tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110104992024-02-07T05:37:45.082-08:00Brown Hackle Blog: Fly Patterns And Other Angling MiscellanyThis is an archive for semi-original fly patterns that have worked well for me, including the <a href="http://brownhackle.blogspot.com/2005/02/brown-hackle-bee.html">Brown Hackle Bee</a>. If you have any questions about tying or fishing them, contact me at bonamici@gmail.com. You may also see occasional posts about other hobbies, such as knifemaking and bicycle riding. Here's a <a href="http://brownhackle.blogspot.com/atom.xml">Site Feed</a>.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-67236976877564801332010-09-15T02:37:00.000-07:002010-09-15T02:42:40.751-07:00Moved to WordPress: New AddressFor newer posts, please visit<br /><a href="http://brownhackle.wordpress.com">http://brownhackle.wordpress.com</a>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-8491954106713492122009-07-27T15:15:00.000-07:002009-07-28T17:29:56.756-07:00Bass in a beautiful Maine lake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3750721287_925a414657.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 166px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3750721287_925a414657.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; ">Photo by Beth B.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Earlier this month (July 2009), we traveled back east for vacation. Part of our trip included a stay at a cabin on Great Pond, Belgrade Lakes, Maine. My New Hampshire-based brother-in-law is also a fly fisherman, so this gave us the chance to paddle around our arm of the lake in an old canoe, casting to the rocky shoreline and/or trolling. We caught a mixed bag that included smallmouth, largemouth, rock bass, and one small pike. Flies that worked well included one of my <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/3762772505_3d3295d961.jpg">homemade wine-cork poppers,</a> <a href="http://www.deschutesangler.com/assets/product_images/large/FFLYS_Rvrbn_105964.jpg">Bakke's Dragonfly</a> (steelhead dry), and <a href="http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/patterns/muddler-minnow/muddler-minnow.jpg">traditional Muddler Minnows</a>. The best fish were caught trolling Muddlers in approx size 4.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/3749672028_b2869cc871.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 250px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/3749672028_b2869cc871.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/3766000310_0dc104441a.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 250px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/3766000310_0dc104441a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>FYI the solar-powered house we rented (<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2516/3749168515_604f31e1ca.jpg">"The Rink"</a>) is owned by Ben and Emily Swan, who direct <a href="http://pineisland.org/">Pine Island Camp</a>. It is a great location and the lake is beautiful. Ben and Emily gave us a very enjoyable tour of the camp, and lunch with the campers.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3749672206_cda76d3db3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 183px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3749672206_cda76d3db3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, it was a wonderful, classic NE summer experience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3763574296_657fa92a50.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 182px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3763574296_657fa92a50.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yours Truly, multitasking.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by </span><a href="http://kateflaim.com/blog/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Kate</span></a></div></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-62753716809244254792008-10-10T08:05:00.000-07:002008-10-10T08:38:49.709-07:00Old English Iron Blue Dun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/bonamici/SO9yLCgYi0I/AAAAAAAAAO8/VSyF2hgGBKQ/s512/IMG_4677.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/bonamici/SO9yLCgYi0I/AAAAAAAAAO8/VSyF2hgGBKQ/s512/IMG_4677.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From Trey Combs,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/093660803X/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Steelhead Fly Fishing and Flies</span></a> (Frank Amato, 1976):</span><br /><blockquote><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Tail: Golden pheasant red breast feather fibers<br />Body: Blue-gray dubbing (muskrat) ribbed with oval silver tinsel<br />Hackle: Natural black or dark gray<br />Wing: Gray goose or gray squirrel tail<br /><br />This was Peter Schwab's favorite steelhead pattern. he called it, "the most universally successful fly I have ever seen." For Schwab it was best a clear water summer-run dressing, and he fished it at the exclusion of many patterns he had designed and made nationally famous. (p.95)</span></blockquote><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > note: my example in the photo uses natural gray sheep's wool rather than muskrat.</span><br /><blockquote><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /></span></blockquote>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-860680678254262792008-10-05T17:25:00.000-07:002008-10-06T20:51:19.880-07:00Floating Fillet Knife on the cheap<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I recently found a brand new Quikut American Angler fillet knife at Goodwill. I didn't like the cheap, narrow plastic handle, but the blade was sharp and flexible, and for $1.99 there wasn't much to lose. I sawed off the handle -- which was actually made of polypro and quite tough -- and replaced it with a new handle in walnut and cork. The tang on the blade was very short, so I extended it with a strip of scrap metal before epoxying it all together. For extra strength, I also ran four sections of strong wire (bicycle spoke) lengthwise through the handle. Next step is to make a sheath and it will be a nice addition to the camping and fishing kit.