Happy New Year

New Year's Resolution: Fish & Tye A Lot.

Connecticut Fishing License Fees Sky Rocket

A little ranting and raving is in order. I just found out that Connecticut Non-Resident Fishing License prices have gone viral. Wow, $80 for inland and $60 for marine fishing. A "generous" discount is offered for a combo inland/marine which weighs in for a C-note. Good move to keep tourism low. I'll knock Connecticut off my list of places to fish in 2010.

Meal Worm Fly

This fly, made only of a bit of crystal flash and some tan chenille, is a killer on trout. I kid you not. So easy a cave man could tye it and catch trout with it. I got the pattern about 8 or 9 years ago from an old timer who really knew his flies.

Ambassadors of Fly Fishing

The Japanese are true ambassadors of fly fishing.

Shout Out

Received this Christmas ecard from Pat and Carol Oglesby. A big howdy from Boston to Colorado. I want to be in that boat right now.

North Pole Post

The card says it all. Art work by James Roszel.

Big Bad Bug

Was looking back over some old pictures. Snapped this fella in Spain. Don't know who the tyer is, but it is a rather stunning fly.

Home Made Vise

Innovative vise. Not sure how the pliers stay closed when there is a hook in it.

Gartside's Soft Hackle Streamer

A brilliantly simple fly for fresh or salt water, the Soft Hackle Streamer consists of a bit of flash, a blood marabou feather and some mallard flank.

Chia Fish

I saw the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Fish on another blog and could not resist giving it more air time. This came from www.moldychum.com. Love that blog. Those guys take irreverence to new heights.

Rusty Gates

Rusty Gates, the leader in the fight to preserve the Au Sable River system in Michigan died yesterday. He was 54 and will be sadly missed.

Rubber Legs

I have tried many brands of rubber and silicone legs for flies. The best in terms of strength and good looks are: Spirit River's Tarantu-Leggs and Montana Fly's Centipede Legs. Both brands are available in different diameters so you can find just the right size for your flies.

New Gear

Check it out...the latest gear for the new year. Also, I predict long rods will be hot.

Crescent Moon

Glass Rattles

For a little something extra in your flies, add glass rattles. The addition of sound drives the fish crazy.

Squidmeister

Another yellow-bellied varmint.

Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp chillin' by the sauce.

Spider Rally

Teranarsus Terror

Back by popular demand and currently in stock. These little (well, actually large) stonefly critters are trout candy. I am making a limited quantity and will have some available at The Fly Fishing Show in January (Marlboro, Somerset, Charlotte).

Jack Gartside Remembered

The outpouring of remembrances, affection and sadness with the passing of Jack Gartside has been tremendous, literally spanning the world. From Europe, Theo "Bead-Head" Bakelaar wrote:

Dear All,

One of our best friends has gone………….Jack Gartside.
The smile, the fun, the jokes, the Lover of Life.
This bad news hurts me very hard.
The sunshine in our life is gone………but I bet you that he has ordered us all to have fun in our life and to see the daily beauty of it.
He always had a special place in my life and it will stay there for ever.
I know he will watch us from Striper heaven.

Thanks Jack for everything and God bless you.

Cheers,
Theo Bakelaar

Jack Gartside Dies

Sadly, I report that Jack Gartside passed away last night at the West Roxbury (MA) VA Hospital. Jack had been ill with cancer for the past 14 months. He died peacefully with his companion, Katie, at his side. I have many fond and humorous memories. The first time I had ever seen some one tye a fly, it was Jack at the vise. With a heavy heart, I say goodbye to a good friend and one of the luminaries of fly tying and angling.

Crabby Amy

Cool crab.

Fly By Cholo

Check out Cholo's work at www.moscasorbigo.com.

Aquatic Nuisance Species in Connecticut

Zebra muscles have been found in the Housatonic River (Connecticut) as far North as Stockbridge, MA. According to reports prepared after field work investigation between September 8 and October 23, "the mussels likely entered the river via two sources -- Laurel Brook and the broken water pipe that runs from Laurel Lake to the Eagle Mill. Adult zebra mussels were found along a half-mile reach downstream of Laurel Brook, a location 0.9 miles downstream of Laurel Brook, and a location in Stockbridge 6.96 miles downstream from the Brook," wrote Trevor Jones in today's Berkshire Eagle.

Kevin Compton Fly

Tyed on a Dohiku.

Performance Flies

Just got my hands on a new batch of Dohiku hooks. Dohiku are very nice barbless hooks from Slovakia. In my opinion Dohiku are far superior to Knapek and Grip hooks. Where did I find this jackpot? On Kevin Compton's site, http://www.performanceflies.com/. Check out the tungsten beads and the awesome snowshoe hare feet too. Had a chance to see Kevin at the International Fly Tying Symposium last weekend. He has some great materials...check it out.

Happy Thanksgiving

From The Vise Of The Trout Predator

AKA Aaron Jasper.

