Backyard Bushwhack

I decided to break ground on my own backyard playground last Wednesday. I spent most of the time clearing away stream side willows and breaking dead growth that stood in the way of victory. I plan to clear more of the stream each time I visit so I have multiple beats to fish when I need a quickie.

Family Fishing on 2nd Creek- the sequel

I spent last Monday on 2nd Creek with the family. I really wanted Katy to catch a bunch of fish on a small stream. She was a great sport trudging through the water to appease me. She is in her third trimester with our second child and it's getting harder for her to keep her balance. The water was perfect and the fish were willing.

Connor brought his net along to help us land and release fish. He was careful not to squeeze them too hard, but he gave a few flying lessons.

Stoned Hopper

I sat down at the vise a few weeks ago with the goal of tying some Stimulaters, but I forgot how much hackle those bastards take to make. So after wasting a perfectly good saddle hackle on one fly, I decided to go a different route.

There are a few variations in material for this fly, but the basic pattern is as follows...

Hook: 2x long med-light wire hook or a Daiichi 1270 or similar hook (size 6-10)

Tail: End of foam, biots optional

Body: Foam under-body (Evazote strip 1/8" wide or med "Rainy's" float foam with dubbing over it

Under-wing: "Hareline no-fray wing material" or transparent ribbon (from craft store) cut to shape.

Over-wing: Elk hair

Head: Deer hair bullet-head or Evazote foam (hook gape wide) tied in with dubbing ball over tie-in and then folded back over the top and tied down.

Legs: Two strands of rubber-leg material of choice.