The Original Adams

Yesterday I was reading a post on the Fly Anglers Online Forum which was discussing a fly that someone happened to call a "Purple Adams." This started a discussion about the Adams fly and if this particular one could be called an Adams or not. I won't get into that discussion, but it got me to wondering how many people really even know what the original Adams looked like? I don't think there is any fly fisherman who would argue about the success of the Adams and I can almost guarantee that in every fly box, on any given river in this country, there is some form of an Adams in there! I did a little research and found some great information on how the Adams originated and what it originally looked like. To make a long story short, Leonard Halladay came up with the fly in 1922, and gave it to a gentleman by the name of Lon Adams to fish the Boardman River right here in Michigan. The next day, Mr. Adams returned, and asked him the name of the fly because it was a "knock out." He named the fly the Adams since Mr. Adams had made the first "good catch" with it. If you would like to read the whole history you should check out the article in "The Adams: History Revisited by Tom Deschaine" in Hatches Magazine.

Here is my first attempt at the Original Adams.

Original Adams

Original Adams

Hook: Mustad 94840 #10-20

Thread: Uni 8/0 Gray

Tail: Two Golden Pheasant Tippets

Body: Gray Wool Yarn

Wings: Grizzly Hen Feathers Tied Slightly Spent and Forward

Hackle: Brown and Grizzly Mixed 

You will notice there are three major differences when compared to the modern Adams. First, the tail is golden pheasant instead of hackle fibers. Second, the body is made of wool yarn instead of the muskrat dubbing. Third, the wing is tied slightly spent and forward slightly. I think I may tie up a few more in different sizes, break out my Orvis Far and Fine and give them a shot. What do you think?



Messing Around and Trying to Get Creative

I have come to the conclusion that if I want to fish Muddler Minnows, I will be buying them.  What a pain in the butt. I guess it would help to take a lesson on how to tie quill wings because those just did not turn out right.  The deer hair wasn't much better. Guess I will be spending a lot of time on YouTube trying to figure those things out. Well I guess I should work on some other flies but I really didn't feel like tying up any traditional well known patterns. For some reason I felt like tying whatever came to mind with the materials on hand.

First thing though I need a little something to get my creative juices flowing. I think Son Volt's The Search will do the trick.  I have not listened to this album in a while. With this playing in the back ground, I kept thinking to myself, "Why don't I listen to this album more often". Jay Farrar is at his best on this album. 

So here is what I came up with, fly-wise. I know, not too original, but still new for me and they look like they will catch fish. Then again, you never know. Does anybody know the names of these two patterns? 

Number One: I checked it does sink when wet and the movement of the CDC should be enticing.

Hook: Mustad 3906

Thread: Uni 8/0 Tan

Body: Natural CDC Feather Wrapped along hook like the CDC and Elk

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Hackle: Hungarian Partirdge

Number Two: For some reason this is the one I really like. Just something about it. I know this is more of an old English style of wet fly. I had seen the two hackles (one in front of the other on another) fly and thought it was interesting.

Hook:  Mustad 3906

Thread: Uni 8/0 Black

Tail: Black Hen Hackle Fibers

Rib: Silver Wire

Body: Black Floss

Back Hackle: Black Hen Hackle

Front Hackle: Dun Hen Hackle

Copper John and Graceland

Today I was planning on tying up a few Brassies but while on the Michigan Sportsman Fly Tying Forum earlier there is a great thread on what flies a beginner should carry for small stream fishing here in Michigan. While I had my ideas on what should be in a beginner's fly box another poster went much more in depth came up with a few more flies in addition to the ones I had posted. One of the flies he had listed was the Copper John. Believe it or not this was the first time I had seen this fly. This pattern looks like a very deadly little nymph pattern. I had to give it a shot at tying up a few and hopefully fooling a few browns this summer! It looks like I have all the materials on hand so let's get down to business and tie up a few Copper Johns.

While not tired of listening to the Dead, I felt like listening to something a little different tonight. Flipping through the CD collection I ran across Paul Simon's Graceland.  I truly believe this album is one of the top 10 albums ever made -- I am actually on my fourth copy (one cassette and three CDs). Guess I need to be a little more careful with the CDs! Paul Simon is one of the best song writers and I LOVE  the African beats and rhythms he added to this album. Every time I listen to it I cannot help but sing along. The last time I had the album out my wife informed me that I needed to take singing lesson, but that's another story.

