the DARK MAGGIE...

Well It's Now Fall, and for a great many of us, Our Thoughts turn to pursuing Steelhead. Steelhead can be caught most every month in some River out West, but here in California, Fall and Winter are the prime times for Steelhead making their epic journeys up Rivers from the Ocean. I haven't targeted Steelhead in a number of years and This Year the urge has been Great, so I inspected my Steelhead Fly Box and realized my Stock of Wetflies was very low (this most likely from my giving out flies to folks who mentioned going steelhead, besides the Customary sacrificing them to the river gods).

Tying Steelhead Flies is an enjoyable area of Fly Tying for me, as they are often colorful and larger then Most Trout flies.... When one gets going at them, we often realize we've tyed up a healthy amount in a short time... I made up a list of what patterns to restock and the usual ones where on the List: Assassins, Silver Hiltons, Orphans, X-Longs, Brindle Bugs, Thors, Fall Favorites, Muddlers, etc.... These are my California Standards and I am happy with how all of them have preformed for me over these many years... so they remain in my Box...

However, as effective as these Standards are, Steelheaders are always looking for something else that will perform as well, and often save a rather dismal day.. So We experiment with materials on a Hook, often recalling features from other patterns and applying them to the Hook in hopes the end result will be effective... So it was over 10 years ago when I came up with the DARK MAGGIE.

The Dark Maggie is a somber Pattern; not all black, but certainly not Bright and flashy. There's flash, the tag of Gold Mylar reflects sunlight and it's just enough to get a steelhead's attention. The Blue Peacock Breast feathers used in the tail and Hackle are a Beautiful iridescent and Certainly will get noticed by a Steelie... But the Black Wing and Wine colored body are somber and not likely to spook a Cautious Steelhead...

The Dark Maggie came together over the course of a week's time, as I experimented with Various Materials, Materials that I have faith in and used in other patterns. The Clincher was the Peacock Breast feathers, they where being used on a Spider type nymph and just happened to be Setting there as I was working at the bench.. with the addition of the breast feathers the Pattern came together and I was very happy with the end result... Would the Steelhead approve of my new concoction???

I tyed up a handful of them for my Box.. and figuring I was not going to go Steelheading anytime soon I thought of Friends who are confirmed Steelhead Junkies and tyed up an number to send to them.. and get their Views and opinions, besides the Steelhead they fished for.. One Friend in particular Makes the ideal Steelheader to send new patterns to for Field testing. This is DON ROBERTS, founding Editor of Flyfishing the West magazine (now it's Flyfishing & Fly Tying Quarterly Journal) and a Hard Core Steelheader.. Don is always willing to swim my latest designs and put them thru their paces and see if they are up to the task of tricking Steelhead..

Don reported back that the Dark Maggie worked well on a number of Rivers He frequents for Steelhead, it swam well and the Steelhead responded to it positively.. I did send him an additional handful for his "work"...

My own experience has shown that in the right location and at the correct time, the Dark Maggie has what is needed to get Steelhead to bite... Other Friends reported similar experiences with the pattern..

Here's the dressing ...:

HOOK : Partridge "Bartlett Traditional", #CS10/1. Sizes #1/0 ~#6

THREAD : Danville 6/0, Wine..

TAG : Gold Mylar, 3 wraps

TAIL : Blue Peacock Breast Feather, length about hook Gape (or a bit more)

BODY : Lagartun French Silk Floss, burgundy.

HACKLE : Blue Peacock Breast Feather, tyed in by the tips and wrapped 3-4 times.

WING : Black Arctic Fox

Steelheading with wetflies is most enjoyable, as the takes are usually arm jarring hits and one can cover a run fairly well. While we do not imitate food for the most part with the Wetfly, we are working to incite a Steelhead to react and attack our offering... Having faith in the Fly One is fishing is very important, as a Steelheader will not fish the fly productively if they lack faith in the pattern...

When I knot on a Dark Maggie to my Leader, I have the utmost faith that if the Steelhead are willing and I swim the fly just Right, I will connect.. That keeps me going.....

