Carp are on the move...again

This Spring has been a weird one for us warm water anglers. Some guys have been finding some cool water largemouth locally and after we have had a string of sunny days in a row the carp action has been alright. But the warm weather is here for good I think...and the carp and bass fishing is going to get awesome. Well, it just did!

Banksia Bug (Step by Step)

Step 1 Put appropriate sized black tungsten bead on TMC 200R hook (size 7/64 bead on #14 hook). To tie the Basalt version use a TMC 2499SP-BL hook.

Step 2 Using Lt. Cahill 6/0 Uni-Thread tie in both X-Small black UTC Ultra Wire and Small olive UTC Ultra Wire. Apply small amount of head cement to the wires to “marry” them together.

Step 3  Build a fat butt of the abdomen with the Lt. Cahill thread, then tie off and trim.

 Step 4 Switch to olive Lagartun or UTC thread and continue building up the tapered abdomen, leaving a small amount of the light yellow butt exposed.

 Step 5 Wrap the duel wires forward and tie off behind the black bead and trim both thread and wire.

 Step 6 Coat entire abdomen with a liberal amount of Loon UV Knot Sense and set using UV light. This will immediately set up hard, but may have a slightly matt finish, so coat with thin layer of Hard-as-Hull head cement.

Step 7 Tie on legs using 3 or 4 fibers of Gadwall flank feather on either side.

 Step 8 Tie in some exceptionally bushy, dark grey ostrich herl and wrap forward.

 Step 9 Create small dubbing rope using Dave Whitlock SLF Hellgrammite.

Step 10 Wrap dubbing rope up to the black bead and whip finish. Apply small amount of head cement over knot.



Watch Tying Video!

Backstabber Fly (Step by Step)

Step 1: Build solid thread base on center of hook shank. Size 6 Gamakatsu SL45 hook. UNI-Thread 6/0.

Step 2: Secure 1/8 Dazl-Eyes dumb bell onto center of hook shank.

Step 3: Wax thread and create dubbing rope. Wind dubbing rope forward, figure eight it around the Dazl-Eyes. Rake out dubbing using Velcro or dubbing rake. The Dave Whitlock SLF dubbings are best.

Step 4: Tie in two tufts of marabou. Also try black and dark olive!

Step 5: Tie in soft hackle. Brown, dark olive or black.

Step 6: Wrap soft hackle 4 to 5 times around, tie off and trim.

Step 7:Whip finish and apply head cement.

View Backstabber Fly Tying Video!

4-Year Boulder Creek Study (Findings)

2005-2008 (4 years)

288 Days
1108 Hours
6025 Trout Landed

96% Brown Trout
4% Rainbow Trout

8-10 inches Average
11-13 inches Nice
14-16 inches Trophies!

Read Story: We Are What We Fish For

No Tantrums!

Yes...it got cold and snowed. After all this is still March in Colorado. I know you all were enjoying the unseasonably warm weather...but no griping, complaining or tantrums! We badly needed some sort of moisture in the ground. Rain, slush...or snow...whatever. Remember the drought years? Besides, adult fishermen throwing tantrums only causes a scene. Then law enforcement or other hard working community servants get called out...just a big mess.

PUT ON YOUR BOOTS

Wisdom is whatcha get from a lifetime a doin dumb shit

Memory paraphrasin a poster a my past—get the gist butcha gotta touch the flame

Motha said it was hot—gonna burn my finger

But I gotta know about the fire and getting advise and takin it ain’t the same

Just strivin’ to be a wise one not a ‘bedient bitch

Vietnam vet say don’t raise your hand—don’t go to the front

But if ya do—lay low, aim low and keep that fucker on full auto

So I take point—put on every ‘chute I’m given

Survived kicked outtabit smatta than I was befo

Loyalty brotha hood—balls like a crate a live hand grenades

Swingin watches from the hands a the rich

Easier said than done—sucked in by the fun

Bitches fuck ya then frag ya with shrapnel size of a ring

Brain me and beat me messy like a back-alley hysterectomy

Whatch get for doin dumb shit…

No need to comment—I can smell your sweat and your fear

I know your bitch ass is here

Up on my back—showin off lunkers larger than mine. Always gratin

Nothin but baby stones with the anonymous hatin

Bad enough I got ex’s trippin in waders cause she lookin ‘round and the best guide’s missin

But like Bobby says, It ain’t me Babe

I’m up Coal Creek—yeah, I got it made

So just don’t do it.

Don’t be confused by the tone of my voice it ain’t me just my soft-hearted muse

I got it today I get it all the time

Hip-huggin hippies love me ‘cause I can rhyme

And the rednecks and bigots I meet on the river think I’m down with the cause

‘cause they been hearin the street—Byrd’s packin heat

So just don’t do it…

Gotta better chance a takin Tyson in the 90’s

Like they say in the Hill Top sect

I’m Boba Fett with an intellect

Another ring from the Hamma—you can’t touch this shit

My words will hit ya like a flyin knee

Straight to the face like LIVE FROM THE UFC!

