Just Some Pictures From Life's Other Side......Part 1

While there are certainly a number of things going on in the Pre-Christmas craze to keep us all a little busy, to say the least, this time of year usually sees me sitting at my fly tying vise.  It's time to fill the fly boxes back up with all the ol' regular patterns, plus, a few new ones that you came across that uses that new fly tying material just introduced down at the fly shop.

Yes, we can jump over to Cameron Mortenson at The Fiberglass Manifesto and play along with his terrific Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaways that he has so masterfully put together for all of us fly fishing folk.

There are a number of other fly fishing related companies who are having snazzy Christmas Giveaways also of their own kind.  

What I am really trying to say here is that fly fishing opportunities will be slim and none for awhile in Northern Colorado for me.  So, with that in mind, I have decided to take on another task that I have been meaning to get too for awhile now.  I am taking the time over a period of several weeks to browse back through my old picture library (before digital and computers became so common), and, will be scanning some of these old pictures into the new format.  With that said, I figured I could put together a short series of posts over the next few months talking about my fly fishing journey and some pictures from life's other side.  I hope you will enjoy my posts and some of the pictures that I will share with you during these winter weeks.  So here are a few shots from some time ago.  Please remember this was primarily from the years 1975-1995 or so.

First off, let me start with something that was very close too me during that time.  No, not a fly rod or reel, but, my well worn ol' fishing hat.

Now, this western style straw hat was what I wore for many, many years.  Please note the fleece lined head band on the hat filled with Wooly Buggers, Mohair Leeches, Stayner Ducktails, and a few smaller nymph patterns.  I kept it loaded and ready to fish with.  I was even known to give away a few that I had stuck in my hat if I had the "hot" pattern of the day.  Usually, in my fishing at the time, I could pretty much fish one of the patterns on this hat and could count on being successful for the day.

  The old round float tube.  This one was one of the early dinosaur models back in the day made by a fellow angler out of Nampa, Idaho, Wayne "Tex" Meeks.   One always wondered if we tipped the tube back too far, would it tip over.  You probably could, but, it would have to be a violent jerk backwards for that too happen.  I caught many, many fish over a number of years out of this tube with no problem at all.  It was almost too comfortable on a hot day (taking a nap) once in awhile would be interrupted by the electrifying jerk of a trout on the other end of the line.  Also, please note the hat in place.  I was kind of a Merle Haggard look alike back in the day.............

Here is a picture of yours truly with my fish-mobile of that day and age.  That old Dodge pickup and me put 350,000 miles on each other traveling all over the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, etc. etc. chasing stillwater trout.  Oh, the stories I could tell you all.

But, alas, those days are gone and faded pictures is all I have for memories.  I hope to have recaptured some of the moments with this post and a few future posts like this as I get the time.

If I don't get another chance, may you all have a wonderful upcoming Holiday season.......

P.S.  - My friend and long time BlogBuddy, Michael Agneta at Troutrageous, gets a pat on the back and a Colorado handshake for helping me out with some editing on these ol' pictures. 

Thanks, Mike, could not have done it without your support....

Bottom Feeders..............

Thought I would write this post and see how many Bottom Feeders read my blog?  Well, let me see........

I figured I would have to add "Something Fishy" to this post in order to catch anyone's attention.

What I was wondering, really, was how many of my BlogBuddy's actually visit other blogs and take the time to see what all is included on the main page of the Blog? Do you just click in and scan or read the most current post or do you visit the Blogs other pages or check out the other Gadgets on a fellow bloggers blog?  

As an example, I have moved some of my blog's gadgets to the bottom of my page.  There may be some worthwhile information there for you to check out.  For example, if you are so inclined, you will find my Followers who follow me over on Google's Social Network.  Or, you can click to... "Join This Site" which is the old Blogger Follow button.  I just put it back up on my blog, so come on folks, I know I should have more than just 2 Followers.........................

Also, there are visual buttons there for clicking to link to the Outdoor Blogger Network , and, to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.  I have proudly been a supporter of both of these organizations for quite a while now and encourage you to check them out.  Yes, the Outdoor Blogger Network is still functioning to some extent.  Just thought I would add that bit of information at this time.....................

