Hemingway, McGinty and Puerto Rico

It has been a while since my last post. Lucky me won our companies Sales Excellence trip this year. With that came an all expenses paid trip to Puerto Rico. We just spent the last five days at the El Conquistador Resort drinking DonQ Rum,  Madella Light Beer and eating some fantastic Puerto Rican food, all on the company dime. If you ever get to Puerto Rico make sure you hit the local shack restaurants. They don't look like a place that you would want to eat but the food is fantastic. I could be used to listening to the Coqui at night and having views like this during the day. Too bad it had to come to an end.

For some unknown reason while looking for books to read on the plane I picked up Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. For those that have not read the book I can highly recommend it. While it not the type of book I would typically read I did find it a great read. At one point in the book Jake and Bill go on a trout fishing trip a week before the feista in Pamplona. While Jake was fishing with worms Bill was using flies. His fly of choice was the McGinty. What better fly to tie when I got home.

Here is the McGinty. Looks like I am a little rust. I really need to practice on my quill wings.

McGinty

McGinty

Hook: Mustad 3906B #6-12

Thread: Uni 8/0 Black

Tail: Red Hackle Fibers

Body: Alternating Black and Yellow Chenille

Beard: Brown Hackle Fibers

Wing: White Tipped Mallard Quill

Michigan Fly Fishing App

One of my projects is finally done! Well, at least for the most part, it’s done. I have spent the last few weeks researching and building an app for Droid phones. For those that fish for trout here in Michigan or plan on visiting Michigan to fish for trout, this app can be of service to you! Currently it includes: The Michigan Hatch Chart, a detailed list of all Blue Ribbon Trout Streams as well as an GPS-enabled map. For people that want lake information, I included a detailed list and a GPS- enabled map of all Designated Trout Lakes. I also included Trout Identification and Licensing information. In the very near future I will be adding a list of all the fly shops in Michigan, flies specifically for Michigan waters and maybe a list of guides. If anybody has a list of vehicle spotting services I would be happy to add those also. This may not be the prettiest app at the dance, but what it lacks in beauty I believe it will make up for in functionality.

You can check out and download the app in the Google Play Store by following this link:

Michigan Trout Fishing App

If you can think of anything else to app please let me know.

Here are a few screen shots of the app:

Do I Smell Sulphur? OK Don't Panic!

One thing I realized when I was up fishing during the opener is that my eyesight sure isn't what it used to be. There were times it was really hard to follow the fly on the water. It is only going to get harder to follow them as the spring turns into summer and the flies get smaller and smaller. I cannot imagine trying to follow a #22 BWO! Looks like I will be tying a lot more parachutes with bright posts for smaller flies. I have always tied my BWO parachutes with a BRIGHT orange post for this very reason. Before it was for convenience, now it is truly necessary. With the sulphur hatch coming up, I figured I better get busy.

Earlier today I was flipping through the channels and PBS had on one of my favorite shows, Austin City Limits. I don't know how many bands I have discovered while watching that show. Several years ago I had the pleasure of catching a show featuring Wide Spread Panic. They quickly became one of my favorites. John Bell has a very unique voice which matches perfectly with Mike Houser's guitar playing. Well why not throw one of their CDs into the stereo? What the heck, why not their Live From the Backyard Austin TX?

Now to get to the tying. I used a white Z-Lon post for this fly. The Z-Lon really catches the light and makes it easy to see the fly on the water. Just what my old eyes need! I also used Coq de Leon for the tail. The stiffness of the fibers makes excellent tailing material. I also love the mottled look.

Quill Body Sulphur Parachute

Quill Body Sulphur Parachute

Hook: Mustad 94840 #16-#18

Thread: Uni 8/0 Light Cahill

Tail: Coq De Leon

Wing Post: White Z-Lon

Body: McLean's Quill Body Material Sulphur

Hackle: Dun tied Parachute Style

Thorax: Sulphur Dubbing

Step One

Start the Thread

Step Two

Tie in Tail

Step Three

Tie in Z-Lon Wing Post

Step Four

Wind Thread Back to the Tail and Tie In Quill 

Step Five

Wrap Quill Forward Until Just In Front of the Post

Step Six

Tie in Hackle Feather at Wing Post

Step Seven

Dub Thorax

Step Eight

Wrap Hackle, Whip Finish and Trim Wing

Let's see who is really paying attention or actually reading this blog. The first person FOLLOWING this blog that posts a comment telling me the step I inadvertently skipped will receive six Elk Hair Caddis flies. Comments are moderated. If you do not see your comment be assured I did receive it and I will post it once I receive the notification.

What a Great Trip For The Most Part

What a great weekend! For some reason, it felt like Grayling was welcoming me home. When I first pulled into Burton's Landing Campground there were three deer standing in the first campsite watching me drive in as if to say "hello and welcome back." I made a loop around the campsite and for some reason pulled into site 10. When I pulled in there was a big Tom turkey right where I eventually set up my tent. Personally I enjoy seeing wildlife, and I thought to myself as I watch the turkey walk away that this is starting out to be a great trip.

Campsite for the Opener

With camp set, I got prepared for the cold night ahead. The last time I looked at the temperature it was 29 degrees and it had dropped from there. Thank God I brought enough warm clothes and had a hot campfire going all night. Even with the fire I had to eventually lower the ear flaps on the Kromer.

Saturday morning it was time to hit the river. I walked down to the landing ready to go. I first looked downstream to see if there were any other fishermen in the area. Then I looked upstream and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a bald eagle come over the tree tops and fly down the river.