Charles Jardine's Czech Nymphs

CHARLES JARDINE is a world renowned Flyfisher from England. He's written a Number of Great Books on Flyfishing, and has traveled the World Flyfishing and promoting the Passion. Charles spent a Good deal of Time in Eastern Europe Learning about Czech Nymphing (or European Nymphing as it is often called). A few years ago, Charles was on a Guest speaker swing thru Southern California, Speaking at a Number of the Clubs. One night He came to the Fishermen's Spot to give a tying Demonstration about Czech Nymphs, talk about rigging techniques, and fishing methods for this highly effective system.. (which I Love to use here in California). I was Most fortunate to be there that evening, see his tying techniques and improve myself at the method.

The Patterns He tyed up where left with the Shop, for a Shadow Box display, and I was able to take them home to Photograph them... Soo here they are, along with a bit of Commentary regarding each one...



This is the Typical Czech Nymph profile, resembling a Caddis or a scud. The underbody is wrapped lead tape. the Dubbed Body was first blended so that the colours transition into the next without harsh lines. The Shellback is tyed at the Head and then pulled back over the Body, being anchored with the ribbing securely...




This Nymph is basically a Brown hackle Peacock, but tyed with Lite Brite or Ice dubbing for the body and Thorax. the Tail is Fluorescent Floss. a "Disco" Tungsten Bead provides the weight. This Pattern was of Interest to me, as I still enjoy Fishing Brown Hackle Peacocks....




This Beast is heavy and usually tied as the 2nd or Anchor Nymph in the 3 Nymph Czech rig. Note that the Bead is not on the Hook at the eye??? It is placed on a Craft needle and the Needle is securely anchored to the Top of the Hook Shank, with the Needle being bent at the Bead, so that it will stick off and over the Hook eye. The tail, rib and Body are then applied.. with the Dubbing being brought forward of the Needle to the eye... This configuration results in the Nymph riding Hook point up, thus preventing it from easily being stuck in the stream cobble while bouncing along the Bottom...

This Nymph is very interesting, the Thorax is of cast Lead, in a Mold that results in a slender football shape. they are then hand painted, or left as is ~ for the Tyer to Paint as they see fit. then the Regular Nymph is constructed in back and in front of the thorax, with the wingcase being pulled over the top of the Thorax....

Thank You Charles!!!! for that Wonderful demonstration and instruction on Czech Nymphing, improved my learning curve in this highly effective (And Fun) fishing technique......

The ROBO Pheasant Tail

I have been fishing the ROBO PHEASANT TAIL Nymph since I "threw it together" back in the early 1990's... It has proven itself highly effective for Myself and Numerous other Flyfishers since that time.






From time to time on some of the Flyfishing Message Boards I post on, the subject of the Robo PT will pop up, with Folks wanting to know how to tye it and what are the Materials used in it's construction.

I will chime in, usually after some Friend of mine contacts me to tell me about the Thread... I always give a brief History about the pattern, give the Materials i use (the biggest interest is always the Dubbing in the Thorax). and explain how the Pattern has continued to evolve since it first came off my Vise....

I will give it's Proper Dressing here, explain some it's tying steps that are Important and mention some of the variations that have surfaced in these past 20 years...

Basically, the Robo Pt is a Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph with a thorax made of Lite brite or Flashabou Dubbing. the Thorax is Dubbed spiky and Bushy and built up larger then Normal. I had been restocking Flashbacks at the time and my friend, James- who was tying with me, handed me a Bag of Lite Brite Peacock Dubbing. James said something like "Here try using this stuff". So I opened the bag, pulled a small amount of the rather long and thin Mylar fibers out and thought about what to do. I was about to put the peacock herl in for the Thorax on the Flashback, when the light came on ~ I would Dub the Lite Brite for the Thorax instead. It proved a bit tricky at first to get the stuff to stick to my Tying thread.. a few taps of Wax worked perfectly for anchoring the Mylar strips. I carefully twisted one end of the Mylar onto the thread, wrapped this around the hook to anchor the Mylar and then twisted the other end.. the Mylar bound around the thread and all these spikes of Mylar stuck out at right angles. I carefully wrapped this "Spiky Rope" forward, building up the Thorax as I went along.. I finished off the Thorax, carefully push the Mylar fibers out of the way on top, pulled the PT fibers over for the wingcase, then pulled the Flat Pearl Mylar over the top of that. A quick Whip Finish, a snip of the scissors and a few drops of Glue and the First sample was done... I placed it in a pair of Forceps and admired it, watching how the light would flash off the Spikes of Mylar protruding from the Thorax.. I handed it to James and asked him what he thought.. "Looks Like ROBO COP"... was his reply... Great!! Now the Fly had a Name... the ROBO PHEASANT TAIL......