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Before & After:</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2707871149_624df2034c.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 167px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2707871149_624df2034c.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjfBO09TSp6jzqsYTbN4sV3RVH-2KLoTjXKuV7H_lddknDBLe6XWkT386rZVRcTaG-BjAi4Mi2WTIzyK231zhsboEn_dlb-exey2aQ-a37yKUeMq3qXqxWmV7EeN9cpeZVhx8vw/s1600-h/IMG_4675.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; clear: both; float: left; width: 230px; height: 143px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjfBO09TSp6jzqsYTbN4sV3RVH-2KLoTjXKuV7H_lddknDBLe6XWkT386rZVRcTaG-BjAi4Mi2WTIzyK231zhsboEn_dlb-exey2aQ-a37yKUeMq3qXqxWmV7EeN9cpeZVhx8vw/s320/IMG_4675.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />You can see that my handle is much larger than the original. When you're wet, cold, and wearing gloves, a large handle made of non-slippery natural materials offers great </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">ergonomic benefit.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you like this kind of thing, Helle of Norway makes a nice one ($63 at </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://ragweedforge.com/HelleCatalog.html">Ragweed Forge</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">; look for the Hellefisk model</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">).</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Brusletto (another Norwegian company) also makes one; $69 at </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.worldknives.com/products.php?i=1571">World Knives.</a></span><br /></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-63295392477254859672008-09-02T07:56:00.000-07:002008-09-02T08:03:03.169-07:00Campari & Lime Polar Bear Spey<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2819205739_f3f8c8232b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 201px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2819205739_f3f8c8232b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><br />hook: silver 1/0 Spey hook<br />tag: silver tinsel<br />body: lime green and raspberry dubbing, wound in silver tinsel loop along with natural polar bear fibers of various lengths.<br />wing: natural polar bear length of body<br />collar: mallard flank<br />head: red</span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-22371900666630579812008-06-16T07:33:00.000-07:002008-06-16T07:49:37.189-07:00new fishing buddyMade a new friend at Armitage Park yesterday:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XO1cJ6byQec&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XO1cJ6byQec&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Beautiful afternoon, although very windy as you can see from the video. Caught four fish, all cutthroat -- one on green bodied soft hackle, two on Greenwell's Glory (wet), one on Brown Hackle Bee.<br /><br />p.s. thanks to my wonderful family for the Father's Day gift of <a href="http://www.americanflyfishing.com/assets/product_images/product/FWDBT_Simms_108587_220.jpg">new *breathable* waders</a>!Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-79316917755309548392008-04-05T21:55:00.000-07:002008-12-03T07:15:20.145-08:00Old Fly PatternsInspired by easy access to old angling literature via Google Books, I've been tying some British patterns from the 19th century. Here is one I'm anxious to get in the water:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52179700@N00/2391749474/" title="One of Mr. Tod's Favorite Hackles by andrewb823, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2391749474_9fe1206918_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="One of Mr. Tod's Favorite Hackles" /></a><br /><br />from Ewen M. Tod, "Wet Fly Fishing, Treated Methodically"<br />London: Sampson Low, Marston (1907).<br /><br />p. 236:<br />".... During the first week of May, in 1877,<br />I was busily fishing "the Tummel," with<br />frost and snow all round me.....<br />Curiously, even now, I remember that<br />my best fly was one I dressed with the<br />neck hackle-feather of the cock starling,<br />but with the addition of a mere dot of "<br />peacock herl," placed immediately under<br />the hackle itself. I presume that it gives<br />additional lustre to this imitation, and so<br />attracts the trout, especially in cold dark<br />days, when he is not inclined to show his<br />nose on the surface of the water. "<br /><br />Flies pictured:<br />hook: wet fly hook #14 - 18<br />abdomen: waxed primrose silk<br />thorax: peacock herl.<br />collar: starling<br /><br />The Greenwell's Glory is a 19th century pattern from the north of England. The pattern has a lot of history; <a href="http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/oldflies/part106.php">here</a> is an extensive article. It looks like a good match for the Blue Winged Olive, a very important early and late season hatch here in the Willamette Valley. Here are a couple of variations:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52179700@N00/2376438916/" title="Greenwell's Glory 2 by andrewb823, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2007/2376438916_2b7d78a393_m.jpg" width="218" height="171" alt="Greenwell's Glory 2" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52179700@N00/2371941396/" title="Greenwell's Glory 1 by andrewb823, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2371941396_541a3a0f82_o.jpg" width="236" height="198" alt="Greenwell's Glory 1" /></a><br /><br />from Tod, page 210.