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.