In this video, Jay Nicholas discusses the differences between Ahrex’s new Blue Water and Minnow hooks and their uses.
SA 270 Blue Water hooks are for the largest of fish species with heavy wire, micro barb, straight eye, slightly longer shank, and come in sizes 2/0-8/0.
SA 280 Minnow hooks are for general baitfish patterns with heavy wire, micro barb, straight eye, shorter shank, bigger hook gap, and come in sizes 8-2/0.
SA280 Minnow SA270 Blue Water
I grabbed this from The Deschutes Angler – Amy & John Hazel posted it Friday April 24th.
The ENTIRE Lower Deschutes River opens tomorrow – so you will now be able to fish Trout Creek, Mecca Flats, South Junction, and all areas upstream of the Warm Springs Reservation boundary. Unfortunately, we are still not able to float the river in any kind of boat. The BLM has suspended boater passes and has closed the boat launches. If you are out there floating in a craft you are easy pickin’ for law enforcement, so leave your boats at home and use the 40 miles of access road up and down from Maupin or join in with hundreds of anglers pounding the trails between Warm Springs and Trout Creek. You will be able to get away from the crowds better in Maupin. Camping along any part of the Deschutes River is still prohibited – this includes sleeping in your vehicle along the road. It is clearly posted, but I get a lot of questions about this on the phone. As I mentioned in earlier reports, the toilets are also closed along the river. One person messaged me about this and said, “What am I supposed to do, bring a shovel?” Um, yes. Hike yourself well away from the river and from common lanes of human traffic, dig a deep hole, and bury your business. Or, bring a wag bag or portable toilet as we use on the river for all of our trips. Or, use the one open public restroom located next to our fly shop in Maupin at the end of the parking lot.
We are all going through this Covid crisis together and it is not going to be easy for any of us to continue to deal with the restrictions on our lives, but I do believe that what we are doing is working. The curve seems to be flattening and we are saving lives – which is what is really important in the long run. It won’t be normal again for quite a while, if ever again, so we will make adjustments and try to make things work within the framework in which we have been placed.
When we are able to open our doors again, we will have to limit the number of people in the store and we will have to require that customers and staff wear face masks or facial coverings to reduce particulates in the air. We will be overjoyed to see the semi-covered faces of our customers when that day comes. As for our guide season, it is impossible to socially distance in a drift boat. We can still guide you on our private lakes if we drive our own vehicles and stay 15 feet apart from each other all day. Should I need to change your fly, you cast it to me and I make the change – voila – guiding from 30 or more feet away from someone is possible on the private lakes.
We are hoping that the river will open to camping at some time during the month of May when the salmonfly anglers are here. The BLM has been pretty tight-lipped about the possibility of opening, so we are sitting on our hands and waiting. In my opinion, camping and being socially distant is possible. TIght lines, and we will see you (through the glass door of the shop) when you stop by Maupin.
This post is a continuation of an ongoing series of flies that I’ve selected to share in an eclectic order, throwing down a disorganized variety of patterns that will include high lakes wet flies, Metolius Green Drake Spinners, albacore streamers, chinook scuds, large intruders, and …. who knows what sort of fly might strike me as fun to share. As usual, I will share the recipe, tying notes, and a fishing story or two for each fly. Let’s get into fly #3 now.
Golden Demon
Hook -Alec Jackson Steelhead Irons Gold #1-7
Thread – UTC or Danville’s 210 D bright yellow
Tail – Bright yellow saddle hackle barbules
Body – Lagartun Gold oval tinsel – Medium to wide
Hackle – Hot orange or bright yellow (tyer’s choice)
Wing – Fox Squirrel tail hair, to bend of hook
The Golden Demon is a fly that I tied season after season in large quantities for customers who have fished anywhere between the Klamath, Deschutes, John Day, Clearwater, Grand Ronde, North Umpqua, Rogue, and BC. Another reason to include this fly in my roster of must-tie-and fish is the fact that it so closely resembles the Comet, a fly that I fished successfully for both Chinook and Steelhead. The color combinations of this pattern are well known as attractive to anadromous fish. Another justification involves the -fact that I have heard so many stories from people who have fished my Golden Demons and caught steelhead that I would feel remiss to not include the pattern here.
He fished a Cortland (333 or 444) Type 3 or Type 6 sinking fly line, if I remember
correctly, and would hook steelhead on the short swing, on the hang, and on a slow up current retrieve. I’m sure that he fished this area in this manner in September or October after water temperatures had begun to decline, and always fished the full sinking line. Wayne described many days when he would hook and land several summer steelhead in this place, always fishing the Golden Demon.
Photo Caption. Vintage-style Golden Demon tied with sunrise yellow hackle, on Eagle Claw 1197-g.
Wayne would wade into the run at its head, stand in knee deep water, and cast both left and right, quartering just slightly downstream, where his fly would hang virtually straight below him in the heart of the run. Maybe that is why this Golden Demon produced so well for him on the Deschutes.
Caption. Coastal Winter steelhead to the Golden Demon.
I’ve seen a lot of variety in the way different tyers represent the Golden Demon, but I’ve never seen this fly dressed with the brilliant yellow materials in the tail, throat, and head, presented on a brilliant gold hook. Wayne’s presentation of a widely varied fly readily distinguishes his dressing from flies that use a less vivid materials like Golden Peasant Crest for the tail, an orange hackle, and either black or orange thread for the head.
I have held Wayne’s fly in my hand alongside several of the alternate dressings, and my eye was always drawn to the sparkle of yellow highlights on his pattern.
I hope you have found entertainment or education in this.
Now is a good time to support the local-fishing-based small businesses that we rely on to enjoy the waters we love.
Pre-book a guided trip for later this season with your favorite local guide service. Many guides have suspended their operations at this point. But hopefully we’ll be back on the water by early summer when fishing really heats up.
And please consider prepaying a local shuttle service for some credits to be used in the future. Here are two of our favorite services:
Shuttle on the McKenzie
Carollyn Broom
PO Box 115
Vida, OR 97488
tel:(541)844-8812
Shuttles on The Middle Fork of the Willamette Below Dexter
Casey Chafin
43045 McKenzie Hwy
Leaburg Or 97488
541 912 0044
Casey is running a Prepay special:
Buy 10 get 1 free 10 shuttles is $200 And I will send them 11 vouchers
PayPal mailto:Harleygirl2u@hotmail.com
We’re going to need these services when we can all get together on the river again. Let’s ensure now that they’ll be there.
Trout Unlimited, Wild Steelheaders United and North Fork Studios release new film on remarkable rebound of summer run steelhead in the Elwha River
SEATTLE (April 20, 2020)—Summer run wild steelhead were thought to be extirpated from Washington’s Elwha River. But after two dams were removed, the rapid rebound of this unique life history of steelhead surprised scientists and has provided hope for recovery of wild steelhead—which
in other watersheds.
