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?



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.

Parachutes in the Wind

Glad I took my daily walk when I did.  The wind is really kicking now.  Why does it seem that you are always walking up hill and into the wind?  Listening to The Dropkick Murphys gave me that little extra something I needed to get through the wind. Who would have thought Celtic Punk would be so much fun.

Last night at the tying table was another stocking up day. Again I threw in some Live Phish and went to work tying up some Parachute Blue Winged Olives and Parachute Blue Winged Olive Emergers.  At first I was struggling with catching the hackle while whip finishing. Then I remember the end of my bodkin had a half hitch tool. Why didn't I remember that at first?  Oh well at least I remembered.  Talk about making life easier. 

The BWO parachute was always one of my most productive flies while fishing on the Au Sable River. More than once this fly saved the day.  If you look at the hatch charts for the Au Sable River there are BWO's listed all summer long. If the fish are rising but not taking what is supposed to be the main hatch at the time chances are very good that they are taking Olives.  

Parachute Blue Winged Olive

Hook: Mustad 94840 #18-28
Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive
Tail: Dark Dun Hackle Fibers
Body: Olive Dubbing
Post: White HiViz or Antron
Hackle: Dark Dun Tied Parachute Style

Parachute Blue Winged Olive Emerger

Hook: Mustad 94840 #18-28
Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive
Tail: Antron or HiViz Sparse
Body: Olive Dubbing
Post: White HiViz or Antron
Hackle: Dark Dun Tied Parachute Style

Just Phishing Around with Griffith's Gnats

Well today I made my first foray into "production" tying for the first time in a long time. I must have been inspired by the music.  As you can tell from the name of the post I was jamming to some Phish.  Their Live One is a classic.  I can listen to Chalk Dust Torture and  Slave to the Traffic Light over and over again. 

For my first foray in to production tying again I started out easy with the Griffith's Gnat.  This is one of my favorite searching flies.  It may be an easy fly to tie but it is very effective.  Especially on those beautiful brookies and small browns. 

Griffith's Gnat

Hook: Mustad 94840 #18-28
Thread: Uni 8/0 Black
Rib: Fine Gold Wire, Wrapped over Body and Hackle
Hackle: Grizzly Hackle, Palmered over Body
Body: Peacock Herl

The Two C's: Crowes and Caddis

One thing you will quickly notice is that I have an affinity for jam bands, blues guitar and a little bit of good ole rock and roll. Today while flipping through my CDs The Black Crowes War Paint screamed listen to me.  What a fantastic album.  While listening to Evergreen I started thinking about the caddis hatches on the Holy Waters. For those that have never fished the Main Branch of the Au Sable River the flies only section from  Burton's Landing to Wakeley Bridge is affectionately as the Holy Waters. In my opinion this is by far the best trout fishing in Michigan if not in the entire country. Throughout the summer from mid-afternoon until dusk there always seems to be some sort of caddis on the water.  For this reason I always carried a good selection of Elk Hair Caddis.

Elk Hair Caddis

Hook: Mustad 94840 #8-14
Thread: Uni 8/0 Color To Match Natural
Rib: Fine Copper or Gold Wire
Body: Rabbit Dubbing Color To Match Natural
Hackle: Brown or Ginger Palmered
Wing: Tan Elk Hair

Hamming it up with JGB and the GRHE

So far life in the "closet" isn't so bad.  I get to kick back have a few beers, listen to some good tunes and tie a few flies. Last night it was an ice cold Hamm's, some Jerry Garcia Band while tying a few Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymphs.  Every time I listen to the Jerry Garcia Band Live album I think about fishing the South Branch of the Au Sable river here in Michigan.  I never planned it but for some reason it was always in the CD player while driving through the Mason Tract.  Ah the memories.  I still chuckle when I think about the time I was near the chapel and every time a canoe full of loud drunks passed by they would flip over while every other canoe passed by with no problems.  I guess you shouldn't be loud and obnoxious when passing the Fisherman's Chapel.

Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear

Hook: Mustad 3906B #6-12
Thread: Brown Uni 8/0
Weight: Medium Lead Wire
Tail: Hare's Ear - Guard Hairs
Rib: Flat Gold Tinsel
Abdomen: Hare's Ear Fur
Wing Case: Oak Turkey Wing Quill Segment
Thorax: Hare's Ear Fur
Legs: Dubbing Picked Out in Thorax Area

True Love and the Woolly Bugger

It took a while but we finally decided that I can use one of our closets for my fly tying room. Pretty sad EHH.  (No I'm not a Yooper but I did play one for six years) OK so it's not really a closet but it is a pretty small room.  Laurie didn't want all my stuff out in the open for everybody to see and the grand kid to get into.  Can't say as I blame her.  Besides she graciously gave up one of her desks so I could use it for fly tying. So into the closet I go. 

Once the room was all set and all my materials in proper places it was time to take the plunge and tie few flies. But where to start?  There are so many patterns to choose from. AHH the good ole Woolly Bugger.  I guess that is a good of place to start again since that is where it all started in the first place.  Well I guess it is close to riding a bike.  What do you think?





Woolly Bugger
Hook: Mustad 79580 #6-12
Thread: Uni 8/0 Black
Weight: Medium Lead Wire
Tail: Black Marabou
Body: Black Chenille
Hackle: Black Hen or Rooster Palmered

For those who have not read Dave Ames' "True Love and the Woolly Bugger" you should check it out.  I can relate to a few of the stories.  Just like in the book, one of my fishing buddies Hommie and I have run into more than one beautiful naked lady while fly fishing. Sorry no pictures of those.