<br />"GREENWELL'S GLORY.<br />Body. — The yellow tying silk, waxed with cobbler's wax,<br />to impart to the body a greenish-yellow hue. This is ribbed<br />over with yellow gimp, or finest gold wire.<br />Hackle— Coch-y-Bonddhu.<br />Wings. — Blackbird, tied in a bunch, and split.<br />Season. — April, May, June, and September ; in fact, it is<br />the most valuable and generally useful of all the wet flies<br />known to the author, who obtained the pattern direct from<br />the Rev. Canon Greenwell himself, so that it is authentic."Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-79892806678348848812008-03-18T06:55:00.000-07:002008-10-10T14:27:20.888-07:002008 NW Fly Tying Expo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/2319393257_11bd8e7cac_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/2319393257_11bd8e7cac_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Kate</span> (Atlantic Salmon Fly) by Harry Lemire. Photo by Andrew Bonamici, 2008<br /><br />A few images of Harry Lemire, Dave McNeese, & Steve Brocco <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52179700@N00/tags/nwflytying2008/">here.</a></span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1156112669403109332006-08-20T15:20:00.000-07:002007-02-17T04:49:57.190-08:00Wild Turkey: very close to homeWe have a lot of wild turkeys here in Western Oregon , including a flock that hangs out on the local golf course. Here's one that paid a visit to our back deck this afternoon. Click the photos for a larger view. <span style="font-style: italic;">[note: there are a couple different subspecies of wild turkey in Oregon, Merriam's & Rio Grande. I think this is a Merriam's because of the white tail margin, but am not 100% sure. If you know, send me a note.]<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52179700@N00/220362419/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/220362419_61cb4b3637_m.jpg" alt="turkey_001" height="180" width="240" /></a><br />----<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52179700@N00/220363505/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/220363505_76b0226986_m.jpg" alt="wildturkey_yard" height="175" width="240" /></a><br />---<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52179700@N00/220366232/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/61/220366232_dc4e606932_m.jpg" alt="wildturkey_004" height="129" width="240" /></a>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1155012706451907272006-08-07T21:46:00.000-07:002006-08-07T21:51:46.470-07:00Steak Knives<span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/19/pf/goodlife_fortune/index.htm">Best steak knives</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Six picks from the uber-high end to Crate & Barrel steakhouse-style knives.<br /><a href="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune"><br /></a>By Kate Bonamici, FORTUNE writer-reporter<br />May 23, 2006: 3:51 PM EDT<br /><br />NEW YORK (FORTUNE) - You've got the grill. You've got the dry-aged steaks. As you get in shape for summer and start serious consideration of upcoming cookouts, give equally serious thought to how you plan to slice your finished masterpiece.... <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/19/pf/goodlife_fortune/index.htm">more-><br /></a></span> ---<br />Kate interviewed Eugene, OR knife expert Bernard Levine for this one, and got some good background & interesting recommendations. Unfortunately the William Henry is out of reach for the time being ($2,900 for set of six, <a href="http://williamhenryknives.com/">williamhenryknives.com</a> ), but I like the idea of using non-serrated paring knives or other small fixed blades such as the A.G. Russell Woodswalker ($9.95 each, <a href="http://www.agrussell.com/">agrussell.com)</a>. A similar possibility is the <a href="http://ragweedforge.com/opinel-paring.jpg">Opinel paring knife</a> ($7 from <a href="http://ragweedforge.com/">Ragweed Forge</a>).Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1145841415305692112006-04-23T18:13:00.000-07:002008-04-06T18:18:16.893-07:00March Browns<p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Western March Brown mayfly (Rithrogena Morrisonii) is one of the season's first (& best) on the McKenzie and other west coast rivers. <a href="http://www.westfly.com/entomology/mayfly/march-brown.shtml">Westfly</a><a href="http://www.westfly.com/entomology/mayfly/march-brown.shtml"> has a good overview</a>, with links to effective fly patterns. Some of my own versions are pictured below. </span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">----------------------------------</span></p><p style="text-align: left; clear: both;font-family:arial;" class="separator"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="border: 0pt none ; background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://bonamici.googlepages.com/MarchBrownWetFly.jpg/MarchBrownWetFly-full.jpg"><img src="http://bonamici.googlepages.com/MarchBrownWetFly.jpg/MarchBrownWetFly-medium.jpg" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>March Brown Wet Fly</b><br />This sparsely tied winged pattern works well in the McKenzie River, Oregon. The sample in the photo has caught six fish, so the tinsel is looking beat up, but it is still good for a few more. Look at the segmenting on the natural in <a href="http://westfly.com/cgi-bin/entoEnlarge?file=mayfly/march-brown_dun_600.jpeg&height=400&width=600">Arlen's photo on Westfly</a> , and you will see why silver tinsel is a good feature for this pattern.