Trout Unlimited, Wild Steelheaders United, and North Fork Studios have launched a new film, Rising from the Ashes, on the resurgence of summer steelhead in Washington’s Elwha River via YouTube.
“The Elwha is basically a living laboratory for what happens when you take out dams in a river that has native salmon, steelhead and trout,” said John McMillan, science director for TU’s Wild Steelhead Initiative. “But there is one life history of fish in the Elwha that really is a remarkable story, and that is summer run steelhead. They’re like the Phoenix, rising from the ashes.”
The Elwha River is the site of the largest dam removal project yet undertaken in North America. For more than a century two dams completely blocked upstream migration of anadromous salmon, steelhead and char.
While the rebound of salmon and winter run steelhead in the Elwha after the dams were taken out was anticipated, the recovery of summer run steelhead was not. But taking out the dams changed their prospects—dramatically. Over the past two years, scientific surveys relying primarily on snorkeling throughout the river revealed a significant rebound in summer steelhead numbers.
Trout Unlimited and Wild Steelheaders United hired noted documentary filmmaker and devoted steelhead angler Shane Anderson to record the amazing recovery of summer run steelhead in the Elwha. Rising from the Ashes is the result.
“After spending the past decade documenting river and fish stories across the West, this was by far the most inspirational, magical and painful assignment I’ve done,” said Shane Anderson, owner of the North Fork Studios film production company. “I’ve spent time on the Elwha my entire life, making this comeback story really hit home for me and giving me a tremendous amount of hope during very challenging times for our fish, rivers and environment.”
Rising from the Ashes records the work of some of the leading players in the collaborative effort between resource agencies, Tribes, and conservation groups to monitor the recovery of salmon and steelhead and the Elwha. What they found, after undertaking a snorkel survey of the entire mainstem river in September of 2019, is remarkable. The film also provides insight into the benefits of removing dams from rivers for other species, and for the ecology of the watershed as a whole.
The film’s release has been supported by a series of Live events on Trout Unlimited’s Instagram feed this week. Go here for a recording of Wild Steelheaders United ambassador Lee Geist’s interview with John McMillan about the resurgence of summer steelhead in the Elwha.
Author’s Note: I wrote this here article for your entertainment, and perhaps to offer food for thought. I make no claim regarding the veracity of numbers, logic, scientific accuracy, or commonsense. Since I am, at heart, and angler by genetic predisposition, you should know this already.
On a perfect sunny morning in April, I’d rather be fishing. I’d rather be drifting down the Nestucca or a half dozen other Oregon Rivers, but the Covid-19 pandemic is upon us, as is social distancing, so I will not be fishing this morning, and not tomorrow either.
While some folks are agonizing, tumbled ‘round and ‘round in the emotional cement-mixer of stay-go, go-stay, what-do-the rules-say, how can I get around the rules, who’s-to-stop-me, I’m an American so it’s my right, and so on, I got to thinking what the stay-home order means to the fish.
Yep. I tried putting the steelhead first, and the revelation was stunning.
I’ve been a shut-in self-isolator for nearly thirty-five days now. That’s thirty-five days when I haven’t been swinging flies across classic tailouts on the Nestucca. Thirty-five days when I haven’t been dragging an egg-pattern under an indicator between the runs where I like to wade-fish.
My absence from the river might have allowed, hummmmmm, about a dozen steelhead to avoid getting a hook in their snoot, given that I would have averaged a fish every three days. If you give me a more generous average, my absence might have let two dozen steelhead run up the river without one of my hooks being stuck in the corner of its mouth, the roof of its mouth, in its gill rakers, or down its throat.
If ten or twenty percent of the un-harassed fish I let swim unimpeded up-river didn’t die because I’ve been off the river, that means the spawning population just went up by one or two steelhead.
Not much, but it’s not a bad thing.
However, I was but one among thousands of stuck-at-home anglers, so voila, the steelhead saw a lot fewer dangerous little trinkets and enticing yummy things to eat and explore and otherwise pounce upon and inhale.
My head exploded with the possibilities. How many rank beginners, twenty-fish-a-day guides, dedicated Bobber-Doggers, Jig specialists, Worm fanatics, Blue Fox swingers, Euro nymphers, spoon-chuckers, double-bead drifters, and old-school Hot-Shotters stayed home during the last thirty-five days?
Thousands stayed home during what is possibly one of the hottest months of the winter steelhead season on the Siuslaw, Alsea, South fork of the Coquille, and Umpqua ….. I bet you get the point of where my thinking is going by now.
So while this stay-at-home has been a drag for us anglers, it has been one heck of a welcome respite for the steelhead, the cutthroat, to a lesser degree for the spring chinook.
At first blush, this seemed like a move of potential conservation merit, of possible benefit to wild steelhead. Of course, it also meant a zillion dollars revenue evaporated, jobs lost, spirits crushed, and perhaps working families in ruins.
But if I set the economic and human consequences to the side, the shut-down might have helped the steelhead a little, and as angler/conservationists, this would normally be cause for celebration.
But then another thought hit me in the face like a crisp, sharp edged brick.
This new perspective came at me from an email string left in my path like a trail of bread crumbs. One fellow cited a recent study finding that 60+ percent of Puget Sound smolts get eaten by harbor seals.
Ooooooops. What’s the point of producing more wild (or hatchery smolts) if they get eaten by seals?
But the predation might be “normal,” came the retort in email trail, and besides, what about the cormorants, pollution, water withdrawals, habitat simplification, and habitat degradation, and fish-farms that are filthy with sea lice– the scenario exploded what little grey matter I had left under my Simms ball cap.
I yielded to the complexity then, puked on my fly tying bench, and went back to learning Tai Chi to soothe my daily bout with virus anxiety
My takeaway.
The steelhead’s world is a complicated place, just as our world is. Everything is connected. When someone comes along predicting the effect of this or that action, its difficult to know if they are competently knowledge-of and accurately taking into account all the variables. Who among us really is? We have our own narrow set of beliefs and bias, and that is our frame of reference.
What is certain is this. Anglers, as passionate a gaggle of people as you will ever see, are already divided over issues like
*hatchery versus wild,
*bait versus flies,
*catch-and-kill versus catch-and-release,
*among others.
Being divided, we are ripe for losing what little control we might have over the fish, rivers, and wild lands we love
We anglers are prone to rather quickly setting upon each other, to the amusement of the, the polluters, water users, golf course developers, McMansion brokers, and so on.
What to do?
Just because the world is complicated doesn’t mean that we should throw our hands in the air and give up, Just because we hold on to our seemingly conflicting beliefs doesn’t mean that we should rip our shirts off and start a cage fight.
We need to stand together, united by our love for fishing, clean rivers, public access to places where we and our families can experience a little, at least, of what was common in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. That’s not asking for too much, really, is it?
I think it is not.
