beyond the bug | modern fly tying & design

Bootleg Fly: Green Butt Purple Skunk vs. Silver Hilton

2009-03-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well, we set our clocks forward, the days are getting longer, March Madness is nearly upon us, and spring is in the air. All this, of course, means summer steelhead aren't far behind.

I'm still inspired by mash-up DJs and bootleg fly patterns, and longing for some summer steelhead action, so I decided to combine two of my favorite low water summer patterns. A little Green Butt Purple Skunk, a bit Silver Hilton, this fly is absolutely wicked on the greased line swing.

I've always loved the grizzly hackle tip wing on the Silver Hilton. It's such a severe, sparse fly, yet these long, dramatic wings bring a graceful, rich, and sweeping quality to it. I always use Diamond Brite dubbing for the butt on this fly because it just adds a little something else to the mix, something that pedestrian chenille can't hope to provide.

Underwater, the two stately hackle tips hold forth. They gyrate, flow, and tantalize (if you haven't seen it, get a copy of Lani Waller's original steelhead tapes and watch him fish the Silver Hilton with great success).

When I fish the Deschutes in August, I like to carry a whole box of these in addition to a full array of summer Spey and Dee patterns, as well as a whack of caddis and stonefly adults. It's a smallish Wheatley box. I keep it in my left chest pocket next to a tightly rolled Ramon Allones and beneath a small nip flask of Bullet.

I can't wait for the dog days.

The Green Bootie Purple Hilton >>

Hook >> Tiemco 7999SP, sizes 8-4
Thread >> Wapsi UTC Ultra Thread, 210 denier, red
Bootie >> Spirit River Diamond Brite Dubbing, caddis green
Ribbing >> Wapsi UTC French Oval Tinsel, medium, silver
Body >> Spirit River Angora goat dubbing, dark stone
Collar >> Spirit River Schlappen, purple
Wing >> Matched Keough grizzly hackle tips

Maybe the dog days aren't here yet, and we may not have a summer run for a few months, but in the meantime, here's a little something from DJ Axel, Hova, and GNR to carry you through... (Axl Rose's white leather get up is so rad).

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Recipe: Shunji's Kabuki Fly

2009-03-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

In the 1600s a new form of dance theater emerged in the dusty streets of Kyoto, Japan. The men and women who performed in these gritty, impromptu plays depicted "ordinary life" in 17th Century Japan and they did so with a new, avant-garde, and sexually charged style that became known as "Kabuki."

Here is an image of an early Kabuki performer, Izumo no Okuni (from Okuni Kabuki-zu Byōbu, a six-panel screen, a collection of Kyoto National Museum).The suggestive nature of these early performances (and their loose association with prostitution) quickly drew attention from all corners of Japanese society and the movement developed at a fevered pace. Soon, Kabuki performers were gracing not only the stages of Kyoto's crowded and narrow streets, but the guilded halls of the Japanese Imperial Court as well. This tradition continues today, and although it's changed a great deal over the centuries, the obsessively stylized and edgy spirit of Kabuki remains.

It's with this same spirit that Shunji, a San Francisco, CA-based angler and fly tyer, developed his Kabuki Fly.

In Shunji's aesthetic contemplation of the fly, color and shape are clearly important. Also, proportion and exactitude shine through in the design. According to Shunji, "I wanted to have a small body profile while keeping enough volume to be a good snack size for trout and steelhead. At the same time, I wannted to give the fly a longer profile for a good swimming action."

He went on to say, "I think these flies are very useful in many conditions; they'll fish well in fast water or calm, pool-like water. I prefer the faster water. They could be used from Russian river to the Smith I hope!"
Shunji's Kabuki Fly demonstrates the value of precision, thoughtfullness, and experimentation in the world of fly tying.

Scholars believe the word "kabuki" is derived from the Japanese verb "kabuku," which means "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary." Loosely translated into English, kabuki means "avant-garde."

Whatever you want to call them, Shunji's Kabuki Flies are certainly out of the ordinary. Modern fly designers, take note.

Shunji's Kabuki Fly >>

Hook >> Gamakatsu Octupus size 6, and 7999 size 8
Thread >> Danville 6/0 red for some of them, black for some of them
Wing >> Black bucktail
Hackle >> Schlappen, color is varied
Rib >> Medium silver flat tinsel
Body >> Wool dubbing or Angora goat dubbing
Butt >> Black bucktail
Throat >> Natural guinea feather or natural teal flank feather

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos and flies courtesy of Shunji, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Recipe: Ian's Whiplash Prawn

2009-02-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

Well, Ian McNemar has been logging some hard hours at the vise lately. He's been caught up in the world of tube flies now for a while, and it looks like the obsession is paying off.

Here are two variations of his newest tube pattern, a fly he calls the Whiplash Prawn.

I think he likes Metallica...

Ian's Purple Whiplash Prawn >>

Tube >> HMH thick wall micro tubing nested with clear HMH hybrid tubing
Feelers >> Black bucktail
Flash >> Pearl crystal splash
Butt >> Pink angora goat dubbing
Body >> Claret wool dubbing
Rib >> Small oval silver tinsel
Hackle >> Purple schlappen
Wing >> Black bear hair
Thread >> Danville 6/0 gray/blue
Hook >> Daiichi 1650 tube fly hook, size 6

Ian's Orange Whiplash Prawn >>

Tube >> HMH thick-wall micro tubing nested with HMH orange hybrid tubing for the junction
Eyes >> Small pink shiny beads glued onto 33lb hard mono
Feelers >> Black bucktail
Butt >> Pink angora goat dubbing
Body >> Brown angora boat dubbing
Rib >> Small silver oval tinsel
Hackle >> Orange schlappen
Wing >> Black bear hair
Thread >> Red Danville 6/0
Hook >> Daiichi 1650 tube fly hook, size 6

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos and flies courtesey of Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

All Mashed Up: Bootleg Flies

2009-02-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Progress and development in fly tying (aside from the really ground-breaking stuff) resembles the pirate-minded bootlegging of the post-modern bastardized-pop world of digital music. Mashups, smashups, cutups, and boots, are tracks that combine the rythym and vocals of different pop songs to create new, Frankenstein-ed creations. Some love them, some hate them, but it seems they're here to stay.

(Here is a fine example of a mash up for those of you who may not have noticed this under-the-radar, barely legal form of music making:

"Tender Umbrella," Party Ben, Rihanna vs. General Public

If you'd like to learn more about mashups, www.bootiesf.com is a great place to get acquainted with them.)

Hot "new" flies are most often mashups, the result of modern artists combining fly patterns new and old, or elements of them, to create something else to toss into the drift.

And so the analogy is drawn; tyers of new and modern flies blend tying techniques, color, proportion, design, and materials in the same way digital DJs mix beats, vocals, riffs, and genres to push things forward.

The Original Bootleg Fly: Lefty vs. Bob, the Half and Half

The Half & Half: Just like rich Guinness Stout and crisp Harp Lager at your favorite Irish pub, right? Well, not exactly, but the Clouser/Kreh Half & Half is similarly designed and is perhaps the original mashup of the modern fly tying world.

By ingeniously combining two of the most effective baitfish fly patterns in the history of saltwater fly fishing (a little Clouser Minnow on top, a little Lefty’s Deceiver on bottom), Bob Clouser and Lefty Kreh created a bootleg "Super Fly" and may have stumbled upon one of the most incredible Frankenstein flies a surf-cruising striped bass or ravenous blue will ever lay its eyes and lips on!

To be clear, making a comparison between musical mashups and bootleg flies should not in any way detract from the value of the progression of fly tying (or music).

It's simply a different way to think about the flies we tie.

In fact, I'd argue that, just as the greatest (and worst) tracks of the mashup world demonstrate, a lot goes into the understanding of how to create something new (and good) from something old.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Recipe: MJ's Rubber Leg Copper John

2009-02-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

The classic Copper John nymph, an attractor fly originally designed by Colorado-based angler and modern fly tying master, John Barr, was intended to sink quickly and to be fished in concert for big trout with larger grasshopper imitations. Over the years, however, the pattern has developed a cult following of anglers who use the Copper John on its own as a wickedly productive searching nymph in both rapid and still waters.

Matt "MJ" Jones of San Francisco, CA is an avid trout angler. He spends lots of time on the rich fly water of California's high country. The Truckee River is one of his favorite spots and this simple, but effective, Rubber Leg Copper John is one of his favorite flies.

