F.I.T.S. By Guideline

I managed to get a hold of some of the F.I.T.S Tubing by Guideline, so I thought I would try to tie up some "Scandinavian style"tubes.  Anyone who has fished big flies with me knows how I feel about tubing....... I have had my fair share of tubing break on me in the cold temperatures I fish in and I have never really liked the look of tube flies. So far I have enjoyed tying on the Guideline system and with the addition of some of their cones to the flies it gives the flies a much cleaner look. So hopefully the tubing holds up for me in the winter. 

                                     

These flies are just the ticket for fall Atlantics here in the rapids.

 

Close up of a turbo cone and the all important Jungle Cock

Fish eye view

I will definitely be tying more of these flies in hopes of big Salmon and Steelhead

Chris

Order Up!

Hey everyone, I just finished up an order of flies that will be heading up to the Misty Mountain Fly Shop hopefully tomorrow, if the weather clears up....

This is a hairwing spey, but instead of just tying the squirrel on top of the fly I spun it in a dubbing loop and used it as a collar. 

Small hairwing tied on a double, hopefully will catch some nice Salar next season.

This is my favourite variation of the Green Butt Skunk, it has a buggier look to it than the original.

Smelt and Shiners are a staple for Steelhead and Salmon here in the Great Lakes, so it's only natural for us to be drawn to flies that imitate this immense food source. 

Again another Shiner/Smelt pattern with some eyes added to it for some weight in the winter.

This is more of a flesh fly to emulate rotting salmon flesh, sounds gross but it's effective. 

Here are 4 different leech patterns that are tied on small cut off salmon irons, the rabbit is wrapped around some dacron braiding to allow for maximum movement in the current. 

There is a mix of Intruders, Streamers, Speys, and Leeches

Again these flies will be heading up to the Misty Mountain Fly Shop tomorrow, so if your looking into getting in to some Steelhead, stop by the shop and the owner Adrian will get you set right up.

Thanks

Chris

First Step by Step - Autumn Spey

Tonight I decided to try my hand on a step by step fly tying tutorial. I am going to call this the "Autumn Spey".


Autumn Spey - Step by Step

Hook: Bartleet Traditional by Partridge

Tag: Tinsel wrap

Tail: Golden Pheasant crest

Body: Olive Seal Fur with silver tinsel ribbing

Body Hackle: Ringneck Pheasant rump feather ( I choose one with a slight reddish tone)

Collar Hackle: Ringneck Pheasant (Schlappen type of feather, not sure what its actual name is)

Wing: Bronze Mallard

Eyes: Jungle Cock

1. Three to four turns on flat silver tinsel for the tag.

2. Golden Pheasant crest tied in for the tail.

3. Tie in a piece of flat silver tinsel for the ribbing, then build a body of olive seal fur dubbing (seal fur is really an amazing dubbing and i highly recommend trying it if you haven't already.) About half way through dubbing the body tie in a Pheasant rump hackle then continue dubbing.

4. Wrap the tinsel forward evenly spaced, then follow with the pheasant hackle, then tie in the black schlappen like feather for the collar

5. Fold the Schlappen feather so that the barbs (or fibres) lay back, then wrap for the collar.

6. Tie in a matched pair of bronze mallard wings

7. Add Jungle Cock for eyes.

Finished fly - Fish eye view

Vise View

Hope you enjoyed my first tutorial. If you have any questions about tying this fly or any other fly, just send me an email and I would be more than happy to help.

Chris

Army of Green Butt Skunks

Today I tied up an order of Green butts, They are a slight variation on the original pattern but they will fish!

The butt is a green dacron braiding, which really contrasts against the black seal fur body.

Simple but effective fly!

Here is a picture that shows the contrast between the butt and the body

Instead of white calf tail for the wing I give the front a couple wraps of natural gadwall, I think it adds a real fishy look to the fly

Enjoy

Chris

New Camera

So its been too long since I have posted,

But now I have a new camera.... well not new..... my wife just found the battery to the old one
So now I can post some better pictures which means ill be posting much more
Here are 4 flies that I tied up the other day, the first three are for an order and the last one is for me :)

The first fly is a pretty simple intruder tied on a Waddington shank
It has a nice minnow look to it that the great lakes fish feed on, good fly for late season Steelhead.

This is a streamer for Atlantics, its meant to look like a smelt / shiner and has some real nice movement in the water, great early season fly when the fish first start to trickle into the river.

This fly is tied on a double salmon hook, its meant for summer Atlantics, meant to be swung up top on a long line for those finicky fish. 

The last fly is for me and it is a Akroyd, it is tied on a 2/0 McNeese. These monster hooks are a pleasure to tie on and they look fantastic. I will be giving this fly a swim this week end while i search for some Steelhead.

Hope you enjoyed the post

Chris

Intruders and Speys

Hey everyone,

Had a couple nasty weather days here this week so work was cancelled, I was able to log some solid time at the vise yesterday

I spent the day tying up Intruders and some Speys, Trying to finish up an order for a fly shop north of the City.

This fly is one of my favourites and one of the flies I have the most confidence in, everyone should have one fly in there box that they would choose over any other fly..... just in case the fishing is tough. This fly is deadly on fall Steelhead and Atlantics.

This fly is a variation on an old classic " The Lady Caroline" and is another one of my favourites (along with hundreds of other fisherman). I don't think I have ever stepped in the river with out at least one of these flies in my box. The Lady Caroline is actually the first fly I ever caught a Steelhead on and was the first fly I ever swung on a spey rod and to this day it has a special place in my box.

Hopefully I will be able to get some more posts up soon, I am too busy with tying to do much of anything else. I was able to finally register my business, so that's a start.




Chris

Saturday Morning

Hey everyone,

Its been a little while since I posted last, I have been super busy with work lately.

I was able to get away from work and get out for a morning fish today.

When I got to the bank of the river I was surprised to see that there was only a few guys out on the water, typically at this time the river is full of " anglers" (I use that term loosely) trying to "catch" the salmon.

I moved out into my first run and could see some large salmon rising, I started swinging my fly through the run, trying to ignore the freezing rain...... and at about 100 feet in the tail out I felt a solid grab. I brought my fly back in to inspect it to ensure the hook was sharp and I also retied the knot just to be sure...... I always make sure I check my knots and leader before casting to a hot fish for the second time,  its a good habit to get into. Then with the fly back in the water swinging through the tail out he hit again and started down river, I didn't need to set the hook on this one. I had some trouble keeping this fish in the water, all it wanted to do was fly. but eventually I managed to get him landed and was jacked to see a nice coloured up Atlantic,

The fish was carefully released and we parted ways, later on I managed to land a nice pink salmon as well.

Despite the weather, it was a good day to be on the water. I ended up leaving the river around 10 so  I wouldn't have to watch as some "anglers" (again loosely used) snag salmon off the spawning beds.




Chris