Got Some Tying Done this Morning

For once I actually got some tying done before work this morning.  I was up early because of a dentist appointment so I thought I would take advantage of the time and do some tying.  I finished up with the red Road Kill Nymphs and started on the purple ones.  I really like these guys and I hope they work out well for me.  Here they are:

Poppers Fresh off the Production Line

Here are the poppers I finished this weekend.  I am not wild at all with the barn red/terra cotta guy.  I used 3/0 brown thread on him which was too thick.  The ginger hackle was also too thick in the stem in places.  I need to buy some brown grizzly hackle when I can afford it.  Let me know how you all feel about them please.  Thanks.

This Weekend's Tying Session

First up are my Road Kill Nymphs.  Well not mine but you know what I mean.

A Fist Full of Dollars.....

is playing on the DVD player so now its time to start tying.  I should have some new stuff up by the end of the weekend.

Last fly of the night

I am almost done with the neighbor's fly box for his 40th birthday.  In an effort to make a well balanced fly box, I made some streamers and was going to make some Skip's dad for the box.  However, Skip's dad did not turn out like I wanted to, so I went looking for another pattern.  I came across Murray's Road Kill Nymph.  Looking at the fly box, I noticed a large number of flies were in darker colors so I decided to lighten the pattern up a bit.  This is what I came up with.  Let me know what you all think.  The neighbor said he wanted flies that (a) catch smallies and (b) are poppers.  He loves to fish on the surface.  I have been working with him though and I am trying to get him to branch out thus some streamers in the box.  BTW this is a size 10.

Steroid Ant

This is a pattern I found last year on Hatches Magazine.  It is very simple to tie.  I choose to tie mine in green as well as in black.  When I fished them last year, they were a killer.  The wife even tied a few up for me to fish with. 

Retro Lime-A Popper

This is a popper I created a while ago.  I have since changed the pattern around a few times.  This is where I am currently.  It does work well.  Of course the last time I tried it, the tail was green instead of red. 

Hook and Body: Wapsi size 10 hook and body
Thread: 6/0 Uni in black
Legs: Green with black or pepper flake
Hackle: Green dyed Grizzly hackle
Tail: Red calf tail with olive Krystal Flash

I like the color combos but I ma not sure how I really feel about the legs.  They just seemed to be the best match.

Gurglers Glore

Here are some gurglers I tied up for the neighbor's fly box.  I tied them in yellow and black as well as insect green and black.  Both are great color combos.  The hook is J. Stockard's #720 in size 10.  The tail is yellow calf tail.  I just used some regular yellow rabbit dubbing for the yellow and black guy and ice dubbing for the green and black guy.

Megan's Minnow

This is a pattern I found on the internet.  I tie these in size 10 on a Hook and Hackle #5262 hook.  The tail is white calf tail although the pattern does call for white rabbit fur.  The top is squirrel tail tied in and pulled back.  I use diamond braid in pearl for the body.  Once tied it is coated in epoxy and then placed on the spinning wheel to dry.

Up all night....

tying.  I was up until around 0200 this morning tying flies.  We had company over for dinner.  The women went and talked while the men tied and watched movies.  Nice night all around.  I am almost done with the neighbor's birthday present.  I have 33 flies done.  He is turning 40 so I figured I would tie 40 flies.  I have poppers, gurglers, steroid ants, Monocacy bumble bees, megan's minnows and Skip's dad to put in the fly box.  I tied an an assortment of stuff that are proven patterns on the Monocacy River where we fish.

First Order of Flies Placed

My wife got a call from a neighbor's wife on Thursday.  The neighbor and I used to fish together but he hasn't been able to for the last two years due to work and family activities.  Anyways, his birthday is coming up next month and he wants to get back into fly fishing.  So, he asked his wife to call mine and ask that for his birthday I tie up some poppers for him which they will pay for.  I gotta say I was excited.  I also spoke with my local fly shop and they agreed to take a look at my poppers in order to see if they will be willing to sell them.  Again, I am kind of excited.  I will say that my concern is that my hobby will become my new part time job and as such it will no longer be fun.  I know the wife is happy and excited as all she sees are dollar signs right now.

First Outing of 2011

A friend of mine, Greg, and I decided to hit the river yesterday for a go at some smallies.  This was my first outing of 2011.  Up until this past week the temps here have been in the low 30s.  This past week they hit the high 60s and low 70s.  Anyways, we decided to hit the Potomac River.  There is a warm water discharge area from a Pepco plant that the fish love to hangout at so we decided to go there.  I brought my 5wt with a sinking line and my eel worms.  I managed to get three strikes.  That was it.  All day.  I did manage to fall on the rocks and almost split my head open.  Instead, I only managed to smash my knee into a rock.  It hurt.  All night.  In the end though I realized that it was nice to just be out and about and to shake the cobwebs off.  Trout season is just around the corner so maybe I will have better luck with them!

This morning's tying session

This is one of a few flies that I managed to tie this morning.  I had a whole day planned out but I just found out that company is coming.  This of course means that things need to be done before hand.  Oh well.  Maybe next weekend I will get some tying done.  Where o where does the weekend go?  Sorry again for the crappy photos.  I need to set up my photography booth/studio.  This guy is a yellow and orange popper.  He has a yellow tail with orange Krystal Flash, orange saddle hackle, and yellow and orange legs.  Let me know what you all think please and as always thanks for looking.

More Poppers

As I stated earlier, I havent had much time to tie do to work.  A few weeks back, actually probably like 2 months ago, I finished painting and sealing a number of poppers.  These guys are sizes 8 and 10.  I tried a number of new color combos.  I just need to add materials and I will be ready to go.  I have to admit that the assistant, AKA the wife, picked out some of the color combos.  I can't wait to see how they will do.  I am so ready for the Summer time.  I am sorry about the crappy photos.  In most of the photos, there is a glare on the popper body from the light.  I tried to work around it but couldnt.  Oh well, you all get the idea I think of what they look like.  Let me know what you all think of them please.  Thanks.

Sorry for not posting lately

Sorry for not posting lately but I have been busy with work and family.  I do have some poppers in different and interesting colors already painted and awaiting feathers.  I hope to have them photographed tomorrow for everyone.  Bare with me.  I will be posting more soon. Thanks.