Haystack Dry Fly

Its been awhile since I last posted.  I will try to do better.  Here is a quick video of me tying Fran Betters Haystack.  If you have ever seen any of my fly boxes you already know I always have a couple tied up in different sizes and colors.  It's a fast tie doesn't call for any expensive hackle and can be tied to match nearly any bug.

Green Drake hatch (coffin fly)

The Green Drake hatch has started right on schedule!  Hear are a few photos I took on June 2nd.  If you were thinking of fishing the Ausable River don't wait come up today the fishing could be outstanding!

Tying the Foamulator

I decided to post my version of the Foamulator dry fly.  This pattern is very heavy on materials and not a quick tie but I love its buggy and unsinkable characteristics.  I like using it on hopper dropper rigs, for a golden stonefly imitation and it makes for a great attractor pattern. 

Tying an Ausable Bomber

This is my first attempt at a fly tying film.  I decided to start out with a quick, easy and effective Adirondack dry fly pattern the Ausable bomber.  

Winter fly fishing in the Adirondacks

Got one!

 It has been an unusual winter here in the northeast.  I have never seen a winter in the Adirondacks with so little snow. I haven't had to plow my driveway a single time and only shoveled my porch once!  The warmer temperatures have helped save on fuel and firewood consumption, but seem strange in northern New York.  Lake Champlain is almost entirely free of ice and spring is just around the corner.  Will this be the year winter never comes?   I have been able to fly fish and catch trout or salmon every month this "winter" without leaving the Adirondacks!  I haven't done much land-locked salmon fishing in the middle of February, but the last few times I have gone out we were able to locate some fish in the rivers. Here are a few pictures of our past two outings:

This salmon was hiding just under the ice

This one took an unweighted White Zoo Cougar

This guy was fooled by a Governor Aiken streamer and was quickly released after I snapped this picture

Tom Conway 

This land-locked salmon put up a good fight; look at the size of that tail fin.

Streamers

I have been adding some streamers to my online shop.  I am gonna start with my favorites Matukas, Zonkers, Mickey Finns and a cool Zoo Cougar variation that I have had a ton of luck with on the Adirondack rivers.  Its pretty much a regular Cougar except I use a bead head and a few different materials.  Take a look!

Grey Matuka

Bead head Cougar

As always I love doing custom flies for whatever fishing situation you might find yourself encountering just send me an email and I will get in touch.

Peacock for dry flies and nymphs

Every fly tier and most fly fishermen know about the supposed fish-attracting powers of peacock herl.  Off hand I can think of about a dozen flies that use this remarkable natural material.  Here are two examples: one dry and one wet.  Both of these patterns are pretty old; the Picket Pin originated in Montana around 1919 and the House and Lot first showed up in the late 1950's.

Picket Pin

H and L variant a.k.a. House and Lot
 featuring stripped peacock body and a peacock herl thorax