Friday, March 13, 2009

Recession Tip - Take Care of Your Fly Rods by: Michael Gracie

If you still have a few bucks around, I’m certain there are deals to be had. If you don’t, there’s no better time to take extra-special care of your gems.
I’ve always been the type to give my rods a quick wipe-down after use; if they’re saltwater jobs, a warm, wet rag works overtime. Waxing the ferrules (tea-light candle wax is fine) after every couple of outings is also part of the repertoire. And my latest discovery was cork cleaning (with emphasis on ‘late’).
I have some rods that I’ve owned for a dozen years, and I’d never cleaned the handles. A friend said it was probably a bad time to start trying, particular since some of the corks were downright black - the suggestion was to start using the cheapo backups/loaners (the ones I’m loathed to cast myself - I call them my “guest handicappers”). But, a little warm water and some Soft Scrub with Bleach did the trick - here are the corks on the rods I’ve gotten wet in the last couple of years, after tidying them up…




The one at the top is the oldest in the quiver. I’ve had all the pure saltwater rods at least seven years, and they’ve all felt heavy use (i.e. lots of sunscreen) albeit prior to my move to Colorado. The second, third and fourth (from the top) have seen the most recent workouts - the second was bought early last season (’07) and the fourth was bought in late September (’08). All the corks now look the same - like I just pulled plastic wrappers off them.Note: Your fishing buddies might already be getting stingy about sharing the single malt, and they’re going to be hard pressed to loan you their new S4 if your own rods look shabby too. So get scrubbing

Flies for Early Season Trout

There are a lot of flies to choose from when we go into the fly shop or when we sit down to the bench to get some work done. The key to having the flies for early season is to tie based on priority. If you need early season flies, you shouldn't be tying Green Drakes that you won't need until late June. You need to focus on what is needed short term, and then if you want to stock up ahead of time, then bust out the giant hooks and tie the drakes!

The first ones on your list should be the Early Stones, G.R. Hare's Ear, Blue Wing Olives, and Woolly Buggers.
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Early Black Stone



The stones start showing up when the water hits about 40 degrees consistently. They don't swim well, so a dead drift through a riffle or the head of a pool is a good place to start.







Hook: Size#14-16
Thread:Black 8/0
Tail:Black goose biot
Rib:Black Larva Lace "Soft Midge Body Material"
Abdomen:Dyed-brown squirrel, blended with black rabbit
Thorax:Same as abdomen
Wing Case:Turkey tail, slips pre-treated with Dave’s Flexament.
Antennae:Black goose biot


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Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear
This is another very popular worldwide fly that every fly box should have. It imitates all sorts of aquatic insects from stoneflies to cased caddis. Definitely one you don't want to be without. y favorite is with a beadhead.


Size: #20-12
Thread: Black 8/0
Tail: Hare's guard hairs
Rib: Gold Tinsel/Wire
Body: Hare's Mask Dubbing - picked out spikey when complete
Wingcase: Turkey tail fibers
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Blue Wing Olive


When the weather is drizzly and gray, be on the lookout for a hatch of Blue Wing Olives (baetis). There are a bunch of species of this mayfly, and the differences so the fly tyer is size. For early spring though they range from 16-20.








Hook: #16-20.
Thread: 8/0 tan
Tail and Legs: Light olive dyed pheasant tail.
Abdomen: "Baetis" dyed turkey wing biot
Thorax: Light Olive dubbing
Wingcase: Natural dark goose quill.

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Woolly Bugger

The Woolly Bugger, it is said has accounted for more fish than any other pattern, but doesn't imitate anything in particular. Some argue that it imitates a stonefly. Others say it could be taken as a leech, small fish, or crayfish. I don't really care what the fish think it is as long as they like it.



Hook: 3x long #4-10
Thread: Black 8/0
Tail: Marabou to match body color (add 3-5 strands crystal flash if desired)
Rib: Gold wire (counter wrapped)
Body: Chenille in choice of Black, Olive, Brown, Tan, WhiteHackle: Palmered saddle hackle to match body

Getting ready for the trout opener

April 1st will once again mark the beginning of another year for our trout season here in WNY. It's typically a lousy weather day with 20mph winds that can make wind knot in a clothesline, however a few hardy souls venture out to try their hand and use the new rods, reels and other Christmas presents they aquired for just such an occasion.

Opening day is not usually the best time for fly fishing only because the water remains cold, and fish, like people move a little slower when they are cold.

The typical presentation will be deep and slow, dredging the bottom for fish. The best flies I have used in such case is a hares ear nymph, a brown all purpose nymph, or a beadhead green caddis larva. Either one seems to do ok in a size 16 to 14. Another option is fishing the tail of a riffle just before it slowly enters a pool. Swing a small streamer through there like a sculpin patterm or muddler. You could be pleasantly surprised with the weight of a fish.