Modern Midges revisited

It's hard to believe that Rick Takahashi & Jerry Hubka's Modern Midges was published way back in 2009. The scale and depth of this book is not diminished over time. Takahashi's highly imitative tying style  influenced this midge pupa.

Hook: TMC 200R #22
Thread: Gudebrod 10/0 dark brown
Abdomen: Stripped peacock quill
Wing case: Pearl mylar and tan goose biots - the mylar is tied over the top of the thorax, followed by the biots which cross at the head.

Several coats of Hard As Nails finish the fly. I'll be adding gills next, bowtie buzzer style...

Hugh's Fish Fight

PLEASE follow the link, sign-up and help stop the insane practice of discarding... c'mon, NO excuses.

#24 late-phase emerger (CDC wing)

 

Hook: TMC 2488 #24
Thread: Gudebrod 10/0 light grey
Shuck: Two strands coq de leon
Tails: Dark dun microfibbets
Abdomen: dubbed with mole and Fly-rite white antron blend
Hackle: Palmered light dun
Wing: Single CDC feather, natural

I very rarely tie with CDC, this is the first time it's appeared in one of my flies posted here.... I'll be experimenting more with it as a winging material.

Looking forward....

... to 01-03-2011 when the trout season opens.

Despite the occassional grass-casting session I'm enjoying the break and anticipation, just got a feeling this could be a special year for taking larger trout on small flies but hey, I say that EVERY year. I've got half a box of #20 and #22 late-phase emergers in black, brown and medium dun to get the season underway. I'll be adding #24's over the next ten weeks in the same pattern.
I stripped the midge box in October and distributed the contents to friends across the globe, I'll be adding late-phase emergers in #26 - #32, paraduns in #24 and #26, thorax duns in #24 - #28 and a fresh team of spent spinners in #26 - #32. I'll be trying out some pattern variations as conditions require but the fly set described above will cover 90% of the season. Clean and simple.

So, lots still to tie but here's how things are looking:

I'll be working the late-phase emerger in #32 hard this summer... this is a tough design, floats brilliantly and has a delightful footprint for a small fly thanks to the v-clipped hackle and extended tailing. I've just picked up some Whisper Thin Tails in ginger and black, and have dyed brown midge hackles in black.... we have options.

Best wishes for 2011... looking forward.

Blood Knot - the Blogger Issue

The latest issue of Blood Knot is now live and available to view here.

 
The Blogger Issue pulls together fly fishing bloggers from across the world and covers a broad range of writing. You'll find some familiar names in the latest e-zine... I especially enjoyed Cameron Mortenson's "Why Glass?" piece and the photography of Aleksandar Vrtaric of Suck My Fly. Tom Chandler's Trout Underground is also featured and he gives a fascinating insight to blogging and includes some hot links to some of his best posts.

Blood Knot has a fresh, uncontrived approach to fly fishing writing and publishing and each issue includes a mix of gear reviews, industry news and updates, fishing reports and some fantastic photography as you'd expect. Each issue also includes more off beat writing - the kind of stuff we don't get to see in printed ouput too often.

Big thanks to Ben Ward and the rest of the editorial team for the latest issue, and best wishes for more though 2011.

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