If you are a member of an advocacy group, ask your fellow members to make friends with members of other advocacy groups. You know the kind of groups. I’m talking about.
Association of Northwest Steelheaders.
Can’t be done, you say?
My group can’t work with those people.
We don’t need them.
Fine, go home to your own corner and sulk. File your lawsuits and lobby your legislator friends.
And don’t be surprised when the power players who represent land development, deforestation, waste disposal, mining, and commercial fish farming to name just a few examples – don’t be surprised when they mow us all to the bare dirt .
Gotta go now. Got some flies to tie, leaders to stuff into leader wallets, and maybe a few yarnies to tie.
It’s gonna be time to fish any day now.
Jay Nicholas – April 17th 2020
This article first appeared April 8th on Meateater written by Joe Cermele.
The last week of March Raritan Bay really caught fire. This 70,000-acre piece of water, part of the New York bight, is flanked by North Jersey and Staten Island. The Manhattan skyline at the mouth of the Hudson River paints the bay’s northern backdrop. Every spring, Raritan gives cabin fever-racked salty anglers their first crack at big striped bass. The fish pile into this shallow, confined bay in April to stage for the spawn, and targeting them on a weekend can give a whole new meaning to “combat fishing.”
This year, Raritan isn’t just the nucleus of early-season striper action; it also sits in the epicenter of some of the hottest COVID-19 zones in the country. Neither nation-high infection numbers nor stay-at-home orders from both New Jersey and New York seem to be discouraging many anglers from crowding onto boats or lining up at ramps.
For clarity, I’m not suggesting we stop fishing—quite the opposite. I want us to be able to keep fishing. Getting on the water, albeit less frequently than before the pandemic, is one of the few things I can do that still feels normal. Unfortunately, after yesterday’s closure of all state and county parks in New Jersey, I now have far fewer options where I can feed my fishing fix.
What disappointed me most during the Raritan Bay striper eruption was the number of “high-profile” captains and anglers posting videos and photos from the bay with boats full of buddies. It’s simply impossible to maintain 6 feet of distance on a boat. Many states (including NY and NJ) strongly recommend that if you’re going to fish on a boat, go alone or with only members of your immediate household. That’s what I’m doing.
While I want everyone in those photos and social media posts to remain healthy, let’s not forgot that people are dying, and slowing the spread of this disease is what matters first. But the point here is bigger and well, more selfish. I want to be able to keep fishing straight through this whole coronavirus outbreak. In order to do that, I need my home state to keep fishing open. Failure to abide by social distancing directives lead to the shutdown of all recreational fishing in Washington State. In the article published on Foxnews.com on March 26, WDFW Fish Program director Kelly Cunningham presented a clear justification for the harsh decision.
“We’ve seen an uptick in outdoor recreation at some locations in recent weeks as people have looked for ways to get outside,” he said. “We’ve had reports of crowded boat ramps and busy fishing on some rivers, which runs counter to the governor’s direction to stay home and practice social distancing.”
Washington state should serve as a cautionary tale of what happens when governors and state agencies are put in the precarious position of balancing the need to control a pandemic outbreak with the desire to maintain the rights of citizens. Presently, Washington’s fishing ban has not been lifted, and on Monday the state announced a suspension of all spring bear and turkey hunting until at least May 4. The thing is, it didn’t have to happen that way. We, as outdoorsmen and women, have the power to prevent that situation from repeating all over the country. The more we disregard social distancing recommendations, the more pressure we put on state governments to keep us in check. The solution is simple: stay away from each other until this all blows over and we can keep fishing, hunting, and playing outside. But we’re clearly failing to do that, as we’re seeing more and more closures pile up as the weeks drag on.
The rules about what we can and can’t do are changing fast, but it’s on us to stay current and stay in compliance, just like any other hunting and fishing regulations. Social media isn’t helping (I know, what a shock), spreading a free-for-all of misinformation. “I read about it on Facebook” is still not a defense for violating fish and game laws, even during a pandemic. If you’re having difficulty navigating the sea of changing restrictions and social media hearsay, you can find the most up-to-date news on outdoor-related rules, closures, and seasons by state here.
If you’re looking for guidance on getting outdoors and enjoying our sports in a way that won’t negatively impact future government decisions, look West (just try to ignore Washington). The guidelines in place in states with more open land and fewer people are valuable no matter where you live. I reached out to Rachel Schmidt, the director of the Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation. With her insight, we’ve put together what we believe are best practices for outdoor recreation during this unprecedented time. And yes, some of these suggestions might be hard to swallow, but it’s all in the interest of keeping us outside now and getting back to normal life faster.
Be Prepared to be Alone
I’ve owned three boats in my life, and I didn’t buy any of them so I could spend more time fishing alone. The social aspects of hunting and fishing are what many of us love, but this is the time to put them on hold. It’s easy to tell yourself that you’re healthy and being cautious, and so are your pool of buddies, therefore there’s no harm in jumping on a boat or driving to turkey camp together. But millions of people are thinking the same way—in essence believing this virus is not going to affect their circles. And let’s be honest with ourselves, some of these same buddies have a history of contracting other “social diseases.” Hell, one of my fishing buddies contracted foot and mouth disease, twice. The mentality of keeping to your “inner circle” can still spread COVID-19, especially given that some of the biggest infectors didn’t even know they had it for a week or more.
In a recent Angling Trade story titled “The Coronavirus Elephant in the Fly-Fishing Room,” editor Kirk Deeter interviews Dr. Cliff Watts, a veteran ER doctor and avid angler. The story takes a deep dive into the practical and moral dos and don’ts of fishing during the pandemic, but when asked if fishing on a boat—particularly a drift boat—can be done safely, Dr. Watt’s answer was essentially “no.”
“Most drift boats mandate that the rower and the fisherperson be less than 6 feet apart,” Watts said. “The person downwind of a sneeze, or a spit, would be vulnerable to ‘droplets’ and hence there could be a significant potential to spread any virus.”
Fish and hunt alone, or as many government agencies suggest, only have close contact in the woods and water with people who live under your roof. If you must go out with a close buddy for safety or other reasons, drive separately, wade fish instead of using the boat, and keep proper distance during the trip. Hopefully in the coming weeks, there will be a relaxing of social distancing guidelines that allow us to enjoy the outdoors with friends in a normal fashion again, but while we’re still in the thick of it, follow the rules.
Rethink Where You Recreate
Social distancing while enjoying the outdoors has created an odd conundrum in many areas. While theoretically it’s not difficult to stay 6 feet away from other people, it is when parks, trails, and recreation areas across the country are seeing massive influxes of visitors. This crowding forced many states to close down certain areas, but according to Schmidt, there is more at play when governments consider the shutdown of public lands than simply the spreading of the virus. It boils down to behaviors triggered by the need to social distance.
“If parking lots are crowded, don’t try to fit by making new parking spaces or parking outside of the trailhead parking area on the side of the road,” Schmidt said. “If established trails are crowded, don’t blaze new trails in heavily used areas. These actions cause damage to the resources.”
