Headed To Chile

I am off to the airport. See you in a week.

Gearing Up For Chile

The time has arrived and I am packing up for my fly fishing expedition to Chile and Argentina. So many flies, so little time.

More Photos From The Vault

The vault has been opened and here is more archival footage of a UFT meeting from long ago. Thanks again to Phil Horowitz for the snap.

Mysterious Men Of Fly Tying History

Who are these men discussing fly tying in a parking lot some time decades ago? Looks like Donald Down, John Veniard and Samuel Horowitz getting ready for a meeting of United Fly Tyers. All very dapper looking. Thanks to Phil Horowitz for the photo.

Coq de Leon Caddis

Just tyed up a few of these for my trip to Chile. The wing uses Coq de Leon feathers. Fibers are cut off of the stem and placed in a Leon Hair Stacker which is a very, very small stacker for just such a job. The stacker is made of brass and is about 1/4" across and 2" long. It looks like a bullet casing. Using Coq for the wing gives the fly a much more delicate look.

Blue River

Colorado's Blue River is 60 miles west of Denver. The Blue is a very nice freestone and tail-water fishery containing enormous rainbow trout below Dillon Reservoir. The Blue also has a good population of brown and some brook trout. Above Dillon Reservoir the river is a freestone fishery while below it is a tail-water. The Blue averages from 80-100 feet across, flowing through the Gore Mountains to its meeting with the Colorado River. Route 9 follows the Blue River providing excellent access. This photo shows the tail-water in Silverthorne, Colorado near the I-70 bridge. Thanks to Chris Erdman for scouting and sending this photo.

Chillicothe

The Chillicothe is one of my newer creations. It uses Nymph-Head Beads. "Your eyes are so beautiful," I say.

The BTF - A Monster Fly

This is one big monster of a gruesome, ugly fly. A creation from the late night that turns heads wherever it goes. Some of you know this fly well. Shouting out to Mary on this one.

James Roszel

I have written about artist James Roszel in the past. I thought it might be time to share another piece of his work with you. This painting is awesome. Check out more of his work at http://www.fishingartworks.com/.

Flies At Work

A friend, Josh, just emailed me a snap of the Vladi Worm at work on the stream. He reported that, "I was fishing the Farm River which is a small stream running through North Branford and Branford, CT. It has a population of native brookies and a self-sustaining population of brown trout that were first introduced by some ancient fishing club at Yale."

Thanks Josh.

Enjoy The Tye

People frequently ask, “How fast can you tye that fly?” Really, the question should be, “How much do you enjoy tying that fly?” Or even, “How slowly can you tye that fly?”

What I am getting at here is looking at fly tying as a journey not a destination. Just as many people look at fly fishing as a total experience with the catching of fish as merely one aspect of the angling package, I say let's look at fly tying as an activity to be savored. I am thinking not of speed-tying to get it over with to head to the stream, but as super-slow tying that is an experience all by itself, to be enjoyed.

I do commercial tying orders and there are times when speed is, of course, of the essence. Even when I am marching though a pressure order, I find a great deal of pleasure in thinking about who I am making the flies for, the travels the flies will take and where and when the flies will be fished. I think about the colorings on the fur and feathers and the history of the fly. Ah, now there is the pleasure.

Fly tying transcends the mechanics involved in making the fly. It's about recreating and celebrating nature and history, almost like a meditation. It takes you away to a new dimension and a different world. Tying connects you with the natural cycle of life and the evolution of tying and angling.

Each fly is a creation for some one who will make an experience out of it. Do they catch fish or not? Does it really matter? The journey of fly tying and fly fishing begins with a single hope. I hope that people catch fish with my flies, after all most people fish with catching fish as the goal. Don't get me wrong, I am a pragmatist too. If my flies did not help catch fish then I would be out of business, but does that hope end there? No, of course not. It begins there with the plans, imagining the place and the time. It's about the people you meet or travel with, the animals you encounter, the light in the trees, the sun on your back, the clouds in the sky, the water flowing over the rocks, the sounds and the splashing, glistening fish taking your fly and tugging your line.

I leave you now to ponder the total experience from vise to net.