It took me about 5 casts to eventually get back into the rhythm and throw a nice tight loop. Don't get me wrong, I still made lots of bad casts, but for the most part I was back in the rhythm. No bugs were hatching so I started with a bead head Pheasant Tail I had tied. I know that nymph fishing produces the most fish, however I prefer watching the dry flies on the water and seeing the take. I spent the first hour and a half with no takes. Kind of discouraging to say the least. The two Kingfishers looking at me from their branch seemed to be saying, "You're doing it wrong." That's when the black caddis started hatching and the little ones started looking up. I noticed a nice little fish rising not far from me so I tied on a CDC and Elk and sent the fly his way. It took three casts before I put it where I wanted. Fish On!!! As I reached down to land a nice little 12" brown, he shook the hook and swam away. Fish-1, Me-0. That would have been the largest fish landed all day. OH well… I did end up catching a bunch of smaller fish with the largest being around 8". For some reason I have never had success with the Little Black Caddis hatch. Well at least with larger fish - the small ones seem to love them. Long story short, at least I didn't get skunked!

The snacks I took with me just were not doing the trick so I headed back to the campsite for a little lunch. As soon as I took off my vest I hear a bird call I didn't recognize. I looked up in the pine tree about 10 feet from the picnic table to see a pair of Kirtland's Warblers. I couldn't believe my eyes and had to break out the phone to make sure they were actually Kirtland's. OK, I am an idiot. I should have been taking pictures instead of making an ID on Google. 

Spent a few more hours fishing until the caddis hatch finally ended. I guess in all the excitement I didn't notice that my waders were leaking. My socks and pants, up to my knees, were soaked! I ran into the Old AuSable Flyshop to get something to repair the leak. I guess I didn't patch the correct spot and they leaked again. When I went fishing at Keystone Landing the next day the other foot leaked too. At least this time when I repair them, I can do it properly at home. Looks like I get to do a blog on repairing waders. LOL.

Here are a few pictures of the AuSable for your enjoyment:

Burton's Landing Looking Downstream From The Campsite

Burton's Landing Looking Upstream From The Campsite

Keystone Landing Looking Downstream From The Campsite

Keystone Landing Looking Upstream From The Campsite

I Must Be Crazy!!

I just took a look at the weather report for this weekend's opener!! I must be fricking crazy to be heading north! High of 51 on Saturday with a low of 26. Did I mention that I was camping in a TENT? Good thing I have a great sleeping bag and a heater for my tent. It is going to be a little chilly at night. I felt like I was packing for deer season with all the warm clothes I was packing. I even packed my Stormy Kromer just in case. I love my Kromer. It is by far the best winter hat I have owned and I wear it every day during the winter. If you want more information on the Stormy Kromers check out their website. They are made right here in Michigan and well worth every penny. I plan on picking up a blaze orange one for deer hunting this year.

Had to make sure I had enough streamers. Streamer fishing is not my strong point but if the weather turns out to be like the forecast, I guess I won't have much of a choice. Actually this is the reason I am still going despite the conditions. If the bugs are not hatching, it will force me out of my comfort zone. I am actually looking forward to ripping some streamers this weekend. I will let you know how it goes.

I cannot believe that I just realized while writing this post that I didn't pack my copy of the Jerry Garcia Band Live. That would have been bad JuJu if I didn't take it with me. For some reason, this has always been my fly fishing album. While it is not the only album I will be taking with me to listen to while hovering over the campfire trying to keep warm, I am sure it will be played the most.

Well I am off until Monday. Wish me luck!!

More Projects and EHC

I've been working on a few projects lately that people may be interested in learning about! You may have noticed that I added a bead head sizing chart. The other projects will have to wait to be released until a later date. I thought I had better put the projects on hold for the night so I can tie up a few more flies for my upcoming fishing trip this weekend. I have started posting step-by-step instructions for the flies I have been tying. Tonight I was working on some additional Elk Hair Caddis and I figured since I didn't post details originally for this fly, I am posting them now in case anybody is interested.

Tonight I felt like listening to some live Grateful Dead. How do you choose -- there are so many great live shows!! When all else fails, picking a home town show always works. The Dead released their June 20, 1991 show at Pine Knob as part of their Download Series. This show was Volume 11 in the collection. Listening…I am thinking what a great show…I wish I would have been there! This show happened before I started really listening to the Dead but I do remember thinking to myself that I should get tickets and go. It wasn't until about a year later that one of my friends in college called me and asked if I wanted to go see the Dead at the Palace. I should have listened to my original instincts and gone to see this show.

Elk Hair Caddis

Elk Hair Caddis

Hook: Mustad 94840 #12-18

Thread: Uni 8/0 Color to Match Natural

Rib: Fine Copper Wire Counter Wrapped over Hackle

Hackle: Brown or Color to Match Natural Palmered Front to Back

Body: Super Fine Dubbing to Match Natural

Wing: Elk Hair

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Copper Wire

Step Three

Dub Body, Wrap Forward and Tie In Hackle

Step Four

Palmer Hackle to Hook Bend. Capture Hackle Tip with Copper Wire and Counter Wrap Rib Forward

Step Five

Tie in Elk Hair Wing

Step Six

Clip Elk Hair to Form Head 

Step Seven

Whip Finish

Now go catch a few fish with this nice fly!!

Hook Conversion Charts

With all the manufacturers and styles of hooks it gets confusing when you need to substitute one manufacturer's for another. I have spent a few weeks compiling a list of all the different manufacturers of hooks and comparing them to other manufacturers. This has been a very daunting task. Some manufacturers say their hook A compares to X while another says that X compares to Y.  Check out the Tab above to see what I have come up with.