Each time he heads to the Reno-Truckee area, MJ is sure to have a box-load of these bugs in red, chartreuse, and copper color variations at the ready. He loves this fly because it works well in the varied water anglers can encounter on rivers like the Truckee and for its simple design.

MJ's Rubber Leg Copper John >>
Hook >> Tiemco TMC 2457, sizes 12-18
Tail >> Black rubber legs
Body >> Wapsi UTC copper wire, size medium, red, chartreuse, copper, and other colors
Thorax >> Peacock herl
Wing Case >> Flash material coated wtih Z-Poxy 5-minute epoxy and resin
Leg >> Black rubber legs
Head >> Gold bead head, appropriately sized to fit hook

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

fly and photo courtsey of Matt "MJ" Jones, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fundraiser | Flies for Fins!

2009-01-27T13:41:00.001-08:00

Let's all take a minute to consider the steelhead we chase and the fisheries in which they run...

Mmm...

Steelhead...

Chances are, most of us enjoyed a short, sweet rush of images. A cartwheeling steelhead. A taught Spey line. A crystal clear adipose fin. The fishy smell on your hands after successfully releasing a bright hen, fresh from the salt.

Despite these magical images, I'll bet at least a few of us entertained at least a few less positive thoughts as well. Were you confident in the current health and long term management of your favorite stretch of water? Were you at all nervous about the dwindling numbers of wild steelhead returning to your home river?

If you were at all concerned, you're not alone, and as in all things, there is hope. British Columbia-based steelhead guide and concerned steelhead lover, April Vokey (pictured below), has decided to team with Reaction Fly and Tackle, Pacific Angler, Michael and Young Fly Shop, Sea-Run Fly and Tackle, and Whistler Fly Fishing to test out an innovative way to raise some extra cash for the Steelhead Society, a non-profit group dedicated to providing advocacy on behalf of wild steelhead in British Columbia.

So what does this have to do with fly tying? Good question.

At April's brilliant suggestion, local fly shops in her area have decided to sell FLIES TIED BY YOU in their stores with all proceeds going to the Steelhead Society. According to April, "This money will be put towards habitat restoration and several other similar projects, which ultimately will help to save all anadromous species."

We think this is a fantastic idea, and will be donating a selection of Beyond the Bug's flies to the Steelhead Society.

If you've got some extra bugs in your boxes or if you'd like to tie up some special creations for the Flies for Fins fundraiser, you can put them in an envelope and mail them to:

Flies for Fins
8505 Norman Cres.
Chilliwack, B.C. Canada V2P 5C6

You can send one fly or 50, fancy or plain. Just remember to include your name in the package. You can also follow the developments on Facebook.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Recipe: The Slow Dance

2009-01-20T05:53:00.001-08:00

In my last post on movement and flies, I neglected to include a recipe. I've received several requests for the material list via email and the comments section of this blog. So, let's get to it:

The Slow Dance, a fly for sea run brown trout and steelhead >>

Hook >> Tiemco 202SP (or similar), sizes 1/0 - 6
Thread >> Wapsi UTC Ultra Thread, 210 Denier, red
Tip >> French oval tinsel, silver, medium
Tag >> Danville 4-strand Rayon floss, light pink
Tail >> 3 Siskiyou Aviary Long Emu Feathers, 2 dark purple, 1 pink
Dubbing >> Angora goat dubbing, dark stone, heavily teased
Rear Flank >> 2 Golden pheasant tip feathers taken from the joint of the crest and neck
Front Flank >> 2 guinea feathers sized and stripped to fit, natural
Collar >> Schlappen feather, purple

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The Slow Dance: A Fly for Sea Run Browns and WInter Steelhead

2009-01-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

When flies hit the water, everyone talks about movement. "This fly moves well." "That fly has great movement on the swing." "I love how that pattern moves under the surface." As anglers and fly tyers, we've all heard (and uttered) these words, or a similar arrangement of these words at some point or another. But we haven't wasted breath; the concept of movement is important, particularly when showing flies to large, aggressive feeders.

Here's a fly designed to move well in the kind of water sea run brown trout chasers and steelheaders often face.

The Slow Dance is an impressionistic fly designed to attract, not to closely imitate. Its squid-like emu "tentacles" make it deadly on coastal steelhead water, its length and bulk through the body render it downright nasty with a greased line technique, and the dark, but contrasting color scheme has proven successful on water from Tierra del Fuego to British Columbia.

Swing it through a seam, or run it through a moderate-to-fast pool or pocket. It's great in slow water and it's wicked when stripped hard through the second half of a swing and into the hang down.

The Slow Dance gets its great movement from three materials. The primary movers in the equation are the three emu feathers that form the long, wispy tail section. These feathers are tied in convex side up and over a thick wad of dubbing to keep them from fouling about the bend of the hook. The secondary mover in the fly is the wrapped collar of purple schlappen just behind the head. The tertiary mover is the darkly colored and heavily teased Angora goat dubbing through the thick body section of the fly. Flanking feathers of guinea and golden pheasant top the fly off and impart contrast and a visual order to things, but don't do much on the movement front.

Big flies designed to move are fun to create, and even more fun to fish. Grab some material and make some moves.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Recipe: The Emerald Shiner Tube Fly

2009-01-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

Recently, Wylie Haggerty took an exploratory trip to New York State's Niagara River in search of some of the biggest lake-run steelhead on the East Coast. Wylie loves to swing for chrome, and some of the most effective swing patterns on the "Big River" are those that represent bait fish.

Here's a relatively simple fly he brought with him, and is sure to carry again.

The Emerald Shiner Tube Fly >>

Tube >> 2-inch copper, brass, or aluminum tube
Thread >> Wapsi UTC 210 Denier, red, green, or purple
Body >> Flat Mylar tinsel, large
Ribbing >> French tinsel, oval or Antique tinsel
Wing >> Canadian and Russian Goat hair, married, dark green, light green, and white
Throat >> Webby schlappen fibers, red
Collar >> Wrapped schlappen feather, grey or white
Eyes >> Jungle cock nail feathers, sized to match
Head >> Silver cone head, large

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly recipe and photo courtesy of Wylie Haggerty

Battling Winter with the Guinea Wing Orange Spey

2009-01-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

This week has been cold, snowy, grey, and icy in Manhattan. Perfect weather for staying in, catching up on episodes of 30 Rock and Mad Men, planning summer steelhead trips, and tying Spey flies.

Here's a simple winter-blues-fighter of a pattern I whipped up using only the materials at the top of my Spey storage bin.

The Guinea Wing Orange Spey >>

Hook >> Tiemco 202SP, 1/0
Thread >> Wapsi UTC 210 Denier, red
Tip >> 3 turns of French oval tinsel, silver
Tag >> Danville 4-strand nylon floss, blue
Ribbing >> 5 turns of French oval tinsel, silver
Butt Dubbing >> Angora goat dubbing, 50/50 blend of orange and red
Body Dubbing >> Angora goat dubbing, dark stone
Collar 1 >> Wrapped pheasant rump feather, blueish green
Collar 2 >> Wrapped schlappen feather, orange
Collar 3 >> Wrapped guinea feather, nautral
Wing >> Guinea feather layed flat and secured to the hook shank just behind the eye

This is a solid winter steelhead pattern designed to honor the past with a flourish of gaudy materials, but tied with a modern, nearly deconstructed style.

I like to really tease out the dubbing on these flies, especially in the butt section. It gives the fly an attractive translucence in the water while allowing it to maintain its great body and shape.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Holiday Flurries and Summer Steelhead Flies...

2008-12-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

Well, it's looking more and more like Christmas will be white in Manhattan...

... and that means there's only one thing to do: tie up some summer steelhead flies in anticipation of the coming season (even if it is like 7 months off).

Here's a simple low water steelhead fly that I've used with great success on the Deschutes River in Central Oregon during the late summer months.

It's a simple, sparsely-dressed pattern that doesn't require crazy materials or long hours at the vise, making it the perfect antidote for a steelheader on a snowy afternoon.

