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 the win came an all-expense 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’s 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 get 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 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 fiesta in Pamplona. While Jake was fishing with worms, Bill was using flies. His fly of choice is the McGinty. What better fly to tie when I got home?

Here is the McGinty. Looks like I am a little rusty. 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.