According to Schmidt, with many public recreation areas operating with little or no staff, they don’t have the manpower to police these infractions. The solution is just shutting the area down completely.
“When Montana’s governor announced the stay at home order, he asked residents to use good judgment when it comes to outdoor activities,” Schmidt said. “That means maybe finding a different trail or keeping outdoor recreation closer to home. The number one goal of everyone at this moment is preventing the spread of a very serious virus, but if that goal is not compatible with responsible recreation, the recreation in certain locations will have to be put on pause.”
I caught up with Deeter at Angling Trade, who offered another perspective to consider when deciding where you’re going to recreate. It speaks directly to the growing number of people with the desire to leave the crowds—and in many cases, a COVID hot zone—behind.
“If you’re going to drive to fish, it should be for minutes, not hours,” Deeter said. “It’s not cool to drive from Denver to the Frying Pan, or from Seattle to Montana right now, but people are doing it. You have to think about the rural communities you’re heading to. They don’t want your ass there. They don’t have the infrastructure to handle an uptick in cases. Help them now by not showing up to fish, and then help them later by showing up when this is over. That’s when they’ll need you.”
Now Isn’t the Time to be Daring
Western states like Colorado and Montana were quick to advise against backcountry skiing and rock climbing, in some cases attempting to shut it down entirely. The directive is aimed at minimizing the need to tie up rescue crews, medical personnel, and medical facilities with unnecessary injuries during the pandemic. Skiers and climbers are naturally more prone to injury than hunters and anglers, however, the message from these ski-heavy states should resonate with every outdoorsman across the country.
Now is not the time to be adventurous. That section of unexplored river you’re dying to run in your kayak can wait. Suck it up and fish the easy-access water instead of crawling down a canyon to check out a new stream. If you’re running a boat alone, don’t push off 30 miles. Keep it close to the beach. Don’t head out into the steepest, rockiest terrain you can think of looking for turkeys or spring bears. Hunt the usual haunts you know well and consider staying closer to the trailhead than you normally would.
This may seem trivial and like an edict from the fun police, but imagine breaking an ankle or wrist right now. How eager are you to go visit an emergency room for an injury that could have easily been avoided? Not only could this increase the odds that you’ll be exposed to the virus, but your injury could potentially slow or hinder care to a patient with COVID-19.
Leave No Trace
I hope that everyone reading this already follows the “leave no trace” principle. Schmidt, however, pointed out that it has never been more critical than right now. Being a steward in the outdoors will directly correlate to fewer closures of boat ramps, parks, and recreation areas.
“If there’s a garbage can at your favorite trailhead, don’t throw anything in it,” she said. “Pack your trash out. If there’s a public bathroom on site, don’t use it. It’s easy in this situation to put land managers in a very tight spot because if they have to shut the bathrooms down due to lack of resources, manpower, or health risk to maintenance staff, people will relieve themselves behind or around the outhouse, and then you have a human waste hazard situation. If they leave facilities open with minimal maintenance, people complain that the facilities are not being kept up to par. It’s a very delicate balance.”
The way to tip that balance in our favor is simply minimizing our impact as we enjoy the outdoors right now, particularly in places with more visitors. Launch the boat, fish, and leave promptly when you’re done. Shorten your duration in the field; go home for lunch instead of packing in a picnic.
There are lots of reasons for fear and anxiety right now, and even outdoor recreation, our sanity safe haven, feels threatened. Recently, states like Ohio, Kentucky, and Nebraska closed turkey license sales to non-residents and are requiring out-of-state hunters to quarantine for 14 days after entering the state. Even in Raritan Bay, some townships have shut down popular waterfront fishing spots and municipal parking lots as a result of weekend crowds. Non-residents are being asked to please stay away. Washingtonians are completely locked out of their hunting and fishing, and several states including Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Texas have shuttered their state parks.
But let’s please take the long view here. This is one season in a lifetime, and if we all hunt, fish, and play outside more conservatively and responsibly, we might not lose the privilege altogether. Not only are we doing the right thing for our society in this tough time, we might also find some small, long-term benefit from less-molested wildlife. Imagine what a season of lighter harvest might do for future turkey populations. Think of how reduced pressure on a bay loaded with prespawn stripers could boost the population in years to come. We have to make some sacrifices now for the good of every person in the country, but take solace in the fact that in some instances, you are subsequently doing it for the good of the fish and game species you love.
Featured image by Stanley Kosinski.
A Friend Shared this article with me from the New York Times. Enjoy!
My Isolation Breaking Point
I can’t wait for social distancing to end, so I can be alone again.
By Matt Labash
Mr. Labash is the author of “Fly Fishing With Darth Vader.”
In this endless war against Covid-19, I have tried to be a dutiful soldier. I’ve mostly stayed home to binge-watch and binge-eat (bad news and Fig Newtons, respectively). I’ve yet to poleax any octogenarians as they dive-tackle the last pack of Cottonelle. I only sneeze on immediate family. I’m a regular Audie Murphy.
But even we stoical war-hero types have our breaking point, and I’ve reached mine. My governor, Larry Hogan, banned recreational fishing in his recent stay-at-home order, intended to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
As a proud citizen (now, inmate) of Maryland, once un-ironically nicknamed the “Free State,” I’ve always liked Mr. Hogan. He’s stout and feisty, more workhorse than show pony. He hates many of the same things I do, like high taxes and Pennsylvania (whose tributaries pollute our Chesapeake Bay). He’s that filthiest of words in the modern Republican Party — a centrist. I’ve voted for him twice.
But now I’m rethinking my drink. In early days, when Mr. Hogan started closing schools and “nonessential” businesses, we avid fly fishermen thought our biggest problem would be our parks and rivers getting overrun by newbies, many of whom hadn’t seen sunlight in years. Stir-Crazy Nation now had nowhere else to go (including to jobs, now being eliminated at alarming speed).
A clueless dad, out for a walk with the family, skipped rocks across my fishing buddy’s favorite brown-trout hole as he was trying to fish it, unaware of river etiquette. At one of my go-to bass spots, I witnessed a roving band of bored teenagers throwing rocks at geese across the pond. They came nowhere near hitting them — the noodle-armed delinquents probably hadn’t lifted anything heavier than a PlayStation controller since seventh grade. Still, I couldn’t wait for all this “social distancing” to end, so I could be alone again.
But at least we had fishing. Or did. On March 30, the governor issued a confusing edict. While still allowing “outdoor exercise recreation” such as hiking, running and biking, he banned everything but “essential” activities. For most fishermen, fishing regularly is essential for mental health — more useful than therapy, Zoloft and even bourbon whiskey.
With much confusion over whether fishing was banned, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources offered clarification: Those “who fish as a matter of sustenance” could still fish, but in all cases “catch-and-release fishing is strictly prohibited anywhere in Maryland.”
