On The Fly

      "Fly tying is a school from which we never graduate"

TYING NEWS

   The Southern Oregon Fly Tiers met Wednesday, Febraury 14th at the library in Gold Hill. There was a lengthy discussion about alternative meeting locations should the library close on April 7th as planned. If anyone has suggestions please contact me ASAP. Members did not exchange valentines but did have a fly exchange. We encourage novice and experienced tiers alike to drop by for a fun evening. The next meeting will be on March 14th.
   We had a great turnout for the RFF tying classes this year. Each of the three groups was filled to capacity with eager students. Thanks to Rusty at the Silver Sedge Fly Shop in Merlin for the generous discount on materials. Special thanks go to Johnny Hale and Dale Heath for volunteering their time and efforts to instructing classes.
   Many local tiers are making preparations for the upcoming Northwest Fly Tiers Expo on March 9th and 10th. There will be up to 300 tiers at this unique two-day event, which also includes vendor booths featuring the latest tying and fishing gear. Ask anyone who has ever attended this Expo, it’s worth the trip.

PATTERN OF THE MONTH - Baetis Cripple

Hook:         Standard dry, TMC 100 or equal. Sizes 16-20.
Thread:       Brown 8/0.
Tail:            Pheasant tail fibers.
Abdomen:  Wrapped pheasant tail fibers.
Thorax:       Olive or brown Superfine dubbing.
Wing:          Tan deer hair.
Hackle:       Olive Grizzly.

Tying Instructions:

1) Start the thread one eye-length behind the eye. Wind a thread base back to just above the barb.
2) Tie in about 5 or 6 pheasant tail fibers on top of the hook shank. Tail should be ¾ the body length. Do not trim the butt ends.
3) Advance the thread forward to the thorax position and let the thread hang. Wind the butts of the tail fibers forward in tight turns to the thread position.
4) Dub the thread with the Superfine dubbing and wind it forward to form the thorax, ¼ body length.
5) Select a small bunch of deer hair, stack it to even the tips, measure one body length and tie in the deer hair with the tips facing forward over the eye of the hook. Post up the wing at 45 degrees forward with wraps behind and in front. Clip the butts to extend back just over the thorax.
6) Tie in the hackle feather behind the wing, wind the feather forward three turns, and tie it off.
7) Form a whip finish in front of the wing and apply cement.


   The “cripple” patterns, created by our own Bob Quigley, imitate several species of mayfly that become stuck in their shuck while emerging. If this happens, trout recognize the vulnerable condition and key in to feed on cripples when they see an easy meal. Often times during a good hatch your fly can get lost in the thousands of natural insects on the water. A cripple pattern is an excellent way to entice trout to take your fly.
   The Beatis Cripple dressing is in the “Quigley” style and represents a crippled blue-winged olive mayfly. Blue-winged olives come in body colors that range from olive to brown. Choose a color that matches the natural available to trout when and where you are fishing. Dress only the front half with floatant so the back half sinks below the surface and use standard dry fly presentations. So tie some up, give them a test flight, and let me know how you do.

TYING TIPS

   Select pheasant tail fibers long enough for both the tail and the abdomen. These longer fibers can be found most often on center tail feathers. To achieve a tapered body on your fly, you should overlap the fibers as you wind forward. Deer hair has a tendency to flair and roll around the hook shank. To prevent this problem, hold the bunch firmly over the tie-in point and take at least one full soft wrap before cranking on the thread. The butts of the deer hair represent the cracked shuck of the emerger. Proper trimming to length is an important factor so watch your proportions and don’t crowd the head.

Tie One On,
Dan Kellogg (you can contact me at FLYGUY@EZNORTHWEST.COM)