International Fly Tying Symposium

Mark your calendars for the biggest event in fly tying.

Flying Fish?

Time To Tye Flies

Maybe it is time to go into tying overdrive. Less fishing time = more tying time. That's good too.

I Want Trout

OK, so September is coming to a close soon. I fished a lot this summer and met many very nice trout. It has been several weeks and all I have had access to is my local pond fishing. Lots of bass, but I have not laid eyes on a trout recently. Any fishing is good, but fishing for trout is best.

Got Stuff?

Holy Cow.

Get Off My Paddle

Check out those horns.

Shout Out...

...to Dr. Gary Hall. Here he is at the FFF 2010 Conclave teaching us about the proper layering of feathers for catching the denizens of the salt near San Carlos, Mexico. Dr. Gary likes to fish there.

Landing The Big One

How do you net a 14-year-old boy on the Madison River? With a big net, but who has a net big enough?

Flymen Fishing Company

Congratulations to Flymen Fishing Company for winning "The Best New Fly Tying Product 2010" award at the recent Fly Tackle Retailers Show in Denver. Check out their products, such as Fish-Skull, Nymph-Head tungsten beads and RealFlyColor brass beads. Go to: http://www.flymenfishingcompany.com/.

A Buggy Table

...and more bugs...really cool bugs by Bill Blackstone, who is the 1983 recipient of the FFF Buz Busek award for fly tying excellence.

More Mr. Blackstone

...and more bugs... Check out his website at www.creativerealism.us.

Bill Blackstone

At the recent Federation of Fly Fishers' 45th Annual Fly Fishing Show and Conclave in West Yellowstone, MT, Bill Blackstone's tying table was covered with bugs.

Thank You To Orvis

The odor was not in keeping with the "corporate image."

Interesting Tan Pattern

OK, so I went out fishing with some friends. We were changing our shoes in the parking lot. Much to my surprise, my friend Jan (age 55+), still had her par markings.

The Dynamic Tying Duo

This is Ben and I in a tying contest. Ben is the left hand and I am the right hand. We had to tye a Clouser minnow together, each using only one hand. The end product was fairly decent. It requires good cooperation and communication to execute this tying feat.

More Invasive Species

Round gobies, an invasive, minnow-sized fish that exists in large numbers in Lake Ontario, have made their way to Onondaga Lake in upstate New York. Are we being taken over by aliens. I guess the fish know that America is the "land of opportunity," or a giant "melting pot." Ugh.

Shark Tooth

This is another fishing accessory that I found that works and is useful. It is an elastic band with a sharp "tooth" attached. You put it on your tippet spools and the tooth cuts the tippet where you want. Nice idea and is available for different size spools. Check it out at: http://www.flyfishingxtreme.com/bass_fishing_shark_tooth.php.

Ghillie Suit

This is a special ghillie suit for fishing. It is shown being modeled by Junice Nelson Howard of Montana. Junice is a family member, 84 years old and is always a good sport. In fact she made this suit to hang over her hat for those buggy nights on the river. Tight lines "Old Woman."

New Rite Bobbin

RITE Half Hitch MAG BOBBIN NEW!
Lyle Graff, maker of the Rite Bobbin, put the new "Half Hitch Mag" into my hands and I love it.

*Revolutionary new fly tying bobbin that allows half hitch and whip finish knots right on the barrel of the bobbin.
*Tapered barrel end allows half hitch and whip finish knots to slide smoothly onto hook.
*Finest Surgical Stainless thread tube.
*O-ring grip and thread keeper. Colored rings available for thread identification coding.
*Heavy-duty, 2-16oz of tension adjustment capability.
*Rite Bobbins' famous click-drag adjustment.
*Capable of a wide range of hook sizes and all fly tying functions,dubbing hackling, parachute wings, hair spinning, you name it!

Watch the bobbin in action > YouTube Video.

United Fly Tyers

UFT will hold its first meeting of the season at Middlessex Community College in Bedford, MA Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 6:30pm. The evening will begin with tying and the guest speaker will be Charlie Shaden from the Evening sun Fly Shop. Charlie be showing a video with underwater footage and will be discussing the local waters available to fly anglers.