Down on the bottom of my page, you will also find, my blog archives.  Every post that I have written since the Pond Stalker blog was started.  In addition, is a List of Topics that I have written about that might help you out if you are looking for something in specific.  I know that this is just general information, but, it is worth your time if you need to check anything out.

I have, also, added a Form that you may use if would want to ask a question to me privately or wish to make any other suggestion about my blog.  This is all done through Email and I welcome all input..............

To wrap up, I will also be adding more to the bottom section of my blog as we go along, so I encourage you to not only be a reader here, but, check out the Bottom Feeder at the bottom of my page.

If you  have read this long, I thought I would let you know that I am taking my fly tying vise out of my tying bag and getting my desk set up for some Winter fly tying.  More to come..................

Confidence On The "Fly"

STAYNER DUCKTAIL

Many of those of us who tie flies seem to be always tinkering at the vise.  Working on coming up with that "Hot" new pattern that all the fish will just go nuts on this year out on the water.  Be honest now, if you have tied much or for sometime anyway, invariably, this has run through your mind.  Or, perhaps you just want to modify a certain established pattern a little bit.  That will make it a new fly right and all your fly fishing friends will credit you with be the creator of a great new pattern.  Especially, if it catches fish, and, you give them a handful to try!  Well, ya' know, you know the story from here.  There truly is probably not a snowball's chance in Hell that somebody, somewhere hasn't already thought of that or tied that pattern up during a session at the ol' vise.

How many fly patterns does an angler need to carry with him or her for a day of fishing? Well, that is a topic for another post sometime, somewhere else.  The point I would like to make here is that it really is a matter of confidence when you tie and fish a fly that works for you.  Both, at the vise, and, on the water, if you have confidence in that fly you will concentrate more when tying them and fishing them.  Why? Because you know they work and you have been rewarded with many a memory of a day{s} on the water when you caught fish after fish on that fly.  Call it what ever you want, but you know, that "Fly" is going to produce more times than not.  You have confidence on the water and confidence on that "Fly" It has become one of your favorite flies that you know you can always lean on when the weather, or the fish, or both are playing hardball with you!  Now, that is a lot said in order for me to introduce you to one of those "Flies" for me.

The Stayner Ducktail was made popular by Ruel Stayner of Twin Falls, Idaho, back many years ago.  Ruel, designed this fly to imitate Perch in the local stillwaters in Idaho.  Little did he know at the time what he really had on his hands with the creation of this pattern.  This pattern went on to become extremely popular in the stillwater fly fishing circles.  I was a member of the "Float Tube Navy" out of Boise, Idaho area.  The Float Tube Navy spent their time learning the concepts of stillwater fly fishing from a float tube and fishing many of the great lakes of the Rocky Mountains. The Stayner Ducktail became the go to fly for many of us back in the day.  It was fished with a sinking line of some sort and fished very well for Trout, Bluegill, Crappie, Bass etc. etc.  It became legendary! Now, I will add to this, that it not only became a legendary, local pattern, but a pattern whose success goes far beyond that.  The Stayner Ducktail has been fished on the rivers in Russia, on the big ponds of New Zealand and Australia, and, for the the giant Rainbows that reside in the lakes of Argentina.  Sadly, not by me, but I have seen many photos of big fish from these waters from friends who made trips to these magnificent waters.  Please bare with me as I recall a story once told to me by my fly fishing mentor, the late Ken Magee of Boise, Idaho.  Ken and several friends from the Boise area had made the trip to Russia and paid for guides to fish some of the great rivers.  He said that they had a really difficult time understanding what the Russian guides were saying, and, particularly what patterns they should use.  None of them had any of what they needed!  So, the group decided they will just fish with Stayner Ducktails.  A Rainbow Trout is a Rainbow Trout, right?  Long story short, Ken and the group had a terrific trip fishing Stayner Ducktails for big, Russian trout!  