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">hook: #12 or #14 standard wet fly hook (shown: Partridge Capt. Hamilton)<br />tail: pheasant tail<br />body: pheasant herl, counter-wound with silver round tinsel<br />hackle:golden pheasant flank (rusty orange), tied beard style<br />wing: hen pheasant</span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">---------------------------------</span>-----------------</span></p><p style="text-align: left; clear: both;font-family:arial;" class="separator"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="border: 0pt none ; background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://bonamici.googlepages.com/softackle_MB.jpg/softackle_MB-full.jpg"><img src="http://bonamici.googlepages.com/softackle_MB.jpg/softackle_MB-medium.jpg" /></a></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b>March Brown Soft-Hackle</b><br />Hook: #12 or #14 standard wet fly hook (shown: Tiemco 3761)<br />Tail: Brown Hungarian Partridge fibers<br />Body: dubbed fur, counter-wound with silver round tinsel. My McKenzie March Brown blend is approx. two parts tan, & one part each olive & cinnamon<br />Hackle:Brown Hungarian Partridge<br />Wing: none</span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1143428418394468232006-03-26T18:34:00.000-08:002006-03-27T13:44:55.953-08:002006 NW Fly Tyers Expo<span style="font-family:arial;">A few photos from the 18th annual fly tying expo, sponsored by the Oregon Council of the FFF:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/jshewey2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 125px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/jshewey2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Here is <a href="http://tinyurl.com/zjudk">John Shewey</a> tying up a beautiful Brad's Brat with polar bear wing. John is a great tyer and a fine writer and researcher (<a href="http://jcomm.uoregon.edu/">UO Journalism</a> grad).<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/dmcneese5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 126px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/dmcneese5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Dave McNeese tying a crayfish fly.</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/flydisplay_rotis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 130px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/flydisplay_rotis.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The flies in this display spin around for viewing, just like rotisserie chickens. Looked like something from the 1940s</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/blackbird1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 132px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/blackbird1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > A near-life size blackbird catching a damselfly at the <a href="http://www.westfly.com/feature/oldfeatures/feature_30.htm">Henry Hoffman </a>booth.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ></span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1142186425433669182006-03-12T08:52:00.000-08:002008-03-19T13:49:13.476-07:00Casting clinic with Henrik Mortensen, 11 March 2006<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">As a benefit for the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nativefishsociety.org/events_spey.html">Native Fish Society,</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.thecaddisfly.com/">Caddis Fly Shop </a><span style="font-family:verdana;">(Eugene, Oregon) sponsored a spey-casting workshop with Henrik Mortensen of </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://scierra.com/">Scierra</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. </span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We met at the shop and then proceeded to a gravel bar at Armitage Park, on the lower McKenzie River. There were two instructors (both named Henrik BTW), and the focus wasn't on spey casting per se, but on a Scandinavian approach to the two-handed rod that powers the cast by pulling with the lower hand rather than pushing with the upper. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/Spey%20Clinic%20with%20Henrik%20Mortensen%20007.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 200px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/Spey%20Clinic%20with%20Henrik%20Mortensen%20007.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />In this photo, for example, you can see that Henrik keeps his right arm close to the body; the power is coming from the underhand pull and by shifting his body weight, rather than by pushing the upper hand forward (as in </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">British Spey casting). </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We also worked a lot on foot position and general body mechanics. The two-handed rod already has ergonomic advantages and I think this approach really capitalizes on them; done right, these casts produce little or no strain on the shoulders.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Henrik M's casting demonstrations were something to see. At one point he was laying out beautiful casts without using his arms at all except to hold the rod in place; it was all done with the body.<br /><br />Here's a brief video of Henrik M demonstrating a counterclockwise loop that moves the line upstream to set up a cross-stream cast. <object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGytR83NgFU&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGytR83NgFU&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="212" height="171"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Many thanks to Chris Daughters & the Caddis Fly staff, Native Fish Society, and the Scierra instructors for a beautiful and instructive day on the river.