I tyed up a hand full of the newly Named fly.. and stuck them into my Nymph box... fortunately an Up coming Trip provided the first "Field testing" of the Robo.. a visit to the East Walker River. At that time I would have normally tyed on a Hare's Ear or a Muskrat nymph in Sizes #14 thru #18 and be able to stick trout with a certain regularity... I tied the Robo to the leader and worked the riffles and runs as I normally did.. The Robo started producing almost from the Start.. and I noticed that the takes were often more aggressive... The Flashy thorax certainly having something to do with this, I'd have bet...

More trips for Myself, and my usual habit of tying up a few dozen and giving them to various friends.. making them my unpaid Field testers (LOL).... The results were almost the same, The Robo produced and often very well..... A few folks I gave samples to at first were alarmed by how Flashy the Robo was.. but this concerned was quickly laid to rest as the trout continued to voice their approval of the Robo...

Some years later SOLITUDE FLY COMPANY expressed interest in the various patterns I've come up with, as they where starting up their operations... I provided them with three color Variations of the Robo and beadhead versions of the same 3 colours.. along with a handful of Other "originals" of Mine.. (bear in mind that a number of My "originals" are variations on existing patterns.. a few tweaks or alterations, based on Field Observations, and there You go.... But enough of My patterns are built from the Ground Up...). The Robo was one of their #1 sellers in their Early years.. and continues to sell well enough for Ray & Company....

I have received constant reports from fellow Flyfishers and Guides about the effectiveness of the Robo PT, which is always a Good thing to hear that a fly You came up with has produced Great Days for someone out on the water.. Just a few years ago, GUY JEANS, Owner and head Guide at Kernville Troutfitters told me, while we were drifting the North Fork Kern in his Pontoon Boat, That the Robo Pt was his #1 Pattern on the River.. this coming from the Gent who came up with the Kern Emerger (a Great Nymph pattern itself...).

As time has progressed, I've done alterations to the original, often with the desire to make it hold up better or add some more Kick to the Pattern...

One alteration is the applying of Epoxy, or Uv Knot Sense and recently Clear Cure Goo to the Wingcase.. to help it hold up longer, as usually the wingcase will be the first to break away from numerous chewings by Trout. The Epoxy was first used, after reading and seeing Mike Mercer's Nymphs with their solid Epoxied wingcases... UV Knot Sense was later used as it was less involved in applying... and now the Clear Cure Goo.. Which is similar to Tuffleye... Basically any coating that will make the Wingcase "Bomb Proof"...

I've also been adding Rubber Legs to the Thorax, recently I've been applying Silicone Legs, as Silicone holds up much longer then Rubber Legs....

I've also changed the Wingcase as time has gone on, The original Pheasant Tail under wing has often been replaced with Scud back or similar material.. with either the Original Pearl Mylar pulled over top.. or within recent Years a strip of Holographic Mylar instead....

I can't remember who stated it, but they mentioned that Good, productive patterns often continue to Evolve as time goes on... so it is with the Robo.. Yet it retains the Key features that have made it soo effective from the Start...

The Dressing, as I Tye It (there are plenty of variations by Other Flyfishers out there) is as Follows:



ROBO PHEASANT TAIL

HOOK : TMC 200R , or for a Beadhead version, the TMC 3961. #8 thru #22

THREAD : 70 Ultra Thread, Rusty Orange or Olive Brown

TAIL : 6 Pheasant tail fiber tips, half the Shank length

RIB : Copper Wire, X-sm. or Small, wrapped forward after the Mylar is pull over the back.

Flashback : Pearl Mylar, smaller width then used on Wingcase.

ABDOMEN : The Butt ends of the tail, wrapped forward 3/5ths the length of the Shank.

