Pen & Ink, Camping, Plus Fixed Link

 Here is a fly from my own mind.  Big wings, soft hackles, and hurl.  Just a doodle but I like the way it looks.  In the coming days I will post a few more inked flies due mostly to the fact that I have alot on my plate at the moment and at this time not able to put the time in for a full on watercolor.

Tomorrow I will be posting a bit of a camping report from my short trip to the beach.  Here is a teaser for a few of the pics I will be posting.

Also, I have been told that my link for the Chicago Fly Fishing Outfiters shop was not realy working to good so I have gone back and fixed the link.  If you got the time and want something in mind that you need, check these guys out.

Trout Skin & Chicago FlyFishing Outfiters

 Here is a small fly and trout skin.  I have been working on a commissioned work lately that has involved a lot of rainbow trout skin.  Here is a study I did for this work and then added a fly just as a doodle.

Also, If you are like me, I have lost all the good fly fishing shops that use to be close to me and have come to rely on the Internet for my fly fishing needs.  Unfortunately the big box stores have put alot of these smaller stores out of business so I am going to focus on a few smaller type shops I have found online.  I tend to like the independent stores more than the big box stores and support them whenever I can.
The first I am going to spot light is Chifly.com It is an expansive online store with some great deals and a large selection of gear.  As a native of Illinois I have a special connection to the fishing world of the Midwest.  Like the south, bass and bluegill are found at every turn but If you like trout and salmon, there are a great many streams just north of the city that are loaded.  If you get a chance, stop by Chifly.com and check out their selection.

PMD Comparadun & Some Advice

PMD Comparadun is a great little hair wing & I enjoy this fly
On another subject - When lighting your fireplace for the first time FIRST CHECK TO SEE IF A CRITTER HAS TAKEN UP RESIDENCE in the flu.  The other day I thought I'd light up the fireplace in preparations for the upcoming season.  I had noticed a few wasps flying around the chimney during the day so I thought I'd clean out the pipe with a good burning fire and smoke the little guys out.  Last year I didn't do this and in January, when I opened the damper, I had a good dozen or so angry wasps come at me.  So to eliminate this problem I lit a good fire then heard something bigger than a few small insects scratching metal in what sounded like a desperate attempt to evacuate.  Moments later I heard the tell tale sound of a chimney on fire.  Rushing outside I witnessed a large four foot flame engulfing my chimney.  Five minutes of scrambling with ladders and a water hose up on a two story roof and the fire was out.  Post fire inspection showed that a squirrel had taken up residence in the cap of my chimney.  All you PETA people rest assured no squirrel was injured - they got out in time - but their nest was a smoking bunch of embers.   
Long story but a good lesson learned - check your chimney before lighting up.

PMD Emerger EB & A Ugly Fly

 Here is a late day post of a PMD Emerger Extended Body.  Very busy day but I did manage to remember this post today.  These type of extended body flies are great looking little bugs even if I have had very little luck fishing them.  It is all in the timing and I guess I have never been good at that or that tricky little thing called 'matching the hatch'.  I will continue to read on the subject and practise my observation of the insects aquatic but until I get it.... I will just enjoy the beauty of these flies.

Also here is a very ugly reversed tied fly I tied after seeing how the hook of a normal dry fly dips below the waterline and is very visible to a trout.  My hope in this fly is that the hackles will disguise the hook and make it more appealing to a trout.

Is it a new technique? No.  Is it a new attempt for me? Absolutely.

BWO Cripple & More Skin

 One more BWO in the same style as the last two.  The BWO is always a big producer of strikes, and if you find the right stage then you are sure to increase your chance to hook trout.  Of course there is those occasions where the fish refuse to hit anything you throw at them.  It is usually these inactive times that I choose to fling a fly.

And here is another trout skin I did as a study for a larger work. 
This work is also 2.5" x 8"

BWO Parachute & Rainbow Skin

 As promised here is the second BWO, this time its a Parachute BWO.  Tomorrow you get one more BWO so be sure to check back.

I was also doing a bit of study work the other day by request and worked on a little Rainbow Trout Skin.  No fly, No head, And No fins but if this painting were done full scale it would look fairly good as a bumper sticker.  This painting however is only a study and quite small and flawed.  hopefully I can go large scale someday.

2.5in x 8in.

BWO Emerger

This is the first in a series of BWO fly post so why not start with the BWO Emerger.  Check back tomorrow for the second BWO. 

Enjoy the weekend and if you are lucky enough to get out and fish, hang one for me.