The coronavirus, apparently, isn’t the only epidemiological disaster. As Yossarian said in “Catch-22,” “Insanity is contagious.”
Never mind that most fly fishers, nearly all catch-and-releasers, need at least 50 feet of space to ply their craft, 7.3 times beyond social-distancing guidelines, unless they want to bury a zug bug in someone’s cornea on the backcast.
Never mind that the Environmental Protection Agency has relaxed enforcement standards during the crisis, so that it is now more lawful in Maryland for a petroleum company to dump pollutants in a river than it is for me to stand in one and catch a fish without killing it.
What made me snap was when the Department of Natural Resources stipulated that charter boats could still go out, as long as they were fishing for food and kept it to fewer than 10 people.
I frequently see these crowded boats zip by me while striper-fishing the jetties of the Chesapeake. And while I don’t begrudge a skipper making a living, just picturing their pink-faced sports floating by on a party barge, listening to bad bro-country while downing Fireball shots, as the boat catches their fish while trolling … well, that was just too much.
So, I did what I always do when the world stops making sense — went fishing.
I grabbed my trusty six-weight and my sentimental-favorite vest, which now has more holes than pockets, though I can’t seem to throw it away. I went to a nearby farm pond, half-scummed over with algae, but which is so tucked away, I drove by it for 15 years without knowing it was there. I brought a makeshift creel (a knapsack lined with a Safeway bag), in case I had to fake a fish homicide if a natural resources officer rolled up on me.
As the sun slipped behind the tree line, while spring peepers tuned up the band, I caught a mess of largemouth and crappie and bluegill, each of them somehow managing to wriggle out of my hand before they made it to the creel. Yet they didn’t have me feeling like an outlaw; they made me feel what they always do: gratitude. Helping me live just a little lighter.
As Jim Harrison wrote: “Fishing does what poet Tom Crawford said about bird watching: It removes the weight of what we’re not.”
While too many of our fellow citizens have perished, while two of my cousins and one of my nephews are in quarantine, while the woman at Safeway courageously bagging my groceries told me she was staying healthy, “but some girl at Giant just died” (she offered this matter-of-factly, a-grocer-turned-grizzled-infantryman), it was good to see old friends. They might just be fish. But they’ll do. Especially with the rest of our friends locked away.
Matt Labash, formerly a national correspondent at The Weekly Standard, is the author of “Fly Fishing with Darth Vader.”
In this video, Jay demonstrates a custom blended dubbing loop using Loon’s D Loop Tweezer to create a fishy crawdad trout streamer. With different color combinations, incorporating weights and sizes this fly could be used for many species of fish besides trout. Give it a try.
Daiichi D1560 Size 6
Danville 210D Fl. Orange
EP Foxy Brush
Senyo’s Metallic Barred Predator Wrap
Hareline’s Ice Dub UV
Lagartun 74D Fl. Orange
Hareline’s Micro Rabbit Strips
In this video, Jay ties a Tan Kiptail Bonefish Crazy Charlie Fly that was developed in the 1970’s by bonefish guide & angler Charlie Smith at Andros Island.
Whether traveling to the Bahamas or to another bonefish destination, every angler should have a selection of Crazy Charlie’s in their fly box. Try them in different colors, sizes, and weights (The Blind Charlie-no bead chain).
Hook: TMC 800S #6-8
Thread: Danville 210D Flat Waxed White
Body: Hareline Tan Med. Chenille
Rib (optional): UV Tan Krystal Flash or Silver Round Tinsel
Eyes: Chicone’s Stealth Bead Chain Large Tan
Wing: UV2 Calf Tail Norm Woods
Overwing: UV Pink Krystal Flash
Legs: Chicone’s Barred Legs
Head: Copic Marker Tan
UV Cure: Solarez Ultra Thin
In this video, Jay Nicholas and Chris Daughters introduce Hareline’s new Forked Bling Tails, Iridescent Black Schlappen, and Just Add H2O’s Flash Blend Bait Brushes and Shiner Flash to tie a Forked Bling Dorado Fly.
Forked Bling Tails come in a variety of of color combinations and add a spinning tail to your flies. You could use them for bass, pike, musky, dorado, tiger fish and other large fish.
Chris used them recently on a Dorado trip to South America and recommends using a swivel in conjunction with your wire leader to reduce twisting of your fly-line.
Hook: Ahrex PR320
Thread: Veevus GSP 150d or Similar
Eyes: Hareline Barbell Eyes
Tail: Hareline Forked Bling Tails
Craft Fur or Yak Hair
Hareline Iridescent Black Schlappen
Body: Just Add H2O’s Flash Blend Bait Brush (3)
Black 1″
Orange 2″
Black 2″
Zap A Gap Adhesive
Photo Caption The hand full is something like fifty packs of dumbbells, barbells, and hourglass eyes that Chris sent me to examine and research. Ha ha ha ha ha. I’ve been tying with these puppies for decades, although to be sure some of these products are new within the last three or so years. But I’m no stranger to these beauties.
A knock at the door recently announced the arrival of a USPS Priority mail package from Chris Daughters at the Caddis Fly Angling Shop. Small package, but very heavy for its size. I opened the box carefully, because I knew exactly what I’d find inside.: over five hundred weighted eyes for fly tying. Five hundred, and these represented something like half the eyes that are currently available to fly tyers today.
Chris sent the package with an invitation: he asked me if I was interested in trying to make sense of the madness; if I would be willing to tackle these dumbbells in a series of blog posts.
“Sure,” I said.
A task like this offered to anyone with the slightest hint of OCD is like, well, ………..
Photo Caption The wide angle is my at the bench showing just how I felt when I realized the magnitude of Chris’ request. Instead of simply tying flies with these dumbbells, I had to accurately describe them, measure them, compare and contrast them, and transform the analytical data into recognizable information bytes.
Not child’s play, let me tell you.
Photo Caption. This is but a small peek at the array of weighted eyes that I laid out and began weighing and describing for this chapter/post.
Four weeks later, I’m done. Not really done-done; but I’m finished enough to set my figurative pen down, put the scale away for awhile, and report my thinking and observations.
Here is a list of the topics I’ll cover in this chapter.
