Bob Jurmain, M.F.A., M.Arch., CalabogieFlyfisher bobjurmain37@gmail.com
  • British Columbia houses
  • Ontario houses
  • Jurmain Residences
  • Fly Fishing Blog
  • Design Process
  • Philosophy
  • 1st meeting
  • Photography
  • Paintings

November 13th, 2022

11/13/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
This fly was my go-to nymphing fly last year especially at my favorite little brook trout lake.  My supply was completely demolished by the end of the year.  I just finished tying a dozen of these and every one looked different.  It is not an easy tie.  There are various ways to get the legs.

This is an Ian Colin James pattern.  He lists it as a steelhead fly and as one of his favorites in many situations for all manner of trout and bass.  His are larger versions.  He did have the instructions on his website but I see they are taken down.  It took me awhile to figure out (remember) how to tie it!  I'm sure those legs move around quite a bit in the water and might trigger a backswimmer response.  You can't see it on the photos but I put a small butt tag of pearl mylar.

Since Brian Chan passed around his fly box with flies at least two sizes smaller than mine, I've been on a quest to make my flies smaller.  I think that when fish are released, they learn a little about how they were fooled.   And so it is important to get a closer representation if you are in that situation.  That is not as  much a concern around Ontario/Quebec as there are few C&R waters (and consequently a much poorer trout  fishery.....so much so I will do more local warm water fishing next year).

 
The tieing trick are the legs.  You can use one pheasant church window or two.  I prefer one.  Pinch the tip, smooth rest of the fibers back and tie it backwards onto the shank with the stem towards the rear.  Dub, then bring the feather forward.  Spread the fibers so you can tie down and bring the shell back over.  Repeat.  You could make a larger thorax at the front or at the middle.  I don't think the fish care.

I use yellow or grey rabbit fur at the rear and Black and Red Dazzle Dubbing for the thorax(s).  Ian says that all flies should have at least two distinct colours on them.  I think he is right.

This post is reprinted from 2013

0 Comments

Minky

11/13/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Leeches are an all year food for trout and bass.  This tie is a variation on the Coney Leech in that the zonker strip is tied only at the back and front.  This allows for a curve of the strip which is a more natural shape of a leech. In doing so, you need to have a body which in this case is brown chenille held in place by thin wire also palmered.  I caught many trout with this fly last year.
It is a good searching fly and also can be retrieved fast.  Here in Ontario, you have to look for trout so it can be trolled with some speed.  Once you find fish then cast and retrieve as a natural leech would swim.
The mink used is from mink coat scraps sliced 1/8" wide. Use any size streamer hook. 

​This post is from January 2016
​
0 Comments

Red Butt Mississippi Maiden

10/1/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
This variation is using long plastic chenille.  Note the red wool butt as you can't place the chenille any further than half way without crowding the maribou tail.   Interestingly, I caught a large rainbow with this fly.  There are sunfish in the lake and maybe this triggered the response. 
1 Comment

Brook Trout

10/1/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
We get about 6 weeks of brook trout fishing in the fall from Sept 1st to about mid October.  Some of our district shuts down Sept 30 because of a very old idea of reproduction protection which in reality cannot happen in our lakes.  It remains I believe to protect fish stocks for ice fishers!
0 Comments

Bob's Boatman/Backswimmer

10/1/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Dazzle Dubbing Black and Red body with white Phentex shell back.  This fly has been catching since the hatch right after our first frost.  The phentex post aids in sighting and creating some noise when jerked. 
0 Comments

Good start to the season!

6/28/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Caught this one some time ago a couple of weeks after ice out. This is a third year fish in our neck of the woods. Always good fishing at the beginning before they are taken out. I wish more fishers would let them go. Now it is too hot for safe C&R
​

0 Comments

Q Tip Fore and Aft

4/16/2020

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

Phentex Humpy

1/26/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
0 Comments

Fly tying Season!

1/15/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
I always start by making sure my favorite flies are well stocked in the boxes.  If the flies from the past season are tattered, then they get dumped but some of them only need to be repaired.

The PT Nymph was again one of the best producers esp of brook trout.  This one got a new tail, some added PT to the body, another round of herl and new shell back with  legs. 

This year I am adding a translucent back which should reflect some light. It is made from "UV Knot Sense"

I'm also stacking them loosely in a fly box I inherited from my long departed dad who is fully responsible for my addiction.  It is a Cortland box and must be 60 years old or more.   I find the tails get easily damaged any other way. 

Of course Mayfly nymphs only have three tails but you are better off to start with five.  There will be three soon enough!
0 Comments

Minky

1/24/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Leeches are an all year food for trout and bass.  This tie is a variation on the Coney Leech in that the zonker strip is tied only at the back and front.  This allows for a curve of the strip which is a more natural shape of a leech. In doing so, you need to have a body which in this case is brown chenille held in place by thin wire also palmered.  I caught many trout with this fly last year.
It is a good searching fly and also can be retrieved fast.  Here in Ontario, you have to look for trout so it can be trolled with some speed.  Once you find fish then cast and retrieve as a natural leech would swim.
The mink used is from mink coat scraps sliced 1/8" wide. Use any size streamer hook. 
2 Comments
<<Previous

    Category

    All
    Calabogie
    Flies
    General
    Kenauk
    Manitoba
    Mississppi River
    Warm Water Fishing

    Archives

    November 2022
    September 2022
    May 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    May 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    November 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.