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/Spey%20Clinic%20with%20Henrik%20Mortensen%20004.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/Spey%20Clinic%20with%20Henrik%20Mortensen%20004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/Spey%20Clinic%20with%20Henrik%20Mortensen%20004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >photos by Andrew Bonamici, 2006.</span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1141519120673660012006-03-04T16:27:00.000-08:002006-03-04T16:49:14.560-08:00McKenzie River, March 4, 2006After a very wet winter, we're having some beautiful weather in the Willamette Valley and the rivers are dropping into shape. Today, the forecast was sun in the morning, with possible showers in the p.m., high temp 55F; nice conditions for the <a href="http://zebu.uoregon.edu/%7Edmason/Mckenzie/bugs/rithrogena.html">March Brown</a> hatch on the <a href="http://lsa.uoregon.edu/lsa/newsletter05/0512news.html#armitage">Lower McKenzie at Armitage Park</a>. The water was cold and the sun stayed bright, so there wasn't much of a hatch -- I only saw one dun on the surface. Even so, it was a lovely afternoon and I managed to land five cutthroat & cutt/rainbow crosses ranging from 8 - 12 inches, all on the same #12 Brown Hackle Bee. It will only get better from here, so watch this space. Best,<br /><br />AndrewAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1136583387405087722006-01-06T13:33:00.000-08:002006-01-07T09:46:34.063-08:00Adding some images<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dear Reader:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">At long last, I have acquired a digital camera and am starting to add images to the posts, starting with the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://brownhackle.blogspot.com/2005/02/brown-hackle-bee.html">Brown Hackle Bee</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Be patient; more will follow. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tight lines, </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">ARB</span></span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1128745433440906012005-10-07T21:03:00.000-07:002006-01-07T09:47:08.190-08:00Scandinavian-style knives<span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Here are some Nordic-type knives that I've put together during the past couple of years, using blades purchased from </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.ragweedforge.com/">Ragweed Forge</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >. These are all working knives that are used camping & fishing. The Karesuando even gets used in the garden -- I'm finding that I prefer it to clippers for jobs like cutting back ivy, blackberries, perennials, etc., mainly because there's less repetitive motion needed, therefore less stress on the hands. The sheaths are all heavy black leather made in a deep folded style.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >If you have any questions about these, feel free to </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="mailto:brownhackle@gmail.com">e-mail</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Enjoy!</span></span><br /></span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Here is a laminated stainless "Ola" blade from Helle of Norway, approx. 2.25" ; walnut & rosewood handle:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/helle_ola.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/helle_ola.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br />Laminated stainless "Turmann" drop point blade from Helle, approximately 3.25"; maple handle:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/helle_turmann.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/helle_turmann.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br />Sandvik 12C57 puukko-style straight blade from Karesuando, Sweden; handle is bois d'arc (aka Osage Orange):</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/karesuando_osage%20copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/karesuando_osage%20copy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097443434218672005-02-22T10:36:00.001-08:002006-12-19T23:30:58.246-08:00LOW WATER/GREASED LINE PATTERNS<span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Lady Caroline</b><br /><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="">The conventional Lady Caroline uses a golden pheasant hackle and bronze mallard wing. The bucktail+grizzly substitutes are used here to provide a buggier appearance, esp. effective in the fall when October Caddis are available.</span></i><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Hook: light wire, #8</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Thread: Claret</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Tail: Golden Pheasant crest</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Rib: flat silver tinsel</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Body: blended olive & brown</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Hackle: soft grizzly hen</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Wing: fine brown bucktail</span> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Andrew's Black</b><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Hook: light wire, #8</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Thread: Claret</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Tail: Claret</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Rib: flat silver tinsel</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Body: