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! 

The Mirage Copper Sexy MayStone

The Mirage Copper Sexy MayStone came about after fiddling with a few other patterns and trying to combine a few elements of different may and stone fly patterns into one. The Sex Stone fly pattern is a popular stone fly pattern up in the Roaring Fork Valley and the only thing that I took was the name. LOL. , The Shimmer Stone was uploaded last year to the fly tying contest held by Feather Craft. I liked the idea of the flash under the Half Round Rib. And the Copper John body is made from, well Copper Wire in a variety of colors so it too gives the fly a bit of shimmer or flash. I was playing around with a few different ideas and this is what I came up with. I really liked the final product. I thought this pattern would work perfect in place of a Copper John or Wired Stone Fly or any other heavy weighted fly. I have a few more ideas creeping into my head for this pattern, to give it some variation, that I will think will pop in the eye of the beholder and lure a few fatties as well.

The Mirage Copper Sexy MayStone

Hook: Nymph Hook any style nymph hook will work.

Bead: Brass or Tungsten

Tail: Goose Biots and pink dubbing (Siman)

Weight: Lead Free - .020 or .015

Body: Brassie Ultra Wire Black and Hot Yellow or Copper Brown and Chartreuse woven over Mirage Opal Tinsel.

WingCase : Siman Magic Shrimp Foil (add some biots for a prince style look to it.)

Thorax: Here I used Jacks Olive Peacock or Rusty Black Squirrel blend

Legs: Partridge or any soft hackle type feathers. Rubber Legs would work as would biots. Depending on how you would like to dress it. Here I chose Partridge.

Check out how the tinsel peaks through the woven wire giving it a bit of nice flash to it. This fly is perfect for the pre stone fly hatch, dirty water, lead fly, or searching pattern. This thing will sink quick and get down fast. Can be fished as a trailer behind a meaty streamer, or used as a lead fly.

The Polweevil

Ah, the Polweevil. What exactly is the Polweevil, well, I sat down at the vise the other night to begin working on a few new fly patterns, but wasn't quite sure what to tie. So I put a beaded hook into the vise and sat looking at the desk of materials. Hoping something will jump out at me. Nothing did, so I turned around and began digging stuff out from my fly tying box from the demo at Hook Fly Fishing shop from the week before and found some sand thread and began laying down the foundation. Added some lead to the shank and began to cover that up. The phone rang so I went to go answer it and low and behold as I was running up stairs to get the phone, the pattern hit me. I quickly ignored the phone and turned around and sat down at the vise. Tied in a piece of Amber Ultra Wire for the ribbing. Tied in the Glo-Brite Flosses. Green on the far side and Orange on the near side. Turned the vise and stared the Polish Weave. Ribbed the fly and tied that off and add the Turkey Biot wing pads. Yes the Polweevil was born. It is a mutation cross between the Davie's Evil Weevil and Vladi's Polish Nymph. I added a special blend of Squirrel and Angelina fibers with hints of UV in it and finished off the fly. The first fly was a little rough, because the idea was there, but laying down the fundamentals of the fly were a work in progress. By the time I was done, I had about a dozen twisted up and each and every fly looking better then the previous one. I was happy with the way the flies turned out and they should be real fish catchers here in the near future. They should work in all kinds of situations from Stoneflies, to large mother day Caddis and even some of the bigger mays later in the Season. I will test them out soon. But thought I would share, because I thought they looked buggy and had the elements to catch that lunker behind the rock that has eluded you for some time. These are the first two to come off the vise. They are not the prettiest of ties, but was thrilled at the outcome.

Happy Twisting.

The Polweevil

Hook: Partridge CZN #12, 14, & 16

Threads: Base Layer Benecchi Sand 12/0 and finish Black Benecchi 12/0

Bead: Nickel Tungsten 1/8

Weight: .015 Lead

Body: Glo-Brite Floss Green and Orange

Rib: Ultra Wire Amber Brassie

Wing Buds: Turkey Biots

Thorax: SLF Squirrel and mix of Golden Iris UV Angelina Fibers, or Olive mixed with Golden Iris UV Angelina Fibers

Flashback Underworld Caddis

I was asked to put this caddis pattern up here on the blog. It is a take off of my original version of the caddis of the underworld patterns. The only difference being is that I added a bit of UV Tan dubbing in the tailing area and instead of using Klima live body for the body, I went with a dubbing body and Pearl shrimp foil for the backing. I also removed the cdc under the swiss straw wing buds. Still a highly effective buggy pattern.

Where is the time going, Thanks, 2010 in the rearview mirror.

Everytime I sit down to put something on the blog, something comes up so I have not been very active here. I have managed to get out and wet a line this fall and winter a few times, not as many as I would have liked, but each time I did get out, was well worth it. I was also able to get out and carve some turns in the fresh powder that has been dumping snow on the mountain, which will be a good cleansing for the river systems in the mountains this spring.

I have found myself tying flies for myself and customers, had a great year both at the vise, on the water and life in general.

This year I was able to fish Montana, Idaho, New Mexico and my beloved state of Colorado. I want to reflect on this past Year. 2010 was a busy year for me flytying. I did demos all over the front range at several shops, a few Trout Unlimited Chapters tying events, Denver Fly Fishing Show, and was added to the Partridge of Redditch International Pro Staff. I added several new customers around the country and globe for custom tied flies of my designs which is very rewarding.

A few of the patterns that made it into anglers boxes have been my BWO pattern, Stones of the Underworld, Caddis of the Underworld, Bunker Torpedos, midges galore and the newest pattern the ET Adams.

As this year comes to the end, I want to thank the folks who take the time to read Father Natures Life on the Fly Blog and who have contacted me about tying flies for them, the shows, the demos, and Partridge of Redditch for adding me to their Pro Staff. I am looking forward to 2011 in terms of fly tying, and fishing. Thanks to all, hope you all have a Happy Holiday Season.

Cheers,

Chad aka Father Nature!