Riverside

Often times our time is spent looking for heads and tails rising on the river. As you often hear me say on the pages of Floatfisher, looking around and enjoying the sights of the river are just as beautiful as the fish. Today's post is "riverside" and the many splendid sight it provides.

 Wild grasses blowing in the wind.

""Three Year Trout" by Waist Deep Media

The Three Year Trout from Waist Deep Media on Vimeo.

Nice little video short to view with your morning cup of coffee and bailey's. 

Got Hoppers

Got Hoppers! 

A really good question to ask yourself right now as late August and early September

can be some of the best times to get out and fish them, if you have not been already.

 As with any pattern, it is always wise to be fully prepared with a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.

Oh, Foam. Oh how the fish love the foam hoppers. Oh, how the fish love the whiggley rubber legs.

Oh, Hoppers.

See this one love's Hoppers, this brown loved Pink Morrish Hopper, one of my favorite pattern as of late.

Just more and different styles. Can never have enough, I don't think!!

Dutch Box - "Pauls Model # 23"

Been a little remiss in mentioning an absolutely beautiful birthday present I received from my very good friends Jim and Jan. On our recent trip to SW Montana, they made a detour through West Yellowstone, to Blue Ribbon Flies and got me this one of a kind flybox. Dave Schultz produces the little gems.

This model, made of walnut is "Paul Model # 23", each hand made, numbered and unique in their own way.

If your looking for a one of these unique boxes they can only be found at Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone.

Floatfisher's Green Drake

Been away from the vise for a few month's , thought I would throw a little bone back out, and I needed 

to get the rust off the hands and vise. Hope you enjoy.

Floatfisher's Green Drake

Hook: TMC 5212, Sz: 8-12

Thread: Brown 6/0

Tail: Moose

Abdomen: Olive / Brown Super Fine Dubbing

Abdomen Ribbing: Brown 3/0

Wing: Black Tip- Deer- tied Wulff style

Hackle: Brown Saddle

Tools of the Trade

As the summer winds down, and fall nears, one starts to think about another winter season of 

flytying, the new patterns we will tie and all the new blessed tying material that will temp us.

For some reason I got tired of looking at my bench that was heaped and covered with all types of crap, and I cleaned and organized it today. 

As I did, it gave me the thought for today's post and thought.

Barrred Teal- I use this material all time for wing cases, legs and tails. 

Not easily found, John Betts Metallic hair. Another excellent material for a variety of flies.

Lemon Wood duck- well enough said. Just use it, tails and legs.

"Run" by Stephen Yochum

Run from Steven Yochum on Vimeo.

Sunday cinema provided by Stephen Yochum,  fishing damsels for some toad rainbows in Oregon. Some nice video and shots of the damsels, enjoy the video short with your Sunday brunch.

New Abel Hybrid Hemostats

Got an opportunity to view the new Abel Hemostats that were just unveiled at recent flyfishing trade shows. As you can guess they are made with the same precision that goes into each of their fantastic reels. Again the offer the custom paint schemes by Derek Deyoung and other, making them at true work of art. Coming in at $125 a pair for the plain colored pairs, and add another $70 + for the custom paint jobs and you have pretty price pair of pliers.

They are sure to be a hit this Christmas, for the fisherman that has everything. I know I have a pair, wait, two, Ms. Floatfisher will need on too. 

Get yours today.

More Stuff

A little bit of the late summer doldrums have set in with me. Bored with the home waters and ready to experiment with new water in the state, will get with it in the next few weeks. Although water is in much better shape that we would have ever guessed, the fishing is mediocre. 

 Enjoying the Blue Moon that we have been treated too this past week. Big, bright and magnificent.

 More tail, a fisherman can never get enough

One thing I have really noticed this year more than any other, is the amount of out of state 

visitors that are very inconsiderate to private property. They pull over and stop their boat, walk and wade on private property and park their shuttle vehicles in no parking zones. Please folks, if visiting others waters, be respectful... 

Blingnobyl Ant by Curtis Fry

A real nice simple and effective fly for cut ties, browns and bows. After watching the great video by Curtis, I think you will like the ease of the pattern and tie a few for your foam box.

Blingnobyl Ant Pattern

Hook: 3X long Dry Fly Hook

Thread: UTC GSP 100 Red

Underbody: Pearl Estez 

Body: Pink Glitter Bottom Craft Foam

Legs: Rainy's Barred Rubber Legs

Indicator Tabs: 2mm White Craft Foam

** Body Cutters: River Road Creations- Chernobyl Cutters

Floatfisher Cinema- " In Search of Yellow Perms"

In Search of Yellow Perms from chroniclesofcod on Vimeo.

A pretty kick ass video from CronciclesofCod. Looks like a great DIY trip, they did not have much fun. Pour a cup of joy and pump up the volume. Enjoy there nice little short.

Random Act of Photo # 4 - Wednesday Edition

Another episode of now famous RAP, Random Acts of Photo, now a semi weekly series on

Floatfisher featuring random photos taken from the ditch and beyond.

 "Tippets amd Copenhagen"

All the basic necessities for the day on the water, some bugs, tippet and snuff.

 The Hatch and Winston ready for a days battle on the river.

 A day for streamers, or will it burn off and be a great caddis afternoon.

Hard to find a good dancing bear these days. These guy train the best.

Thinkin' Back

Just cleaning up the lightroom catalogs and came across some shots that did note make over to Floatfisher in the past couple of months. thought I would share them with you.

 Nice little shot of Ms Floatfisher casting to some rising fish on the Beaverhead back in July. 

A very healthy brown-bow that could not resist an Amy's Ant. Just love the beautiful mixture of orange

spot mixed in with the blacks and browns. Absolutely lovely.

