This link is to a great website highlighting historical fly tyers, primarily from the western United States.  There is a bio of the fly tyer and photographs of their original flies.  Hope you enjoy the trip.

https://www.spencerewert.com/WesternTroutFlies/index.html

March Meeting

  Southern Oregon Fly Tyers

Meeting on Tuesday, March 14, 2023

6:00 PM

 Madrone Hill Mobile Home Park

 

8401 Old Stage Road, Gold Hill

 Rex Thompson- Short Bio

I have lived, fly fished and tied flies throughout the U.S., but have spent the most time in the west, including 15 years in Alaska.  For the past ten years, I have been in Ashland.  And, if I could live anywhere, I would still pick southern Oregon.  The quality of fishing around here is hard to beat.   

Now that the Pandemic has subsided perhaps we can get back to somewhat normal activities.  Some of us and our family members have underlying conditions so please feel free and comfortable in wearing a mask.

The Rent Is Due!  Time To Pay Up!

 

Madrone Hill Mobile Home Park invites us to use this perfect venue for no fee other than flies donated to Water Watch.  Bring your donated flies to the meetings.  We put the flies in fly boxes that are sent to their annual fund raiser.  All that material you have stashed away needs a new home.  The people who bid on these flies may or may not fish so do not be afraid to be colorful and creative. Sparkle is good. We have fly boxes to put them in.  We need Water Watch to keep on doing their magic.

Just like being reminded all over again

If you haven't signed up for the email feed, do it now.  Bookmark the blog.  Check your spam and if there are messages you want, move it to your in box sometimes called unread.  Then put the address in your contacts.  If you need help getting on the email feed, email thomascollettatyahoodotcom.

"Red Butt Olive" Chironomid

Designed & Tied by Rex Thompson

Materials List

Hook: Daiichi 1760 #18

Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk 12/0 & 18/0 White

Gills: Egg Veil- Milky White

Bead: 2mm Black Nickel Tungsten 

Wire: SM or XSM Chartreuse Ultrawire

Markers: Red & Olive

Resin: Solarez UV Bone Dry Ultra-Thin

Tying Instructions

Using the 18/0 Nano Silk, lay a thread base 1/4 length of shank from eye.  Tie in a very small clump of Egg Veil protruding forward from eye, trim short, whip finish and cut thread.  Remove hook from vise, pinch barb then feed 2mm bead over wraps to eye.  Using 12/0 Nano Silk, secure Ultra Wire on top of shank from inside bead all the way down the shank nearly to the apex of the hook bend and wrap thread back up to the bead.  

With the red marker, touch it to the thread base at the hook bend enough that it bleeds to cover half the shank.  Now, run the olive marker over the loose thread from the bobbin to the fly and wrap back to overlap the red and back up to the bead.  Tie a half hitch and anchor the bobbin out of the way.  

Wrap the wire forward to the bead, so you end up with seven wraps.  Secure the wire with a few wraps, twist the wire to break it, cover the remaining loose thread with the olive marker and whip finish.  Put a light coat of UV resin over all the thread, wick any excess and hit it with your UV light.

Tips 

*Resist the urge to build up the body of the fly.  Chironomids are very thin.  Use smaller beads than you see on most commercially tied flies for the same reason.  More isn't better.

*When using small flies like this, fishing two at a time 18" to 24" apart will increase your odds.

*If you start off fishing them deep, and you aren't getting bit, try raising them higher off the bottom.

If the lake surface is calm and you choose to add motion to the flies under the indicator, move them slowly.

Big changes coming to the Southern Oregon Flytyers.  Dale Burrier will soon be the new updated blogger.  Dale wants to publish all your uplifting stories about fly tying.  😊