Flies, from other fly tyers

Over the years I receive flies from various fly tyers as well as some from fly shops I stop by and along the way. I'm going to post some of them over the next few weeks to let you see some of their work. So enjoy and stay tuned.

This is a streamer tied by Peter Carlson. The "Edson Tiger" Photo by Peter Carlson. Peter ties this streamer using Jungle Cock as a cheek. This feather enhances any fly it's used on.

This is a streamer I purchased in the Wild Branch Fly Shop in Lunenburg, VT. The pattern represents a yellow perch and has to be effective where ever perch are found. The fly shop owner ties all of the flies in the shop.

This is a Fran Betters pattern, the "Mini Muddler" tied with a yellow wing. This fly was tied by Mark Wittman. A very effective fly for brook trout.

This is the "Usual" tied by Fran Betters. In my last post I had an inquiry about it. The gent wanted to see a photo of the fly. This fly "REALLY" works.

The Haystack tied by Fran Betters. A rough looking fly that gets it done.

The Ausable Wulff, tied by Fran Betters. This fly has taken trout every where I've fished it. This is I believe to be Fran's signature fly.

This is the first of several posts featuring flies from other tyers.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Fran Betters "Ausable Caddis"

Just some thoughts and ramblings about a man who I regard as one of the best fly innovators and tyers to have graced us. His fly patterns are some of the most simplistic and effective I've ever tied and fished. He could tie any complicated pattern, from delicate Catskill dry fly patterns to salmon flies to nymphs and classic wet flies, but his calling was to tie flies that catch fish.

Fran Betters was the author of several books, some of which I have. He also was a builder of fly rods, and had his own design fly tying vise. In one of his books he has several of his poems, another quality of the man. Fran had a deep love for the Ausable River and the Adirondack region of New York, and this can be seen in his writings. I know that my small stream angling owes much to this man, for his fly patterns dominate my fly box.

Some of Fran's great patterns can be tied with these few materials. Not a lot of money be spent here, and the tying is not difficult and can be accomplished with a little practice. In one of his books Fran said if I were to pick two materials that were most valuable to the fly tyer they would be the deer and the woodchuck. I would like to add a couple more. That would be opossum and orange thread.

Ausable Caddis

These are two caddis patterns I've tied using the materials above. Hook, opossum dubbing, deer hair, and thread. If you take and vary the color dubbing, and deer hair color the insects you can duplicate are many. These flies also float well, and the body sits low in the water enabling the fish to see a good profile.

New Years Day 2014 a small stream tradition continues.

New Years Day found five of us "small stream junkies" in a parking lot about to take part in what has become an annual tradition of meeting, fishing and eating. It started four years ago with 3 and has continued bringing 2 additional gents along the way. This year brought some delightful sunny weather, but pretty cold. Getting there around 10, the coffee and donuts were served and devoured. While eating a game plan was presented and it was to be Mark and Pete heading to one area of the stream, while Kirk, John, and I heading in the opposite direction. Jumping in the trucks and my car we started the engines primed for a few hours of small stream angling. But suddenly as I turned the key I heard that clicking sound, the sound of a dead battery. Quickly the call for jumper cables went out and no one had them. So the decision was made for the guys to fish and I would call AAA. To make it short I was told that they would be out in about an hour. That gave me some time to walk to the stream and cast a fly.

I fished this section of stream, and the fly chosen was a streamer, "Edson Tiger". By now the sun seemed to warm up things and hopefully turn the fish on. I could not move to far along the stream for I would not be able to see my car. So casting to various areas that might hold a trout I worked the streamer. On a retrieve I took a violent hit, pulling back I felt nothing, a moment later another hit equally as hard....this time he was on. In short time I held a wild brown. A quick pic and off he went.

The first fish of 2014, on the first day of 2014. A wonderful way to begin the year.

I decieded to head for the car for I thought I saw the service truck. I was right and they were there. It was this time that the other guys were coming back. AAA checked the battery and it had to be replaced, which it was and we were able to finish the day.

While starting lunch, which was hot chicken soup, that was so delicious, "thanks to Marks wife for making it". And some venison chili, along with Italian bread, crackers and tortilla chips. While eating the stories and photos of the mornings angling were told. After cleaning up we hit the stream for a short session. All of us hooked trout this day which made it nicer, but the tradition was continued and that's what I think is most important.

First post of 2014, about the last outing of 2013

Good morning. This is my first post of 2014 and it's about my last outing of 2013, which happened on Monday December 30th. We had received a good amount of rain the day before so the streams were in good shape. The sky was overcast and the temps were in the high 30's. There was a hope for the sun to make some headway in cracking the gray and make things feel good, but that didn't happen. What did happen though was the brookies were on a feeding binge and seemed to respond to most of my offerings.

They were found in all sections of this pool, some at the head in the riffles, one in the nook by the tree, just down from the foam slick, and many in the slick pool.

Like I said they took many offerings. One of the best flies was the Picket Pin.

In this section where two parts of the stream join to form a deep plunge pool with a very inviting undercut. I cast the Pin into the water and it was sucked under. I thought the pool had pulled it under and it was snagged. I was right, but the snag was a nice brook trout. He battled and eventually won. That mighty 10 inch giant still swims that pool and I have a good memory as to what he likes to eat.

The Pinkie brought a few to hand as well as the chartreuse version of it.

"Early Spring"?....Saw this guy popping up along the brook. Boy is he in for a shock.