Drowning A Fly

Please no comments on how the hackles are suppose to keep the fly on the surface of the water.  Call this one artistic freedom. 

Also, This is the last day to take advantage of the special deal on the trout prints.  Any questions on what this deal was please refer to Mondays post, take a look at the prints I have available at the top of the page, and then Email me to purchase.

Just A Simple Fly

Just another fly and another day.  Working hard, hardly playing, and waiting for some time to fling a fly. 

Changing Colors

I'm not going to add much to the post today because I don't have much to say on the fishing front.  The colors have changed through most of the country and here in SC the bright colors are still hanging on....just barely.  I thought this heavily hackled and hair fly was full of those oranges and yellows was a good choice.

Speaking about colors changing, I hope all of those that could did vote yesterday.  If you did then our founders thank you for exercising your right.  No, I'm not going into politics here, just an observation, but it seems the people have chosen a new color, a new leadership to represent them.  Lets hope they can all get together and work to get this country back on track.

LL Widow Maker, Vote, & Bigerrfish Flies

 Here is a BH Midge with long legs.  I added a bit of red and blue to the background because, well its election day.  I also think this fly will kill trout and here by call it the Long Legs Widow Maker.  The recipe.....I am working on it but will let you know, unless a few of you can post a reply with what you think is best to tie this bad bay,...er, bad girl.  My best guess is wrapped Pheasant Tail body, tagged with CDC, Thin black ribbing, Peacock hurl, some sparse Partridge for legs, and a Gold Bead on a size 16.

Second,

Have You?

Third, I got a package in the mail yesterday from avid blogger and renegade fly tier Josh at Bigerrfish.blogspot.com.  In this package came a gaggle of flies that he had been tying throughout the course of the summer as well as a few patterns he has sworn by.  Most of these I recognized as flies we had worked on jointly through our Summer On the Flies venture.  If you love fishing trout and want to see some great pics along with down right Amazing fishing reports, VISIT HIS SITE.

 Josh has been a great supporter of my site and continuous encouragement throughout the year.  I have yet been able to make a trip to fish his home waters but look forward to the opportunity.  With these flies now occupying a large portion of my box, I can at the very least test his flies on my home waters.  I cant wait to try them out.

Yellow Humpy & Selling Prints Special

Yellow Humpy

 Here is a Yellow Humpy fly for you.  There is something about these humpies that keep me coming back to them.  They look great tied up and although my success fishing them has been spotty, I still keep them in my box for when the trout are looking for something a bit more meaty than your standard Quill Gordon or Adams.  It measures 5x7inches and is available for sale for a very low $15 plus s&h.  Please Email for complete purchasing details.

 I have also decided to offer a special sale on my prints for a limited time.  Pick any two 5x7 prints from my BUY A PRINT page at the top of this blog and the total cost (including shipping) for the two will be only $16.  I really can not go any cheaper than this and expect to cover my costs.

These Prints come mated in an acid free white mat suitable for framing in any standard 8x10 inch frame.  They are printed using high quality inks on acid free paper and if properly cared for will last a long time. 

This deal is only good through the Friday at noon.  If you desire to take advantage of this offer, EMAIL me the names of the two prints you desire and I will then email you back a Paypal money request you can pay with any major credit card. 

Again, this deal is only good through the end of the week.

PT On Blue

I believe I have either painted, drawn, or tied this little bug more times than I can remember and it still remains a constant contender in my go-to box of tricks.  Variations abound with the good old Pheasant Tail but the classics never die.  Every nymphing fisherman has fished it and I venture to say nearly every single one of them has had a bite on one.  It continues to be one of the all time top flies in any top fly list.

As for the sale of this little bug, It is for sale for a reduced price of $15 plus $4 s&h.  Normally most of my daily flies go for $25 ea (and if you desire any of the past flies please contact me for info) but I have decided to reduce the cost of some of my flies for a short time.  This one is a bit more than 4x6 inches and comes mated in a black and white archival mat suitable for framing.  Please email me for details.

Check back on Monday for a one day only sale of some of my prints at a reduced price.

White Wulff

A White Wulff fly in watercolor measuring @ 4x6 inches and for sale.  Not much to say today except enjoy the weekend.  Look for a PT watercolor on Sunday.

Casual Dress For Sale



Cacual Dress

 Casual Dress wet fly done on in high quality watercolors and light resistant ink on 100% acid free paper.  Measuring slightly less than 5x7, this work is for sale at a reduced price of $15 plus $4 s&h and comes mated in a white and black mat and backing board.  Please Email me for details.