The Snow-day Summer Steelhead Fly >>

Hook >> Tiemco TMC 202 SP, size 4 or 6
Thread >> Wapsi 210 denier UTC Ultra Thread, red
Tag >> Wapsi Flat Mylar Tinsel, silver, medium
Dubbed Body >> Spirit River Angora Goat Dubbing, black or dark grey
Dubbed "Cheek" >> Spirit River Diamond Brite Dubbing, UV pearl (a nub of dubbing wrapped just forward of the hook eye return, teased for sparkle)
Collar >> Spirit River Pheasant Rump Feather, blue-green

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Beyond the Bug's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide for the Modern Fly Tyer

2008-12-15T12:10:00.001-08:00

Well, the Holidays are upon us, and if you haven't purchased that perfect gift for the modern fly tyer in your life (even if that modern fly tyer is YOU), then it's time to get crackin'!

Here's Beyond the Bug's quick and dirty guide to some totally killer fly tying gifts:

A Jewelry-Quality Salmon Fly by Shawn Davis >>

Fly tying artist, Shawn Davis, had a vision to create jewelry-quality Atlantic salmon flies for display.

We'd say he's achieved his goal.

Davis' unique and modern flies available from $1,190.00, decorative photographs both framed and un-framed available from $80.00, click here for more information.

A Renzetti Master Special Edition Fly Tying Vise >>
Probably the sexiest fly tying vise ever built. $729.95, available here at LelandFlyTying.com

A Selection of Paul Miller Super Spey Hackle >>

A modern master of steelhead fly tying named Paul Miller teamed up with a modern master of bird-raising named Kate Davidson. The result: some of the best rhea feathers for steelhead fly tying we've ever seen (and used).

$20.00, available here at LelandFlyTying.com

A subscription to Fly Tyer or Hatches Magazine >>

$19.95 for 1 full year of fly tying news, information, techniques, material reviews, HOT fly patterns, and more! Subscribe to Fly Tyer Magazine at 17 % off here.

$6.95 is a small price to pay for what is simply one of the very best modern fly tying publications on the planet. Subscribe to Hatches Magazine here (click on the "download a subscription form" link on the Home Page).

A pair of traditional Atlantic salmon fly earings >>

A couple of gaudy Altlantic salmon flies hanging off your (or your girlfriend or your wife's) ears? Need we say more?

$29.95, available here.

A classic Richard Wheatley fly box >>

Richard Wheatley of England: Storing the world's best flies in elegance for only the most discriminating tyers since the 1880's.

$30.00 - $100.00, available here at Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters.

A copy of Bob Veverka's fantastic book on modern saltwater fly tying, Innovative Saltwater Flies >>
An incredible explosion of creative fly designs from some of the very best modern saltwater fly tyers around. This is a must-have book for anyone who enojys tossing some big bugs to salty beasts.

$49.95, Available here at LelandFlyTying.com

A Mag Rite Bobbin from Merco Products >>

A fly tying bobbin with a drag system?
You heard us correctly. But in case you didn't catch it: A fly tying bobbin with a drag system.

The Rite Bobbin from Merco Products is a fantastic fly tying tool. It's ingenious disc drag system allows you to put as little or as much tension on the thread as your task requires. The mechanism is precise and variable. Thread control has been redefined.

$26.49, Available here at LelandFlyTying.com

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Recipe: Wylie's One Percenter Tube Fly

2008-12-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

Every good fly has a story, and every good tube fly has a better one. You never know what will inspire, spark, and feed the naming process of a fly. Regardless of how you get there, settling on the name of a new fly is always an interesting exercise in creativity, free-association, and cool hunting.

Here's the story of a fly called the "One Percenter." It's tied by avid New Jersey-based Delaware trout bum turned steelhead freak, Wylie Haggerty.

Here's Wylie's "page 13 version" of the story behind the name:

"I remember reading Hunter S. Thompson's book Hells Angels a while back and have been interested in the gang from a sociological standpoint ever since. I had been tying flies at the lady's house while watching Gang Land on the tube and the Hells Angels piece came on. The term "1%ers" or "one percenters" has been used to describe the Hells Angles gang because only 1% of the motorcycle community ever meets their criteria. I thought this fly was unique because I had yet to see a fly use a rhea feather as the wing at the time and I thought the black and blue looked similar to the garb of motorcycle gang member. I also thought the fly would explode with movement while in the water, and coincidentally, the Hells Angles were responsible for the second largest car bomb in US history back in the day."

On a side note: In case you're wondering what the current leader of California's Hells Angels would do if he were president...

Here's a quick and dirty recipe for the One Percenter Tube Fly>>

Tube >> HMH large, medium, or small fly tying tube depending, of course, on the desired size of the finished fly
Dubbing >> Polar bear dubbing or Angora goat dubbing
Tinsel >> Silver French or Oval tinsel sized to match the tube, use a diamond braid or traditional wrapping style
Rear Wings >> Wrapped rhea feather or ostrich plume
Top Wing >> Stripped and secured rhea feather tip or ostrich plume tip
Collar >> Palmered marabou feather, oversized
Eye >> Flanking jungle cock nail feathers secured near the hook eye

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photo and fly courtesy of Wylie Haggerty

A (Very) Short History of the Tube Fly

2008-12-08T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ian McNemar's Practitioner-style prawns tied on tubes over the Thanksgiving Holiday have been a hit with readers.Given the excitement tube flies have and continue to generate among modern fly tyers, it might be useful to take a moment to review the history of tube flies and a short list of their more attractive features and advantages.

So, everyone’s talking about them: tube flies! Even though these flies may seem radically new, they have been in use for over 50 years.

The first tube flies were tied in 1945 by Winnie Morawski, a British fly tying instructor and professional tyer for Playfair and Company of Aberdeen. To produce the world’s first tube flies, Morawski tied standard Atlantic salmon patterns onto the discarded scraps of turkey quills that littered her desk. She then attached the hook separately, allowing the fly itself to slide up the leader during a strike, reducing the stress placed on the fly.

Morwaski’s innovative creations became known for lasting longer than the flies offered by her competitors. Eventually, her bench side experiment was spotted by Dr. William Mitchell who suggested the use of surgical tubing as a durable alternative to Morawski’s natural quills. The rest is, well, history.
Today, tube flies are fished throughout the world’s fly waters and continue to be associated with innovation. Tube flies offer steelhead anglers several unique advantages:

>> First and foremost, tube flies continue to be more durable than traditional, shank-tied flies – this is a plus when a fresh steelhead grabs your offering and goes!

>> Tube flies also allow a fly tyer to add an incredible amount of material to a fly pattern without using a bulky and heavy hook.

>> Using smaller, short-shanked hooks is also helpful to the steelheader, as levering action is greatly reduced, resulting in more hook ups and more big fish! Steelhead legend, Lani Waller, is convinced that fishing with tube flies has increased his hook up rate by 20 per cent!

>> Tube fly construction and rigging allows a hardcore steelheader to use a variety of hook styles, shapes, and sizes throughout the day and from fish to fish.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Translucent Tubes: Some Steelhead Candy from Ian McNemar

2008-12-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

How did Ian McNemar spend his Turkey Day? Well, check these out.

Over the holiday, Ian whipped up about 4 or 5 purple and orange steelhead flies on tubes influenced by the traditional General Practitioner pattern over the weekend. Ian's weekend work was inspired by Jeff Mishler's recent article on translucence and steelhead fly philosophy in Fly Rod and Reel magazine.
Here are the recipes:

Ian's Purple Practitioner >>

Tube >> HMH large tube
Feelers >> purple EP Fibers, a little EP Sparkle for flash and 2 strands
purple peacock herl from Hareline Dubbin.
Butt >> Pink UV Ice Dub from Hareline for flash
Body >> (just like with the GP, the body is two sections) Purple angora
from Wapsi; translucent pearl medium tinsel from UTC; purple teal
flank - on the back section, I V-cut the teal flank to give the back
end more substance.
Hackle >> Large purple schlappen from Hareline. A few wraps around the
butt of the fly and palmered through the body.
Thread >> 6/0 Danville, red

Ian's Orange Practitioner >>

Tube >> HMH small tube
Feelers >> orange EP, a little EP sparkle, two strands of purple peacock herl
Butt >> Pink UV Ice Dub for flash
Body >> (the body is one section) a few wraps of orange angora on the
back; a layer of silver medium tinsel covered by red died peacock
herl, orange schlappen palmered through, tied down with small oval
tinsel. It shimmers a bit and gives a flashy peek inside on occasion.
Hackle >> Orange schlappen. A few wraps on the butt and palmered through
the body.
Wing >> Burnt orange teal flank topped with a smaller piece of gray teal
flank. I did this for some contrast.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos and flies courtesy of Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Dear Mr. Minister, Let us fish the Skeena.

