Fly of the Day

Thinking of some trout fishing next summer. Two little Elk Hair Caddis. One is a #18  and the smaller is a tiny #22 hook.
I can see a rainbow rising to take one of these at either end of a nice quiet pool on a NE Iowa spring creek. The guys with the worms, while perhaps taking home more fish,  will never understand the beauty of it all. It's not really about bigger fish or more fish than the other guy. It's about seeing the details and being in the moment, the experience of God if you will.
My fishing lessons this year were to patiently study the water, sling my line less often, use more stealth.
Happy New year everyone.

Fly of the Day

Here is a picture of the flies in my drying cup this morning. Nine Black Woolly Buggers in three sizes, a Fire Orange Ant, and a new Black Buggley.

Pond Report

The beavers have been really busy. The water level in the pond is very low (almost three feet) as Wayne County is in a little area of drought for several months. Water is so low on the South Fork of the Chariton river the beavers have moved upland to the farm ponds for the winter. Hmmm. They can do a ton of damage real fast. They made this den over the last ten days. The three deer camped out in the tall grass on the dam looked unimpressed by this den this morning. However, the bluejays were busy letting everyone know I was lurking.  A lone turtle came by to have a look at me.  Amazing, but nature always is, amazing.

Pond Report

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Let's all be thankful children and name those blessings in our hearts.
Bluegills were biting on a gold ribbed hares ear this morning.
(Yes, He went back in the pond to grow some more.)

Otter Creek

Fishing just East of West Union, Iowa last Monday with Rev. Crow and his buddy Nile. Great day on the stream. Here is a small rainbow that went back into the creek to grow. The fly in its mouth is one of the pheasant tail nymphs you saw pictured on my drying cup a week earlier.

These fish are so beautiful.

Fly of the Day

The Classic Brassie
Originator was Gene Lynch
I needed to keep my mind busy this morning. Missing my brother on second anniversary of his death. Then the whole mess with the shootings in Des Moines.
Small work means I must concentrate and let some feelings go.

Brassies in assorted colors. Size 18 & 22.  Black 8/0 Thread, Assorted Wire Colors, Black & Red Bloody Black Ice Dubbing.

Thanks everyone. Keep the prayers going for the grieving process for these families.  DA

Fly of the Day

Working on different sizes of pheasant tail nymphs tonight.

Two of my Girls

Cheryl and Maggie. Great picture.

Fly of the Day

Four Flies made with Ellie,  Cece, and Maggie this morning.

Fly of the Day

Little Buddy
#22 Mustad Hook
Black Uni #140 Thread
Black and White CDC Feather

Thread base on empty hook
Strip clean one half of feather
Attatch end of feather above hook point to form tail
Palmer the feather forward to hook eye
Fix feather, trim excess and form thread head behind eye
Whip finish and varnish head
Trim feather to size and to add buggynes

Big fish also eat small stuff. This is as small as I tie. Can't see any smaller. Ha.
Looking forward to throwing this bug.
I expect Little Buddy will ride in the surface film. Would expect to throw on calm water in pools or into riffels on the drift into pools. I would like to try an Orange or Scarlett thread to give the head a pop of color.

Fly of the Day

Chicken Dinner
#12 Streamer Hook
Black Uni Thread 140
Silver Wire Rib
Black & White Speckled.Hen Feathers

I just got creative and threw this together for fun. It looks very buggy and I think it may work as an attractor pattern for still water fishing.
Next time I will put a silver bead head on this guy. Feathers are from  Wayne county chickens. They are washed and clean; this is very soft.

Fly of the Day

Purple Damsel Fly
#1 Stinger to #14 1x streamer hooks
Purple Marabu Feathers
Black #140 Ultra Thread
Gold Wire Rib
Cone and bead heads

Pretty much any fish in Iowa will go for these. Easy to tie and I look forward to throwing these. Great in black, white, and purple.
Hey Jay, these are first cousins to "Bugley."