Deschutes Steelhead

Distribution Rights of Partridge of Redditch Sold

English hook manufacturer, Partridge, has changed hands once again. About ten years ago, Mustad took over international distribution of Partridge products. Now Fishing Matters, who manage distribution of Varivas and Owner hooks, will take over Partridge distribution from Mustad.

Bob Mead

Could that be Bob Mead?

International Fly Tying Symposium

It is November and the International Fly Tying Symposium will be held this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 21 & 22, at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey. Do not miss out of the largest fly tying show in the world! Many talented tyers will be on hand and there is always some new materials to pick up for the long winter ahead.

Arts Of The Angler

This year's Arts of the Angler show hosted by Jim Krul and the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum was a resounding success. The show has doubled in size with an ever-growing number of vendors. There were many fine tyers on hand. I had the good fortune to sit next to Ralph Graves. There were many dealers of collectible fly fishing items. In my humble opinion, this show will, in a few years, surpass the Lang's Auction as the key place to add to your collection of the vintage and antique.

Firebug Midges

Now available from the folks that offer Nymph-Head and Real-Color Beads, comes the Firebug Midge. The zebra-style midges are conveniently offered in 3-packs in size 18. Check out the wide range of colors. The Firebugs can be found on line at http://www.flymenfishingcompany.com/.

Sand Shrimp

Mole Crab

Origami Fish

Arts Of The Angler

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum's 3rd Annual Arts of the Angler Show will take place this coming weekend, November 14 & 15. The show will be at the Ethan Allen Inn, Exit 4 on Route I-84 in Danbury, CT. Hours are Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM with dinner available at 5:30 and a not-to-be-missed live auction at 7 PM. On Sunday, come to the show 9 AM to 4 PM. Yours truly will be tying both days, chatting with all and sharing some new patterns and ideas that are not to be missed.

Jack Gartside

Send some good vibes to Jack Gartside. He is having a sluggish time in his cancer fight.

2009 International Fly Tying Symposium

It's that time of year again and the Symposium is two weeks away. Be there on November 21 & 22 at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information check out http://www.flytyingsymposium.com/.

Trout

Bill Hickey has been stalking and catching lots of rainbows.

Fly Fishing Team USA National Trials

U.S. National Fly Fishing Championships, Final Results
State College, PA,
October 24-26, 2009

1 George Daniel
2 Lance Egan
3 Norman Maktima
4 Mike Sexton
5 Devin Olsen
6 Brett Bishop
7 Cody Burgdorff
8 Brian Kimmel
9 Anthony Naranja
10 Pete Erickson

Cool Christmas Cards

Fishing Artworks Inc. Announcement
"Merry Fishmas" Holiday Cards
Our Price: $12.00 / each set
order 5 or more sets pay only $10.00/ each setS & H: $3. (add $1.00 for each additional pack)
Contact for special wholesale price stores jim@fishingartworks.com .

Also contact me to customize your own set of cards!
Fishing Artworks Inc.
167 Wapping Road Kingston MA 02364
ph 781-422-2244
toll free: 877-422-2244

Gold Butt Magic

Hans Weilenmann shares this exquisit pattern, from Europe.

GOLD BUTT MAGIC
Hook: Grip 14703 #12
Thread: Uni-thread 8/0, black
Hackle: Whiting hen shoulder feather, mottled - sparse
Abdomen: Polar flash, gold - flat
Rib: Polar flash, gold - corded
Thorax: Ostrich herl, black

Spirit River

Shouting out to Bill Black and Ken Menard at Spirit River. Check out their fine line of tying goods at your local fly tying emporium.

United Fly Tyers

FYI. The United Fly Tyers 50th Anniversary Gala dinner was a fun time. We heard from Jim Krul of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. Several folks from UFT of olde spoke. If you snooze, you loose...you missed cool prizes and thought-provoking speakers. See you in another 50 years.

Great Bobbin

Want an awesome bobbin? Check out http://www.ritebobbin.com/. Found at better suppliers of fly tying paraphernalia.

Another Fall Favorite

Don't forget the Emerald Shiner.

Flies For Fall Browns & Steelies

My flies of choice for fishing big bad browns and steelies in the Lakes Ontario and Erie tributaries. Hot Ass Yellow Zonker, Yellow Marabou Muddler, Mickey Finn, Yellow Zoo Cougar. OK, so fall leaf colors, fall fly colors. Sizes 2-6 are the choice. Tight lines.

Jack Dennis Retires

Rumor has it that former Fly Fishing Team USA guru, Jack Dennis, is retiring from much of his active work in the fly fishing industry. He will be around and about, but is easing back considerably.

Who's The Boss?

Toad, spider or mosquito (on back leg of toad)?

Big Bad Brown

Bee Eating A Pork Chop

Last March in Chile, while on our great South American Trout Expedition, my friend Mike and I were fascinated by the bees that would come in and cut out a chunk of meat to take away. They would land and cut out a hole-punch-size piece of meat, tuck it up under the thorax and abdomen and lift off like a heavily-laden helicopter. This occurred every day during our shore lunch. So cool.