2008-11-21T07:07:00.000-08:00

For those of you out there who dream about your chance to wet a fly in the mighty waters of British Columbia's Skeena River system, you may have to keep on dreaming.

Recently, the Ministry of Environment in British Columbia has drafted and proposed a new Angling Management Plan (AMP) for the Skeena River steelhead fishery (you can find and read the plan in its entirety here: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/ske/qws/).

Why should anglers care? A plan with such a title sounds like it promotes responsibility and care for the environment, right? Well, not exactly.

For all intents and purposes, the plan strips a non-resident angler's right to fish the river system when, where, and with whom he or she wants. In the future, if the legislation were to pass, non-residents would face severely limited fly fishing options on any river within the greater Skeena drainage system. But, running license lotteries, handing out severely restrictive permits, and putting a tight cap on the number of people who can fish a river in a year is an effective solution to ecosystem stress, right? Well, not exactly.

Imposing such restrictions is silly. The major industry in the region that cradles the Skeena system is fed and fueled by angling dollars. A group opposing the Skeena AMP has set up an online petition (www.opposeskeenaamp.com) and has this to say about the adverse economic effects the plan may produce: "The value of non-guided non-resident anglers to the province of British Columbia lies in their contribution to the economy. Every fishing trip costs money, lots of it, and this money is distributed among restaurants, hotels, tackle shops, bars, grocery stores, and many other local businesses. The AMP is good for guides, but bad for the tourist economy as a whole."

They're right. Economically, the AMP sounds like a fantastic deal for guides, but when non-resident anglers actually shoulder the base of the fishing economy throughout the Skeena system and surrounding areas, the province of British Columbia gets hurt. Shut out the non-residents, shut off the flow of dollars in a vast region of Canada's most alluring wilderness.

Perhaps something more creative is in order, something like an angling tax to direct revenue to more innovative and practical management plans and environmental protection solutions. Such a plan could create even more angling dollars and provide even more future protection for the region's ecosystem in the form of educational programs, environmental studies, and restoration programs. But, maybe, at the behest of a small number of greedy guides, undervaluing the Skeena's economic potential is what the Ministry wants.

Adventure fishing economies and angling tax schemes aside, the Skeena AMP is still silly. It's foolish legislation because it could ultimately alienate the Skeena's greatest group of supporters: the fly anglers who travel near and far each year to have a crack at the adventure, beauty, and majesty of one of the world's final fontiers.

Without the help of these careful and respectful sportsmen, sportswomen, and environmental advocates, the Skeena, the health of its ecosystem, and the wild fish that call it home could be all but forgotten in many corners of the world. The majority of modern fly anglers adhere closely to widely approved catch and release practices, holding a love and reverence for the steelhead that the average or non-initiated person will simply never understand. Serious steelheaders travel to the Skeena and they do so because they love the river and the great, beautiful, wild fish that run there. They, too, have an interest in protecting the Skeena and its bounty, even if they do not, in the eyes of the law and government, call it their back yard.

What would a Skeena River system look like without traveling anglers? Who knows? But perhaps this is also what the Ministry wants; shut out the non-resident riff-raff, trust the guides and lodges to run the show, and you've got a hands-off environmental management plan.

Reasonable and effective management plans are most certainly not "hands-off," and should always strive to seek out and involve those most passionate about the resource at issue.

On the Skeena, non-residents ought to be part of the solution; leave out the non-residents, burn their money, silence their voices, and everyone loses.

To read and sign the petition to stop the Skeena Angling Management Plan, visit: www.opposeskeenaamp.com

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Pattern: Wylie Haggerty's Grab Bag Atlantic Salmon Fly

2008-11-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

"Man it's gnarly. But, Wylie, why do you call it the Grab Bag?" That's precisely what I asked after a good friend and fishing buddy, Wylie Haggerty, gave me a look at a new fly he'd been working on from his fly tying desk in northern New Jersey.

His response: "I call that pattern the grab bag because I take a few techniques used in some of my favorite flies, and mix them up."

This fly uses the diamond wrap threading technique (more on this in another post), special dubbing (polar bear) picked out for the hackle, teal collar, the classic jungle cock eyes used in Atlantic salmon flies, and the late-October Salmon River hot color combo of black and orange.

Wylie's Grab Bag is a fantastic illustration of how modern fly tyers are similar to jazz musicians when they develop new fly patterns. Borrowing a bit from something here, mixing elements, and using the language of the past to push the craft forward -- that's it.

Wylie's Grab Bag >>

Hook >> Partridge salmon iron, size 6/0 - 2/0
Thread >> Floss wrapped with diamond technique, burnt orange color
Dubbing >> Polar bear dubbing, black color, heavily teased
Collar 1 >> Teal flank feather, blood red color
Collar 2 >> Schlappen feather, black color
Eye >> Jungle cock nail feathers, matched to hook size

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos and fly courtesy of Wylie Haggerty

Fly Pattern: The Simple Life Flatwing Streamer

2008-11-17T11:31:00.000-08:00

Make a cast. Strip line. Set the hook. Play the fish. Take a breath. Keep it simple.

For many, fly fishing and fly tying are about escaping the concrete canyons, carpeted cubicles, conference calls, nagging bosses, and other daily obstacles of a busy modern life. These bright little flies, inspired by the patterns in the classic work by Ken Abrames, Striper Moon, don't take long to tie and are good for the senses.

The Simple Life Flatwing Streamer >>Hook >> Tiemco TMC 800S, 600SP, Gamakatsu Octopus, or similar saltwater hook, size 4-1
Thread >> Wapsi UTC Monofilament Thread, .006
Belly >> Spirit River Bodi Braid, silver
Guard >> Spirit River Bucktail Fibers, vary colors
Wing 1 >> Spirit River Saddle Hackle Feather, tied flat, vary colors
Wing 2 >> Spirit River Saddle Hackle Feather, tied flat, vary colors
Wing 3 >> Spirit River Saddle Hackle Feather, tied flat, vary colors (3rd wing optional)
Topping >> 4-5 Strands Spirit River Peacock Herl
Eyes >> Small Stick-on Plastic Eyes

Whip finish fly and coat head and eyes with Z-Poxy 5-minute epoxy and resin. Allow 20 minutes for drying.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

A New Collection of Flies from Siskiyou Aviary!

2008-11-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

Take a look at some of the new fly tying eye candy from the leaders in exotic fly tying feathers and razor's edge modern fly design. Innovation needs inspiration, and what better way to find a little bit than taking a moment to wander through the fields of creativity?

An "Angel Fish" by Robert Quigley employs a large feather wing, some subtle flash, and a long beard of natural white rhea fibers.

When fly tyers reach a certain experience level, they all want to tie a large, complex squid pattern. Thus, big squid patterns are a dime a dozen, but Robert Quigley has found a way to overcome the tendency to be boring by using long, durable rhea fibers and particularly beautiful schlappen hackle feathers in these two Scotty Squid patterns.

Kate Davidson of Siskiyou Aviary spends lots of time creating the thoughtful color palates for her lines of premium fly tying feathers. Take a look at the greens, blues, and purple of this Quigley Scotty Squid.

Paul Miller is famous for his line of "Fly on the Wall" steelhead flies, a celebrity effect that has driven sales in a line of hard-fishing flies for steelhead, South American brown trout, and tarpon anchored by his trademarked Super Spey feathers. A pattern he's perfected is the Steelhead Prawn. Here's a pair that look good enough to eat.

I've already mentioned Kate Davidson's sensitivity to color, and here's a perfect example in the form of a fly she whipped up for the aggressive Pacific Nortwest steelhead that run through her backyard! A dose of organized chaos, the layers of rhea feathers and flash create the big, beautiful bulk that makes aggressive steelhead snap.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos courtesy of Kate Davidson, Robert Quigley, Paul Miller, and siskiyouaviary.com

Fly Pattern: Shunji's Redwing Blackbird (or Ronin) Steelhead Fly

2008-11-10T09:54:00.001-08:00

Tied by Shunji of San Francisco, CA, this Redwing Blackbird or "Ronin Fly" is an excellent example of a sparsely dressed modern steelhead fly. This lightweight, but attractive offering works well when swung through gnarly current seams and bubble lines.
Run it around the edges of exposed boulders and other types of structure. Its excellent contrast, slim profile, stiff wing and tail, and gentle flash will move steelhead from their lies even in cold fall and spring water.