And they won’t bruise your brain like a fall from your bicycle, bra…

They’ll leave ya drinkin a lifetime a burgers from a motha fuckin straw


Throwin knees in the UFC…

I ain’t another limp-wristed bag a tea

God-fearin white kid from the 303

Raised like a little boy version a JonBenét

My blood’s rich from the Father Land, mixed with crooks from the land of the Oz

And I’ll drop my pack, pen and my rod

Put a felt boot to your neck—curb ya like American History X

Don't forget the essentials!

Great spring fishing has arrived! Many of you may be planning your first big fly fishing trip of the year...or already packing up! If you have not used your gear in awhile, make sure to do your "pre-combat inspections" before you arrive on the water. Be sure to check out your fly line...maybe even clean and dress it. Always tie on a new leader. Open your boxes and make sure you still have all the ammo you thought you did. Stock up on new tippet material and floatant, as well. There are few things worse than getting out on the river and realizing you have only ten inches of 5x tippet left on your spool and the cap is off your only bottle of Aquel!

Iceman Midge (Step by Step)

Step 1. Begin by wrapping red 6/0 Uni-Thread behind the eye of a TMC 2488 hook.

Step 2. Using the red thread, tie in three strands of extra-small UTC wire (one must be black, the other two can be silver, copper, chartreuse or olive.) Tie off thread using a whip-finish knot and cut.

Step 3. Wrap all three strands of wire to the rear of the curved hook shank. Once you have reached where you want the midge abdomen to end, snap them all off simultaneously. It will be easy, the wire is thin. But, if you cut the wire, the tips will not lie flat to the hook shank

Step 4. Tie on olive dun 6/0 Uni-Thread immediately behind the hook eye. Build up only a very slight thread head before tying off using whip-finish knot. Be sure to leave a small band of the original red thread showing.

Step 5. Then use a black Sharpie marker to color the top of the olive head.

Step 6. Use the Loon Outdoors clear UV Knot Sense to build a true pupa shape over the entire fly.

Step 7. Harden with the Loon UV light.

Step 8. Lastly, place the finished fly into the lip of a Styrofoam cup or something similar and coat with Hard-as-Hull or another head cement. Watch Tying Video!

Tip of the week

When fly fishing underneath a bridge...do not be tempted to scare the pedestrians!

Drop and tie me 20, private!

Cold weather and long nights are coming fast. It is getting to be time to start planning your winter tying cores. I like to go into the tying season with a good plan. Start by cranking out as many of the simple patterns as possible. This way you will work out all the kinks and break off the rust...so to speak.
I like to start with the midge and caddis pupa. They are simple and quick and I know I will use (and loose) whatever I am willing to tie.

Fly Fishing Poetry

Sometimes Shiners Will Have To Do...









Jack






Arctic Rose







Put On Your Boots








Under the 6th Street Bridge

Rocky Mountain Anglers Swap Day Guidelines 

All items will be sold for the asking price for 1 day only: May 21, 2011.

All items are to be dropped off at RMA during normal business hours between the dates of Monday May 2 and Wednesday May 18.

Items must be listed on the swap receipt and tagged with prices using RMA rod tags. (see below).  This is the sellers’ responsibility, to be checked by an RMA employee.

All sales of swap items will by in the form of cash or check only. All sales are FINAL!

There will be no haggling/bargaining over swap items.

Please price your items to move, 50% of original retail or less is a good guideline if you want your gear to sell.

Rocky Mountain Anglers offers two forms of payment to those whose gear is sold at the swap.  A gift certificate earns 90% of the selling price for your gear.  A check earns you 75% of the selling price for your gear.

All gear not sold must be picked up from RMA no later than Wednesday May 25, 2011.  After this time any swap items left in the possession of Rocky Mountain Anglers will be considered donations and will be distributed to kids in need of fly fishing gear. 

RMA would appreciate a prompt response by those fortunate enough to have sold gear.  Please come by and pick up your payment or gift card the week following the swap.  RMA will make courtesy calls to those entitled to payment.

RMA has the right to refuse any gear or items deemed unsellable or “not right” for the swap day.

Jack

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UNDER THE 6TH STREET BRIDGE

Sanity swings in the balance
under the 6th Street bridge.
There are tiny angels there,
hovering between their world
and the steel girders of the bridge.
They have long, wispy tails
and slate gray wings as fragile as falling ash.
They lure you to the waters edge
like so many silent Sirens
mouthing lovely, wordless promises.
Only when you’re too close, already succumbed,
do you see the dark shapes underwater –
monsters gorged on tiny gray-winged angels.

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Fly Tying Instruction Click Here! Learn to tie many of Jay Zimmerman's original fly designs, such as the Clown Shoe Caddis, Banksia Bug, Backstabber and always popular Geezus Lizard! Also many other helpful lessons on streamer design and using UV glue and lights in fly tying...

Fly Fishing Poetry Click Here!

Sometimes Shiners Will Have To Do…
Jack
UNDER THE 6TH STREET BRIDGE
Arctic Rose (...ten years deep)
PUT ON YOUR BOOTS



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