Black</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Hackle: Black</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Wing: fine brown bucktail</span> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Spider Spade</b><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Hook: Partridge CS2 (looped down-eye)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Thread: Black</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Tail: fine bucktail</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Rib: fine oval silver tinsel</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Body: black seal substitute (SLF)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Hackle: teal flank tied spider-style</span> </p>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097385024372002005-02-22T10:36:00.000-08:002006-04-03T11:18:41.810-07:00SUMMER STEELHEAD PATTERNS<span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">SUMMER STEELHEAD PATTERNS</b></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/GreenButt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 167px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/GreenButt.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b>Green Butt (Hairwing Atlantic Salmon pattern)</b></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Tag: Silver oval tinsel</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Butt: Fluorescent green antron over flat silver tinsel</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Tail: Golden Pheasant crest</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Rib: Silver oval tinsel</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Body: Black seal substitute (SLF)</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Hackle: Black</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Wing: black or brown mink or equivalent fine hair</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >---<br />Purple and flourescent green seem to work well for Willamette Valley steelhead. "VRC" is for the Valley River Center shopping mall, where Eugene steelheaders can park their cars or bicycles when fishing the town run.</span> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/VRC_purple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 124px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/VRC_purple.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b><br />VRC Purple</b></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tag: Silver flat tinsel</span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Butt: </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Fluorescent green antron over flat silver tinsel</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Body: Purple Antron ribbed with oval silver tinsel</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Underwing: Purple Antron (same as body)</span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Hackle: Purple</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Overwing: Bronze Mallard</span></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/VRC_Spey1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 159px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/VRC_Spey1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><b><br />VRC Purple Spey</b><br />Tag: Silver flat tinsel</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Butt: </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Fluorescent green wool or antron over flat silver tinsel</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Body: Purple Kreinik's Blending Filament (shown) or Antron, ribbed with oval silver tinsel.</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br />Hackle: Spey hackle over front portion of body, faced with a beard of teal or guinea fibers<br />Wing: Cinnamon colored Mallard flank</span><br /><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/VRC_purple.jpg"><br /></a><dir face="verdana"><dir><p style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></p><p face="verdana"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p></dir> </dir>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097361616319982005-02-22T10:35:00.001-08:002005-02-22T10:36:01.620-08:00WINTER STEELHEAD PATTERNS<b><span style="font-size:-1;">WINTER STEELHEAD PATTERNS</span></b> <dir> <dir><b>General Practitioner (Shrimp Fly)</b><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Hook: Partridge CS10/2</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Thread: Orange</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Tag & Rib: Silver Braid</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Tail: Orange Elk</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Body: Scintilla/Mohair blend</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Wing: Golden Pheasant body feather tied in several stages</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Hackle: Golden Pheasant rump</span> <p><b>Polar Shrimp</b><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Hook: Partridge CS10/2</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Thread: Orange</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Tag & Rib: Silver Braid</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Tail: Orange saddle hackle & Golden Pheasant tippet</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Body: Orange seal substitute (SLF)</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Hackle: Orange, with GP tippet & natural guinea beard</span><br /><span style="font-size:-1;">Wing: Calf body hair</span></p></dir> </dir>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097328734741662005-02-22T10:35:00.000-08:002006-03-16T08:21:18.820-08:00Pocket Pal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/pocketpal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 164px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/pocketpal.