Slowing Season

So, I don't have what it takes to update 5-6 times a week. I was very unhappy with the quality of a couple of the posts from last week... Especially the TFO review. I have neither the time, nor the talent, to keep up with such a fevered pace.

From here forward, I plan on writing 1-3 times per week, depending on the quality of what I have to share.

So now, a quick post: Easter weekend was burdened with work on finishing the nursery (baby girl due in July) and family obligations, but when the work was completed on Saturday, I was visited by one lone mayfly... Ostensibly a peace offering from the trout, with whom I've spent far too little time lately.

Every time I look at one, I can't help but notice how pathetically short the tails are on most imitations when compared to the naturals. This natural had tails no less than 2x the length of the body, with a barred pattern.

 Plus, what color is it? Reminds me of why blended or mottled dubbing is such a great tool. The natural is White, Grey, Black, Brown, and Olive, all at once.

As it is, I will take any, and all, good omens when it comes to trout. Between my wife's bewildered look (just keep that thing out of my house), and the hurried pace of home improvement, I captured a few photographs.

Click image for more pictures

Fly Tying: Royal Ant

It wasn't long after I started fishing the tiny creeks of Southern California that I started to take notice of the forest ants that crawl the banks of the streams. They are rather difficult to overlook, as they are every bit as troublesome to the angler as the stinging nettle, poison oak, and blackberry thorns.

I had long had a couple parachute ants in my flybox, purchased likely at the recommendation of Bob Slamal, back when Riverside Ski and Sport was in business. There, in my box they sat, and I never took the time to fish them.

Then, on a slow fishing day at a creek not much larger than a trickle, I was sitting on the bank and was getting harassed by the streamside ant colony. Finally I gave in and tied that ant on. It saved my day.

Of course I went home and decided to tie up some ants, being the beginning tier that I was at the time, I took a liking to tying the non-parachute version, opting instead for the patterns that featured two balls of dubbing with some hackle in the middle. I cranked out over a dozen.

But the fish didn't share my enthusiasm. It just wasn't the same... In fact, I caught very few fish on my self-tied ants. When I resorted to the last of my store-bought parachute ants, the results were clear: the fish liked them better! A lot better.

Now, my theory is that the parachute ant hangs under the surface of the water; more like a natural ant would... But I'm not sure I've got the right answer either. I like the fact that in the parachute variety, the para-post is highly visible and easy to follow.

For the sake of matching the local ants, I tie with a red band of floss or razor foam in the center of the fly. I'm not convinced the fish like it any better (without red seems to work just as well), but it makes the fly-tier feel more accomplished, and its definitely cooler looking... So in honor of the Royal Coachman and derivatives, I call it the Royal Parachute Ant. 

Hook: TMC 900BL, 100BL, or Equivalent.

Thread: Black 8/0 or 6/0

Body: Black superfine dubbing.

Post: Blaze orange Poly yarn

Hackle: Grizzly Saddle.