OK back to the Copper Johns. I guess it's not too bad for my first attempt at this pattern. Oly Wah, does the macro setting on the camera pull out every little fault. I guess that's what happens when you put a magnifying glass up to something. Oh well, the main thing is that they look good in the hand, and I am sure the fish will be a little surprised.

Copper John

Copper John

Hook: Mustad 9671 #8-20

Head: Brass or Tungsten Bead

Weight: Lead Wire

Thread: Uni 8/0 Black

Tail: Brown Goose Biots

Body: Copper Wire

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Legs: Hungarian Partridge

Wing Case: Black Flashabou

All Hail the Prince Nymph

Had a little bit of indecision on what to tie tonight. I knew I wanted to tie up some more nymphs since my nymph box looks a little light but what to tie. I was flipping through the Orvis Fly Pattern Index and narrowed my decision down to three: The Prince Nymph, The Zug Bug or The Brassie. At first I was going to tie up some Brassies but first I showed them to my daughter and my wife to get their input. My wife looked at the Prince Nymph and said "You can't tie that. It looks too nice." Gee Thanks!!  Challenge accepted.. I didn't tell her that they really are not that hard to tie. But she didn't need to know that. I personally think the Gold Ribbed Hares Ear is more difficult.

Still on my Dead kick. The Closing of Winterland should do the trick. Another smoking live album. I especially love this version of Miracle into the Terrapin Suite. The actual Terrapin Station always makes me think about sitting around a campfire looking up at the stars.  I am so glad that they Dead have put so many of their best concerts out on CD for everybody to enjoy. It makes it so much easier than trading tapes like in the old days. 

Prince Nymph

Prince Nymph

Hook: Mustad 3906 #8-18

Thread: Uni 8/0 Black

Weight: Lead Wire

Tail: Brown Goose Biots

Rib: Fine Gold Wire (Original calls for Silver Tinsel)

Body: Peacock Herl

Hackle: Brown Hen Hackle

Wing: White Goose Biots

If you are looking for a way to save a few dollars on materials check out the craft stores. Joann's is the only place to purchase goose biots in my opinion. They are so much cheaper that what you can purchase them in the fly shops. The quality is a little less but it really doesn't matter when it comes to the biots. However while the craft stores do sell peacock I will NOT buy it from there. The peacock sold in fly shops is much better in my opinion. Also if you check the Sunday paper there is almost always a 40% off coupon. It's a good way to get that Ott Light you have been craving.

A.P. Stands for All Purpose.....

Started filling up the fly boxes today. As of right now I am planning on carrying three main boxes in the chest pack along with another couple secondary boxes in boxes in my fanny pack. Box one will be my Mayfly dries. That one is pretty full already for the opener and beyond. I will use one of the secondaries for one time hatches like the Hex and Ephrons. Box two will be my Caddis dries. Like box one this one is full. Secondary One as mentioned before will be one time short hatches along with attractor patterns for brookies. Secondary Two will be terrestrials.  Which brings us to Main Box Three. You guessed it, Nymphs and Wet Flies. Looks like I am set on wet flies. Well at least I hope so. Which brings us to the nymphs. I have been very busy tying pheasant tails in various sizes and different colors. To me this pattern is the most versatile nymph pattern for just about any mayfly species and some caddis for that matter. However I noticed that I hadn't tied any nymphs for BWO's. Looking through the supplies I noticed I don't have any Pheasant Tails dyed olive. I don't plan on making a trip down to Ypsi any time soon so I guess another pattern is in order. Which brings us to the A.P. Nymph. A.P. stands for All Purpose Nymph and that is exactly what this pattern is. This pattern is VERY similar to the pheasant tail but it uses dubbing in place of the pheasant tail fibers.

Well time to get to work. I'm still on my Grateful Dead kick. The Furthur concert cannot get here soon enough. With so many great live albums it's hard to choose which one to listen to. OK here we go Ennie, Meenie, Minnie, Mo. AH YEAH Scarlet, White and Indigo.... What an absolutely fantastic album! This show recorded on July 7th 1989, it started out hot with Hell in a Bucket and just kept getting hotter and hotter until the ending with Knocking on Heavens Door. As I am writing this I keep going back to listen to the version of Iko. Great tune!

