'Art' or something resembling it

With the weather being unseasonably shitty I have not gotten on the water in what feels like ages.

Having full fly boxes and not much motivation to hit the vise, I messed around with some markers while watching the Chiefs lose (again).

Still needs a bit of work but not terrible considering.

The photo was shamefully stolen from Nick Granato (hopefully he doesn't mind).  Check out his fantastic blog at http://flyobsession.com/

Garage sale finds

My mother-in-law and her sister are having a garage sale, I stopped by pre-sale to peruse and snatched these for the low price of free.

#awesome

'Random'

Weighted streamer, tied shank-style

New toy for chasing toothy critters, 'The Fish Grip', purchased on Ebay, $9 shipped to my door.  Now I just need to work on actually 'catching' them.

One of the main reasons I haven't fished in weeks and THE reason I'm about to fall asleep at my desk (grouting at midnight).

Notes from 'The Sticks'

A few more clicks left....

#RugerNo1

#7mmRemMag

There are golf carts that don't have gun racks?

#Redneck

Fallen Hickory tree, ready for the smoker

#Ribs

#theyhatin'

Low water, weightless streamer, tied stinger style

sacrificial shank, down-eye, flipped over
gama octo #2
glass beads (hobby lobby)
beadalon
hareline bar-dyed rabbit strip
grizzly saddle hackle
senyo's laser dub

Easily thrown on a 5 weight as the materials and weight are kept to a minimum

Daddy - Daughter time, lessons in life

Teaching valuable lessons to my daughter around the Weber. 

Like good ribs, a great smore takes resolve to not rush the process.

Brushy Creek Streamer

My version of the Brushy Creek Streamer

Tiemco 5263
Silve cone (obviously)
Hareline's Senyo's Laser Yarn, white
Hareline's Silver Ice Wing Fiber (or ice dub)
Hareline Extra Select Craft Fur Olive

With the large cone, all synthetic materials, and slim profile, this doesn't have any issues sinking down to 'fish level.'

Signs of Fall, non tree/leaf pictures

Since the tree/leaf pictures seem a bit played out when it comes to 'Here comes fall' posts, here's my signs of fall:

Parades and Oktoberfest

"Laker-Stockers"

In a little less than eight weeks the Missouri Dept of Conservation will begin it's yearly 'Urban Trout Program' which equates to dumping truckloads of rainbows into certain city lakes throughout the state.  One such lake is a five minute drive from my house.

It's not exactly secluded fishing in the wilds of Montana, but given the circumstances it's hard to complain.  Often times it's not about getting what you want, it's wanting what you've got.

Tiemco 3761 #10
Marabou
Hare'E Ice Dub  (Not ice dub)
Glass bead (Hobby Lobby)

A date

I have a date next weekend with the venerable bass pond, a vintage aluminum boat, and hopefully mr. largemouth.

Come hell or high water, or both.

Size 1, straight eye streamer hook (down eye streamer hooks make baby jesus cry)
White saddle hackles for the tail (I much prefer schlappen but was out of white)
Chartreuse schlappen palmered body to add bulk, movement and keep head from collapsing
Flashabou
Senyo's laser yarn (red, white, and chartreuse)

Great still water or low water fly

Fly Fishing the Ozarks, Gar

Smallmouth Streamer

Pattern shamelessly stolen from 'Big Appetite, Small Mouth'

Subbed the wool out for Senyo's Laser Yarn

Denver Aquarium (cont'd)

Some pics the wife took

Denver, 'Fish Pictures'

When you head for CO with a trunk full of rods and fly boxes, knowing it's likely your trip is much too short to realistically fish, you still hold out hope.  But in the end the fish pictures you take may not be exactly what you had planned.

Either way, had a great time.  The only part that wasn't enjoyable was the traffic on I-25 on the south side of Denver.  Anyone who has to drive that regularly has my deepest sympathies.

Still managed to at least visit Kirk's Fly Shop in Estes and not leave without buying something.

Ozarkanglers Forum Brown Swap

Pass Lake

My cheap version of the 'Pass Lake'

Tiemco 2457 #8
Marabou Tail
Hareline Ice Dub Peacock
Flashabou
Buck/Calf Tail
Partridge

Slow Elk

On ChiWulff's recommendation, Slow Elk.

I'm a huge fan of Moose Drool and this doesn't disappoint, would drink again.  Another good oatmeal stout is Schlafly's (out of St. Louis) if that's available near you.

"Packed"

All packed except dragging my waders out of 'storage.' 

As for "The Persuader" sticking out of my pack (the mini louisville), here in MO if trout fishing it's normally for stockers so it's great for 'baptizing them' in preparation for the bbq grill.  And it never hurts to have a little protection in the land of wild hogs, bears, and meth heads.

I doubt I'll run into any of that in CO, but figured it wouldn't hurt.

Trip to Denver, read: "scrambling/out of my element"

A college buddy that resides in Denver is tying the knot this week and we had planned for months to make a quick trip out there and bring the kids (me assuming I wouldn't be fishing).  Unsurprisingly a week before we leave my wife decides to not bring the kids, giving us a couple half days to mess around (fishing?).

Over the years I had accumulated a growing collection of trout flies that rarely if ever got used, so I had donated them to Project Healing Waters a few months back.  This coupled with the new developments (changes) in our trip led me to feverishly tying the last couple days. 

I've fished a ton but never legitimately for trout in the west (this is my first trip to CO).  Hence the box full of streamers, handful of Utah Killer Bugs and random attractor nymphs/hoppers.  Obviously this bass/urban fly fisherman is going to be out of his element.

Honestly if I fish a few hours and stick a tiny trout I'll consider it mission accomplished.

Bristol Bay, Donation Double

Donate and it will be doubled: http://www.savebristolbay.org/jointhesportsmenschallenge

"Back Story"

Just as an FYI, this is a continuation of my pointless blog at BigCreekFly.tumblr.com I'm moving it here just as Tumblr annoys the hell out of me sometimes (mostly on my phone.)

The importance of fly testing, #BillDance

Tying flies that would make Bill Dance proud. Looking at the pic in the vise it looked like a hot mess. After a quick dunk in the test tank the results are less spectacular. She stands ass up but needs more mass, more schlappen and/or a lot more marabou, a shorter shanked back hook, and either a smaller bottom end or a heavier top end as she sinks too slow to hunt in moving water. Good for cold water bassin but not summer time creekin. Just goes to show that looks can be deceiving and a quick dunk can save you a lot of frustation on the water that you could spend more fishing more effectively. Recipe: 2x FlyMen Articulated Shanks 1x Mustad 3366 size 1 1x Wapsi popper body Marabou Schlappen Estaz Lead Eyes