Fly of the Day

Rabbit Zonker Streamer
#4 Mustad 79580 Streamer Fly Hook
Orvis Golden Brown Ice Dubbing
Ultra #140 Tan Thread
Hand Tied Goose Barb Legs
Wapsi Rabbit Zonker, Natural Brown

Pond Report Sept 1, 2016

Dry summer in Wayne County North of Promise City. Currently the only place in Iowa with a moderate drought. The pond is low by about 2 feet. The fish are still active and in good shape. However we will need some rain before ice this winter to give the pond a bit more depth.  I found three large carp this summer. I am pretty sure they are white amurs (grass carp). Did not know they were in the pond but that does explain the low amount of vegetation.
Have been catching and releasing bass over 12 inches, with many over 16, on a regular basis all summer.
Six deer in the driveway this morning. Limping Doe and her two fawns from this year along with one of her fawns from two years ago and her two fawns. They are enjoying apples in the back yard tonight from the Smith's orchard.
Brilliant wildflowers currently blooming are in yellows and cobalt blues.
Here is a picture of the path to the dam. And also a little guy on the milkweeds along the path. I have to tell myself to not cut the milkweeds like I was taught as a boy.
Stars and more stars at night. Beautiful time to sit by a fire with family and friends.

Fly of the Day

Elk Hair Caddis

#18 Hook
Tan Ultra 140 Thread
Small Gold Ribbing
Cream Dubbing
Brown Hen Feather
Elk Hair

These ride on top of the water and imitate a lot of different bugs dropping eggs or drying wings to fly. Great pattern for Iowa trout, bluegill and bass.

Fly of the Day

Light Yellow Mayfly Emerger

#16 u101 Umpqua Hook
White feather barbs
Cream dubbing, dark green dubbing
Tan Ultra 140 Thread

Easy. Just felt like this might work. Came out nice. Now to fish it to see.

Fly of the Day

Spent Mayfly Dun
#12 Hook, Detached Yellow Foam Body, Elk Hair Wings, Olive Uni Thread. Pheasant Barb Tail. Yellow Dubbing.

Bluegill, Crappie, and Bass are hitting on these in green and yellow while floating free just under the surface on a 4x tippet. I have to think the Brown's and Brooks would also be interested, I just have not been trout fishing...yet.

Pond Report

Catch of the Day.
They are Back!

Fly of the Day

Foam Frog
#1 Stinger Hook
Green closed cell foam
Hackel feathers

Pond Report

Grey morning but the fishing was good. Gills were hitting hard on a small Tan Soft Hackel Hares Ear. I think it mimics the few little flies that were hovering over the water.
Birds were busy. Multiple singing Red Wing Black Birds overlaid with Cardinals, overlaid with Black Capped Chickadees, overlaid with the occasional Ring Neck Pheasant and Canadian Goose. Sometimes we just tune out all that cool stuff.
As often happens my neighbors, the buffalo were just across the fence keeping me company. I do not think I was to impressive to them, but they did seem interested in the white plastic bucket I use for a fishing chair. Sounded like food to them. When the big guys let go with a long low pitched bellow and took a couple steps toward the fence, I did back up. They are docile, but in reality the fence is just a speed bump to them. What might be your fence?

Pond Report

Here at waters edge the pair of ducks I found on the pond this morning have spent time enjoying new shoots of grass and littering the water with the remains. I have encountered limping doe and her yearling fawns, a silent flying owl which startled me a bit, gaggle of turtles sunning on a log, and a family of Purple Martins considering making a home in the bluebird house in the front yard. The fishing is slow with a half dozen bluegill this morning.  Wind coming up from the south and bringing the sound of the Soo Line train rumbling up out of Missouri toward Chicago. Probably carrying more trucks from the Ford plant in Kansas City.

Fly of the Day

Bull Nose Bass Streamer

#1 Stinger Hook
Ultra - Olive 210 Thread
Black, White, & Brown Rooster Saddle Patch Feathers.
Pink Party Feathers
Spun and Stacked Wayne County Deer Hair Nose
1/8" Silver Lure Eyes

A little fishing today

The answer is yes.

Fly of the Day - WD40

WD 40 Burnt Orange
12 &18 Hooks
Wood Duck Tail (wd)
Dk Brown UNI 6/0 Thread
Burnt Orange Ice Dubbing

Fly of the Day

Deer Hair Mouse
Thinking about spring bass fishing.
This one is for you mom; know how you love the mice!

#4 Streamer Hook
UTC Kevlar Thread
Chamois Tail
Spun Deer Hair Body
Black Sharpie Eyes

Fly of the Day

WD-40 Variation
Size 12 &16 Hooks
Thread is Dark Brown UNI 6.0
Pheasant Feather Tail and Wing Case instead of traditional Wood Duck.
Burnt Orange Ice Dubbing for flash.