Now that we have the World Cup and Christmas behind us we can refocus on our fly tying. First we take a look at what occurred in the December meeting. Chuck Huntington tied a couple Stone flies that looks like real winners. We have a couple photos from the meeting. If you weren't there, you missed out. Bring a friend to the upcoming January meeting. Spread the word to the worthy.
Southern Oregon Fly Tyers
Meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2022
6:00 PM
Madrone Hill Mobile Home Park
8401 Old Stage Road, Gold Hill
At the December Chuck Huntington will be our demonstration tier for the evening. Chuck Huntington grew up fly fishing and tying primarily for selective trout in tailwaters and spring creeks. His fishing experiences have since diversified to include freestone rivers, steelhead, and the pursuit of a variety of lake-dwelling species. After retiring (or doing his best to do so), Chuck has rebalanced his life from decades spent as an overworked consulting aquatic biologist who fished too little and has returned to his roots as a fly-fishing bum. See photos and recipes at the bottom of the posting.
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.
Flies for Water Watch Auction
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. 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.
MATERIALS for Black Magic Stonefly
Hook: Daiichi 1530 in size 4.
Thread: 8/0 black Veevus thread.
Tail: Finely speckled natural colored guinea fowl hackle
fibers.
Thorax: Small diameter black chenille with a rib of small oval
tinsel in silver.
Abdomen: Medium diameter New Age chenille in silverblack-
black.
Wing case: 0.25” wide stretch flex or scud back in black.
Collar: Finely speckled natural colored guinea fowl hackle.
Neck: Black rabbit fur dubbing.
Bead: 3/16” black. Use a tungsten bead or add heavy wire
to the hook shank. The fly should weigh about 20 grains.
MATERIALS for Redneck Stonefly
Hook: Daiichi 1710 in size 4.
Thread: 8/0 black Veevus thread.
Tail: Speckled brown India hen back hackle fibers mixed with
finely speckled natural colored guinea fowl hackle fibers.
Thorax: Small diameter black chenille with a rib of small oval
tinsel in gold.
Abdomen: Medium diameter New Age chenille in coppergold-
black.
Wing case: 0.25” wide stretch flex or scud back in black.
Collar: Speckled brown India hen back hackle mixed with
finely speckled natural guinea fowl hackle.
Neck: Bright red colored rabbit fur dubbing.
Bead: 3/16”, black. Use a tungsten bead or add heavy wire
to the hook shank. The fly should weigh about 25 grains.
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Sportsman’s Warehouse – Fly tying Programs Medford, Oregon 2022-2023 Instructor - David P McCants (AKA “Bear”)
Intermediate Fly Tying –
Thursday November 10th, 6-9pm: Steelhead Flies to Swing
Blue Hobo (Spey), Graeber Nymph, Jim Prey Thor (Traditional)
Thursday December 1st, 6-9pm – Steelhead Flies Dry Flies to be determined
Thursday December 15th, 6-9 pm -Trout dry flies for winter Fishing McBears Quiggly Cripple, Parachute Adams, Iron Midge
Thursday January 5th, 6-9 pm – Soft Hackles of Steven Bird
Thursday January 19th, 6-9 pm – Small Nymphs Zebra Midge, Miracle Midge, WD40
Thursday February 2nd, 6-9 pm – Euro Nymphs Flies to be determined
Thursday February 16th, 6-9 pm – Salmon flies for the Rogue River
Classes limited to 6 persons, all materials with be supplied for classes but students should
bring their vice, tools and light (if you have one). Signup for classes by contacting Sportsman’s Warehouse in Medford or contacting Mr. McCants at 541-973-3508. If you cannot attend a class, please let us know so we can add alternates. Additional parties can come and watch but you must bring you own chair.
But wait, there is more!
Beginning Fly Tying –
This is a seven-week Progressive class. You must plan to attend each class as you are learning methods that build on one another, thus the need to attend each class. If you sign up and then cannot attend the first class, please let Mr. McCants know (541-973-3508) right away so that we can put an alternate into the class.
Beginning Fly Tying – Seven three-hour classes, Saturdays 9:30 -1 January 14/21/28
February 4/11/18/26
Vice, tools and all materials are being supplied by Sportsman’s Warehouse but cannot be taken home. Mr. McCants will prepare a detailed list of recommended tools and materials that will be needed for after class homework by students. The list is being provided so that the students can obtain the best items available for their use.
These classes are at no cost to the attendees as this is Sportsman’s Warehouse policy and it demonstrates their desire to help our customers enjoy their outdoor adventures!