Shunji's Redwing Blackbird (Ronin Fly) >>
Hook >> Tiemco TMC 7999, size 4
Thread >> Wapsi UTC 210 Denier Ultra Thread , black
Ribbing & Tag >> Wapsi Silver oval tinsel, size medium
Tail >> Schlappen Fibers from Spirit River, red
Body >> #2 Chenille from Spirit River, black
Wing (optional) >>Long bucktail fibers from Spirit River, red

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The International Fly Tying Symposium comes to New Jersey

2008-11-07T08:02:00.001-08:00

The Brits are coming to New Jersey! Nope, not the red-coats of revolutionary yore, but accomplished fly tyers from the British Isles and across Europe will descend on the Doubletree Hotel and Convention Center in Somerset, NJ for the eighteenth International Fly Tying Symposium November 22 and 23, 2008.

According to program director, Chuck Furimsky, this year's event will include more visitors from across the pond than ever before and an emphasis on new British and European flies that work in waters near and far.

The 2-day event is a favorite among serious fly tyers and boasts a full slate of classes, demonstrations, fly swaps, celebrity tyers, and a Saturday evening party. If you're looking for new materials, this is the place to be. There will be a room of vendors offering everything from fresh natural wood duck feathers to EP Fibers in all colors of the rainbow at excellent prices.

For more information on specific programs and events, where to stay and how to get there, visit the official event website.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Pattern: MJ's Swingin' Freight Train

2008-11-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

For years now, Randall Kaufmann 's Freight Train has been swung through the green waters of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon with great success.

Anglers know the fly by its distinctive purple and orange floss and sparse dressing. Summer steelhead know it as an irrisistible, if dangerous, staple of their watery environment, especially through the months of July and August.

Even though Kaufmann's original pattern is very modern in its angular lines, sparse dressing, and choice of few materials, Matt "MJ" Jones offers a pattern with softer lines and a more traditional feel to construct a fly that looks a bit more gaudy than Maupin is used to seeing on the end of a leader.

MJ's Swingin' Freight Train >>
Hook >> Tiemco TMC 7999, size 4
Thread >> Wapsi UTC 140 Denier Ultra Thread, orange, pink, green, and black
Ribbing >> Wapsi Silver oval tinsel, size medium
Tail >> Purple Chinese saddle hackle from Spirit River
Body >> Black Ultra Chenille from Spirit River
Collar >> Purple Chinese saddle hackle from Spirit River
Wing (optional) >> White calf hair from Spirit River

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

flies tied by Matt "MJ" Jones, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos by Josh L. Frazier

MJ's Dream Ticket: A Pair of 60-Degree Striper Flies

2008-11-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

Well, it's November 4. You've stood in line, you've made sure not to leave any hanging chads or butterflies in your ballot, and you're feeling great about exercising your right to vote. It's time to put your feet up, let the exit polling and fierce vote tallying run its course, and take a look at two of this Fall's nastiest 60-Degree striper flies!

Matt "MJ" Jones' 60-Degree Half & Half is the perfect candidate for those anglers looking for big strikes in cold water this Fall!

The Half & Half: Just like rich Guinness Stout and crisp Harp Lager at your favorite Irish pub, right? Well, not exactly, but the Clouser/Kreh Half & Half is similarly designed. By ingeniously combining two of the most effective baitfish fly patterns in the history of saltwater fly fishing (a little Clouser Minnow on top, a little Lefty’s Deceiver on bottom), Bob Clouser and Lefty Kreh may have stumbled upon one of the most incredible Frankenstein flies a striped bass will ever lay its eyes and lips on!

The leading portion of this beautiful fly is composed of the heavy dumbbell eyes and bucktail of Clouser’s Deep Minnow. This solid, sinking head is trailed by a hackle-type tail which is highlighted by some flash and capped with another pinch of bucktail.

MJ has tied this pattern with a bit of yak hair blended into the bucktail mix, giving it a bit of extra bulk which he says has been useful this fall because of the colder water temperatures he's run across. He's also kept the flash material a bit longer, a preference of many modern tyers.

MJ's Pink Flashtail Whistler, a variation of Dan Blanton's famous striper pattern, is the perfect blend of bright color and long flash for fishing stripers in the surf or stripping around structure.

MJ has tied this pattern with extreme length in mind. The hackle collar is neatly finished and the green thread nose is long and tapered with care. MJ is known for working with bucktail fibers of exellent quality and length. It can take time to select the proper materials, but the results reflect the hard work.

The 60-Degree Debate

Both of MJ's flies are tied on 60-degree jig hooks from Gamikatsu. Since Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser introduced and popularized the "Deep Minnow" during the 1980s, the jig vs. fly debate has burned through the saltwater fly tying and fishing community. Despite the school of tyers and fishers who frown upon flies like the Clouser Minnow and the Flashtail Whistler for their "jigging actions," a great number of saltwater anglers have taken the concept and run with it.

One of the most vocal proponents of the value of this kind of "jig action" is Dan Blanton. He swears by 60-degree jig hooks and their effectiveness in the water, tying all his Whistlers on Eagle Claw jig hook offerings.

Last week, MJ thought he'd give these hooks a whirl. He was impressed, catching three 5- or 7-pound stripers in a short morning trip. Whatever your leanings, 60-degree jig hooks are an easy way to increase the effectiveness of the flies you tie.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos and flies courtesy of Matt "MJ" Jones, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Swap IV: George Revel's Steelie Lip Ring

2008-11-03T06:58:00.001-08:00

This wicked fly was produced in the most recent Beyond the Bug fly tying jam in San Francisco, CA by George Revel, one of the best young distance fly casters in the United States and an avid steelhead fly angler.
George calls this fly the "Steelie Lip Ring" and it's, in a word, HOT. With a punk rock tail of paired biots, a trim and beautifully ribbed thread body, spiky hackle collars over flashy gold dubbing, and topped with a dark bead head, this stonefly-esque creation is downright nasty.

A native of Redding, CA, Revel grew up with the some of the world's very best trout and steelhead fly fishing opportunities right on his doorstep. His experience has given him a keen sense of proportion and how to get the most out of the materials he adds to a fly. George doesn't just tie flies that look good on the vise, he understands how they'll behave underwater, where they do all their best work. Imagine how those webby brown hackle fibers will hug the dubbing beneath them...

The Trinity River is Revel's Nor Cal home water and it's famous for its winter steelhead runs. Season after season, the right angle poly yarn indicator rig a la Dean Schubert and Dave Hickson proves to be one of the most effective fishing methods on the river. During the colder months, the half-pounders in the Trinity will key in on slow moving nymphs and crippled emergers, and no one knows this feeding behavior better than Revel (pictured below with a brilliant Trinity River fish).

Stoneflies are abundant in the Trinity's rich ecosystem, and Revel's Steelie Lip Ring carries elements of these distinctive packets of buggy protein. From the fly' slightly green abdomen to its two prominent black tails, beefy gold mid section, and dark head, Revel has illustrated how experience and field observation can (and should) inform the flies we design.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Recipe: Calimari con Super Spey

2008-10-31T07:49:00.000-07:00

Beyond the Bug has come a long way since we started blogging in March. Thanks to the loyal followers of the site for clicking in and taking a look! Heretofore, we haven't really posted any fly recipes for the fly designs we explore on these pages, but that's about to change.

We've had about a zillion requests for a fly recipe for the squid fly featured in our very first post. You'll find the recipe and material list below. Detailed tying instructions can be obtained via email at beyondthebug@gmail.com

Calimari con Super Spey, a squid fly for steelhead and stripers >>

Hook >> Tiemco TMC 7999 #1/0

Thread >> Wapsi UTC GSP 200 deneir, white (colored with Prismacolor art marker)

Tentacles 1 >> 2 or 3 red emu feathers (best quality is from Siskiyou Aviary in Ashland, Oregon)

Tentacles 2 >> 2 or 3 saltwater saddle feathers (white, dotted with Prismacolor art marker)

Tentacle highlights 1 >> Spirit River Pearlescent Fly Flash, pink

Tentacle highlights 2 >> about 10 strands of Spirit River Crystal Splash, purple and pearl

Head 1 >> EP Fibers by Enrico Puglisi, lavender and navy blue stacked 360-degrees around the shank
Eyes >> 2 matched Spirit River Jungle Cock Nail Feathers

Dubbing >> Spirit River Diamond Brite Dubbing, UV pearl

Head 2 >> Paul Miller Super Spey rhea feathers, gentian purple

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photo provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The Fly Swap III: Ian's Polar Shrimp

2008-10-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

We've seen Ian McNemar patterns on this blog before. They are meticulous and display a heightened sensitivity to color, materials, proportion, and finish, and this take on the classic Polar Shrimp should have steelhead shaking in their scales.
Taking a cue from Matt "MJ" Jones' Lady Catherine Variation, Ian as also used Angora goat dubbing in this fly to impart a buggy aesthetic. While the fly is rather sparsely dressed with long orange hackle fibers in a minimalist ethic, the red tail and tinsel ribbing bridge the gap between the modern and the traditional schools of steelhead fly design.

