Looks like I will be putting the Midge Cripple, that I just sent the
instructions to Don Shearer for, and my Zelon Callibaetis to work this
weekend in Spokane.
But not till I give the Narrows a shot tomorrow morning. No callibaetis, though.
Leland.
>I've just learned to make posts out of yarn. You guys are so sophisticated.
>I'm impressed.
>Les
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Leland Miyawaki" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 11:50 AM
>Subject: Re: Dry Falls
>
>
>> I'm a big fan of zelon. I have been using crinkled zelon (which I have
>been
>> buying from Blue Ribbon Flies - dyed specifically for flytying) for my
>> posts on parachute flies such as adams (callibaetis, bwo/baetis, gray and
>> green drakes). I mash the posts down and they become part of the wing
>> impression. I have also found that the darker colors, particularly gray,
>> are much more visible to me than the white or orange posts, especially in
>> moving water.
>>
>> Leland.
>>
>> >Another great use of super glue. Les mentioned the "cripple" being a
>great
>> >pattern. On that note, I think it is primarily due to the visible wing;
>> >that to me, is the "trigger" mechanism. Standup wings, as they enter the
>> >fish's window, do not show up in the fly profile like the forward tilting
>> >wing. A great, proven pattern is the parachute. Here CAN be an
>> >improvement. Use floating yarn as a post. It comes in grey, for a
>natural
>> >look, and visible white if that works for you to see it; other colors as
>> >well. Now, don't go sparingly with the post. It will depend on the size
>of
>> >the fly, but use "enough" to do the next step. After wrapping the
>feather
>> >around the post. (I like the Mike Lawson way of finishing the fly and
>then
>> >attatching the feather and wrapping counter-clockwise with the feather
>and
>> >finishing off by catching the feather with the thread at the head and
>> >forming the head. When you catch it this way, you continue to tighten
>the
>> >feather. Now, take your thumb and push down, squawsh the post spreading
>out
>> >the post. Easy to do and it will make a "halo" wing around the body with
>> >the front portion tilted forward. It is visible to the fish from all
>> >angles. Put a drop of super glue right in the middle of the
>"halo"...wing
>> >stays perfect and feather won't come off. If there is a drawback to the
>> >parachute, lots of good features, but the wing profile is not as good as
>the
>> >cripple and other patterns.....now it is. Jere
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >----- Original Message -----
>> >From: "Les Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 9:07 AM
>> >Subject: Re: Dry Falls
>> >
>> >
>> >> Right! Actually I have been using Quick Tite super glue. It comes in a
>> >handy
>> >> little brush bottle. Gene Gudger, a chironomid junkie of the first
>order
>> >> gave me the tip.
>> >> Les
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "Warner, Paul W" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 9:03 AM
>> >> Subject: RE: Dry Falls
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > One thing Les left out that's important unless you tie very fast or
>are
>> >a
>> >> fly tying "addict" is to coat the body with either Sally Hansen's nail
>> >> polish or Soft Body. Even with a coating on the fly the fish still
>rip
>> >> the flies up.
>> >> >
>> >> > I have a tattered chromie proudly sitting in my chironimid box that I
>> >see
>> >> everytime I open the box up.
>> >> >
>> >> > I've been using that pattern since last May and it seems to work in
>just
>> >> about every chronie hatch.
>> >> >
>> >> > Bill W
>> >> >
>> >> > > ----------
>> >> > > From: Les Johnson[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>> >> > > Reply To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >> > > Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 4:15 AM
>> >> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >> > > Subject: Re: Dry Falls
>> >> > >
>> >> > > The Chromie is a pattern listed in Phil Rowley's new book, Fly
>> >Patterns
>> >> for
>> >> > > Stillwaters. This is a very good chironomid that is often quite
>> >> effective.
>> >> > > Hook: Tiemco 2457 (use any wet fly hook). Body: silver flashabout
>> >> (thin).
>> >> > > Rib: single strand of red flashabou or red wire. throax: few turns
>of
>> >> > > peacock herl. black bead head. Gills: tuft of white sparkle yarn.
>> >> > > I bought the book. Phil Rowley knows his stuff. He is an
>experienced
>> >> > > stillwater angler who counts Gordon Honey and Brian Chan among his
>> >> regular
>> >> > > fishing buddies. A lot of knowlege in that trio.
>> >> > > Good Luck!
>> >> > > Les Johnson
>> >> > > ----- Original Message -----
>> >> > > From: "flyman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> > > Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 12:16 AM
>> >> > > Subject: Re: Dry Falls
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > > > I hope you don't mind me asking but I don't know a lot about fly
>> >> patterns.
>> >> > > > Is that pattern listed in a book or is it a pattern that gets
>passed
>> >> only
>> >> > > > between friends?
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > Thank you,
>> >> > > > Ray :-)
>> >> > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > ----- Original Message -----
>> >> > > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> > > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> > > > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> > > > Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 5:43 PM
>> >> > > > Subject: Re: Dry Falls
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > > I fished Lenice on Monday (may 14). Left my home in
>Leavenworth
>> >at
>> >> > > 4.45am
>> >> > > > > and was on water somewhere around 7.00am. It was cloudy ,
>trying
>> >to
>> >> > > > rain,with
>> >> > > > > wind gusting very strongly. I was hopeful that if the wind died
>> >down
>> >> > > there
>> >> > > > > would be a good Callibaetis hatch. Conditions remained very
>> >> difficult,
>> >> > > > making
>> >> > > > > it almost impossible to anchor my tube in deep water and fish
>the
>> >> column
>> >> > > > with
>> >> > > > > midge patterns - my favourite form of 'below the surface' still
>> >> water
>> >> > > > > fishing. One has to watch the end of the line with the
>> >concentration
>> >> of
>> >> > > a
>> >> > > > > hungry heron, and that is close to impossible when there is big
>> >wave
>> >> > > > action.