1. Introduction: Dumbbell, Bead Chain, Barbell, and Hourglass Eyes – weighted Eyes for Fly Tying
2. Hareline Double Pupil Lead (and Brass) Eyes: Complete Review
3. Hareline Lead Eyes: The Economical Choice for Fresh and Saltwater Flies
4. The Weight of Lead Versus Brass Dumbbell Eyes: Is the Difference Significant?
5. Aquaflies Intruder Eyes Versus Hareline Brass Eyes: Complete guide and review
6. Guide to Choosing Weighted Eyes for Hooks, Shanks, and Tubes in Fly Tying
7. Durability of Dumbbell Eyes – Does a “Toughness” rating make sense?
8. Hook Size Guide for Hareline Double Pupil Eyes for Fresh and Saltwater Flies
9. Size Guide for Glue-on Eyes to use with Hareline, Aluminum Sea Eyes and Sunken Brass Eyes
10. Master Chart of Weighted Eyes for Fly Tying
1. Introduction: Dumbbell, Bead Chain, Barbell, and Hourglass Eyes – weighted Eyes for Fly Tying
Most fly tyers these days will refer to dumbbell eyes and apply the same term to eyes that have what I consider very different shapes, This is ok, but the serious tyer is well aware that weighted eyes are not all dumbbells, and holds strong but not necessarily universal personal opinions regarding the proper application of various types of eyes to different hooks, shanks, and tubes.
So, I decided to start by laying out my three categories of weighted fly tying eyes. These are
• Dumbbell
• Bead chain
• Barbell
• Hourglass
Photo Caption. As examples in the photo above, from left to right, I have lined up dumbbell eyes, bead-chain eyes, hourglass eyes, barbell eyes, and Aluminum Sea Eyes.
Photo Caption. Close-up view of dumbbell, barbell, hourglass, eyes, and Aluminum Sea Eyes.
Photo Caption. Close-up view of bead chain eyes (Chicone’s Stealth Bead Chain).
What is the base metal of weighted fly eyes?
Short story here – the vast majority of the eyes we use on our flies are composed of a core that is either lead, brass, stainless steel, titanium, or Aluminum.
Want to know which is which? Here you go, check out the table below.
Why Fish Weighted Eyes on a Fly?
All of these weighted eyes cause a fly to fish and swim in a different manner than a fly tied with lead wire or beads. ‘specifically, weighted eyes are sure to cause a fly to swim with the hook point up, rather than down. In addition. Weighted eyes, when properly sized to the hook, will cause the fly to dip up and down in the water, an enticing action. And finally (ha ha) the upward positioning of the hook attitude simultaneously reduces incidences of shagging rocks logs and leaves, keeps the hook point sharper longer, and increases the percentages of solid hook-ups.
If you’ve never tied flies with weighted eyes and this doesn’t tempt you to give it a try, you must be a fanatic Euro nympher, content with catching hundreds of trout at will. In that case, I wish you well.
2. Hareline Double Pupil Lead (and Brass) Eyes: Complete Review
These eyes are, without a doubt, my dumbbell of choice when tying Clousers on regular and 60-degree jig hooks. There might be times when I’m tying Clousers on larger 2/0 and 3/0 hooks, I often prefer to use nickel plated lead eyes, but only then because I like the shiny nickel for many of the baitfish patterns I fish offshore.
Available Colors:
• There are ten color combinations available.
• All eyes have black pupils.
• Five eyes emphasize black outer eye with contrasting inner eye color.
• The remaining color themes are – Hot orange; Hot pink; Chartreuse; Yellow; Red
Listen up all you fanatic tyers of Clousers, Sculpins, streamers and such forth.
With literally hundreds of weighted eyes on today’s fly tying materials market, the process of figuring out which eye to match with which hook. If you can be patient, I think this blog post and several that will follow will earn a place on your fly bench. In fact, I’ve created tables to summarize my best guidance so you can print it out and lay it close at hand when you are ordering materials and assembling your next creation.
I decided to focus on listing the hooks I prefer to fish and the sizes that match-up with Hareline Double Pupil Lead Eyes. These are, without a doubt, my dumbbell of choice when tying Clousers. The only exception is that when tying Clousers on the larger hooks 2/0 and 3/0, I often prefer to use nickel plated lead eyes.
Photo Caption. Hareline Double Pupil Eyes in lead (chartreuse) and brass (hot pink).
Dumbbell Eye Weight
I weighed ten dumbbells of each size to arrive at these figures and there was surprising little variation.
Dumbbell Eye Weight (lead)
Lead dumbbell weight observations
XL – 49 gr
L – 21 gr
M – gr
S – 10 gr
XS – 8 gr
Best application.
I tie with these Double Pupil Lead Eyes on hooks, shanks, and tubes. These dumbbell style eyes are superior to Hourglass eyes when tying on tubes or heavy shanks like Waddington Shanks or large shanks that have a return eye that is not tapered. The best use of various shapes of weighted eyes will be discussed further in another section of this post/chapter.
Best hooks and hook sizes for Double Pupil Lead Eyes
3. Hareline Lead Eyes: The Economical Choice for Fresh and Saltwater Flies
Most versatile and Economical Dumbbell Eyes for Fly Tying
From X Large to Midget these are excellent dumbbells for your fly tying needs.
The most versatile lead eyes ever!
• Economical
• 10 eyes per pack
• Reasonably durable
• Fresh and saltwater applications
• Trout nymphs
• Streamers
• Clousers for all species fresh and salt
• Finish: plain lead, painted black, and nickel plated
Photo caption. The trout nymphs above are tied on TMC 3761 hooks perfectly matched with Hareline Painted Dumbbell Eyes: XS with #6 hook; Mini with #8 hook; Micro with #10 hook; and Midget with #12 hook. These flies are an example that shows showing how nicely the right dumbbell eye fishes on nymphs in sizes that range from #6 to #12.
Photo caption. Double Pupil Lead Dumbbell Eyes matched with the proper size Gamakatsu SC-15 hooks. The XL dumbbell is matched with sizes #2/0 hook and the XS is matched with the #4 hook.
Hook Size Guide for Hareline Lead Eyes
Remembering that these lead eyes are the same shape and weight as the Double Pupil Lead Eyes, the hook size recommendations will be identical – but I wanted to show these two hook size tables in order to –
• Include many hooks that I might not have noted in the size chart for double pupil eyes
• To show hooks appropriate for use with mini, micro, and midget eyes that are not available in the double pupil style of eyes
Photo Caption. Size comparison of Hareline Double Pupil Lead Eyes and Hareline Lead Eyes. Note that the somewhat plainer lead eyes offer three sizes smaller than the double pupil variety.
Hook size guide for Hareline Lead Eyes
The bottom line for Hareline Lead Eyes?
I believe that these are the most versatile and economical dumbbell eyes available today. No fancy colors here, and the fly fanatic might quibble about whether the durability of these eyes is as good as another product. Although own favorite is the Double Pupil variety (I gravitate to the bright colors) but these Hareline Lead Eyes are my front choice for nickel plated saltwater eyes, and these are unmatched when I want to tie trout nymphs using dumbbells rather than beads.
Undoubtedly, these are great dumbbells that think are often overlooked since the new generations of fancy eyes have evolved.
4. Aquaflies Intruder Eyes Versus Hareline Brass Eyes: Complete guide and review
I’ve appreciated these relatively new-to-market Aquaflies Intruder Eyes since I first saw them. Doug Brutocaco was my guest at my family’s Pacific City cabin a few years ago (where does the time go?); he had several product samples with him and graciously offered me some of the first of these eyes that they took to market.
