No this is not a post about that nasty pain in the butt stuff we have to deal with from time to time, instead it's about a mixture of things related to fly fishing.
The starting point will be this fly box. It's the only one I carry while small stream fishing. As you can see it's in a very unorganized state. It contains flies that cover the show, wets, dries, nymphs, and streamers. Its said that if you change flies while fishing just put the one you are removing in the right slot and your flies will always be in order. I may just try that concept one of these days.
A thermos bottle. These are great for that one or two cups of coffee when your cold weather angling. This one came from Cabela's and works well. Hot coffee stays that way for a good six hours. It's small enough to keep in your sling pack, does not leak, and is stainless steel so it's unbreakable.
Bucktails. These are as simple as you get. In Fran Betters book he talks about "Old Fashioned Bucktails", these are a couple of them. These are tied with yarn and bucktail, that"s it. On a natural bucktail there are three different colors, white, brown, and a darker brown. These can be used to give you various shades of color to match the minnows in the waters you fish.
The "Pinkie Variant" I have not tried this variation as of yet. But I think that the small marabou collar might add some movement and draw a strike.
Spam. No not the junk, the good stuff. I know you all have tried Spam, and while most won't say it but they do like it. It's probably not the healthiest food to eat, but once and awhile live on the edge and enjoy it.
My fly box never looks the same. I always sit there in amazement looking at it. Especially on a stream. How can I have so many of these flies and in my head I can only fish a certain one? I keep telling myself I'm going to do the 10 fly box for a whole year and fish nothing else. I doubt I have the discipline for that.
ReplyDeleteKevin Frank,
DeleteThanks.
That 10 fly box has crossed my mind several times. Perhaps 2014 is the year.
A dis-organized flybox is simply a sign of someone who spends more time actually fishing than arranging flies. I think you're on to something with the soft-hackle san juan...a guaranteed winner!
ReplyDeleteNothing like a slice of spam fried in bacon grease...mmmmmm.
HighPlainsFlyFisher,
DeleteThanks.
I like your thinking.
Bacon grease, its gotta taste good.
Your fly box looks downright pristine, compared to a couple of mine :-) Which reminds me, I have got to drag my gear box into my man-cave and dump all the flies out of my mixed-up boxes and reload them so I won't have to spend 10 minutes looking through what appears to be clothes dryer lint for that special killer fly. I have so many flies that fall into the category: too ratty to fish, but too good to throw away. I am so cheap that I wish there was a good way to recycle hooks and beads from too-ratty flies. Seems a shame to just throw them away.
ReplyDeleteGerry,
DeleteThanks.
You describe you boxes very well. And no one's going to argue with you on throwing flies away. Sometimes that ratty fly just might save the day.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI notice you use red or orange in most all your streamer, is this for the attractor edge or you using it for imitation? I think a lot of us get caught up in the moment when fly fishing especially if you are landing trout; which in turn can cause us to stick the just change fly anywhere in the fly box. I am one of those of guys. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell,
DeleteThanks.
They are tied for an attractor effect, but many forage fish have orange in their natural colors especially the belly. Red can be taken as blood from an injured minnow, which will draw a strike. We look at these flies as anglers, but the fish see it in a different light.
Brk Trt,
ReplyDeletethat fly box doesn't look too bad, my boxes I think look worse!
AHHH, Spam! I/we use to have homemade bake bean with Fried Spam on cool/cold new england saturday nights when we didn't have hotdogs. GOOD STUFF & great memories, though I haven't had spam in years, it still looks the same. I hope you let us know how the Pinkie Variant work out.............Phil
DRYFLYGUY,
DeleteThanks.
That makes me feel better Phil. Fried Spam and beans is to die for. It will keep you warm on those cold nights.
I'll report on the Pinkie Variant.
i haven't had spam since i was a kid. but i continued to eat braunschweiger for years into adulthood - talk about some unhealthy stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl,
DeleteThanks.
Those liver based cold cuts were a favorite of mine all my life, and still are. Not such good choices though.
I enjoy getting this kind of "Spam", Alan. Always great to look inside someone else's fly box and ponder a little. BTW, I have that thermos and can testify to nice "hot" coffee into the mouth of a cold angler!
ReplyDeleteMel Moore,
DeleteThanks.
I to favor the look into some ones fly box. It's a great thermos for the money.
The thermos I carry in the winter came from, are you ready for this? Montgomery Ward. There's nothing wrong with it, why get a new one. Spam, the single guy staple.
ReplyDeleteMark Katuz,
DeleteThanks.
WOW, that has some age. Agree on the Spam.
Alan - that thermos would have come in handed last Saturday. I started drinking coffee later in life and a thermos is on my Christmas list this year. Definitely helps take the chill out of a cold winter day afield.
ReplyDeleteMark,
DeleteThanks.
It sure would helped take the cold edge off.
A thermos would be a nice gift.
I can't wait to see how the "Pinkie Variant" works. I bet it is irresistible.
ReplyDeleteRKM,
DeleteThanks.
I think it will make a good showing the first time we can get a day near 40.
I like the simplicity of those "old fashioned bucktails." Will have to tie a few, for principle sake, if nothing else.
ReplyDeleterivertoprambles,
DeleteThanks.
They are probably the easiest fly I tie. I'm sure they will take trout.
When I see Spam I immediately think of Monty Python. I've been tying this late fall and feel the need to get out there. Perhaps I'll be emailing you for a salter local soon. All the best.
ReplyDeletePete
Peter Carlson,
DeleteThanks.
We"re going into a mini cold snap, right after that it should be good fishing.
Judging by the dominant colors in that flybox you must be a brookie fisherman. lol
ReplyDeletephly,
DeleteThanks.
You have that right. The colors gave it away.
Before my partner turned me into a collateral vegetarian, I used to love a braunschweiger and onion sandwich on homemade bread. Lots of mayo.
ReplyDeletessj,
DeleteThanks.
That's a classic sandwich. I've enjoyed the same one, only minus the mayo.
Ah man I was just going to ask you to post a pic of that pink fly you used on your last outing and low and behold there it is. Thanks. Sorry brother but I don't do SPAM....I'll stick to a think slice of baloney. Raised on that stuff.
ReplyDeleteL
tim,
DeleteThanks.
I loved baloney all of my life prepared in many ways. But it now makes me burp something awful. I guess that's because now they have cleaned it up and took out the good stuff.
I really like those bucktail & yarn streamers. I've been tying something similar with squirrel & mohair. I'll bring some along New Years Day.
ReplyDeleteApache Trout,
DeleteThanks.
Simple and effective. That will be good.
Well that fly box looks well kept compared to some of mine I'm afraid to say. Those small thermos bottles are great, not much weight to carry and a hot cup of coffee or cocoa really hits the spot now and then. I like those flies and yes, I do like Spam.
ReplyDeleteBill,
DeleteThanks.
That's what I'm hearing from most of my followers. Hot coffee is so welcomed after a cold day of fishing.
Two comments Brk Trt..
ReplyDelete1) My fly boxes get "organized" during the winter and then rapidly go back to their normal state of chaos as spring fishing progresses...
2) Fried spam and melted cheese sandwiches..oh yeah..
penbayman,
DeleteThanks.
Just like me. I've never had it with melted cheese, I'll have to try it.