Of particular interest in this fly is the beautifully finished head. Pay close attention to the compact series of wraps and the neat length of shank between the head and hook eye.
Steelhead tyers categorically take their technique seriously, and tying a neat, compact head is often the ultimate goal of a serious tyer (besides, of course, hooking a bright chrome hen on a favorite coastal river). To achieve a head of this caliber, simply use fewer wraps and approach the finish with more confidence. As with all forms of functional art, practice counts.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The Fly Swap II: MJ's Lady Catherine Variation

2008-10-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's post set the stage on the concept and worth of Fly Swaps, so let's take a first look at what came of the most recent San Francisco Swap: Matt "MJ" Jones' Lady Catherine Variation.
This fly, like a full-dressed Lady Catherine steelhead fly has got a flat shank profile and a "leggy" look from through the gape. A notable modern design characteristic of this fly is its skinny and sparse elegance. The minimalist design ethic has gone in and out of fashion in the history of fly tying, but it's never been as pronounced as it has become in recent decades.

A closer look at this fly reveals a keen sense of utility in its trim form; it seems nearly every fiber serves a purpose, none appear extraneous, all are integral to the pattern's usefulness.

In achieving this heightened sense of restraint and pure function, MJ has made great use of Angora goat dubbing, a long-fibered and durable material shorn from the goat species native to Asia Minor (or Turkey, in the modern day geopolitick). This species was brought to Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. Today, Angora goats are bred and ranched for their wool which is more commonly known as mohair. Even though mohair is most commonly found in sweaters and socks, the fibers of this material are perfect for dubbing applications in fly tying. This natural material is perfect for use in a range of nymph, steelhead, and giant stonefly patterns.

In steelhead tying, Angora goat dubbing is commonly known as the best all-natural substitute for the more traditional but illegal option, seal dubbing.

Angora is spiky and softer than seal, giving it a more supple quality at the vise. Some traditional steelhead tyers lament the unavailability of traditional materials and frown upon the use of more pedestrian fibers, but for the every day tyer focused on utility, Angora goat dubbing is an excellent material choice.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The Fly Swap

2008-10-28T08:43:00.001-07:00

Fly anglers are always on the lookout for the next hot fly.

In this quest for tomorrow's fish-catching Holy Grail, it's easy to look excitedly down the tunnel of one's own creative ability. But as in any form of functional art, designing with blinders on can be the most dangerous way to meet the future.

The "Fly Swap," as it's called by hardcore fly designers and tyers has been around for ages and has existed in many formats, some wholly impromptu and wildly creative, others highly organized and narrowly focused. Essentially, swapping flies is a bit like a jam session among like-minded, free flowing jazz musicians riffing back and forth, going bravely (together) into the next frontier of their craft.

Recently, the fierce fly designers at Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters and Beyond the Bug held a fly swap in San Francisco. The theme was steelhead. The beer was cold. The flies were fantastic.

This week, Beyond the Bug will take a look at what came out of this tying session and some of the design principles and techniques put to use in tying striking flies like:

Keith Westra's Herniator

And

Shunji's Redwing Blackbird

This kind of creative volleying is necessary to the progression of modern fly tying and design. With this in mind, grab a few craft-brews, a great single-malt, or a bottle of pinot, call some friends, and tie your asses off.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

"And now, pinch hitting for the Bronze Brad's Brat Steelhead Fly..."

2008-08-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

The heat of summer is dwindling, it's nearly time to start thinking about pennant races in the American and National Leagues, and anglers everywhere know its about time to get after those rowdy Pacific Northwest steelhead as they sniff their way back home from a few years in the salt. With the majesty of a trip to the Umpqua looming, perfecting the classic PacNW hairwing steelhead fly has become the ultimate pursuit of late.

One of the late-summer/early-fall classics is Brad's Brat, a hairwing or "bucktail" steelhead fly designed in by Enos Bradner, a name synonomus with steelhead. This fly boasts the oranges and reds of an indian summer and is traditionally tied with a high-profile wing of long bucktail fibers secured in a neat bundle just behind the hook eye of a traditional Sproat or Limerick hook.

In Ian McNemar's quick version of the Bronze Brad's Brat (above), a David McNeese creation that took its design cues from Bradner's original hairwing, a lesson in substitution shines through.

McNeese's fly is a feather wing design rather than a bucktail and calls for exotic materials such as jungle cock, blue eared pheasant, and gadwall flank. It's an elegant Spey-style that smacks of the traditional restraint incorporated in many Spey and Dee flies.

In this version, Ian looks to his fly tying bench for some clever pinch hiting from more standard tying materials like ringneck pheasant and long orange-dyed saddle hackle fibers in place of the gadwall flank and blue eared pheasant. Ian dropped the jungle cock out of the line up entirely; the wing is constructed of two long orange-dyed hackle tips and artfully married bronze mallard feathers.

Substitution is an integral part of the deep and artistic language of fly tying and fly design. Just because a fly recipe calls for a certain material doesn't mean you can't construct a successful fly if you don't happen to have said material at hand.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos and fly provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Keith's Black and Blue Steelhead Fly

2008-08-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

At first glance it may look like one of Jim Henson's Muppets gone amok, but Keith's Black and Blue is a fantastic all-purpose steelhead fly that cleans house when swung through the rich watersheds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.

The inspiration for this cutting edge fly pattern came from a visit to Leland's San Francisco shop by Paul Miller, a professional fly tyer, fly fishing consultant, and steelhead fanatic. Over the years, Paul has mastered the art of traditional steelhead fly tying. More recently, he's become one of the world's more innovative modern steelhead fly designers, employing carefully selected materials and design principles in his flies.

The Black and Blue's success is primarily dependent on its architecture, a spun and trimmed anvil head and a whack of long, wispy tail fibers. According to Paul, the secret is in this design. He says, "You've gotta have a hard head, soft tail construction to push the water and attract that big holding steelhead. Get the fish out of its lie."

Well, pushing water and attracting big steelhead is the Black and Blue's specialty.

From Drawing Board to the River

To achieve the "hard head, soft tail" action that makes the Black and Blue such a bomber fly pattern, you've got to examine at the components of the design separately. The fly is designed to be hard and heavy up front and long and wispy in the back, so why not start from the ground up?

The Hook

The Black and Blue is constructed on a large 1/0 Tiemco TMC 7999 salmon and steelhead hook. It is a stinger-style fly, so a looped length of 50-pound Fire Wire, Power Pro, or monofilament line (in a pinch) is secured at the hook bend to accept a short Gamakatsu Octopus stinger hook. Upon completion of the fly's construction, the TMC 7999 is clipped at the hook bend, leaving just the "backbone" and trailing Octopus. Stinger flies are useful because they allow quick, pure hook sets. The added ability to quickly change out a stinger hook can also increase the life of the fly significantly, while allowing an angler to dial in the proper hook size on the river.

The Tail

So how does the Black and Blue's tail seem to explode behind with long, incredibly active fibers? Such a dramatic flowing tail is developed by tying two stacked sets of rhea feathers 360-degrees around the hook shank. Rhea fibers are quite similar to those found on ostrich plumes, but they are much more durable and typically display slightly longer fibers.

Paul Miller has teamed with Kate Davidson of Siskiyou Aviary to market a line of the very best rhea: the Paul Miller Super Spey series. The entire line is available at LelandFlyTying.com, but if rhea feathers are unobtainable, long ostrich feathers will do the trick.