Smoking Fish

Had a great time at Ramsey Outdoors Cabin Fever Day. Pictured here are Ken Tutalo of the Baxter House in Roscoe, NY and Joe Fox, a fly tyer, also of Roscoe. They enjoyed the day and even had a chance to smoke some fish.

On The Road To Ramsey Outdoors

I will be visiting Ramsey Outdoors tomorrow. At the Paramus, New Jersey store they will be hosting Cabin Fever Day. Just keep dreaming of fishing season. It's just around the corner. Time to gear up for the coming season and drool over some new toys.

Idylwilde Flies

I think this is an awesome advertising campaign put on by Idylwilde Flies. Aside from having clever advertising, they also produce great flies.

Catskill Fly Tyers Guild Rendezvous

The Catskill Fly Tyers Guild will be holding the Annual Fly Tyers' Rendezvous on Saturday, April 18 from 9am to 3pm at the Rockland House in Roscoe, NY. If you would like to participate as a tyer at the event, please email me at lesliewrixon@ityeflies.com.

Federation of Fly Fishers International Conclave

Word is out that the Federation of Fly Fishers 43rd Annual International Conclave will take place in Loveland, Colorado July 29th through August 1st. I am signed up to tye again this year and will be giving a workshop on tying and fishing Czech Nymphs. Make plans now to attend this gathering and partake of some Colorado fishing.

Connecticut Fly Fisherman's Association

Just back from the Connecticut Fly Fisherman's Association 39th Annual Fly Fishing Expo and Banquet. This was my third year tying and attending the dinner. As always, the CFFA put on a fine day and evening of activities filled with friendship and camaraderie. Bob Popovics was the featured guest speaker, putting on some great and entertaining presentations. The evening was capped by a bucket drawing of over 70 cool prizes. It was a fun time to enjoy some good food and catch up with friends. Can't wait for next year.

Polish Worm

Many of you have been asking for the details of tying Vladi's Polish Worm. How do you do it? What is that material? Where do you get the materials?

I thank all those who have purchased flies and urge you to share your experiences fishing with the Polish Worm.

Stay tuned as I will be revealing more about the making of the fly after the show season ends.

Angling Evolutions

Angling Evolutions makes some really nice products. Being a fly tyer, I try to check out different products in search of the best on the market. Well, recently I met up with 2 head cements that I really like. The first is a solvent-based cement called Head Strong. This is an amazing concoction that dries quickly to a super powerful, yet flexible bond. Use the solvent to thin. It's much better than Flexament, a product I have used for many years. These folks also put out a water-based head cement called Hard Headed. It starts out with a milky look, by it dries to a nice clear finish.Thin this with water. Both are packaged in nifty blue bottles. Check out their full line of products at http://www.anglingevolutions.com/.

Fishing In Chile

Wow, just looked at the calendar and my big Winter vacation to go fishing in Chile is coming up in three weeks. More on that later...I better tye some flies to take for the monster browns and 'bows.

Whiting Farms Pro Team

I am happy to announce my recent selection to the Whiting Farms Pro Team. Whiting Farms products will add to the high quality of my flies and expand the possibilities of what will be available from my tying bench.

March Brown Rods

I like to share some of my latest finds with my readers. So what does she have to say today, you ask? I have discovered March Brown Fly Rods. MB specializes in making travel rods. They make a variety of 7-piece rods that pack to fit into a carry-on when flying. 7-piece rods? Yes, it's true, but the best part is that these rods have superb action and actually cast as well as 2-piece rods. It is true. I kid you not. These rods are very-well engineered and very well made. Great in the wind, effortless casting, nice guides and cork and matte finish. I am partial to the Hidden Waters series. But the real story is found in picking one up and casting it. Try one out. It's very hard to believe that these are 7-piece rods. Incredible.

The Fly Fishing Show, Charlotte, NC

The Fly Fishing Show in Charlotte, NC was a resounding success. The show was well-attended and brought in some very knowledgeable folks. Thanks to all who stopped by to watch us on Tyers' Row. It was a long drive down and back from Boston, but having a chance to meet such wonderful people made the effort worth while. Thanks to all who patronized my booth.

A quick shout out to Mowbray and Quentin at Angling Evolutions.