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><span style="">Pocket Pal</span></b></span><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> Derivative of the Trude, this has become my go-to dry fly for small mountain streams. on either slope of the Cascades, in the Rockies, or in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is visible in shaded pockets, durable enough to bounce off the rocks, and the fish grab it with abandon.</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><b>hook:</b> dry fly hook #12 - 16</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><b>tail: </b>Golden Pheasant tippet (shown), or </span><span style=";font-size:85%;" >brown or cree hackle fibers, or moose hair</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><b>body: </b>black dubbing ribbed with silver oval tinsel (rib optional)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><b>wing:</b> white calftail or pref. calf body hair, downwing (caddis/stonefly) style</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><b>hackle:</b> brown or cree dry fly hackle in front of the wing</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:78%;">Here's a pretty Baker River (NH) brookie that rose to the Pocket Pal:</span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/NHbrookie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 179px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/NHbrookie.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> </p>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097305000513732005-02-22T10:34:00.001-08:002006-03-16T07:55:29.033-08:00Irresisticaddis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/irresistacaddis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 127px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/irresistacaddis.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b><span style="">Irresisticaddis</span></b><br /><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="">A downwing version of the Irresistable. Like the Goddard Caddis above, this is a great combination of flotation & silhouette.</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><span style=""><b>hook:</b> #12-16 standard dry fly</span><br /><span style=""><b>thread:</b> tan or brown</span><br /><span style=""><b>tail: </b> moose hair (optional)</span><br /><span style=""><b>body:</b>caribou or deer hair spun & clipped. Try tan with a black stripe in the middle.</span><br /><span style=""><b>hackle:</b> For best silhouette, none. For *huge* flotation & skateability, palmer a stiff hackle through the spun hair.</span><br /><span style=""><b>wing:</b> Deer or elk hair, downwing with butts uncovered to form head (a la Elk Hair Caddis).</span> </p>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097273206010452005-02-22T10:34:00.000-08:002005-02-22T10:34:33.210-08:00Goddard Caddis<p><b><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-1;">Goddard Caddis:</span><span style="font-size:-2;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;">Another simplified pattern (antennae are omitted). This floats for a long time & provides a great silhouette. The flotation comes from the caribou, so hackle quality isn't critical. This fly has fooled some large trout in the Deschutes & Snake Rivers. I am currently experimenting with an all-black version; haven't had time to fish it but will post reports if it proves successful.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>hook:</b> #12-16 standard dry fly</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>thread:</b> tan or brown</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>body:</b> natural caribou hair spun & clipped into tent-like adult caddis shape</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>hackle:</b> a few turns of brown hackle</span></span> </p>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097247029304042005-02-22T10:33:00.001-08:002005-02-22T10:34:07.033-08:00Blueblack Stone:<p><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><b><span style="font-size:-1;">Andrew's Blueblack Stone: </span></b><span style="font-size:-2;">A good generic weighted nymph.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>hook:</b> #12 TMC 3761, weighted</span></span> <br /> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>thread: </b>black or dark brown</span></span> <br /> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>tail:</b> black biots</span></span> <br /> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>body: </b>abdomen: dark blue floss overwrapped with closely spaced segments of flattened out 15# brown monofilament (or dark brown swannundaze)</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>thorax:</b> black angora mixed with some brown, palmered with dark brown hen hackle</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size:-2;"><b>wingcase:</b> black quill section with plenty of lacquer for durability</span></span> </p>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109097213196947692005-02-22T10:33:00.000-08:002005-02-22T10:33:33.196-08:00tying durable flies<span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Since I'm tying non-commercially, I don't mind taking some extra steps to be sure that the fly holds up for more than one or two fish.<br /> <br /> Securing body materials & hackles: A light coat of head cement (I like Dave's Flexament) over the shank helps secure body materials. Some kind of cement is especially important under a tag of flat tinsel, but I like a dab under oval tinsel as well. A body of flat tinsel always get counterwound with oval tinsel, & palmered hackles counterwound with wire &/or oval tinsel. I often run a few turns of thread back through a regular hackle, then forward to the head before tying off. In the Brown Hackle Bee pattern above, the thread is lightly dubbed before this step.