I loved the colors, the finish, and the possibilities for use with hook and straight shank Intruders. It was a year or so before I realized that there were many similarities between the Aquaflies eyes and the Hareline Brass eyes. So this section will lay out what I’ve found about the two products laid side by side.
Photo Caption. This photo shows all 8 color options of the Aquaflies intruder Eyes.
• Light pink
• Purple
• Dark Blue
• Claret
• Hot pink
• Hot orange
• Yellow Chartreuse
• Light blue
Please note that you may encounter variation in color and eye shape between production lots. This can be rather annoying and you might not notice it unless you are tying many many flies. because the variations tend to occur between production runs at the factory where the eyes are made. One production run of eyes might be 20,000 eyes: enough to fill 1,000 bags. I have seen thousands of packs of these types of dumbbell eyes over the last fifty years I’ve tied flies; the instances of product variation has become less common over the years.
In my opinion, the Aquaflies and Hareline brass eyes reviewed here are best used on straight shanks and hooks. These eyes tie in nicely on the Aquaflies return eye and round eye shanks because both of these are a slender base for the hourglass shape of the eye to fit over.
These hourglass eyes are not well suited for use on tubes or bulky return eye shanks, because the broad surface of the tube or shank does not allow the narrow waist of the eye to “seat” snugly.
As noted in the previous table comparing these two products, Hareline Brass Eyes are offered in four rather than three sizes. I prefer to use the three larger sizes for flies like Intruders that are tied on shanks with slender return eyes or straight hook or shank wire. I will tie with the smallest Hareline Brass Eye on micro shanks or smaller hooks and shank wire. This XS size is really quite fine and does not match well with many of the typical shanks and larger hooks (#2 and. up)
Photo Caption. Aquaflies intruder Eyes on left and Hareline Brass eyes on right.
This photo shows three Aquaflies Intruder Eyes (Chartreuse) alongside 4 Hareline Brass eyes in hot flame red. This photo s a reminder that Hareline eyes are offered in four versus three sizes as well as the existence in eye color and shape variation.
The table below summarizes our data regarding Aquaflies Intruder Eyes versus Hareline Brass Eyes
5. Lead Versus Brass Dumbbell Eyes: Is the Weight Difference Significant?
Composition of Weighted Eyes
Before debating the merits of lead versus brass eyes, let’s note that weighted fly tying eyes are predominantly composed of lead, brass, tungsten, aluminum, or stainless streel. The base metal used in the fly tying products that are most in use these days (2020) are listed below.
Lead
• Double Pupil Led Eyes
• Painted Lead Eyes
• Hareline Lead Eyes
• Hareline Heavy Lead Eyes
Brass
• Double Pupil Brass Eyes Hareline
• Brass Eyes
• Aquaflies Intruder Eyes
• Balz-Eyes
• I-Balz
• Pseudo Eyes
• Real Eyes Plus
• Brass Sunken Barbell Eyes
• Bead Chain
• Chicone’s Bead Chain
• Senyo’s Bead Chain
Tungsten
• Tungsten Predator Eyes
• Tungsten Hourglass Eyes
Aluminum
• Aluminum Hourglass Eyes
Stainless Steel
• SS Bead Chain
Is lead significantly heavier than brass?This is far from a trivial matter to debate. We know that lead is denser (heavier) than brass, but in the world of fly tying eyes, does the difference matter? After weighing these eyes myself and looking at the side-by-side comparison below, I would say – No, the weight difference is so slight that it is unlikely to affect the way a fly fishes, when taken in context with all of the materials that are lashed to the hook.
6. Guide to Choosing Weighted Eyes for Hooks, Shanks, and Tubes in Fly Tying
Many of us tie flies on Hooks, Shanks, & Tubes, depending on the pattern, our mood, and sometimes because we are trying to expand the reach of our skills.
My opinion regarding weighted eyes is shown in the table below. Dumbbell and barbell eyes are far more versatile than hourglass eyes; Dumbbells and barbells can be used with all hooks and shanks, but hourglass eyes are best suited only for a bare hook or shank.
Shape of Weighted Eyes.
As noted previously, I classify weighted eyes as Dumbbell, Bead Chain, Barbell, and Hourglass shapes.
Application of Weighted Eyes to hooks, shanks, and tubes.
My opinion regarding weighted eyes is shown in the table below.
• Dumbbell and barbell eyes are far more versatile than hourglass eyes;
• Dumbbells and barbells can be used with all hooks and shanks,
• but hourglass eyes are best suited only for a bare hook or shank.
Form and Function.
This table below hows my opinion that Dumbbell and Barbell eyes can be used
with virtually all hooks and shanks; Hourglass eyes, in contrast, are only suitable for bare hook and straight shanks.
Photo caption. Waddington Shank with dumbbell eye securely lashed on.
Photo caption. Waddington Shank with dumbbell eyes at left and hourglass eyes to right, Clearly, the dumbbell eyes will fit more easily on the wide platform of the shank than hourglass eyes could. securely lashed on.
Photo caption. Aquaflies tapered return eye in center left- OPST round eye shank at center right. The dumbbells at far left will fit best on the Aquaflies return shank, and the hourglass eyes at far right will fit better on the OPST round eye shank.
7. Durability of Dumbbell Eyes – Does a “Toughness” rating make sense?
This is a common question that is shrouded with intrigue, opinion, and personal preference.
With years of experience fishing flies tied with most all of these products I certainly have my favorites. But overall, I think that all of the weighted eyes we tie with in 2020 are sufficiently durable and I use them all without hesitation.
Selecting weighted fly trying eyes for durability.
I tend to select the weighted eyes for the flies I tie based more on my perception of shape, weight, and color – far more so than by a ranking of perceived durability. I have seen fellow anglers fish the most beat-up, paint-worn-off eyes you can imagine –with great fish catching success,
Grueling hours on the water fishing flies tied with weighted eyes will prove that some eyes are a little more durable than others. Hareline Tungsten Predator Eyes are tough, they do not chip, and they have a pleasant modified barbell shape, But these tungsten eyes can break in half and fly off our fly (ha ha) when our fly smacks the side of an aluminum boat on a forward or back-cast.
Other weighted eyes that are painted or plated can lose their coating when they drag through sand and rocks, and all can be ruined by a poorly placed pair of pliers, when we are removing flies from fish mouths.
Photo Caption. The eyes above were chipped right out of the package. You will see these messed-up eyes on rare occasion, but I’ve never seen this with Hareline Double Pupil Lead or Brass eyes.
When pressed on the subject, I constructed the table below, and present it here with the reminder that all of these weighted fly tying eyes are reasonably durable. Reasonably within the range of products and technologies with which I am aware of today.