A.P. Nymph Olive

A.P. Nymph 

Hook: Mustad 3906 #10-20

Weight: Lead Wire

Rib: Fine Gold Wire

Tail: Mallard Flank Color to Match Natural

Body: Muskrat Dubbing to Match Natural

Wing Case: Mallard Flank Color to Match Natural

Legs: Mallard Flank Color to Match Natural from Wing Case

Beading Around the New Fly Shop

Finally made it down to Ypsilanti to check out the newest fly shop in the area. Schultz Outfitters looks to be a great new shop.  I spent a little time talking to Mike the owner and he seems like a great guy and really knows his stuff. If you are in the area you should stop in and check out the shop.

While I was in the shop I had to pick up a few supplies. One of the things I did pick up was some more brass beads. Somehow I ran out of those and didn't replenish my stock before. Well now I have a few so I can tie up some Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymphs. I have a feeling that the Pheasant Tails are going to be my go to fly this summer. Let's hope so because I have tied up a whole bunch of them in several styles, colors and sizes. I would hate to waste all that effort. The only style I hadn't tied yet were bead heads so now that my stock is replenished it's time to get down to tying a few.

Still on my Dead kick but which album to listen to tonight. AH I know Dick's Picks Volume 14.   A great set of shows recorded in 1973 in Boston, my favorite city outside of MI. From beginning to end this album is full of several great jams.

Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

Hook: Mustad 3906B #10-20

Thread: Uni 8/0 Brown

Rib: Fine Gold Wire

Tail/Body/Wing Case/Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Head: Brass Bead

Going a Little Furthur with the Adams Parachute

Looks like I am going to be going to see Furthur in July at the Meadow Brook Music Festival. I forgot to log on to the computer today right at 10:00 to get tickets.  When I finally remembered at 1:30 I was afraid they were going to be sold out. I got lucky and there were a few tickets left. I cannot wait.  I have been a Dead Head ever since my college roommate introduced me to them back in 1989. This will be my first time to see Furthur. Now I'm in the mood to hear some Dead music. So into the CD play goes the Grateful Dead's Dozin' at the Knick. This is one of my favorite Grateful Dead albums. I would have loved to be at the shows when this was recorded.

What to tie tonight? It looks like my boxes a light on Adams Parachutes so I better get working on them. This is a great pattern if you cannot figure out what is hatching. The trout seem to take this fly for any number of different hatches. It seems they clue in on the size instead of the color when it comes to an Adams.  Everybody should have several in their box. This fly can save the day and has for me several times.

Adams Parachute

Adams Parachute

Hook: Mustad 94840 #10-20

Thread: Uni 8/0 Gray

Tail: Grizzly and Brown Hackle Fibers

Body: Gray Superfine Dubbing

Wing: White Z-Lon

Hackle: Grizzly and Brown Hackle

One note I should make. While the original calls for Grizzly and Brown hackle I tied these with Cree hackle. This is a great substitute for the mixing of grizzly and brown. If you are ever lucky enough to find on pick one up. It will be well worth the price. 

Midwest FlyFishing Expo

Just got home from the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo. It has been a while since I have attended the show and I was happy to see things haven't changed a bit. I won't bore you with the details but I was able to attend a few very informative workshops and demonstrations. The highlight for every red blooded American male in attendance were the workshops and demonstrations by April Vokey. All I can say is this young lady knows her stuff and knows how to put on a seminar. Her seminar on Swinging Flies for BC Steelhead was some very good information and I walked away learning a lot that I can use here in Michigan. I did feel sorry for her when she did her Learning to Fly Cast demonstration. I think the poor guy she chose to teach was more than a little nervous from either her presence or because of the large crowd. Either way he just couldn't get it. The second volunteer picked it up right away. I wonder if my wife will let me go back tomorrow to see the seminars I missed today?

April Vokey

Poor April

A Little Black Caddis and Black Country Communion

While pouring over the hatch charts trying to figure out what I should tie tonight I kept looking at the hatch that has always had my number. For some reason I have not had any luck with the Little Black Caddis hatch on the Au Sable.  While there are many bugs on the water and trout rising everywhere, I have not had much luck. I can never seem to find that magic fly.  This year I am going to give Hans Weilenmann's CDC and Elk tied in black a try.  This fly has been a producer in tan and green so why not in black?  I'm still trying to figure out why I haven't tried them in black yet. This year I will give them a good shot.