Southern Oregon Fly Tyers
Meeting on Tuesday, November 8, 2022
6:00 PM
Madrone Hill Mobile Home Park
8401 Old Stage Road, Gold Hill
At the November meeting, Mark Swanberg will be our demonstration fly tyer of the evening. Mark will tie the Orange Shellback Nymph. Mark has the story of how to fish this fly that is quite compelling. This is going to be a good one so don’t miss it. See photos and recipes at the bottom of the posting.
Dave McCants would like a count so we could plan a better meeting. Tell Dave you plan to be there by text or call 541 97three 350eight or email davetyer177atgmaildotcom.
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.
Flies for Water Watch Auction
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. We have fly boxes to put them in. We need Water Watch to keep on doing their magic.
Keep Reading
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.
Orange Shellback Nymph
TMC 2487 #14 Scud Hook
Danville 140 Denier Brown thread
Tail and legs – Brown barred partridge feather
Rib – Red Ultra Wire – Small
Abdomen and Thorax – rusty brown Awesome Possum Natural Nymph Dubbing
Shellback – orange goose biot
Bind in from front to back 5-6 brown barred partridge fibers with brown thread
Bind in from front to back red ultra wire rib
Dub rusty brown dubbing from back to ¾ spot of the way forward up the hook shank
Wind ultra wire rib forward, 6-7 wraps and cut off excess wire
Tie in Orange goose biot stem with tip facing backwards
Dub thorax over goose biot to within 1/64 of an inch of the eye.
Pull goose biot forward over the dubbing and tie off with 5-6 thread wraps. Bend back the goose biot , tie it off and cut off excess biot material
Place 5-6 brown barred partridge hackle fibers on one side of the hook, near the eye and secure with thread. Adjust length of legs to about ½ of the length of the hook and tie in. Repeat on other side of hook. Pull the partridge fiber butts backward and lash in.
Whip finish and trim excess partridge butts.
Finish head with head cement.
I use this fly as a trailing fly, approximately 24-30 inches behind a leech pattern. It can be stripped or wind drifted with a pulsing sensation. This is a great fly to pick up five or six extra fish at Diamond Lake. Usually my biggest German Browns are caught on this fly during the day. Because the fly is small I usually lose about twice as many fish as I land on this fly so the fly brings a lot of action throughout the day beyond the actual catch rate. I have caught fish at every lake that I have fished using this pattern and it seems to work all year.
Mark Swanberg
Greeting fellow followers of feathers and fluff. If you got this through email from Blogtrottr you already successfully signed up for the email feed. A big well done for you. Help and encourage your friends to do the same. If you need help getting signed up email thomascollettatYahoodotcom.
Hopefully you didn't miss the October meeting because it was a good one. One thing we did discuss was now that we are back together we need to spread out the the responsibility of making these meetings happen. Dave McCants cannot be a one man show. Time to put on the big boy pants and step up. John Smith has already taken on the job of lining up the the demonstration tyers. Thank you John. To make this work we all need to bring something to the table.
The first followup to the October meeting.
Yes I did it . I gave you bad information.
It is soflytyers.blogspot.com and not soflytiers.blogspot.com. Spelling never was my favorite subjek. Those of you who had trouble signing up for blogtrottr the mystery was brought to light by Dale Burrier. Thank you Dale. I corrected the email feed page and it should work for everyone now. It is okay to call me to complain or to seek assistance. Call 541 five three one 85 zero one. TomC
We need to improve our attendance so we are asking everyone to help. This can be done in several ways.
Forward emails from SOFT to our friend that we haven't seen in a while. Then call them and say that several people had asked about them. If everyone can bring back three people the attendance problem would be solved.
Keep checking your spam. Sometimes a good message gets lost.
More messages are on the way so everyone can make sure that they are on the email feed.
Southern Oregon Fly Tyers
Meeting on Tuesday, October 11, 2022
6:00 PM
Madrone Hill Mobile Home Park
8401 Old Stage Road, Gold Hill
At the October meeting, Dave McCants will be our demonstration fly tyer of the evening. Dave will tie three different Blue Wing Olive patterns. We all know that some of the most subtle variations in flies can make all the difference. This is going to be a good one so don’t miss it. See photos and recipes at the bottom of the posting.
Dave McCants would like a count so we could plan a better meeting. Tell Dave you plan to be there by text or call 541 97three 350eight or email davetyer177atgmaildotcom.
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.
Flies for Water Watch Auction
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. We have fly boxes to put them in. We need Water Watch to keep on doing their magic.