Photo Caption. Double Pupil Lead Dumbbell Eye at right and Hareline nickel plated Lead Eye at left, Under practical fishing conditions, I have seen both of these eyes chipped and bent, but I believe that the Double Pupil eyes are slightly more durable, but not by much,
8. Hook Size Guide for Hareline Double Pupil Eyes for Fresh and Saltwater Flies
Right Sizing Dumbbells. (Why be careful with proper sizing of weighted eyes?)
Of course we can lash many sizes of weighted eyes onto hooks, shanks, and tubes when we are tying flies on all of these platforms. That said, there are benefits and ill consequences that arise from improper size-matching these eyes. Too-small eyes will probably not turn the fly over to swim properly, and oversized eyes will likely interfere with hook-setting.
Photo Caption. The Clouser at top has eyes too small; the lower fly has eyes that are too large. The top fly might not swim with the hook up, the large eyes on the lower fly might interfere with hook setting.
Hook Size Guide for Hareline Double Pupil Dumbbell Eyes
9. Size Guide for Glue-on Eyes to use with Hareline, Aluminum Sea Eyes and Sunken Brass Eyes
I will suggest the proper size of glue-on eyes for two weighted eyes.
• Hareline Sunken Barbell Eyes
• Hareline Aluminum sea eyes.
Size Guide for use of Glue-on Eyes with Hareline Sunken Barbell Eyes
This size guide will allow anyone to order eyes that will fit properly.
Size Guide for use of Glue-on Eyes with Hareline Sunken Barbell Eyes
Photo Caption. Hareline Aluminum Sea Eyes shown in the three sizes offered; XL, M, and S.
Photo Caption. XL Hareline Aluminum Sea Eyes shown with 3/8’ super pearl stick on eyes properly seated.
Photo Caption. XL, M, & S Hareline Aluminum Sea Eyes shown with 3/8”, 5/15” and 3/16” stick on eyes properly seated. super pearl stick on eyes properly seated.
10. Master Chart of Weighted Eyes for Fly Tying
This is a stand-alone chart; I recommend that the serious fly tyer execute a “screen-shot” of this table image. All of the most important data, information, and opinion presented in this chapter are summarized here. This printed page can then find a home at your fly tying bench.
Conclusion.
With somewhere between 600 and a thousand weighted fly tying eyes available at reasonable price, in 2020, there is more than enough potential for confusion and conflicting opinion regarding which dumbbells, barbells, hourglass eyes, and bead-chain are best suited to specific flies.
Still, I hope that any beginning fly tyer will be able to negotiate the ocean of technical detail with the information I’ve provided in this chapter/post.
Photo Caption The closeup is the fear in my eyes when I realized how many brain cells the project would burn through.
Enough said. I hope you find enough information to allow your cup of knowledge to runneth over as you browse the Doctoral Thesis herein attached.
My apologies for the not-up-to-my-standards imagery, this is all cell phone stuff and macro images are not the forte of the iPhone. We are at war with the virus, so we do what we can and carry on, as the Queen instructed.
Be safe, have fun, tie them flies, and know what it means when the instructions say – add dumbbells/barbells, or hourglass eyes of choice.
Thank you for your patience, as always, and my best wishes to you all.
Jay Nicholas, April 8 2020
The Blue Beauty is what I refer to as a half Intruder in that it has but a single shoulder station, and lacks the butt station and narrow waist we typically expect in an honest to goodness Intruder style fly. At least that’s whatI expect from an Intruder.
Let’s take a look at this fly and check out the recipe and a few notes regarding tying and fishing this fly.
Blue Beauty Half-Intruder
Materials Overview
The finished fly is 2.75 inches.
Thread – To suit. I am currently favoring the Lagartun threads in 95 or 150 D, but Veevus and Danville’s threads are excellent choices as well.
Shank – OPST 20 mm Dumbell Shank – One of the Aquaflies shanks in the shorter sizes is an excellent choice as well.
Trailer loop – #30 Fireline or OPST/Senyo wire Hooks – OPST Swing #3 or Gamakatsu Hook – Octopus #4 Tail – None
Body – Senyo’s Fusion Dub, Pink Lady
Composite – Senyo’s Barred Fl. Blue Predator Wrap Collar – MFC kingfisher blue and purple barred Ostrich
Wing – PSF Marble Fox, Black – Substitute Arctic Fox tail – not body hair. Craft fur is also very nice.
Flash – Holographic Flashabou, top & sides Accent – Jungle Cock substitute, optional
Tying Notes
You could tie this fly with a Marble Fox Tail if you wish, and doing so will create a somewhat bolder profile to your finished fly. I’ve used mirage Lateral Scale on the fly pictured here, but you may omit the flash or use a more subtle Holographic Flashabou or even Krystal Flash.The wing will also look spectacular with Finn Raccoon or Arctic Fox tail.
Fishing Notes
Whereas I consider the “Blue Beauty” principally as a winter steelhead fly, this pattern’s color combination is a pattern I consider equally effective throughout all seasons. This is, of course, because the color hues of blue and black have become so universally recognized as appealing to steelhead. I like the hint of pink at the butt to enhance the fly’s overall appearance and try to keep it fairly prominent.
This is a light fly best fished in runs where your tip can put the fly down about 3 feet deep, Steelhead in all but the most frigid will chase this fly down, unless they have been put on the bottom by a dozen anglers low-holing you. but that’s always the risk these days.
I hope you find something in this fly to tickle a smile out of you while we are socially distancing ourselves.
I ache to step into one of my favorite steelhead runs and swing one of the hundreds of flies that are all neatly inventoried in my garage.
Our time of sacrifice is now, our time to fish again will come soon enough.
My best wished for health and companionship is for all of you.
Jay
The Homewaters: Rise-Up! Online Auction begins THIS SATURDAY with the opening of Super Silent bidding. Register now for your chance to bid on some of our best Super Silent and Live Auction Items.
Here’s a breakdown of the timeline:
12:01 am Saturday, April 11th:
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8:00 am on Thursday, April 16th:
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We still have a few of these tickets left, so make sure to GET ‘EM WHILE YOU CAN
for your chance at any ONE Live Auction Item for just $100.
To purchase, call Tracy at 503-344-4218.
8:30 am on Thursday, April 16th:
Bidding for Live Auction Items and Special Appeal begins!
7pm on Saturday, April 18th:
Live Item bidding comes to a close with a 30-min LIVE STREAMED EVENT.
If you weren’t excited enough, here’s a little preview of some of our super awesome, Super Silent items. You can view the whole list here.
FULL DAY UMPQUA
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Details: 2 anglers / 1 guided day
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Details: 1 guest / 4 days rafting the Rogue or Illinois River
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TRAIN YOUR DOG TO DO THE TRUFFLE SHUFFLE
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Unsure about how to register? Watch Native Fish Society’s Executive Director Mark Sherwood take you step-by-step through the online auction registration process.
Still need help?
Contact Tracy or Isabelle or call 503.344.4218