>> >> > > > > Wave action also gives the fly down below an unnatural
>movement,
>> >> which
>> >> > > is
>> >> > > > not
>> >> > > > > conducive to a fifty fish day. This can be mitigated in some
>> >degree
>> >> by
>> >> > > > > keeping the last third of the rod under the water which dampens
>> >the
>> >> up
>> >> > > and
>> >> > > > > down movement of the fly to some degree. But then you cannot
>> >watch
>> >> the
>> >> > > > line
>> >> > > > > and have to rely on the tactile sense only - again not
>conducive
>> >to
>> >> > > fifty
>> >> > > > > fish a day .............Anyway, I resigned myself to to finning
>> >> close in
>> >> > > > to
>> >> > > > > shore and fishing scuds, mayfly nymphs and damsel nymphs around
>> >the
>> >> > > > tulles.
>> >> > > > > Action was very slow, two fish to hand by mid-day.
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > > I was in two minds to call it a day, but for some reason
>decided
>> >to
>> >> hang
>> >> > > > in
>> >> > > > > there in the hopes of the wind dropping and the promise of a
>> >mayfly
>> >> > > > hatch -
>> >> > > > > exclusive of the wind, the weather was just right for one.
>There
>> >was
>> >> > > bird
>> >> > > > > action all over the lake but for the life of me I could not see
>> >what
>> >> > > they
>> >> > > > > were taking , nor could I see any rising pupae or floating
>shucks.
>> >> At 67
>> >> > > > the
>> >> > > > > eyes are not what they used to be, but this was getting
>ridiculous
>> >> !!
>> >> > > > > However, at about 5.00pm the wind dropped and I saw one mayfly,
>> >not
>> >> two
>> >> > > or
>> >> > > > > three or fifty but one, but it was enough to get the old
>carcass
>> >off
>> >> the
>> >> > > > > bank, into the tube and back into the fray. That was the mayfly
>> >> hatch>
>> >> > > for
>> >> > > > the
>> >> > > > > day. Not a fish dimple to be seen in any direction - but by
>god,
>> >the
>> >> > > wind
>> >> > > > was
>> >> > > > > down and I was going to rip fifty fishes lips or die in the
>> >attempt.
>> >> I
>> >> > > > > anchored off in in deep water (for Lenice) from 5.10 pm till
>7.35
>> >pm
>> >> in
>> >> > > > water
>> >> > > > > which varied from 16' to 22'; I like to know at exactly what
>depth
>> >I
>> >> am
>> >> > > > > fishing when fishing the column; in a float tube I use a
>hand-held
>> >> depth
>> >> > > > > finder put out by MarCum Ent,Inc.in Minnesota. It is about the
>> >size
>> >> of a
>> >> > > > > standard flash light and is used primarily by ice fisherman.
>> >Cabela
>> >> > > sells
>> >> > > > > them under the name of 'Polar Vision' and they are a jewel of a
>> >> tool.
>> >> > > With
>> >> > > > > this kind of sub-surface fishing I do not use a full sink line,
>> >but
>> >> the
>> >> > > > > slowest intermediate line sold by Airflo with a fast
>intermediate
>> >8'
>> >> > > > leader,
>> >> > > > > then about 6' of 3 pound test tippet (sometimes 5 pound test)
>and,
>> >> as I
>> >> > > > > choose never to weight my flies for still water use, 1 lead
>shot
>> >> crimped
>> >> > > > > about 12" above the fly itself. Back to business......... I
>> >suceeded
>> >> in
>> >> > > > > losing the first six fish I hooked (this was becoming one hell
>of
>> >a
>> >> > > day),
>> >> > > > > until I realised I had a bad spool of tippet material. From
>then
>> >on
>> >> I
>> >> > > > never
>> >> > > > > looked back, from the time I hooked the first fish till I quit
>at
>> >> way
>> >> > > > after
>> >> > > > > seven it really was a fish a cast. Keep in mind it takes time
>for
>> >> the
>> >> > > > line
>> >> > > > > and fly to sink and often longer to tweak it back up again.
>That
>> >> evening
>> >> > > > fish
>> >> > > > > were breathing the fly in on the way down, on the bottom and
>also
>> >at
>> >> all
>> >> > > > > levels on the way back. I am sure that some of these fish were
>> >> following
>> >> > > > the
>> >> > > > > fly up before taking it , if it was still a way down they would
>> >> gently
>> >> > > > suck
>> >> > > > > it in, if close to the surface they would whack it. I used
>only
>> >> one
>> >> > > > pattern
>> >> > > > > of fly all evening in two sizes, my fellow countryman (if he
>still
>> >> > > claims
>> >> > > > to
>> >> > > > > be a Brit) Phil Rowley's Chromie in sizes 10 and 12. It is a
>> >> > > remarkably
>> >> > > > > effective fly. How many fish did I catch ? I truly do not
>know,
>> >I
>> >> have
>> >> > > > long
>> >> > > > > ago quit the counting game. However, the rainbows ranged from
>17"
>> >to
>> >> 22"
>> >> > > > with
>> >> > > > > 2 small browns of about 10 to 12 inches.
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > > Moral of this story ? It pays to hang in there, if you have
>> >nothing
>> >> > > > better
>> >> > > > > to do.
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > > DAB
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > >
>> >> > >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
