Creating a Monster


First look

My spawn turned 5 this week which naturally activated the dad gene making me look through old pics. Pretty sure that was the first fish he ever laid eyes on. 

TeQueely


New version of an old favorite here in the Eagle River Valley.


#8 Hook
Copper Bead
Yellow over Black Marabou Tail
Pumpkin/Yellow Fly Enhancer Legs
Med Copper UV Polar Chenille
Fish seem to hit this better light, so don't add any additional weight.




The  TeQueely is tough to beat around here, especially during the temperature changes of early spring / Late winter. If we get a pre run off bump to the flows and we get a chance to run the home water, the fish just wont leave the original alone. Pretty sure Orvis still deals most of these wacky looking things out and it was originally listed as a Bass fly.


The Original

With gobs of new Hareline stuff on the walls of the addition we decided to see if we could build a better mouse trap. After some tinkering, Jmac, Sam and I made some time to float Shit plant to Shit plant and do some product testing. After setting the dumbell down behind the magic rock besides Perry's riffle, I had first wack. I picked up the streamer rod rigged without the MA TeQueely and proceeded to farm one in 2 dozen casts. Jmac stands up, grabs the rod with the new mojo and wacks 3 fish in 4 casts in the same water I just twisted up. Nothing but rave reviews since. 




The power of P and the monkey s*#t lady


Sat perplexed with Prince and Pat pondering why the letter P has become such a prominent player in my profession. Power, plane, pause, point, push and purpose just to name a few. Besides pleading to use Private water instead of Pumphouse, the most powerful P in my portfolio right now is Purple. Never have pumped anything plum colored from a fish, yet purple flies produce a high percentage of the prize in the winter months. Is it a phase? I don't need any more proof. Give me a cold winter midge day and my peeps will be patiently pimping pupa in pits and potholes below poop plants.




Super cool read from Deeter about the monkey shit lady

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/flytalk/2013/01/best-fly-fishing-hatch-matching-story-ever


Sex appeal

So your an aspiring guide, photographer, blogger, video prodigy or genius fly tyer and you want to be noticed in the extremely crowded business of Fly Fishing. One word of advice, Crossdress.
The world of Wet Feathers is exploding with lady talent and it's not just frosting, it's for real. If you are running around with a fat chew, baseball hat, worn out waders, a rad tech pack and the newest "ONE" you are just blending in brother. To stand out now a days your gonna need a little lip gloss, fitted waders, legit skills and a sweet Snap Tee, just ask April Vokey.



The beautiful portion of our species is changing our little club everyday. Pink rods aside whats the harm? More concern for our resource, fresh perspective and better smelling fishing partners sounds good to me. I would much rather go watch an April seminar than a Joe Humphreys demo, so would Joe. Along the way you discover not a pretty face, but in depth knowledge and a true stewardship for our sport and you come to realize your teacher doesn't have to look like Tom Rosenbauer all the time. It's no secret sex appeal is a cosmic force people other than me deal with everyday, If i had some of this god given gorgeousness my swag bag would be full too. Reps don't know how to say no any more, wader companies have more to screw up and guides across America smile occasionally, thank you girls! Take in to account all women's ears seem to work better than a mans, their patience level is not linked to fish count and when you mix in a genuine appreciation for Natures stunning background, it's easy to see the benefits of fishing with chicks.

Whats the down side of this revolution?
Your going to have to learn to share (flies, spots, time,the front seat), deal with a few more wrinkles as her's disappear and oh yeah, get out fished. Beer consumption and quantity towed along for the day can get tricky also, just use your head and remember if its the crank bait you met at the bar or the bait dunker you met in church. If you are still in the competitive phase of this garbage maybe you should wait until you are over counting fish before you get wet with a skirt. Your girl WILL end up consistently out fishing you, enjoy it. Actual joy for your fellow fisherman's increasing thrill quota is directly linked to your success; honestly pull for your girl and the river will notice, it (water) is a cousin of mother nature, the original reason for respecting women.

In the pre mouse days of Ink, when everything was new, there were prominent "figures" in the art. Word of mouth was just a bit slower than today's technology so by the time some deserving hottie finally got credit for some genius act of fishing, the Vokey looks had gone down stream. Back in the day, guys justified a woman's clout, right or wrong, based on who their husband, brother or father was in the fishing world. With today's technology anyone can be in their first year of fly fishing, have 2000 followers on their blog, have as many pro forms as they need but still not know how to roll cast. The history of American fly fishing is littered with women pioneers who significantly shaped how all of us view our sport by devoting themselves to their passion. Bottom line, they had to cast across the river not just write about trying to.  Special thanks to sports like Mary Orvis Marbury, Winne Dette, Mary Dette, Joan Wulff, Fanny Krieger, Diana Rudolph, Kathy Beck, Wendy Gunn, Lori Ann Murphy, Jenny Grosenbacher and the original super model of the outdoors, Cindy Garrison. These ladies led the way in days when you had to back it up live, no spell check, no delete key and with thousands of  stuffy ol tweed wearing critics.  I wonder how many 21st Century lovely's sat on their fathers lap watching a hot 6' blonde slay fish and big game on Saturday morning Outdoor television? Was there some sort of subliminal impression made on these young girls as they quietly got a peak at Daddies dream girl? I've got a Doctor of Psychology in the family now, I'll ask him WTF? when he's done trying to figure me out.



The female presence in this "Old Mans" sport aint hard to notice right now, they are everywhere on the web and a good deal of it's shouldn't miss shit.

In no particular order and I know I'm missing more, check these ladies out (you know what I mean)

http://mysteriesinternal.blogspot.com/
http://flygalventures.blogspot.com/
http://www.outdooress.com
http://flyfishingv.com/
http://www.flyfishilicious.com
http://www.flyfishergirl.com/
http://www.shelovesflyfishing.com/



      




Yoda was 6'6" tall

Got to spend the better part of 2 weeks with Eric Wilcox, Head Guide at Bighorn Anglers and other dark corners in the North West. For one reason or another we both ended up working the shop a few days over the holiday which basically means we cranked out flies for empty bins. Dudes been in the business for almost 20 years so needless to say I learned a few things, laughed a lot and learned his style isnt that much different than mine other than I have never rode around with a loaded shot gun on the gunwale. Lots of knowledge, gallons of bullshit and a few tricks of the trade were exchanged over Blue Black Pats Rubberlegs and Dirty Midge Larve. It's been fun having that amount of game to bounce things off, I would definitely recommend spending a day on the Bighorn or in Idaho chasing Steelhead with Eric, his persona is as big as he is. Who say's Yoda is supposed to be short.

So to make your next fly fishing experience more enjoyable here's my tip of the week.

Buy the 41 oz  bag of Skittles if you specifically enjoy the Orange ones (why wouldn't you). The smaller bags and standard size you find down at the Cum and Go have a very high percentage of Grape and everyone knows that's a tough flavor to tow around in your waders. For one reason or another Orange Skittles are commonly found scattered about successful trout trips, that my  friends is quality fishin info.



Heres a link to Minturn Anglers Hosted trips to Idaho for the month of February. You can catch up with Eric there.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Special-Pricing-for--The-trip-of-a-lifetime--.html?soid=1109892658402&aid=0ozaofedzPc

Jmac also has a cool trip planned to Washington to swing for Steel, Feb 17th-23rd. Check out his blog for info on this great trip, some of the same characters have been participating for several years now and they have a great time. Just a few spots left for this one, get on it.


http://www.laterallinemedia.com/fly-fishing-destination-trips/washington-steelhead-fly-fishing-olympic-peninsula/