Photo of the Day- "Released Again"

A really cool photo captured this weekend, the first fish of the day, low light, no polarized filter on the lens, an absolutely terrific shot. 

Celebration Weekend

Well, there was a milestone birthday celebrated over the weekend at the Floatfisher compound on the 

river. My precious, beloved wife,  eclipsed 600 months ( 50 years) today, in typical fashion, she wanted to be no where else but on  the river, only fitting.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.

I started to treat her to a day on the river, but anytime we have our little boat down, she just love to row it. So not being one to argue, she got the initial stink off the boat with the first couple of fish, and we 

switched spots for the rest of the morning. We forgot how fun our little 10.5' Jack Plastic " Fatboy" is, well, Ms. Floatfisher has two "fat boys" in the family now.

The augmentation on the river is over for the summer months, so the water was on the drop this weekend. The water was in spectacular shape the fish were just off a little bit, guess we are just very spoiled!! Instead of catching lots, we only caught 1/2 that many. Thats alright , single Chubby or Orange foam PMX was the meal ticket.

Taking A Break

As mentioned I am working on a new project, that I will reveal a later date, but I am shooting a lot

of photo's right now, so there are a lot of rejects and samples I am working with. It is giving me a chance to try some new things, and work with new photographic materials.

 Hope to be coming up with a new show for the fall / winter 2013.

Fish Art to Street Art

AFTER - by amos oner - from demolition pumpkin on Vimeo.

I have always been intrigued by street art and graffiti, there is vandalism and there is art. I really dig the talent and vision these young folks have to create these murals on the side of buildings, poles, walls or whatever they can find. In this case, it is a plywood that gets re-used over and over .

I am surprised there has never been an artist to paint a series of trout or flies on the old railroad car that sit on the side of the various river. Think that would be cool.

Just saying.. 

Sunflower Just Make Ya Smile

Right now the sunflowers and daisies are out everywhere in large patches. Due to the 

tremendous amount of rain we have had, they are bright and glorious.

They cannot help but make you smile and be happy when you look at them.

St. Elmo's- Old Mining Town

Made a visit to the old mining town of St. Elmo's several weeks ago, with the river being muddied up by recent rains it seemed like a great day for drive to new destination and enjoy the day.

A time past as the years and seasons take their toll on the old buildings. The wind tries to whip the rusted tin off the buildings.

New growth in the short high summer season at over 11,000 ft.

Now the town is a destination for ATV'rs and rock crawlers as Tin Cup pass and other alluring trails are in the area. Seemed to have a lot of people in a hurry to just do nothing. 

Old weathered barn wood.

The buildings of the past were beautiful as the logs and woods were stunning. This old cabin clearly illustrates how the floor joists were sandwiched right in the middle for the second floor. It was a neat sight.

A time past with the metal siding that has now taken a rust as the paint has withered over the years, the lace curtains are falling apart. Yet the plastic flowers in the window look good as the day they were placed.

New Project

Working on a new project for the next week or so, try some new concepts. One of the rejects, but like some of the colors. Back to the drawing board.

"Cielo Grande" by Yukon Goes Fishing

Cielo Grande from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

Back on the scene with another fine video, YGF is back in his old stomping grounds ripping some lips.

Enjoy another cup of coffee with todays video.

Photo of the Day - "Tail in the Sky with Diamonds"

Monday Movie- " Seam Stalker" by Tatrofish Films

Seam Stalker from Tatrofish Films on Vimeo.

Today's Monday movie is courtesy of Tatrofish Films. A real cool edit, some hip music and nice fishing with a man and his best friend. What a great fishing dog. Might have to have a second cup of joe with 

this nice little film.

Have you Seen This Tail

Under intense scrutiny, Ms. Floatfisher was subject to waterboarding, toothpicks under the fingernails and handcuffs. Well the last was my idea, but she was subject to the line up of fishtails.

Had she seen any of these characters on Sunday while rowing the ditch?

There was suspicious activities witnessed, we were the only ones in the vicinity. We were the witnesses.

Photo of the Day- "Tye Dye Sky"

Sometimes the sky offers up a pallet of colors that cannot be duplicated. As I mention often, fishing is 

just a vehicle that takes us to truly spectacular places.

Look Up and Around, Often....... Life is Short

It is not all about the fish.

Heed the Call

The Howler Bros. logo sums it well, "Heed the Call" to fish this weekend. Yet another weekend on

the ditch, yet more fish to fool this weekend, hopefully.

More brown fish will be brought to the hand, hopefully on a double nymph rig with a bobber.... Not.

Picked up a couple of new patterns today to give a whirl, definitely something these fish have not seen

before. 

"Out in the Cold" by OBP -

Out of the Cold from Outside Bend Productions on Vimeo.

Another solid hit from Outside Bend Productions. Solid productions and an excellent sound track.

Enjoy your morning cup of joe.

Nature Boy Designs - Hat(ch) Patch and Wader Lanyard

I don't usually do a lot of product reviews, but I came across these two items that I think are

pretty ingenious. The team at Natureboy Designs have put some thought into these two items,

after you view and think about them, I think you would have to agree.

 Although I seem to be intrigued by gadgets, I am a minimalist in the boat, as I hate to have a bunch of crap in and around me. Naturally the Hat(ch) Patch caught my eye because I am lazy and often stick flies in my hat like most, but absolutely hat it. I like this little carbon-fiber clip with a foam patch for flies that can be moved from hat to hat, but stays firmly in place. High tech and cool in the same sentence.

Being one that likes very simple lanyards, I was struck by this nice simple 1/2 lanyard that attaches to your wader suspenders, but would hold the bare minimum. Again, a very, very handy item for those that fish out a boat. Check them out at www.natureboydesigns.com