Super Bowl XLIX, was played about a week ago, and many of us lost that game to the guys on the East Coast. In time this lose won't hurt quite as bad, because those guys are now buried under about 70" of snow, and our weather in the Pacific Northwest this past week has been warm, foggy, and wet. A good week for winter steelhead fishing, without icing our rod, line or guides.
Got a report from Erik who with a buddy spent today steelhead fishing the Wallowa River and had a 9-fish hookup day.
Today we also kicked off our Walla² Fly Fishers' 2015 fly tying season, for novice tyers and whip-finishers alike.
Tis the season for resupplying one's fly boxes of summer / winter steelhead flies and preparing for the spring, summer, fall trout, bass, carp, crappie, salmon, walleye, etc. fishing season.
Club member Stu Farnham invited all club member interested in forming a fly tying round table at his home to do so. We had about 12 interested fly tyer to respond to our club's email invitation, and seven of us showed up with hooks, thread, fur, feathers, and tools in hand. Diane also had extra gear to share from her grade school fly tying classes. If you wish to join our group in the future, Stu tells us that he can put another leaf in his table and we can seat 12. Stu served a round of coffee and tea, Barbara brought in some baked treats and we proceed to sit around the (square) table and tied flies.
This day to keep tying fly patterns simple...
Dale began passing around materials for an Egg Sucking Leech, and proceeded to instruct putting that fly pattern together. Today we used Krystal Eggs for our flies heads, but it was discussed how else to create an egg-head for an Egg Sucking Leech using standard tying materials. The Egg Sucking Leech in black or purple, is a very good fly for winter steelhead fishing.
Again to keep the fly tying process simple for all, Diane passed around the materials for tying a Bead-head Krystal Flash Wooly Bugger, a very good fly for hooking all kinds of freshwater fish.
After some round table discussion, of some historical fish hookups and procedures for using these flies, it was Stu's turn to lead the group into a favorite fly pattern of his to tye. His choice was the steelhead catching Green Butt Skunk pattern. After handing everyone a steelhead hook, Stu proceeded to pass around the materials for tying this pattern. When it came to pass out the dubbing material for the fly's thorax Stu took the time to create 7 dubbing brushes with his Turbo dubbing spinning block. Thereafter he pulled out a patch of Polar Bear hide and passed it around for everyone to snip off some wing material. We then proceed to tye a sparsely dressed and very attractive Green Butt Skunk, one of the best flies to have in your box when fishing for summer steelhead in the Pacific Northwest.
Having started our fly tying session around 1:00 pm, we had finished tying these three patterns, with a lot of discussion and round table camaraderie and started clearing the table shortly after 4:00 pm. Everyone committed that they were very glad to have had this opportunity to get together, and asked "When will be our next sitting?"
Our next fly tying session at Stu's home is now planned to be held on Saturday 14 March 1:00 pm. Wish to join us?
You can email our club and we will send you directions to our next fly tying session.
Now if you would like to get out-of-town and see a really big fly tying show that same weekend -13 and 14 March - you might consider making a trip to Albany, Oregon for the 25th Annual Northwest Fly Tyers Expo.
The NW Expo has been heralded as the “largest fly tying event west
of the Mississippi". Come to the Expo and be part of the crowd of fly
tyers and fly fishers building their knowledge and seeing old friends.
At the Expo you will have the opportunity to:
- Learn from 200 Fly Tyers from across the USA
- Explore 50 Exhibitors
- Observe Daily Casting Demonstrations
- Choose from over 50 Classes on Tying, Casting, & Fly Fishing
- Attend the Daily FREE Fly Fishing Education Program
- Participate in Raffles & Silent Auctions daily
- Attend the Banquet Saturday night
FFF Members, Veterans and Youth 18 & Under: FREE
Parking is also FREE
Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary / Fly Tyer
Tight lines and Good Fishing
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