<br /> <br /> Depending on the size of the fly, I always use at least two and usually three whip finishes of five turns. On trout flies, I usually don't worry about an overcoat, but wax the thread really well before whip finishing, or put the whips over a little dab of head cement. Steelhead flies get a final coat of 30-minute clear epoxy. </span>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010499.post-1109096755092890792005-02-22T10:23:00.000-08:002008-10-06T21:28:13.763-07:00Brown Hackle Bee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/1600/BrownHackleBee_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 136px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7809/875/320/BrownHackleBee_small.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/bonamici/SOrgpm5aMyI/AAAAAAAAANY/b69iAS4g8Lw/2375692023_11f71d6f1b_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 129px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/bonamici/SOrgpm5aMyI/AAAAAAAAANY/b69iAS4g8Lw/2375692023_11f71d6f1b_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /><br />Tied & photographed by ARB</span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><b><br /></b></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >My favorite fly -- when in doubt, fish the BHB. This is a simplified (i.e. wingless) cousin of the McGinty, Western Bee, or Hari Kari Bucktail, developed a few years ago during a bad yellowjacket season. The fly works well wet or dry, in rivers or in lakes. The fish seem to take it for a yellowjacket, stonefly nymph, or dragonfly nymph, depending on where & how it is fished.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><b>hook:</b> #10-14 TMC 3761 or equivalent wet fly hook</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><b>thread:</b> black or dark brown</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><b>tail:</b> claret hackle fibers; substitute red-colored Golden Pheasant fibers (from body feathers)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><b>body:</b> black angora or similar dubbing, ribbed with dark gold floss (Pearsall's #156 Stout)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><b>hackle:</b> brown hen or soft rooster, palmered through front 1/3 of body. Counterwind a lightly dubbed thread through the hackle before finishing the head; this improves durability & provides a full, buggy silhouette.</span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/bonamici/SOhJgAFkb8I/AAAAAAAAAN4/XamprminLuo/s576/IMG_4593%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/bonamici/SOhJgAFkb8I/AAAAAAAAAN4/XamprminLuo/s576/IMG_4593%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">The McKenzie River trout finally chewed through the silk rib of this BHB, but the fly is otherwise intact. (</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">photo by ARB, September 2008)</span></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><img src="http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/%7Ebonamici/BHBee2.gif" alt="image of Brown Hackle Bee" width="168" align="left" height="150" /><br /></span><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >The Brown Hackle Bee was featured in Gene Trump's "Fly Wrap-Up" column in <i>Flyfishing</i>, November/December, 1997 (Portland, OR: Frank Amato).</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><span style=""><span style=";font-family:verdana;" > <span style="font-size:78%;">Tied & photographed by Gene Trump, reprinted by permission</span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><table style="width: 499px; height: 269px;" border="1" cols="1"> <tbody><tr> <td> <center><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><span style="">A BHB Testimonial From Maine</span></b></span></center> <span style="font-size:85%;">Thu, 28 Jun 2001 09:14:31 -0700</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">From: "Werner J. Rothbacher" <wrothbac edu=""></wrothbac></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Subject: Re: oregon flies (was:Fishing guy's address)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">To: "Andrew R. Bonamici" <bonamici edu=""></bonamici></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Organization: Bowdoin College</span> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Hi,</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Thanks for your message and yes my son and I had good luck with your</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Brown Hackle Bee in one stream up in the woods of Maine, we had a bite</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">in almost every pool and we had great fishing for two days, but there</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> were lots of biting flies too. Nothing like the fishing in Oregon.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">...snip...</span></p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </p> <div align="left" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><span style="">A BHB Testimonial From Eastern Oregon [Blitzen River]<br /></span></b>August 11, 2003<br /></span> <span style="font-size:85%;">Andrew --</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size:85%;">Thanks again for the flies.... I used your bee imitation with great success. I caught at least two dozen fish on them before breaking them off (poor tippet). They held up beautifully....</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Best regards,<br />John</span> </div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17383626877555466192noreply@blogger.com0