WINGCASE : Pearl Mylar over Pheasant Tail fibers.

THORAX : Bronze Peacock Lite Brite, or Mixed Olive and Copper Lite Brite. This material comes in long strands so you'll need to carefully cut it so the Overall lengths of the fibers are from 1/2 to 3/4 inches. Apply BT's Super tacky Wax to the Thread, touch Dub the Lite Brite to the Thread.. carefully twist the ends of the Dubbing and spin the rest of it onto the thread. The resulting dubbing should have a lot of Mylar strands stick off at all angles. Wrap the Dubbing forward, building up the Thorax so it is noticeably larger then a Real Mayfly Nymph's Thorax.



NOTE : When you are going to Pull the Pheasant tail fibers over for the Under Wingcase, carefully stroke any Mylars strands sticking up off to the sides, this prevents you from binding them down under the Wingcase.. You want the resulting Thorax to be a shaggy, brushy mess... Pull the Mylar strand over the Pheasant tail and tye it off. Whip Finish, add a Drop of Cement. After the Cement has Dried. put either Epoxy, UV Knot Sense or Clear Cure Goo over the Wingcase.. You're done...


Hopefully The Robo Peasant Tail will produce well for You... I have been using it 20 years and it is a constant Performer on the Trout waters.....

Death of a Friend....

The STATION FIRE has burned over 175,000 acres here in Los Angeles County, making it the Biggest Wildfire in the County's history.. Two Brave Firefighters lost their lives in the Conflagration, trying to find an exit route for Inmate Firefighters... a large number of Homes and buildings where lost.... The fire burned for over a month's time (and is still not 100% contained as I write this).. The fire was arson in origin and investigators are putting together the pieces to find the guilty party or parties...

There was another Death from this fire, the Death of a Longtime Friend : "DRY CREEK". Dry Creek isn't the Creek's real name, but the name I came up with years ago to protect it from Lurkers and Limit killers on message Boards I post on.

I was introduced to Dry creek 20 years ago, by a Good friend, who does alot of Bike riding. He found it while he still lived here in Los Angeles. One day he told me about the Creek from riding up one of the Mountain Roads in the Local San Gabriel Mountains.. He asked Me if I'd like to check it out, as He felt there were Trout in it....

We ventured up the Mountain road and found the pull out on a Saturday soon after the discussion.. we rigged up our Fly rods and headed down the path... Upon coming into view of the Creek I was really Moved, it was beautiful!!! A small Creek running amongst Boulders and brush, with a Canopy of Alders and Oaks.. The Air was crisp and Clean and the temperature was noticeably cooler under the canopy and along side the creek... I noticed immediately that there was no City noises, only Nature.... I had found a Local Sanctuary from the Fast pace, hectic world of the City....

The Creek did turn out to have Trout, Rainbows to be exact.. small Parr marked Rainbows where found in all the usual places on a small freestone Creek.. and most of the time they were eager to eat the flies we offered, mostly dries, but a number of Nymphs as well.. all in sizes #14 thru #22.. a 7 1/2 ft. 3wt. rod with a Floating line and a small box of flies was all that was needed for a great day's adventure sneaking up on small pools or little runs.. Pick pocketing behind Boulders in the Creek's Flow proved a great time... The Rainbows were willing to intercept One's flies, as long as You were stealthy in Your approach....

Thus began My Friendship with "Dry Creek"... Over the past 20 years It has provided me with plenty of wonderful days, working along it's banks and among it's boulders Dapping or Dropping flies into likely Holding spots for the Small, but beautiful Rainbows. Most of the rainbows were typical for Southern California standards; 5 to 10 inches.. Thought in my first year of fishing it I did land a healthy 12 incher... this remained my Largest out of the System until 2006.. when I hooked into a Larger rainbow, probably 17 inches if not more.