There are more stories I could tell, but, let's refocus on the tying of the Stayner Ducktail.  Now, I might be able to tie Stayner Ducktails with anybody, but, I don't shoot video.  Being the subject just gets me all discombogulated!  So, I have done a You Tube search and found a very good fly tying video for you to watch and learn how tie the Stayner Ducktail.  Hope you enjoy watching and tying this great pattern.  Beware warm water fly fishers of the guy fishing the Stayner Ducktail!

A Big Thank You And Something New For The Blog

Just wanted to give all of you who took the time to read my last blog post a bunch of thank you's, and, then followed up with your great comments and insights to my dilemma with what to do with my Blogroll.  Each and every one of them were much appreciated.  That is why you guys and gals are my BlogBuddies.  It is a good sense of community in blogging when a Blogger can reach out and ask for some help and the support comes pouring in!  That particular post is by far the most read post and most commented post since I began my blogging career a number of years ago.  Still get steady reads everyday so that makes me smile and appreciate all who helped even more.

I am also going to try something new on my blog.  I have been tying flies for about (35) years now. I have taught many fly tying classes and have appeared as a guest tyer at past FFF conclaves and Regional Expos.  

Now, I am not trying to offend anyone or toot my own horn.  I am simply attempting to imply that I have had many trials and tribulations at the vise and lots of experience with various tying materials.  That being said, I will assure you that my concept in fly tying is different than a lot of folks.  I don't tie Dry Flies for Trout, but, Foam Spiders and the like for Bluegill and an occasional Largemouth Bass.  I do tie Nymphs and Streamers and Leeches for Warm Water species and also for Trout.  I don't tie "cute" flies, although, my wife disagrees with me.  What I do tie, primarily, are buggy, effective, easy to tie patterns that don't take much time or talent.  They do catch fish!  If I lose one that is no big deal.  I just grab another and get after those fishies!  I don't buy expensive hackle for Dry Flies, and really, not even for the popular Wooly Bugger type flies much anymore.  The price of good hackle just scares me when I look at it now.  I am a senior citizen living on a fixed budget, so maintaining my costs are critical.  Anyway, all of this blabbering to let you know that I have decided to post some of my current work at the vise on my blog.  You will note at the top of the left hand sidebar a picture of a current fly under the title of "FROM MY VISE".

This will be where I will select a certain pattern and have as good a picture as I could get of the pattern when completed.  If you happen to see one that you like leave a comment for me over on my "From My Vise" page.    You can go to the link for the page just under the blog header and see which patterns I have posted there.  If anyone needs further information or is interested in tying instructions let me know and I will see what I can do for you.  I am not a person who shoots video,  but, I can send along a materials list and tying instructions if that would be handy for you.

Thanks for letting me share some fly tying with you all!

Pond Stalker In Distress

I had full intention of putting up a new post with some of what I have been up to at the tying bench during January.  With the new vise I received from Mrs. Santa Claus, I had been re-energized and looking forward to focusing on filling my Bluegill and Crappie fly boxes with some fishy looking patterns.  I have worked on some Soft Hackles, some non-descript nymph patterns, some Stayner Ducktails, and some small versions of my Mohair/Bugger patterns just right for Mr. Bluegill.  Heck, maybe even an unsuspecting Bass might give it a whack if I was lucky!

Ok, flies tied.  Thought I would take some pictures of the flies and have them ready for my post.  The flies, along with some fly tying chat would make for a good post.  Ok, pictures taken!

Next, I needed to transfer them from my phone camera to my email.  Thought everything had gone fine and  was ready to fire up this post.

Wrong, my email has crashed and somewhere in cyberland is my pictures.  Well, no post without the pictures.  I will post them along with the other matter as soon as my email is up and running again.  Ok, so I was distressed.  But, only temporarily!

I came across this video posted by Hopper Juan over on his blog.   Problem solved! This is one of the most dramatic and incredible videos I have seen on the net.  Thanks, Juan, for sharing.  Now, I will share.  Besides, this video puts my blog writing post that I was going to post in shame!
Damsels in Distress from Sharptail Media on Vimeo.

Passion!

PASSION! I knew with a title to a post like that, I would have a great chance of catching my BlogBuuddies attention and anyone else who might wonder what the heck is going on here at Pond Stalker Headquarters.

