Utah Killer Bug

This fly is a variation on classic pattern by Frank Sawyer, infamous for its use of impossible to obtain Chadwicks 477 wool.

I first discovered it when browsing some US Tenkara pages and fell in love with it at the first sight. I suppose this is how Michael Corleone felt when meeting Apollonia Vitelli in the olive orchards; the Thunderbolt...

The fly is tied with Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift wool, which looks nice when dry but obtains a wonderful pinkish hue when wet, at the same time showing signs of translucency. To accentuate the pink color a tag of bright pink material is added; the US guys I copied the fly from used pink wire, but having tried one I felt I like the #4 hot pink Glo brite better.

The tie:
#10 Kamasan B110 hook, debarbed
a few turns of flat lead
elastic tan thread
tag of pink Glo Brite
body of oyster wool

Dennis the Menace Variations

Dennis the Menace is one of my two favorite buzzer patterns (the other is black & pearl). It has served me well over the years, especially on recently stocked fish. Apart from its appeal to the fish I appreciate that it consists only of 2 materials - red tinsel and black UNI floss, the butt end serving as ribbing.

I was wondering whether the concept of this very effective stillwater fly could translate to a river pattern. And so I tied a variation, using a red beadhead and barbless hook.

The tie:
#12 Hanák 260 BL heavy wire short shank hook
black UNI tying thread
a pinch of rooster hackle fibres dyed black (not too well dyed)
red Gütermann tinsel for ribbing
black rabbit dubbing for body
black Mohair dubbing for collar, teased out with velcro brush

French Carrefour

The last weekend I visited the Carrefour National Pêche et Loisirs, probably the biggest fishing show in France. I came on invitation of my friend Philipe and his intenet magazine Avozetto.

I have visited several fishing shows over Europe, but never one in France. My French is no good and so I stuck to countries where I felt more comfortable being able to speak only Czech or English. But the offer from Philipe came in a way that I felt unable to refuse and so off to Clermont - Ferrand I went.

I was curious how the French show would compare to others, such as the BFFI in Stafford.

The surprising answer was that what happened on the show was very similar to other shows: the same crowds of sportsmen mildly intoxicated by all the fishing goodies, with an occassional shady character eager to sell his grandma for the right price was right thrown in.

The biggest difference was in what happened off the scene: the fabled French hospitability. On most shows the guys in tiers row recieve a sandwich; this was the first one on which lunch was a four course affair. Starting a day with a hearthy jambon sandwich gives one great strenght, though washing it down with red wine at 8:30 in the morning was not expected. But as they say - when in France, do as the French do...

New Macro Horizons

Many people say that having a family life cuts seriously into your fishing time. And while there is a whole lot more to be said on the subject they do have a point.

One area in which having a family actualy improved my fly tying experience is photography: having started a family I found it justified to upgrade from my trusty Canon G series compact that served me so well on my fishing trips to a grown up SLR. I am satisfied with the result.

This is my CDC Redhead, a pattern that served me well over the last few seasons.

PF 2014

To all my fly fishing & fly tying friends: have a very good 2014 season, and may the slings &  arrows of outrageous fortune not keep you away from the stream overmuch...

Feathers & Beads, Christmas Edition

At Christmastime a fly dresser can employ his skills in creating some handcrafted gifts to family and friends. It might be even possible to convince the lady of the house that there could be some sensible use for the cache of materials any fly dresser feels obliged to hoard.

The tie:
4 Chicken "marabou" feathers, dyed orange - originally intended for stillwater lures
Hooks and beads from www.koralky.cz craft store.

Little Tart (Buchtička)

This little fly has a cult status with many Czech fly fishermen. It consists of only the simplest materials possible - a hook, a bead, hare dubbing, and ribbing of some kind; the tail is entirely optional - but in the hands of a skilled nymph fisherman it has wondrous potential. I have friends who fish this fly (and only this fly) for the whole season with excellent results.

Now with fly fishermen being fly fishermen there are many who just know that their interpretation of the Little Tart is better than others - some swear by gold head, others by dull nickel, and I have witnessed serious bar room fights about what is the "correct" part of the hare's pelt for the dubbing. Or about as serious as bar room fights between fly fishermen ever get...

The tie:
#12 heavy gauge hook (Skalka Lake for me)
3.5mm caliber tungsten bead (dull nickel for me)
rooster hackle fiber tail (not essential, but I like it)
gold tinsel ribbing
hare dubbing (the best is from the back of an old male hare)