Keep Reading
Vertical Response email, Spam, the blog, and blog messaging.
Vertical Response is a bulk email company that allows us to send 10,000 emails every month for free, yes free. Sometimes your spam filter might think it is spam and send it to your spam folder. Check your spam folder and move any wanted messages to your inbox and add the return email address to your contacts. This will insure that future messages will be delivered to your inbox.
This blog, (blog link)http://soflytyers.blogspot.com, is always here as a reference. It appears similar to a website but there are some differences.
You will notice the row of radio buttons under the header. On the far left Home is in the traditional spot. On the far right you see
Email Feed. Click the link and it will direct you to http://blogtrottr.com with instructions to sign up for email notifications when something new is posted to the blog. Do this soon because the Vertical Response messages are going to stop in the near future.
Contact your fly tyer friends to make sure they got the word.
McBear’s BWO Parachute
A Hi-Viz Blue Winged Olive Dry Fly
Hook - Daiichi 1180 mini barb Dry Fly Hook #14-16
Thread - Uni 8/0 Olive
Tail - Four Tail fibers (2 ea. Side) separated with one turn of Uni 8/0
New thread - Veevus 12/0 or 16/0 olive thread
Abdomen - BWO Superfine or brown olive or similar dubbing
Wing - Yellow poly yarn tied parachute style
Hackle - Medium dun or blue dun 8-10 wraps.
This pattern can be fished anytime Blue Winged Olives (BWO) are on the water. Especially on the Rogue River in November through March between 11:30 and 2:30 when the hatch is coming off in large numbers.
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McBear’s Version Quigley Emerger BWO
A More Complex Blue Winged Oliver Emerger Pattern
Hook - Partridge Klinkhammer #14-16 or TMC 2487 #14/16
Thread - Uni 8/0 Olive dun
Tail - Three well rounded ostrich secondary barbs
from a feather duster ($6 buys a lot of material)
Abdomen - BWO Superfine or similar dubbing
Rib - Uni 6/0 black thread
Wing - Elk body (dyed dun or standard color) tied in forward.
Hackle - Medium dun or blue dun 3-4 wraps.
This pattern can be fished anytime Blue Winged Olives (BWO) are on the water. Especially on the Rogue River in November through March between 11:30 and 2:30 when the hatch is coming off in large numbers!
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Hook: Nymph 1XL 1XH, size 14/16/18 (TMC 3761 preferred), Emerger dry fly hook standard 1xL.
Thread: Uni 8/0 in Olive (Olive Dun for darker version) Tail: 5-9 barbules of Fluorescent Yellow (or Flouro
Green) wet hackle fibers
Body: BWO Superfine Dubbing (use light olive for the lighter version)
Wing: Silver Antron (or Zelon or standard carpet yarns) - The Emerger has a longer wing of Iron Blue Dun CDC or Medium Dun CDC (trim emerger wing so it goes to the middle of the tail, that way the CDC will hang on the surface and the body tail will be subsurface).
Southern Oregon Fly Tyers
Meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 2022
6:00 PM
Madrone Hill Mobile Home Park
8401 Old Stage Road, Gold Hill
At the May meeting, Steve Day will be our demonstration fly tyer of the evening. Steve has been the featured speaker several times at local clubs and gets into some interesting details of still water fishing. This time it will be all about the flies. We all know that some of the most subtle variations in flies can make all the difference. This is going to be a good one so don’t miss it. See photo and recipe at the bottom of the posting.
Dave McCants would like a count so we could plan a better meeting. Tell Dave you plan to be there by text or call 541 97three 350eight or email davetyer177atgmaildotcom.
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.
Flies for Water Watch Auction
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. We have fly boxes to put them in. We need Water Watch to keep on doing their magic.
Keep Reading
Vertical Response email, Spam, the blog, and blog messaging.
Vertical Response is a bulk email company that allows us to send 10,000 emails every month for free, yes free. Sometimes your spam filter might think it is spam and send it to your spam folder. Check your spam folder and move any wanted messages to your inbox and add the return email address to your contacts. This will insure that future messages will be delivered to your inbox.
This blog, (blog link)http://soflytyers.blogspot.com, is always here as a reference. It appears similar to a website but there are some differences.
You will notice the row of radio buttons under the header. On the far left Home is in the traditional spot. On the far right you see
Email Feed. Click the link and it will direct you to http://blogtrottr.com with instructions to sign up for email notifications when something new is posted to the blog. Do this soon because the Vertical Response messages are going to stop in the near future.
Contact your fly tyer friends to make sure they got the word.