I mean I love Fly Fishing.  

I, also know, that fish love us fly fishers, too!

Oh, I love fly tying, too!

I mean can't you just feel the passion here!

I love my BlogBuddies, too!

I wanted to share a little BlogBuddy love here, too!  During the Holiday season I entered a Giveaway over at The Flyfishing Bowhunter.

Well, I ended up being one of the chosen winners of some fishing swag from Cameron over at The Fiberglass Manifesto.

So here is a little love back too both of these great blogging friends.  Enjoy!

Yours truly showing off The Fiberglass Manifesto swag

Even though my hand is almost in the way, please note along with the great t-shirt came a cool TFM Koozie.  (My smile should be the first tip that I am enjoying some "Bubbly Grape"........ in my new Koozie!

 

Note here that I had my experienced Pond Stalker photographer focus on the back side of the TFM T-shirt and not on my backside which conveinently was just off camera.

"I love my Bluegill T-Shirt" In my mind, it is still the Year of the Bluegill.

 

Thanks guys for showing some love over the Holidays with the Pond Stalker.  Still got lots of flies to tie up if I am going to take myself seriously this year so now back to the fly tying vise and enough of this "Love In".

 

 

 

Happy New "Gear"!

Note: The Title of this post says Happy New "Gear" just in case you missed it!  I will get to that in a moment.

However, I did want to wish all of my BlogBuddies and other readers and looker inners' a very Happy New Year 2014.  You all are appreciated more than you know.

Now, that I have taken care of that need for today, I would like to show you all my Happy New "Gear" that Santa brought me for all the fly tying work I will be doing at my tying table.  Santa thought I needed an upgrade.  I tried to tell him that upgrading at my age might be dangerous! Anyhow, take a look at this and just imagine all the fun I will have.

Peak Rotary Fly Tying Vise

Here is a look at the first fly cranked from the new vise.  So work has began.  All the local fish in the Pond are either in big trouble or will be running for cover when The Pondstalker arrives!

Conehead Soft Hackle Bugger

Re-Visiting The Nasty Nylon Nymph

It is a "Happening" time of year! Veteran's Day has passed.  Thanksgiving Day is just a few days away,  This morning a good snow storm greeted me as I pulled the blinds to peek outside to meet my day.  "Brr..... cold is here, I said to myself."  Any fly fishing time I get for awhile might be in the way of a few fly fishing or fly tying videos and a warm cup of Hot Chocolate or something.

Speaking of fly tying, this is the time of year that I spend a good share of my time focusing on tying and filling my fly boxes so that I am ready to go next time I am on some water and the weather cooperates with me.  I, usually, will take some time to "organize" my fly tying bench.  Meaning, putting everything back in it's original spot so that I can start to mess it all up again as I do, inevitably, when I set down for a Winter's tying season.  I have the usual list of fly patterns that I want to tie up that I fish regularly.  I, also, have a few new patterns picked out that I want to try.  Maybe they will find a way to become part of my regular stock in my fly boxes.  Besides watching videos about fly tying, there are also many fly shops in Northern Colorado that offer free winter tying demonstrations with some of the areas well know fly tyers.  These sessions are a lot of fun and there is so much to learn if the fly fisher wants to learn about new patterns or what patterns are the most effective in the area.  If you don't tie flies, but would like to learn, the shops also offer fly tying classes for beginners for a reasonable fee.  Check out the shops in your area.  There is a wealth of information to gain if you take advantage of it.

A number of years ago, I offered a beginning fly tying class through my local fly fishing club.  I would like to share a scenario that happened on one of those class nights.  I hope you will enjoy this little story.  Winter tying season always brings back this memory.  I regard it as the "Coming of the Fly Tying Season.  Let me introduce you to "The Nasty Nylon Nymph".

I know I still chuckle every time my memory drifts back to the moment in time.
Before I stray off subject, I had better focus on the story I am trying to tell here.  One of the things that a die-hard fly fisherman often times does is to learn to tie his own fly for casting to his favorite fish.  Over time I became fairly decent at tying my own flies.  Enough so that I ended up teaching fly tying at schools and various public settings.  This post is about a “funny” incident that occurred one night while teaching fly tying at the local high school.  I know your waiting to find out what “Nasty Nylons” has got to do with tying flies and teaching others to tie flies.  Well, I am about to tell you.
 
