxing vacation with the wife and several good friends which was very very groovy. Good times. Thought we would deep sea fish while there, but we opted for laying on the beach, swimming in the ocean and being served cocktails all day long. We did manage to get into the hills, up to Negril, out to see some local music and try the local eats. All good, mon!!!

Well now, I am back and eager to get cranking on things again. A few updates for you all.

Hend's flytying materials out of Czech Republic has landed stateside over at Performance Flies. Hend's offers some really good products and one of my favorites that Kevin is stocking is their line of Lacquers. Great stuff. Check it out. He also has Hooks, Body Quills, CDC, Threads and dubbings to offer. Also he has a special going on right now. Spend a $100.00 and get this, Flyfishing and Fly tying, The second, English edition was written by Jaromir Karafiat and Miroslav Machacek, two exceptional fly tiers and anglers from the Czech Republic. The work includes 150+ pages of step-by-step fly tying instructions and photo galleries of Mayfly and Caddis Dry Fly patterns, Czech Nymphs, Wet Flies, Beadhead and Jig Nymphs, Tungsten Thorax Nymphs, Bloodworms, Buzzers (Chironomids), Fry Flies, and Streamers. It is truly one of the finest European fly tying books to emerge in recent years. The set also includes a DVD which provides interesting angling footage as well as tying instruction. Check it out!!!!

Getting back to the dungeon. Since it was a few weeks since I tied some flies, and left for vacation, I finally made it down to the dungeon this weekend to twist up a few bugs, had two styles I was going to do and as I was getting the material set up and ready to go. I had left the hare pelt and the wet winged mallard wings out, from my previous tying session and some little nasty pest got into those and went to town eating them and leaving a neat looking outline of wing. As for the hare pelt, that was pretty much dust. Oh well lesson learned. New pelt on the way for tying and good thing I had back up mallard wings. Just got to remember to put the feathers, pelts, skins, ect... away when done tying.

Ill be tying at the Denver Flyfishing Show this January. As for my flytying demos this winter, there will be a couple, but not many. I hope to spend more time snowboarding and fishing this winter with friends and family.

Anyhow, I am back and working on getting into the fold again of twisting up some bugs.

A few flies to come off the Bench

Wire Perspective For Performance Flies Branded Wire

Here are the 3 wire spool comparisons, for the Performance Flies Branded Wire post. You can see how big of a difference there is between the 3 different manufactures.

I guess you can make your own judgement, on which is the better value.

Happy Tying!

Sunday's adventure

I was able to make it out with for a fishing day on Sunday. I fished with Jim, Neal and Gin. Thanks gents for a great day and the stream side sushi lunch, was the topper. The fellas met at my house at 6:00 am and we loaded into the Subaru and headed west up I-70. No traffic and made it over Pass and into Winter Park in no time. The fellas had to stop and Mickey D's for a bathroom break and just pulling into the lot at the same time was a good friend of mine Scott and his family. They got run out of their campsite by a few bears, the wild strawberries are in full bloom.

Back on the road, we made it up to the stream, got geared up and hiked in. Only one other car in the parking area, which was a great sign, and only saw a few other people fishing the canyon all day, which was key too. The fishing started of a bit slow, but once I found a rig that was working, well it was pretty much over from that point on. Because I we couldn't do no wrong and lots of big healthy fish were caught.

I managed to catch a couple rainbows, a few little brookies, and bunch of browns. Had a great time. We got off the river about 5:30 and hiked out of the canyon and made our way back to the car and headed home. A few fish pics from the day, sorry they are out of focus, wasn't really keyed in to taking pictures. But managed a few.

Performance Flies Wire

This product update is for the users of Wire.

There is colored wire from UTC and Largatun and maybe a few others... I know there are, but just can't think of them right now. Soo with that in mind...

Let me introduce to you to Performance Flies Branded wire. This wire is perfect for ribbing, brassie's, copper Johns and just about anything else you might use your wire for. This is an extra fine wire perfect for the midge tyer in mind. It is an 0.10mm which can be used on those Deep Poison Tungs by Craven, micro Johns, brassie's, dries, nymphs, double ribbed torpedo tungs by Compton, with out the added bulk. Also gives yer flies that added, but subtle flash, with out going overboard as well. Try weaving a few micro polish woven flies with this wire as well.

The wire comes in a bunch of colors, Black, Gold, Hot Pink, Brown, Silver, Dark Purple, Gun Metal, Leaf Green (Olive) and Violet.

Notice the size of these spools. Each spool should last a life time for the average tyer and go along away for the professional tyer. These spools of wire are 25 grams, which is huge and will make thousands of flies. And get this the cost is $4.95 per spool. Which is a steel in my opinion.

You have heard of the everlasting gobstobber, well this is the everlasting wire.

So with that in mind, check out Performanceflies.com or give Kevin a call and get some wire, tying season is just around the corner.

Summer stuff part 2

Where to begin. I have fished a bit through out the summer, but it hasn't been super high on my priority list. Have been saving for a trip later this fall with the wife to a little island in the Caribbean. I have fished the Frying Pan, Dream Stream, Yampa, Blue, Cheesy, Joe Wright Res, and 11 mile. Nothing to shocking or out of the ordinary there. I have brought the float tube on a few trips, but have yet to pump it up.

The Frying pan was high and muddy and flowing near a 1,000 cfs when we were there. We hit 11 mile before the high waters hit. Fished the dream at good flows and caught a bunch of fish, the blue, is the blue, Joe Wright was fun, caught a few grayling, which was a nice change of pace. Cheesy is the cheese as well and had a good time as always before the high water set in there. Went up to the blue a couple weeks back and forgot my wading boots, so attempted to fish the higher water in my chaco sandals. I really dont recommend that, unless you want banged up toes!

Took a family vacation up to Steamboat this past week and got out a few times during the week. The first afternoon I tried to fish just before town, but it was just below the main rubber hatch area and I spent more time dodging tubers, which wasn't all that fun, caught a few small cutts, before I decided to bag it.

Then a two days later I headed up towards Stagecoach, but didn't make it quite to it, I found a nice section of a mile and half of river that I had by myself for a while, before I ran into another angler who said he was up near Stagecoach, but it was packed with folks and he came down here, because it was open and no one was there but me. I had a great time in this section, landing and loosing fish after fish after fish, caught browns, cutts, and big bows. I lost a few big bruisers as well. I didnt have my camera, but had my Iphone on me and managed to snap a few shots with that, but I was too afraid that I was going to drop it into the river, so only broke it out a few times. Some of the photos of fish are below.

Then on Friday, we went to town mid day and walked around town and the kids were tired and the family wanted to head back to the condo for some rest and relaxation, so we went back to the truck and I put on my wading boots grabbed the rod and decided to work my way through town and work my way back to the condo. Spent a few good hours on the river, catching fish and dodging tubers. I managed, a grand slam this afternoon, with a cutt, brook, and few browns and bows to boot. Was a great time.

That is about the end of it. Nothing to spectacular, but some good times and well some off times.

Have a couple more trips planned in the coming weeks, but nothing big, just a bit of water time.