FUZZY BALANCED LEECH
HOOK: TMC403BLJ, 60 Degree Jig Hook, SIZE 12 SHOWN, Wide Gape, Medium Wire, Super Fine Barbless Point, Black Nickle,
Size 16-10
THREAD: VEVVUS 6/0 Black
BEAD: HARELINE PLUMMETING TUNGSTEN, Metallic Brown,
SIZE 7/64” SHOWN
TAIL: Marabou, BROWN SHOWN
TAIL FLASH: Midge Flash, ROOT BEER PEARL SHOWN
BODY: HARELINE MICRO UV POLAR CHENILLE, UV BROWN SHOWN
TYING INSTRUCTIONS
Place hook upside down in vise and begin by laying a thread base down from the hook bend at the eye, rearwards to just in front of the bend of the hook.
Prepare a heavy-duty sewing pin by cutting to a length of approximately 3/8 of an inch. Place the bead onto the pin and secure the pin and bead component to the top of the hook shank, extended style. The gap between the eye bend on the hook and the back of the bead should be at least equal to the width of the bead. Continue to secure this by wrapping thread up to the back of the bead forcing it forward into the head of the pin. Once secure, use super glue or thin UV cement to make certain it stays firmly attached to the hook. When I’m tying more than just a couple of these, I will prepare the hook / extended bead chassis ahead of time prior to finishing the pattern.
Tie in a tail of Marabou tips equal to the length of the body including the bead assembly. Tie in two strands of midge flash on each side of the tail. The flash length should not exceed the length of the tail.
For the body, tie in a single strand of UV Micro Polar Chenille at the tie in point for the tail. Wrap forward with touching wraps up to the bead. Tie off and whip finish. Trim off the chenille as needed for uniformity in length as some fibers can be slightly unruly. A size 12 pattern should finish approximately 1 ¼” in length.
This pattern is very simple to tie. It can be tied in various colors and I like them all, as long as it’s brown. Seriously, the brown has been very effective as has black. Experiment with colors.
Typically, this pattern would be fished under an indicator, however it can be stripped as well. This pattern has fished very well at Diamond Lake, Upper Klamath Lake, Crane Prairie and others and it is very attractive to not only trout but warm water fish species as well.
Give it a try. I know you’ll like it,
Steve Day
Annual SOFT Dinner
Tuesday June 14, 2022
5:00 Happy Hour
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Raffle
Where: Madrone Hill Mobile Home Park, Conference Center, 8401 Old Stage Road, Gold Hill.
We are setting up our Annual BBQ /Potluck dinner for our June 14th meeting. Food and beverages will be provided, and spouses and significant others are very welcome. As this has been a potluck in the past we ask that you let us know if you are planning to bring any side dishes and if not, what if any deserts or other interesting things you want to bring to share.
We would like to get a head count and we would like to know if you will be bringing anything so that we do not over purchase the main course / side dishes and beverages.
Please RSVP to me (Dave McCants) at davetyer177@gmail.com. If you could get back to us by Thursday, June 9th that would really help with our planning for this event.
We will have the following:
Ribs and Chicken / Baked Beans / Potato Salad / Green Salad / Bread / Wine / Beer / Soft Drinks… and of course what deserts or other dishes you wish to bring along…
Also, please bring any flies or other donations for our raffle chairman as we will have a raffle after dinner.
I believe that this will be the last chance to bring flies for Water Watch and we will be silent (no meetings for July and August, September still a possibility) for the summer
It has been a great tying season, and I thank all of you who have participated in our tying sessions! Share and forward this message to your friends.
Kindest regards, Dave McCants
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John Matthews’ family is planning on having a memorial on Saturday, June 4th, at 11:00 am, at the Holy Water Park, just below Lost Creek Lake. It’s officially named Rivers Edge Park Pavilion. The family is going to have the food catered. Any and all of John’s friends are invited to attend.
Blue Ribbon Flies Sunken Stone
Hook - Mustad 9674 #6 or similar hook (#6 3665),
Thread - Uni 6/0 fire orange,
Tail - Black closed cell foam
Body - Whiting Farms golden Olive Saddle or similar
Body - Alternating sections (5 or 6)of well-marked mule deer and Hareline Dubbing orange rabbit (HD15).
Note: Start with orange dubbing the short section of deer hair. This fly can be fished dry or wet. When fished wet fish it dead drift until end of drift and then let it swing and hang on for voracious hits. Use 3x tippet or you will lose a lot of flies. If fishing dry, cast under trees and when it lands lift the rod tip up and move the fly 3-4 inches and you will induce a lot more strikes!