Let’s first address the nylons.  You know those things are everywhere when not being worn by your wife or favorite lady friend.  They cling to everything in the laundry if you are not careful.  Their rolled up in your gym socks, their knotted around your pants legs, there everywhere except nicely laid out for the next time my wife wants to wear a pair.  Now comes my calamity!
I was, once again, teaching fly tying to a group of adults, both male and female at the local high school.  These were beginning fly tying students so I had some flexibility with this calamity and I am not sure they ever really caught it at the moment how embarrassed I was. 
We were going to tie a basic nymph pattern that night.  Students gathered around my desk so as to see the demonstration of what they then would try to duplicate back at their desks in the classroom.  In order, the hook was placed in the position in the vise jaws so as to be held sturdy while tying other materials on to the hook.  My thread was attached to the hook and the tail material added.  Now I was ready for the body material that was supposed to be some pheasant tail fibers.  However, as I started to reach into my fly tying box for the pheasant tail fibers, there I saw it! 
One of my wife’s nylons coming out the sleeve of my shirt near my tying hand.  Oh, No!  To this day I still don’t how the brain works and how it works so quickly.  In a heart beat, and, without hesitating for a moment, I pulled the nylon from my shirt sleeve and cut a rectangular piece from it with my scissors.  I think the students were shocked, but, they looked on anxious to see what I was going to do next.  I attached the “nylon strip” to the back of the hook with my thread.  I was going to use it to make the body of my fly with.  Knowing that nylon is super fragile (you know runs, runs, runs), I knew that I would have to use some wire to reinforce the body of the fly or it would fall apart before it ever hit the water.  Thankfully I had intended on using some fine copper wire that evening anyway.  So I tied some on to the back of the hook.  I proceeded very carefully to wind the “nasty nylon” around the hook up towards the eye of the hook and then reverse wrapped the copper wire so as to reinforce the nylon body material. 
In short order, I had a fly body of reinforced nylon from my wife and some basic dubbing wrapped around the front of the hook at the eye.  Simple little pattern and easy to tie.  Besides I had lots of nylon stocking left for my students to cut up and use that evening as they practiced tying their own “Nasty Nylon Nymph”.  Believe it or not, I hear they even fished this fly on our local river and landed some trout with it.  It became a common request as I taught other classes to show other how to tie the nylon nymph.  I used it to break the ice at several tying classes to create a little humor and help new fly tying students relax. 

Fly tying fun is what you make of it!

So What Was In The Box?

My last post alluded to a package being sent to me in the mail from a blogging friend.  I asked the question, "I wonder what it could be?"  If you read through the comments on the post you will see that several of my blogging friends had suggestions on what it could be.

Everything from  a new fly tying vise with a built in light, left over cookies from Howard, carved or stuffed fish, a "Leg" lamp, fresh trout caught last week for dinner the day they arrive, something Italian that may or may not be ticking, a glass plaque to commemorate the sense of the outdoor blogging community, and, I am sure a few ideas that never got posted on the blog.

Well, yesterday the package came.  I was excited to see what was in the box.

 Certainly "fragile", all right.  Lots of bubble pack air package to keep things from moving around much.

Ok, buried in the box somewhere it says "RD's Special Cookies".  Yes, I am the Cookie Monster, and, I am going to dig them out, now!

Oh, how I like Cookies! Neatly wrapped in colorful paper with ribbon that could be used for Flashback Nymphs, were Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, and Snickerdoodles.  Emily, graciously, had sent enough for me and my wife, plus, all my grandchildren.  I was more than happy to give them the taste test and deliver a package to each pod of grandchildren I have.

 RD's Special Cookies get the "Thumbs Up" Award from the folks here at Pond Stalker Headquarters.

 RD, thank you so much for your time and effort and demonstrating to us all the sense of community amongst us Outdoor Bloggers.  Be sure and take care of you for me.