Well for the last several days it's been snowing, not a constant but one day a nor'easter than sun then snow then clouds, then more snow, I think you get it. On days as such I will usually clean, the fly station is a disaster. A little dusting and perhaps catch up on some reading. I also like to cook on days when it's snowing, and the times in between. Fly tying is very satisfying in winter. The time spent now at the vise creating the flies that will catch that memorable fish, and when you do I want to hear abut it. So take a look how it's been going here.
What a breakfast sandwich...fried pork roll, egg and provolone cheese on a hard roll.
A "bunch of bombers" Fran Betters famous pattern. These are perhaps the very best wild brook trout dry flies. These are tied on #14 hooks, with materials from Fran's shop that was located in Wilmington N.Y.
A great little soft-hackle...olive thread, very sparse brown mole dubbing, and bleached starling hackle.....lots of subtle movement in this fly.
Looking at photos from last year make the snow day's easier to deal with. The fly in the brook trout's lip is a classic Catskill pattern known as the "Conover"
Absolutely a good way to spend a "snowy" winter day when one cannot get to water. In my case that is at least March! That is why fly tying is something I enjoy so much. Bombers and Soft Hackles I would guess is tough to beat on those small streams...
ReplyDeleteMel-Fly Tyin Times
DeleteThanks
Mel I managed to tie a few of the better flies to replace what I donated to the bank foliage.
Both those patterns serve me well.
I tied up some Rusty Spinners yesterday, to replace those lost. Rusty Spinners and Griffith's Gnat, two of my favorite floaters. Both patterns extremely easy to tie and extremely effective to fish.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
DeleteThanks
John would I like to be fishing those rusty spinners now...a few more weeks of winter still ahead of us.
Stay busy my friend.
Great looking sandwich and flies, Alan. The best way to spend time during this snowy spell we're in. On the bright side, spring isn't really that far away, and the snow pack helps bring our underground water table back up to help the streams around here. Strap in...another storm coming Sunday into Monday!
ReplyDeleteBest Regards, Sam
Parachute Adams
DeleteThanks
Sam the more snow the better. It will come in handy later. They say we are in the 6-10" range.
Those rising trout will be welcomed.
Amen, Alan. I fish sub surface flies when need be, but there is nothing more thrilling than seeing a trout hit a dry fly in my opinion.
DeleteAlan, snow days are my best days to tie, I can set down and really just consentrate on my patterns because their is no rush to go anywhere,I actually look forward to having a few days like that. That snow Pak. Will really come in handy due to the drought in 2016. Those bombers will really come in handy later on.
ReplyDeleteThankyou.
Brad Basehore
DeleteThanks
Brad a day without distractions, so much can be accomplished. Yes I'm loving the snow for the reason you speak of. Bombers work well all year long in the small streams.
Snow days are great for sitting down and tying some flies. Here in Maine were expecting 18 to 24" tonight through tomorrow, this is going to be quite the storm. Anxious for nice weather and able to get back up north to do some fishing. Enjoy the day.
ReplyDeleteMaineFly207
Anonymous
DeleteThanks
Chris that's a lot of snow at one time, but I'm sure Maine folks are accustomed to deep snow. The snow pack will come into good use later in the year.
Alan - I've been doing some tying as well in between the snow clearing. When the snow comes, life seems to slow down for a bit and it is a welcome break. That sandwich reminds me of when I was a young. We used to get Taylor pork roll (might be a PA thing, I don't know), fry it and put it on a hard roll.
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
DeleteThanks
Mark slow down it does. Fishing is on hold for a bit.
Taylor pork roll is a PA staple, but can be found here to. A great sandwich.
Good things to do on a snowy day, or snowy winter period. The bombers are great, but in this case, I think the breakfast sandwich (which would be a good dinner as well) looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
DeleteThanks
Will maybe March will be a bit angler friendly.
A good sandwich that's not complicated.
Love the post! The Bombers are things of beauty!! Do you make deliveries with that sandwich?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!!!!!!!
TROUT1
DeleteThanks
Pete they're one of Fran's finest patterns.
One pork roll and egg and cheese sandwich on the way.
I saw the storm moving through your area. Thought to myself, "Bet Alan isn't fishing in that".
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
DeleteThanks
Mark you would have won that bet. This snow is really hurting stream time.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, a beautiful and satisfying post! Especially the soft-hackle and the "bombers" are intriguing! I know that you place a great store in these venerable dries! And, rightly so because we see them so very often locked in the scissors of many trouts!
The breakfast sandwich looks delicious! I can almost smell it! Yum!!
Hungry Doug
Dougsden
DeleteThanks
Doug the best presentation of a fly is when it's in the lip of a fish. Breakfast is such a wonderful meal.
I haven't done much tying in a while. At this point I'd rather just read about it.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
DeleteThanks
Howard I can appreciate that.
Alan
ReplyDeleteGood to have some productive things to do on those slow days due to weather--eating good food & tying up some awesome looking bombers and hackles--thanks for sharing
Those dry flies look GREAT. If I used Dries, it would be those flies. Really enjoy your posts and photos. Thanks.
ReplyDelete