Hank And The Bait Fishers Part 1

Funny stuff...

Jay "Fishy" Fullum ties his "Peel-and-Stick"

This video was posted by Lou DiGena on YouTube.  Looks like a great panfish pattern and you can always learn a little something from Jay Fullum.

The Angler's Art

Do you remember The Angler's Art on public television.  Most of the episodes can be viewed on YouTube.  Dave and Leroy were awesome...

The Smallmouth Gotcha

Here is a nice little pattern posted by toflyfish on YouTube.  I like the use of bead-chain instead of lead eyes.  Some YouTube subscribers commented about substituting deer hair for the craft fur.  The floating properties of deer hair help the hook to ride "point up."

Leroy Hyatt's Highway Hopper

A good friend of mine down in Missouri showed me this video and I thought I would post it for you.  We all know how great grasshoppers can be and this one is relatively easy to put together.

I remember watching Leroy Hyatt on The Angler's Art many years ago.  Leroy and Dave always tied great flies and taught solid techniques that I still use today.

Lefty's Deceiver - TightLine Video

After all the years I still love this pattern.  

Kintner Boy - Tightlinevideo

Without question my favorite fly tying channel on YouTube!  Simple little pattern that should catch a pile of fish.

Smallmouth Fly Box Cable Tie Craw

Recipe
Thread:  6/0 Uni Thread (Brown)
Hook:  Do-it Style &82 Size 2 (Very Cool Hook)
Bead:  Black Tungsten - 5/32
Additional Weight : .020 Lead
Eye:  Medium Cable Tie, Micro Pyrex Rattle
Claw:  Pine Squirrel Zonker
Antennae:  Krystal Flash
Body:  Copper UV Polar Flash

A few weeks ago I shared a very cool video from Tight Line Video (from YouTube).  The pattern was a Cable Tie Craw that used a cable tie in conjunction with a micro rattle to form a very nice looking crayfish imitation.

The hook chosen for the original pattern was from Do-It of all places....  This is a very nice bass hook with an incredibly sharp point.  I encourage all of you to give this hook a try.

Anyway, I chose to give the pattern a shot.  My version follows the original to the tee, except for the body and I decided to cut out the tail..  While I love feathers I just cannot use them in places with excessive wear.  This bad boy will be bouncing off the bottom for hours, so I opted for a substitute for the body material.  Copper UV Polar Flash was the first material to catch my eye.  The stuff has nice flash and is plenty durable in the rocks.

The outcome is really nice.  I do not have close-ups of the cable tie/rattle portion of the pattern.  I have reposted the video below for you to reference for the rattle portion of the project.  The rattle is a nice addition, but the cable tie offers a hidden benefit.  Once the Polar Flash is trimmed flat on the bottom of the craw the cable tie provides a a sled like surface for the craw to ride on.

I really hope you give this pattern a try as it is one of the funnest crawfish patterns I have found to tie.  If you have not spent time on Tight Line Video's YouTube channel you should do so.  

Home Invader

Tight Line Video Dumb Bunny Streamer

Clear Cure Goo System

Well...right around Christmas I got a Clear Cure Goo UV system.  I never really got around to trying it until a few weeks back.  Turns out the light/torch was defective.  Flat out didn't work.

I called the local fly shop where I purchased the system and I was out of luck.  After striking out with my local shop I turned to the manufacturer and they promised to replace the light as long as I emailed them a picture of the defective unit.  It has been a few weeks and still no replacement.  Wasn't a cheap setup and I am bummed things didn't work out.

You win some....you lose some.  Make sure you buy stuff like this from a place that will work with you.  Dealing with the manufacturer can be a long haul.

Hard as Hull got me this far and it looks like it will for years to come.

Swimming Crane Fly Larva by Tightlinevideo

Another super basic, durable fly pattern by the folks at tightlinevideo.  Looks like it would be a winner for all kinds of fish.

Wee Willie Wiggler - Craig Riendeau

Look like a fantastic bluegill fly!  I am a huge fan of Craig Riendeau, he is a great designer.  His new Darth Baiter pattern in the Summer 2015 copy of Fly Tyer looks like a real winner for largemouth.

Looks like the Squirminator, but I believe Craig is the original creator.

Matt's Monster Bugger - Tightlinevideo

Whip Finish Tool Modification

This is a very nice modification to your whip finishing tool.  The guys at tightlinevideo do a really good job.

Fenwick SP721

Getting Ready for the 2015 Season

Looking forward to getting out this year with my wife and kids.  This will be the first real season with our "new" camper.  Camping is great, but the older I get the more I need a place comfortable to sleep at night.  The camper is a bit tight, but she works out fine.

We have two real twin mattresses (not foam pads) and a comfy couch.  The boys got a new tent and they love to sleep on the ground....to be young again.

We'll pull the camper up to the Snake River so we can fish, kayak, sit by the campfire with the dogs...  Nice thing is the river is only about an hour from the house.  

Hopefully catch a few bigger ones this year!

Brahma Bugger

I really love this pattern.  Another great video from tightlinevideo.  Have any of you used the Boss Tin Stix?  I just ordered them tonight.

Tippet Rings

Man oh man the guys at tightlinevideo make some really nice videos.  I bought some furled leaders from Joe Sanders (Lotech Furled Leaders) and had him attached tippet rings as an add on.  I have never heard of tippet rings, but thought I'd give them a whirl.  