I guess black was on my mind tonight because I really wanted to listen to some Black Country Communion. In my opinion this is by far the best super group to come out since Cream. Joe Bonamassa is a blues guitar master, add Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple and Black Sabbath) on bass and vocals, keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theatre, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper) and round that out with Jason Bonham on drums. Does it get any better than that? If you have not heard this band do yourself a big favor and check them out. Their new live album Live Over Europe is incredible. Hopefully they will tour the US with a stop in Detroit. 

I guess I should show what I tied tonight. With the action the CDC adds to this fly I know I will stick a few this year.

CDC and Elk Little Black Caddis

CDC and Elk Little Black Caddis

Hook: Mustad 94840 #16-18

Thread: Uni 8/0 Black

Body: Black CDC Feather

Wing: Elk Hair Died Grey

Porkie Chutes

I think I may be done tying soft hackles for a few days. Actually I know I have enough tied for this year at least. At least I hope so. It's been a while since I have thrown a fly so who knows.  Hopefully I don't lose offer too many sacrifices to the tree gods.  If I do I hope they are appreciative of my offerings and reward me in kind. Hopefully I don't offer up too many of these flies.

Tonight I broke out my McLean's Quill Body Material to tie up a few more Olive Parachutes. This time I was using curved scud hooks to use them as emergers and wanted to have a little more segmented look. If you have not used McLean's Quill Body you need to give it a shot.  From my understanding these are actually porcupine guard hairs and they make excellent quill bodies. Even my wife agrees that they make nice bodies. I know there will be a few nice fish caught on this little guy.

Quill Body Parachute Olive

Quill Body Parachute Olive

Hook: Tiemco 2487 #16-20

Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive

Tail: Ginger Z-Lon

Body: McLean's Quill Body Olive Small

Post: Ginger Z-Lon

Hackle: Dun Hackle

Thorax: Olive Dubbing

Synthetic Materials

What a fantastic day. Spent the day with my youngest daughter skiing up at Caberfae Peaks Resort. They had close eight inches of new snow by the time we arrived and another four inches while we were skiing.  Talk about excellent conditions.  This was my first time to Caberfae and I don't think it will be my last. For Michigan it is a very good resort at a great price. 

So yesterday I was tying up some more Pheasant Tail Wet Flies and I decided to tie a few up using some Arizona Synthetic Peacock and Pheasant Tail dubbing I had laying around. Sometimes tying the natural materials like pheasant tail and peacock can be a pain. I don't know how many times I have broken a quill by hitting it on the hook point. Very frustrating to say the least. This stuff actually looks very nice and very similar to the natural materials. Not identical but very similar. Hopefully I can find more of this stuff when I run out. This will make tying Royal Coachman's and Royal Wulff's much easier. I wonder what the fish will think.

 

Synthetic Material Pheasant Tail Wet Fly

All Wet With Dr. Stan

For some reason or other I have really been into wet flies.  I have no idea why.  In the past I have fish mainly dry flies. Not because I am one of those dry fly snobs. It's just that I liked seeing the fish actually take the fly.  I know it not the most productive way to fly fish but I enjoyed it.  But for some reason I am wanting to fish a lot of wet flies right along side my dry flies.  So I better get tying up a few more wet flies besides just the soft hackles I have tied.  Well since the Hendrickson hatch is the first big hatch of the season here I guess that is a great place to start.

Now that I know what I want to tie what do I want to listen to.  How about a little live Moe.? Moe. is one of those bands that just knows how to jam.  OK now which album so I listen to?  AH yes Dr. Stan's Prescription Volume 1 should fit the bill nicely.  This album has several fantastic jams and even a nice little tease with the Grateful Dead's Turn on Your Love Light. With the tunes in the CD player and the materials all out lets get to a little tying.

Dark Hendrickson Wet Fly

Dark Hendrickson Wet Fly

Hook: Mustad 3906 #10-14

Thread: Uni 8/0 Gray

Tail: Medium Dun Hackle Fibers

Body: Muskrat Fur Dubbing

Hackle: Medium Dun Hackle - Collar Style

Wing: Lemon Wood Duck or Mallard Flanks Dyed Wood Duck