Spring Creek Fix

After the chores were done (or at least to the point where my sense of responsibility tapered off) I grabbed the 4 and a box of ants, beetles etc and made my way creekside.  A 2.5 hour wade through gin clear spring creek from 2:30 pm to 5pm...the light was just right and I could see them fully illuminated...tilting and sipping.  A size 18 black ant on 6x and they rarely refused.  No giants these, but the view was incredible.

Tying for the "D" - Night 4

Night 4...this half dozen flies were supposed to be "Green Ants" but changed into something close but not exact.  I was short some critical ingredients and also found some fur that I was really interested in trying as a wing in place of squirrel.  The cool thing about this fur is that the diameter of the fiber gets thinner the closer you get to the skin of the pelt.  The downside to tying with most fur and hair is that you (I) inevitably end up with a bulky head.  This stuff worked like a champ...I hope the steelhead agree.

TP shot me a note on the last post and mentioned that I needed to add some purple muddlers.  I'm glad he did.I meant to tie a 1/2 doz and include them with this post  but I found that I am tragically out of good purple deer hair for muddlers.  I have a sweet purple bucktail for Clousers and Deceivers, but it's the long fine hair that doesn't spin or flare very well. I attempted one and included it as a "thanks for the note" fly.  I guess I'll be shopping for some more material in the morning. 

 
 

In other news, a permanent cradle for the newly acquired Mad River has been added to the garage wall...this canoe will likely NOT be sold anytime soon.

Deschutes Tying - Day3 (Now Night 3)

1/2 doz Undertakers and 1/2 Doz Spades...If you start early enough and add 6 - 12 a day...the box starts to fill up.  I wonder what these steelhead have against chartreuse and white Deceivers?  Tying low water flies is to unlearn everything I've learned over 20 years of fly tying.  The proportions are all wrong and I find myself wrapping way too far back, selecting hackle that is waaaay to long and stuffing dubbing back in the bag...I feel like a neophyte.... (please forgive the stream of consciousness writing....it's late.)

Deschutes Tying - Day 3

I decided that some Silver Hilton's (or at least my version of the fly) should be part of the box...

And then I wrapped some Muddlers...I love the Muddler.

 

Deschutes Tying Night 2

I got a little feedback from the 2 guys "in the know" and they said less cowbell...i.e. tie them low water style...back to the vice for another 1/2 doz Purple Perils...I have a hunch these are still too thick.

Deschutes Tying- Night 1

With a multi-day float on the Deschutes a little over a month away, I decided to start tying.  Night one was nice and easy with 1/2 doz size 6 Purple Perils.

August Harvest Minnesota Style

 A few images of the last week's harvest in MN

Lake Superior Herring coming to the cooler.

Another herring in my Father-in-law's nets

Said cooler...

Herring gull awaiting scraps of its namesake.

Lake Superior Agate Harvest

As the newly appointed Head of Marketing for the Halsnoy Fish Company (a volunteer position),  I came up with this clever campaign.

We worked hard for a quart of these!

My 7 year old with her first Lake Superior - Lake Trout.  Her Great, Great Grandfather's fish house in the background

Raspberries, Lobster Mushrooms, Herring, Lake Trout and Blueberries...a full on Minnesota harvest.