This video shows the virtues of using tippet rings.  I like the fact he shows how to attach the rings and recommends changing tippet material often.

Give Lotech Furled Leaders a try.  Joe sells them 3 for $10, or 3 for $11.50 with tippet rings.  Mine should be here next week.

The Squirminator

This is another one by tightlinevideo on YouTube.  This one looks like it would be a great warm water pattern.  I can see the bluegills going crazy for it.

Cable Tie Craw Tutorial

Found this pattern on YouTube and thought it was great.  Te creator is at tightlinevideo.   I will be posting another one from him called the Squirminator shortly.

Pine Squirrel Streamer

Another great tutorial from tightlinevideo.  I like the foam nub that prevents the tail from wrapping around the hook.

Ryobi Magnesium 255

I finally settled on a reel for my new ultralight fly rod.  I narrowed my selection of a Ryobi Magnesium 255 and a JA Forbes Magnesium reel.  In the end I got a better price on the Ryobi, so I went with that one.

I looked at modern reels like the Redington Drift and the Orvis Battenkill, but I just thought they were too shiny and new for my liking.

Magnesium reels are super light.  The Ryobi is under 3 oz. with line!  Really are neat little reels and can be found for $30.  The JA Forbes runs about $100 and weights 2.2 oz.

Tying the Super Cypert Minnow

Size 10 Deer Hair Popper

My 2 wt showed up yesterday and I am looking to tie up a few small bugs for bluegill.  Found this online....what a nice job!

Rubber Legged Dragon

Photo by: Fly Fishing West Georgia and Beyond

Recipe

Hook - # 10 Mustad 9671 or other 2XL nymph hook
Thread  - 6/0  Black
Eyes -  Bead Chain
Tail - Rabbit , black or olive
Body - Chenille, black or olive
Legs -  Rubber, yellow
Hackle - Grizzly, slightly oversized
Head - dubbed with underfur removed from rabbit tail

I found this one on Fly Fishing West Georgia and Beyond.  Another very simple but deadly looking pattern.  I love the picture below...pretty dang convincing.

Photo by: Fly Fishing West Georgia and Beyond

Ward Bean's Mini-Bugger

Photo by Ward Bean

In anticipation of early bluegill action I tied up a pile of Ward Bean's Mini-Buggers.  These guys are tiny, but looks awesome.  The recipe is here.

Thanks Ward to pulling this together!

Photo by Ward Bean

Echo Carbon 732

Echo Carbon 732 - Photo from www.flyfishohio.com

I decided to dip my toe into the ultralight fly rod pool with the Echo Carbon 732.  This is a sweet little 2 wt rod that is 7' 3" in length.  Read the full review on Fly Fish Ohio here.

Only sprung $135 with shipping.  Going to be a blast for bluegills!

I'll probably be launching Ward Bean's Mini-Buggers and Kent Edmund's Stealth Bomber once things warm up a little.  Nice and light and the bluegills can't resist them.

Mini-Bugger - Photo from www.warmwaterflytyer.com

Stealth Bomber Tool Set

Clark "Cheech" Pierce's Cheech Leech by Flyfishingozarks

Sneed Old Master Fly Reel

I found this reel on Ebay today and ended up winning the bid.  The limited information I found online says it was made in Detroit in the 1950's.  The company made both auto and single action reels.  The single action reel was promoted as "the most modern single action reel on the market. It's streamlined like a B-29 and made from the same fine materials." 

I'm hoping this isn't a broken automatic reel.  By the looks of the picture I may be in for a little surprise when it arrives.

Auto version with literature found on an auction site

<UPDATE>

I have some feedback on this reel from a Fiberglass Flyrodders member.

"I have some information that will help. Cool find, and looks to be in great shape. Your reel is the Sneed Old Master F-1 Manual Single-Action fly reel as I do not see the automatic lever in the auction pictures. I own the other model, Sneed Old Master F-2 which is the Combined Automatic and Manual reel for fly rods.

The Specifications for your F-1 Manual Single-Action is described below.

It has a Aluminum Alloy Frame, single piece construction, black nickel plated over the aluminum.

Aluminum Spool, anodized and colored.

Bearings, bronze. Instant take-down by lifting cover of crank handle and swinging out attached horseshoe retainer.

Playing Brake, has adjustment (under cover cap) to vary pull required to strip line, set it just under the strength of your leader and the fish cannot break off even though you are holding the crank.

Frame, is streamlined so that no line guide is necessary. Strip your line in any direction without danger of scuffing.

Spool Capacity, HDH line and one hundred fifty feet (150') running line. This is plenty for Steelhead, Salmon or the largest Bass.

Weight, approximately six and one-quarter ounces (6 1/4 ozs.).

Diameter, three and one-half inches (3 1/2").

Colors, Black and Gold

New Single Direction Stripping Drag, that is absolutely noiseless and trouble free."

Polly Rosborough's Casual Dress

I had good luck with this pattern last year.  Not a large pattern, but the smallies liked it.  Joe Cornwall always puts together nice tutorials.

EP Game Changer/ Ward Bean's Articulated Streamer

Here is a link to the In The Riffle site that shows materials etc.  

http://www.intheriffle.com/fishing-videos/fly-tying/ep-game-changer/

Ward Bean makes a similar pattern without the Fish Skull Shanks.