Fly Box Super Hero - Dick Gross

I met Dick Gross on bluegill fishing site (www.bigbluegill.com) in July 2009. Since then we have become great friends, almost like we've known each other for years. I posted a question asking what type/weight fly rod would be best for my then 8 year old son. Dick replied that he had a rod for my son and sent it up to him - wouldn't take any money. The rod belonged to Dick's son Chad who passed away unexpectedly many years ago. Chad's fly rod was perfect for my son, but the note Dick sent was something I'll never forget. Anyone who has the experience of meeting Dick quickly realizes he is a very special person.

As a young boy I formed a friendship with my Uncle Joe (see earlier post) from Terra Haute, IN. That bond was very strong, there isn't a day I don't think about Uncle Joe. Joe was a great outdoors man. He had a beagle named Snoopy and a dachshund named Smokey and he loved to hunt ducks and rabbits. He was an avid fly fisherman and was a die hard bluegill pond fisherman.

Uncle Joe died over a decade ago and I'll have to say I've never met a person that was even close to the man he was....until I met Dick. I'm not sure if it is coincidence or meant to be, but I met Dick on a bluegill fishing after he answered a random question I just threw out on a whim. He lives in Indiana, is an avid duck and rabbit hunter, has two beagles and is a die hard fisherman (both spin and fly). Dick Gross is from the same mold as my Uncle Joe.

We were fortunate enough to have met Dick and his wife Betty in person last summer and it felt like I was sitting with my dear Uncle again and my Aunt Doris (Sorry Betty, that makes you sound really old!). We had a pizza and spent a hours chatting it up. The next morning we met for coffee...had a great time really doing nothing but spending time together.

His wife Betty is a so much fun. Betty is a super talented photographer and she fishes too. They just don't make them like Betty and Dick anymore (Sorry again Betty....that makes you sound really old.)

Dick has since sent my youngest son his fathers Browning Silaflex and Chad's 1492 Medalist reel. He's sent me bags of turkey feathers, a few bamboo rods and countless other goodies and I'll send him some flies when I have something worth sending him.

Dick recently had a minor surgical procedure done and both of my boys asked if he was going to be okay. My 9 and 7 year old boys talk about Dick and Betty like they are the only family they've ever known. I know it sounds strange and I really can't explain it...Dick and Betty are part of our family.

The Sparrow

Recipe
Hook:  Daiichi 1270 (Size 6)
Thread:  6/0 Brown Uni
Tail:  Pheasant Marabou
Body:  Squirrel Dubbing
Gill:  Pheasant Rump Feather
Head:  Pheasant Filoplume (2)
Weight: None

This is another Jack Gartside creation.  How simple can this get?  The Sparrow is a great, nymph, crawfish, minnow imitation.

Super easy to tie and is great for bass, panfish or anything else that happens to be swimming by.  Jack Gartside was a smart, smart man - he kept it simple stupid!

Felted Reel Pouch Complete

Here is a complete felted reel pouch. The button is carved bone and is a nice touch. All in all I really like the final design and it really protects the reel while in transit to the river.

You'll also notice my new mint Browning Silaflex! The wool is a nice addition to the vintage package.

Vintage Revelation Fly Reel

This is a garage sale find that is really nifty. I've had it for years and it balances out my vintage Fenwick FF806 perfectly.

The guys at the Fiberglass Fly Rodders site said this reel was made for Montgomery Wards. My boys call it my Iron Man reel....

Ward's Articulated Streamer

Recipe
Hook: Mustad 3366 Size 2
Thread: 6/0 White Uni
Tail (Tip): White Marabou
Tail (Body): White Pearl Wapsi Palmer Chenille (Large Length)
Transition: White Marabou
Body (Main): White Pearl Wapsi Palmer Chenille (Large Length)
Eyes: Prismatic Dome Eyes
Weight: 10-20 Wraps .025 Lead Substitute

This is a fly that I initially emailed to Ward Bean at www.warmwaterflytyer.com and it didn't look this good. Ward had an articulated minnow pattern on his site that used hackle to build up a nice body. I loved the pattern so much I started trying to mess with different materials. This is when Wapsi Palmer Chenille came into the picture. One email to Ward, he made tweaks and made a beautiful streamer. This is my version of Ward's Articulated Streamer followed right to the tee. Go to www.warmwaterflytyer.com for detailed tying instruction.

If you look closely you can see this fly is actually 2 hooks joined with hard mono (see picture on right). The rear hook section is clipped, so there is no hook - just the shank. The mono joint allows this streamer to really have a beautiful swimming action. Ward is a great tyer, so this fly performs as expected...fabulously!

The best thing about Ward's patterns is he often uses the Mustad 3366 hook. For some reason many tyers are starting to shy away from this hook for fancy Tiemco hooks costing 4X the cash. I get these hooks from size 1/0 - 12 at Captain Hooks for $3 per 100.

Prismacolor markers dress out the fly. I went simple and used with a 60% Cool Gray marker, but Ward does some up that look exactly like baby perch and bluegill. Give it a shot, it is fun to dress these little guys up. Don't bother with a Sharpie....they will fade.

Kudos to Ward for perfecting this pattern and making it beautiful!

Called in sick....had trout fever!

This one had a funky gill plate?

My wife lands a nice one...releases it!

Swim home little boy!

This was the hot fly today! The March Brown Flymph.

Hairy Fodder

image courtesy of flyartstudio.com

Recipe

Hook:  Eagle Claw #410 60 Degree Jig Hook (Size 1/0)

Thread:  Mono

Tail:  Layered Sili-legs

Body:  Rabbit Zonker

Rattle:  Micro Worm Rattle

Flash:  Gold Krystal Flash

Weight:  Dumbbell Eye (1/50 oz) 

Craig Riendeau is the creator of this fly pattern and I love it.  Craig has really come up with a winner here.  This is the only subsurface pattern he fishes and he catches loads of smallies.