This Saturday I will be giving a free fly tying demo at our local fly shop here in Logan Utah. I will be touching on attractor nymphs, including Egan’s Frenchie, Iron Lotus, and a few of  my favorite original patterns.  I’m planning on finding time to talk about the Provo River, and effective patterns I use while guiding.  For me it is tough to talk about attractor nymphs and not include European style nymphing,  so I’m sure I will throw that into the loop as well (since it is my favorite fly fishing topic to talk about).  It starts at 10:00 AM this Saturday,  so if you are in the area, feel free to stop in.

Thanks,

Gilbert

Here in Utah, winter finally decided to show up, along with some storms.  Its been extremely cold and windy as of late.  Even if I consider myself a hardcore fly fisherman, there are still days when its time to leave those waders hanging up in the garage and sit down at your vise.  With that said, January is a great month to fill up the spaces in your fly boxes.  Its also a great time to work on some new patterns.  If you have plenty of your confident patterns tied up and ready to fish, you can spend some time tying up some patterns that you have been thinking about tying, but never had time to tie them.

Taking advantage of this cold month to catch up 0n your tying, you won’t have to be always trying to catch up the rest of the year when you are fishing more.

If you love to fly fish, but don’t tie flies yet, this is a fabulous month to get started.  We have plenty of simple, yet effective patterns on our website that will get you started in the right direction, and still catch plenty of fish.

Don’t waste this month away!  Get out on the river when its possible, and get those flies tied up now so you can spend more time on the water when its nice and warm!!!!

This is the first fly in which will be a series of flies that you will find in our European nymphing fly boxes. We will explain which hook and tungsten bead sizes we use.

I wanted to start with the Dragon Warrior for a few reasons: it’s one of our favorites, it catches fish like crazy, and because I just watched Kung fu Panda 2 just the other day. This fly was originally created to match the color combination of Po (flabby panda!). We have been fishing it for about a couple years now and it has produced fish in every river that we have fished it. It is very effective in french style nymphing in the smaller sizes(16 and 18).

Here are the sizes that we carry with us to every river:
Size 16 with a 3/32(2.5mm) tungsten bead
Size 18 with a 5/64(2.0mm) tungsten bead

You could try some other larger or smaller sizes but these two sizes have been perfect for us. Check out our fly tying tutorial of the Dragon Warrior to learn how to tie it.  You wont be sorry.  Tie it up in the two sizes we mentioned and make sure you have plenty of them.

I also make sure I have plenty of Rainbow Warriors.  This is the same fly but with a pearl tinsel as the abdomen instead of a black holographic tinsel.  I carry these in the same sizes I mentioned above for the Dragon Warrior.  Refer to our video of the Rainbow Warrior for additional tying instructions.

Gilbert & Derek

Here is another Prince variation for you.  This pattern came about by using proven patterns, like the prince nymph, and using some different materials to make it a little different.  This pattern has worked well in the french style euro nymphing when some baetis are hatching in a size 16.  It has been a very effective pattern year round and I know you won’t be disappointed if you tie it up!

In order of  least expensive to greatest…

#1 Streamside Guides to Fly Fishing $2.95 Each

Here are two stream side fold-outs that explain the world of aquatic insects in vivid images. Simple, easy to understand, and immediately applicable in almost every trout fishing situation. Designed for beginner to intermediate level anglers, and even seasoned pros find the pocket-sized pamphlets very useful. They capture the world of dry flies in  Adult Aquatic Insects, and  focuses on nymphs in Aquatic Insects, Part 2. If it fits in a vest pocket it will fit in a stocking! Order online here.

#2 Aussie Nippers $8.95

Nippers are  one tool that I use over and over every time I fish. I recently purchased Fishponds Aussie Cippers and found them to be surprisingly awesome. Their razor sharp blade cuts through thick leader material and fine tippit all the same. They are half the cost of most quality nippers, and in my opinion they out perform most. They can be purchased directly from Fishpond, or from your local fly shop.

#3 Landing Net Magnet $12.95

There is not much more annoying than an uncontrolled net dangling and catching up on everything in sight. A simple and convenient solution is a magnet set for your net. Another inexpensive item that makes a huge difference on the river. I’ve been using this system for a few years now, and I don’t know how I ever lived without! Once again your local fly shop will carry these, or you can purchase them online from Sportsman’s Warehouse here.

#4 Polarized Glasses $19.95-$150.00

Fishing success often lies with how well you can see the stream bottom. This helps determine depth and speed of the current, and often times helps locate individual fish to sight fish to. Undoubtedly one of the most essential items that every fly fisher should have with them on every outing. Prices vary greatly, but I suggest SUNCLOUD Profile as a great item that is well priced around $49.95. Its what I use, and I have been very content with them. The brand is not as important as the color of lenses. Make sure to get copper or rose colored lenses for freshwater fly fishing.

#5 Underwater Digital Camera ~ $200.00

This is hands down one of the coolest accessories an angler can have. Not only does it take great everyday pics and videos, but it is waterproof and extremely durable. I use an Olympus, but many companies are now making adventure style cameras that are ideal to carry while fishing. No matter if its raining, or if  you take a clumsy spill in a slippery river this camera will continue taking great shots of all your greatest catches!

All of these items are found in your local fly shops or online, and will surely make great stocking stuffers for any avid or beginning fly fisher.

Some of you are probably thinking to yourselves, “why are they putting another hares ear video on here?”  Believe me, this is not a normal hares ear.  I first tied this variation up at the start of this last summer and I found myself tying this on the end of my line almost every time I found myself on the water.  It produces fish after fish.  The hot spot dubbing is a UV fluorescent pink ice dubbing that must drive the fish crazy and want to try it out.  This fly even had days where it was outdoing our go-to fly, the two-toned surveyor!  Get some of this UV Fl. pink ice dubbing and tie these up. This fly is a great choice if you euro nymphing as well.

Lucky for me on this day, I had my wise brother-in-law with me. When he saw what had happened, he said he had an idea to get my pole to work for the rest of the day. He proceeded to take one section of his rod apart and show me that the exact same part of his pole had broken off about a year ago, but had been able to keep fishing with it. Now this is where the tip comes into play. He had kept his rod together with HONEY!!!! After showing me this, we grabbed a granola bar that had at least a little honey in it and I smothered it on the broken end and put the rod back together. I went on to catch many fish that day and my pole stayed together!!!

So on your next fishing trip, make sure you have something that has honey in it, just in case you need to use it…..just might save your trip to the river!!!!

Derek

For this pattern, we are going to give credit where its due because this fly catches fish like crazy and one of our favorites.  Anytime we get to new water, or just plain want to catch fish, we tie on this pattern.  It’s easy to tie and very effective.  Lance Egan came up with the pattern and Devin Olsen introduced it to us.  I personally make sure I have plenty of these flies in my fly box at all times.  Gilbert often drools at the site of my fly box when he opens it up to see LOTS of frenchies!  Tie lots of these and experiment with some different colors of dubbing for the collar to suit your needs and find the most effective color for your own waters and please, let us know just how many fish you catch with this pattern.  You will not be disappointed!!!

Derek

After some time on the tying table using this coq de leon and giving it a try on the water, both me and Gilbert kept on looking at each other and saying, “wow, the fly still has a tail!!”.  It’s easy to tie with and very durable in the water.  I have been substituting coq de leon on a lot of my flies, especially my mayfly patterns.

I have  had the best success finding coq de leon on the internet.  Just make a google search to find it.  Some of the places are often times sold out, so look around and find some.  You will not be sorry!!!

Derek