I hooked this beast in a Stretch that I honestly never fished before, because it always looked too shallow. But on this particular Day, the angle of the Sun, time of Day showed to me that the water was indeed deeper.. so I carefully "dirt Skied" down the steep slope, and carefully working my way thru the Vines to two large Alders along the Pool's banks. I had tyed on a #18 BH Copper John before and figured it would be as Good a Choice as any.... The first careful flip to the head of the pool drifted drag free and came back to my Feet.. I carefully flipped the Nymph back to the head of the Pool, this time as it drifted downstream, it stopped.. I figured I'd made contact with the Bottom, But the Bottom started swimming against the current... I leaned into the fish and it decided to move downstream, and I got a good look at it's Flanks, My eyes almost bugged out when I realized just how big this Rainbow was... Putting all the pressure I could get out of my 3wt. and wanting to avoid breaking the 6x tippet I kept the Rainbow under control fairly well. as I got the Rainbow in closer, I pulled out my Camera, wanting to get photos but return the Giant as quick as I could to the water.

As I knelt down to land the Fish, I reached for the leader and then it happened.. the barbless Nymph popped out of it's jaw and the Rainbow slowly drifted downstream. It came to rest along side a submerged Boulder... I just sat on the bank almost in Tears... Watching the Giant get it's strength back... I must have sat there watching the Trout for 10 minutes.. it then dropped into the Current and swam back upstream to it's original resting spot.... After a while I got up, gathered my Gear and moved off downstream.. a few smaller Trout eased the pain of losing such a specimen from the Creek...

After 2006 I stayed away from Dry creek all of 2007 & 2008.. Dismal rain Falls for both Winters meant that the Levels would be Low and I didn't want to risk Harming any of the Rainbows...

I finally returned in January of this year, 2009... It was great to be back visiting my Long time friend.. the Rainbows were small and the Creek had changed a small amount, but just being under the canopy pitching flies was rewarding in itself..... a while later I took my Friend, Artin, to fish it and he Had a Great time catching the rainbows.....

Then....

At the end of August the Station Fire broke out.. the Firefighters fought it hard where it threatened Homes and such, but at the Time they didn't know it was arson started.. so in these cases they simply work the perimeter of the fire . Preventing it from burning Houses and lighting Backfires to deny it fuel as it moved North and East.... It wasn't until almost 2 weeks into it's Burning that the firefighters found the evidence that it was Indeed purposely started by some person or persons... By this time the fire had burned almost all of the watershed of "Dry Creek".. and because there were none of the Santa Ana Winds, the fire moved slower and consumed everything in it's Path.... Burnt to the ground in other words....

Even if the Fire did not burn all the way down to Dry creek, it burned all of the steep upper slopes of the canyon it winds thru... What Rainbows have survived the Fire, will most likely be killed when the rains wash the soil and ash into the system..... They'll literally choke to death on the shit.....

I'll attempt a Hike into the canyon this Winter, No flyrod with me (for the First time ever in visiting the Creek).. to see what the conditions are really like...

The System will recover and new growth will replace the burned growth... the Animals will return, the Birds will find new trees to nest in.... Or nest in the few that came thru the Firestorm fairly well... But I am fairly Certain this is the death nail for the rainbows.. Soo much destruction and more to come with the Winter rains, too much stacked against them in their Little Creek..

Maybe I'll be proved Wrong.... But it does not look good....

To the Person or Persons responsible : You've destroyed a little piece of Heaven Near Los Angeles ,that has become an important place in My Life..

I cannot wait until They arrest You for Your destruction... and They Will.....

First thing's First...

Welcome to My Blog... sure there are a Gazillion Flyfishing Type Blogs out there.. (and most all of them are pretty good), Why did I set one up???

I have a lifetime's Knowledge insight and Views on Flyfishing, and Enjoy passing on this Insight to up & coming Flyfishers..

I target All Species that will eat Flies (not just a few - which there's really nothing wrong with that), so that offers different views on Flyfishing in general......

I enjoy tying various patterns and having a artistic streak in me I think add something else to the Fly..

I Have an interesting view on Life and the world in general and this carries over into My flyfishing...

I Have Other Interests in life and will post about them as well, because I believe this all adds up to what Makes One's Life Enjoyable and interesting.....

I Love good Jokes and will pass them on here as well....

So I hope You'll enjoy this little venture of Mine. I'll certainly try hard to earn & keep your patronage, to educate and entertain as well...

"...Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride..." ~ Hunter S. Thompson