The Head

The Black and Blue's water-pushing noggin is constructed by stacking and spinning hollow deer hair around a set of dumbbell or bead-chain eyes. This triangular mass at the front of the fly creates attractive disturbances in the water column that many steelhead can't resist. It also helps the fly look tough, which always satisfies a hard-working fly tyer's modern aesthetic.

Hard Head, Soft Tail, Heavy Action

Paul Miller has found great success with this fly design, especially in British Columbia, because of its ability to move lots of water and create lots of attractive motion. When swung or stripped below the surface, this fly's ability to disturb the water column and follow with tremendous undulation steals the show. Fish are attracted to this design's double-threat and will often leave their holding positions, follow the fly through the length of the swing, and slam it at the end of the run.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photo courtesy of www.flyfishingoutfitters.com and www.lelandflytying.com

A Steelhead Fly With A Suitcase Of History

2008-07-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

In the art of fly tying, it's always a gas to breathe new life to an old standard (even if you don't play much with the recipe at all). That's what Ian McNemar has done with The Golden Demon, a traditional salmon and steelhead fly pattern that originated in England probably around the turn of the 20th Century.

Ian has recently been inspired by John Shewey's brilliant work on steelhead fly tying, and he's been burning through the book, tying pattern after pattern. Steelhead flies are enticing to the modern aesthetic for their restrained use of material and their clean and graceful geometries.

The history of The Golden Demon is that of a well-traveled fly. Fly fishing author and historian, Dick Surette, explains:

"The Golden Demon is probably the most used fly on Black Lake and in the Connecticut Lakes area of N.H. This fly has an interesting and well-traveled background. The fly was originated in England and brought to New Zealand where Zane Grey use it in the 1920's. He then brought some flies back to the West Coast for steelhead and salmon. Then the fly appeared on the salmon rivers of New Brunswick, especially on the Cains River. From New Brunswick the pattern filtered down to the area northern New Hampshire in the early 1930's and has been a most popular pattern in that area ever since. The orange throat is supposed to be the color that is repulsive to demons and is tied in several variations such as the Silver Demon and Black Demon" (Trout and Salmon Fly Index).

Remarkably, the design has gone through very few changes through the course of its travel and continues to be one of those "top producers" fly shop junkies love to chew on about for hours with their fly fishing and tying compatriots.

Today, The Golden Demon is quite effective in the Atlantic salmon water of North America's rocky northeastern coast, and is a killer pattern in the Pacific Northwest. It's sparse dressing style and bright colors are perfect for a fall trip to the Deschutes River in Central Oregon, and it was probably the foundational pattern for the Fall Favorite, another popular fly design used throughout the Pacific Northwest on steelhead and salmon.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

flies and photos provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The EP Purple Peril: A Fresh Take on a Classic Steelhead Fly

2008-07-24T12:59:00.001-07:00

The Purple Peril, like all classic steelhead flies, has been refined and developed over time. One could liken this process to aging a youthful and brawny chardonnay or single malt in oak barrels, yielding an older, more sophisticated version of its youth.

The original Purple Peril was probably a much less sleek or sparse fly, but the collective modern fly tying sensibility has pushed this bug from bushy and bullish to trim and fit. It's fished effectively on the swing in that classic green steelhead water of the Pacific Northwest from Northern California through British Columbia, and that diehard set of Great Lakes steelheaders in the Upper Midwest can also find great success with this fly.

The fly is traditionally tied (like the one below) with a bucktail wing and a tinseled body for a bit of attraction.

To some, the use of synthetics fly tying materials in the dressing of classic fly patterns ought to be an illegal act sanctioned by the IFGA, but to others, the incorporation of new materials in old designs is just part of how the world progresses.

Here's a take on the classic steelhead fly that makes excellent use of Enrico Puglisi's EP Fibers in place of the more traditional bucktail wing. EP Fibers are a soft, ultra-light synthetic fly tying material commonly used in bonefish flies and long, saltwater streamers and baitfish patterns.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

flies and photographs provided by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

The Sexiest Fly Tying Vise Ever? Meet the Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise from Renzetti

2008-06-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

I walked around the 2007 Fly Fishing Retailer in Denver for a full day. My feet were tired of the concrete floor and I thought I'd seen it all. I was ready to hit the town and kick back with industry types. As I was heading for the exit, I was stopped dead in my tracks, not by a new fly rod or a drift boat, but a fly tying vise.

The brochure was left on a table near the door that was littered with event information, schedules, and the like. When I first saw the advertisement for the Special Edition Master Vise from Renzetti, I wasn't entirely sure I was looking at a catalog aimed at fly tyers; the slick marketing brochure made the vise look more like a Porsche or a Bentley than a fly tying tool. I read the specifications and looked at the sleek lines, the matte black finish, the powerfully designed jaws. In a word, I was impressed.

After returning home, I thumbed through the pages of the brochure and just kept coming back to the Special Edition Master. Like many type-A saltwater fly tyers, I am a sucker for sexy design and solid engineering so naturally I had to get a Gamakatsu SC15 in the jaws of a Renzetti Special Edition Master Vise -- STAT.

The Renzetti Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise

Retail Price: $729.95

Specifications:

- Design inspired by fly tying genius Bob Popovics
- SPECIAL EDITION non glare black finish
- Advanced rotary actuator (the independent positioning of the fly and crank arm affords total versatility in all rotary functions)
- Precision dual ball bearing rotary head
- True 360 degree rotation
- Adjustable rotary tension
- Adjustable, hide away material clip
- Helical cam operated jaw mechanism
- Solid brass bobbin cradle support
- Anti corrosion coated cam jaws
- Painted adjustable jaw hinge to accommodate the full spectrum of hooks
- Stainless steel stem

What’s the word . . .

Renzetti's Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise is the king of saltwater fly tying vises. Period. This vise is smooth, versatile, tough, lightweight, and elegantly designed.

I set out to really put this vise to the test, so I sat down tied about 30 large saltwater streamers on 1/0 and 3/0 hooks. From start to finish of each fly, the vise responded brilliantly. The repeatability of its tension, hook after hook, wrap after wrap, was remarkable and its rotary action was silky smooth. There was plenty of room to work around the jaws and the adjustable arm and well-placed material clip were quite useful when I pulled out the really long yak hair to get some gnarly length with my baitfish creations.

After these saltwater offerings, I decided to tie up some Stimulators on #14 and #16 hooks. The vise was easy to adjust and held these smaller hooks with just as much solid power, giving me the confidence I needed to tie some killer bugs. I was impressed by the stability of the vise's base and overall construction -- it really did feel like driving a well-engineered sports car instead of a clunky truck or SUV.

Next up were the really small #20 midges. Again, the Special Edition Master performed flawlessly. I don't tie too many flies smaller than size 16 mostly because of the type of fishing I am usually pursuing, but I was pleasantly surprised by this vise's ability to securely hold a very small hook while leaving me room to actually produce a great fly!

From the first fly to the fiftieth, and in a range of hook sizes, the Renzetti Special Edition Master performed just as it should, and it looked great doing it!

Features . . .

Hard-nosed engineering and construction meet the functional elegance of great design in Renzetti’s Special Edition Deluxe Master Fly Tying Vise. This vise was inspired by the wildly popular fly tyer Bob Popovics and is quite simply the finest vise available today. The advanced rotary actuator of this vise allows for independent positioning of the fly and crank arm for maximum versatility at the bench, while its precision dual ball bearing rotary head is smooth fly after fly. Rotary tension is adjustable and the material clip can be positioned away from the working space near the jaws. The Special Edition Deluxe Master takes a full range of hook sizes and its anti corrosion coated cam jaws ensure durable performance. On top of it all, the black finish looks sweet and reduces glare, letting your focus on your fly, not unwanted reflected light.

Fit and Finish . . .

This vise flat out performs and has the sleek and bold design to back it up. The matte black finish on this vise not only gives it the pure aesthetic of serious machinery, but it also serves a function: it absorbs bright and reflective UV rays, the bane of saltwater fly tyers everywhere! The brushed gold accents smack luxury and the quality machining of all of the moving parts is remarkable.

Reliability and Durability . . .

This vise is bomb-proof, a fact that becomes evident as soon as you open the box and begin to assemble it at or workspace. The durability of the black finish is yet to be fully realized, but if Renzetti's prior products are any mark of the Special Edition Master Vise's long-range quality, fly tyers everywhere should be producing bugs by the billions on these fantastic vises for years to come.

With a solid lifetime warranty backed by Renzetti, the $729.95 sticker shock should soften a bit. Renzetti is a family operation and their customer service is quite good.

Overall Rating . . .

Renzetti's Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise truly is the sexiest vise to ever hit the market. There are certainly vise options designed wholly for lasting durability and there are those constructed purely for aesthetic staisfaction, but the Special Edition Master is sexy because it marries these design approaches seamlessly and elegantly. The price tag may turn some tyers off, but for those who bite the bullet, the investment should be well worth it.

Renzetti Special Edition Master Fly Tying Vise

Pros: The smooth full-rotary action, solid construction, elegant design, and strong jaws do more than offset its hefty price tag.

Cons: Checking in at a stiff $729.95, the Special Edition Master Vise is an investment.

Bottom Line: If you tie lots of flies or are heavy on saltwater flies, this is the vise for you. In fact, spend the $729.95 today, and you'll probably never buy another vise again.

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

photos in this post used by permission from flyfishingoutfitters.com and lelandflytying.com

Beyond The Bug | Fly Tyer Profile: Keith Westra

2008-05-01T14:15:00.001-07:00

It was 1993 and I was a freshman at Humboldt State in Northern California. I lived in a dorm nestled beneath towering redwoods with a view of the Pacific. I learned the art of fly fishing – instead of attending freshman orientation – from Matt, another guy that lived in my dorm. We fished Coffee Creek near the Trinity River and needless to say a spark was ignited.

In that same year, I received a fly tying kit for Christmas. Like most generic fly tying kits, it lacked the appropriate materials and had really low end tools, but heck, it meant the world to me. I still remember my first fly. I tied a #14 Light Cahill, and I remember how frustrating it was trying to follow along with the book and its poorly taken black and white photos. But it was a start, a start that fueled a passion just as big and great as fly fishing itself.

Now, in 2008, I can look back and see how far I've come and how I still learn more and more each time a sit down at a vise and make the first wrap. For me tying is such a huge part of the sport and it sometimes occupies more of my time than fly fishing itself. Whether I'm tying up some Charlies for my next bonefishing trip or spinning some sweet deer hair poppers for a trip to the Sacramento River Delta, the tying drives me to become better – I don’t want to simply perfect my flies, but I want to become more imaginative and creative in my designs.

I often lie in bed, assembling materials and the elements of a new fly in my head. Sometimes I can’t sleep because I’m trying to solve the next problem or puzzle in fly tying. How do I make it float better? What can I use to make it swim better? Is this new material a more durable choice than what has been used in the past? Take more time looking in the craft store... Maybe that glue I saw in the hardware store would be better than the last stuff I tested! Piecing the puzzle together is rewarding, and probably what keeps me coming back for more time at the vise.

As a fly tyer I pride myself in continuing to hone my outside-the-box thinking. I don’t want to just add or take something away from an existing pattern, I want to make it completely different. With my own fly designs, I want to re-imagine the craft.

I've spent the last 3 years developing a new series of tube flies for steelhead. Umpqua Feather Merchants has picked them up and they'll be marketed for 2009. These tube flies are unique, something I considered getting a patent on, not just a variation on a variation of any existing pattern. Ultimately, this is what fly tying means to me, taking it to the extreme, coming up with something new, getting out a set of Prismacolor markers and sketching out the idea before I ever sit down at my vise. It means giving away patterns I spent long hard hours developing and tying. Often I'll hand off my creations just to see if they work for pike and muskie for a Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters customer in Norway. Recently I tied up some sweet crabs that helped a Yucatan-bound buddy catch his first permit on fly tackle. These are the rewards of my work and what pushes me to be a better tyer and fly designer.

Keith Westra is a regular contributor under the name "on the fly" to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

photos in this post by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

Striper Fishin'

2008-04-24T23:10:00.000-07:00

This is a Bug I originally tied up for surf fishing in Hawaii, and it worked great for jacks. The fly was brought to the west coast by a old timer form the east coast, so I'm guessing it was originally tied for stripers. This last weekend I used them in the Sacramento River Delta to catch stripers with Keith, Evan, Shunji, and Ian. No stripers were found. Though I did land a large mouth bass with this yak bunker fly.

I tied this one on a size #2 811s TMC from Tiemco. The goal of this fly is to layer white buck, white yak, white buck, blue yak, red yak, eyes, and color the side stripes with a Prismacolor marker! Then your ready to fish. I have found that this fly is a very effective patter for just about any water anywhere, and it casts great because of the low-weight materials used in its construction.

This is a Clouser with a great color combination (thanks to Josh Frazier). White buck, grey buck, and purple buck.

photos by matt "mj" jones, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

Designing a Fly Tying Blog

2008-04-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

de·sign
- verb (used with object)
to plan and fashion artistically and skillfully.
to intend for a definite purpose: a fly designed to catch FISH.

Fly tying is a millennium-old angler’s practice that weds form and function with the ultimate goal of fooling hungry fish. In the earliest times, simple flies were tied with just a few materials; fur, feathers, and silk were wrapped around a roughly cast iron hook shank to resemble the aquatic insects that grayling and trout call breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The earliest Macedonian fly fishers were probably more interested in catching their own dinner than casting their flies for sport (quite a foreign concept to us moderns, wrapped up in our own recreational pursuits of catch and release game fishing). Even so, the very oldest fly patterns served a purpose and were deliberately created and constructed to achieve a goal.

Over time, the fly angler’s ultimate goal has certainly shifted and morphed. We now tie and cast flies to just about anything that swims. The world’s now got flies for tarpon, sharks, muskie and pike, bass poppers, giant squid patterns for stripers and billfish, and funky feathered creations for steelhead and salmon. We truly have gone beyond the bug.

For all of this progress and nuance, the fly essentially remains the same: it’s a highly designed piece of functional art – yes, art – and Beyond the Bug should be thought of as an online art gallery of sorts. We’ve created a clean and modern space where the ideas behind the function and beauty of the world’s very best fly designs can shine.

As we move forward, following the trends of today’s new generation of fly tyers, we’ll show you interesting tying ideas, post reviews of materials (new and old), highlight tyers we think are “on to something good,” share step-by-step tying videos for some of our favorite flies, and above all, we’ll fill these crisp, digital walls with the angler’s art: good flies.

photos in this post by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

Stripers at The End

2008-04-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

This clever sand eel pattern is called "The End."

It borrows long, married saddle hackle wings from a Deceiver, a trim and airy profile from Ken Abrames (a la Striper Moon), and utilizes both traditional and modern materials. Stack white bucktail fibers, yak hair, and EP Fibers to create a long profile. Squeeze in some crystal flash for dimension and a bit of a lateral line. Top the fly with peacock herl and jungle cock eyes.

Building a tough epoxy head will help you get more nautical miles out of this fly. I like to use Z-Poxy from Zap Products. It's an easy-mix 1:1 product that sets in just 5 minutes.

There is a lot of length to this saltwater offering, but it's still quite cast-able. Be sure, however, to post the early layers of materials near the hook bend or stack some still bucktail fibers of a high diameter so the longer yak and EP Fibers do not foul around the hook bend during your back and forward casts.

photo by Evan LeBon, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

Super Sexy Super Spey

2008-04-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

Still playing with Paul Miller Super Spey rhea feathers.

This pair of smart Spey flies shows the material quite well. They're both topped with golden pheasant and incorporate Spirit River Diamond Brite dubbing through the body for a touch of sparkle and sheen.

Super Spey rhea feathers are a tremendous fly tying material and a fantastic resource to fly tyers of all stripes. These fibers average about 4 inches in length and are extremely durable and a joy to tie with. They provide unmatched length and profile - get them wet, and the movement they impart cannot be topped by other materials that match in toughness.

photo by Evan LeBon, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com

Calimari con Super Spey

2008-03-27T18:10:00.001-07:00

This innovative Super Spey Squid incorporates Paul Miller Super Spey rhea and emu feathers from Kate Davidson and Siskiyou Aviary in Ashland, Oregon. Rhea and emu are composed of durable, yet supple fibers. White schlappen tentacles have been spotted with the help of a black Prismacolor art marker in the style of Bob Popovics. The flanking jungle cock nail feathers add a touch of tradition over a more modern bulked head of Enrico Puglisi's EP Fibers.

Swing it for steelhead or strip it for Montauk stripers, it's got lots of length and loads of potential for underwater movement.

photo by Evan LeBon, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.blogspot.com