Introducing...

Last month I told you guys that I lost my job. It's been tough not waking up and doing the same thing I had been for nearly 17 years. But, I'm a firm believer that all things happen for a reason.

I've always worked for someone else while wishing the whole time I could be the guy running things; you know, the guy that signs the paychecks. A year ago, I was presented with the opportunity to buy a custom frame and embroidery logo business but, I couldn't make myself walk away from the security my job gave me at the time. I never took the chance.

It took a little while to sink in but I finally realized that losing my job wasn't an ending. I had been working all my life to get to this point. The door had been opened a year ago. Getting de-jobbed was just the nudge/push/shove I needed to step through it. A few weeks ago, I began the process of purchasing the frame shop. Today, I received confirmation from the bank that everything is a go and all that's left to do is finalize the paperwork. So, on March 10th, I'll unlock and open the doors of DF Frame & Logo.


I plan on incorporating my fly fishing gear as soon as possible. The banker, much to my surprise, agreed that it's a good idea. So, designing my own line of fly rods and ultimately rolling my own blanks will still happen. Looks like I'm finally gonna get to be the guy that signs the paychecks...

D

It's Time to Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Alright folks, I suppose it's time to update you all on my plans to develop a line of fly rods. A couple weeks ago I became a victim of the economy when I lost my job. I've got something simmering on the back burner so I'm not destitute. But, I'm having to put the fly rod development on hold for the time being. This is doubly unfortunate because I had just received the first batch of prototype blanks. I'll build them up to give me a baseline and good starting point.

In the meantime, if any of you would like a custom built fly rod, let me know.

D

The Great Ice Storm of 2010

Well, here it is the last weekend of January and I still haven't gotten to go fishing. This past Thursday night and all day Friday, mother nature decided to give us her idea of a winter wonderland. We got pounded by an ice storm that left us with broken trees, downed power lines, lots of time in front of the fireplace, and a possible population explosion sometime around Halloween.

I woke up this morning to clear skies and temps in the bone chilling range. It did afford me a pretty nice photo op. Here are a few shots that I thought you might like.

D - whose Caddo trip can't get here fast enough...

A Little Slice of Heaven

I made a post a while back about how I'm still a little kid when it comes to fishing and hunting trips. I am now a little over three weeks out from a pilgrimage to the absolute pinnacle of warm water fishing in Texas and I'm having trouble getting to sleep. The little slice of Heaven I'm referring to is Caddo Lake.

Five or Six of us hairy legged fly fishermen make a point to meet there at least twice a year to cool our jets, make fun of each other and fly fish until we can't. Nobody washes their pits; nobody shaves, and everybody snores. We fry all our food and eat like Vikings. This goes on for several days until we've all heard each others jokes a dozen times and somebody breaks down and takes a shower. The next morning we break camp, say our goodbyes and scatter to the four winds. As I said, a little slice of Heaven.

Do any of you guys take trips like this? I'd love to hear about them. And, don't worry I'll post plenty of pictures when I get back...

D

Brrrr!

Here it is the second week of the newly hatched year and we’re still in the deep freeze down here in Texas. It’s only been since just before Christmas but I’m about to go stir crazy. I’ve got several things I could or should be working on but I just can’t seem to get motivated. I want to be outside. I want to go FISHING.

The other night, me and a friend of mine were doing much of what I’m doing here; whining about being cooped up in the house because of freezing temps and stiff water. The conversation veered toward all the poor souls that love to fly fish and have to suffer the winters in the Northern tier of the United States.

I’m spoiled by living here where 9 winters out of 10 are warm enough to fish nearly everyday. Being so spoiled, I have a hard time seeing how fly fishermen that live in areas with a colder climate cope. I love to tie flies but don’t think I could sit down and tie for 3 or 4 months straight.

With that being said; I have a couple questions to ask the readers that are snowbound. How do you do it, & What do you do?

Non New Year's Resolutions

I’m in a foul mood. It’s New Year’s Day 2010. It’s 25 degrees out, the wind is blowing, and I didn’t get to go fishing. I had promised myself that I’d start the new year with at least a quick excursion to the park lake for a couple ice cold bluegill. It wasn’t a resolution, I don’t make those.

Lots of fly fishermen I’ve talked to in the last month or so have told me they were making resolutions to fish more this new year. I used to be like that. My work is notorious for taking my well laid fishing plans and tossing them out the proverbial window. Now, when a buddy wants to make plans to go, I never commit until a week before. I’m sure it drives them crazy but it drives me crazier when I’ve been building up to a trip and work gets in the way.

Another resolution I don’t make is to lose weight. Face it, I’m a Fat Kid. I’m alright with it, everybody else might as well be too. I will try. But I won’t make a resolution to do so.

One last resolution I won’t make is to quit using tobacco. I might try to quit but I’m not making myself resolute to do so.

These are just a few resolutions that I won’t be making this year. They are a waste of time and most people are just setting themselves up for failure. What resolutions did you or did you not make?

D

It's Coming Together

This is just a quick post to give you an update on the quest I’m on to develop my own line of fly rods.

Things are beginning to come together. The first run of prototype blanks are due to be delivered tomorrow. I’m very excited about this. Hopefully I’ll be able to work with the blank supplier to tweak the blanks and give the fly caster the feel I’m looking for.

Another development is that I got a wood turning lathe for Christmas. I’m going to turn my own reel seat inserts. Maybe with the help of Mark Malczynski, I’ll get it figured out in time to include them on my first builds.

Stay tuned as I post further developments on the birth of D.F. Fly Rods.

Christmas Lists

This holiday season I’ve been surfing the net, doing some blog reading and have noticed a lot of them are putting out gear lists trying to give folks ideas of what to get the fly fisherman in their life. There is a lot of cool gear out there but I’m not going to sit here and give you a list of neat gadgets, reels, or rods. I figure if you’re reading a fly fishing blog then you know what’s out there and a pretty good idea of what gift you intend to purchase.

What I’d like to do is give you a list of fly fishing destinations. This won’t be your ordinary garden variety destination list though. This one is strictly for warm water species and some of them may not be locations that you’ve heard of.

South Llano River State Park This State Park is just south of Junction, TX. It’s a great river to float or wade and it’s where I caught my first Rio Grande Cichlid.

Brazos River Below Lake Whitney There are several access points to the river below the dam near Hillsboro, TX. This fishery provides chances for both small mouth and large mouth bass, white bass, bluegill and carp. It’s also a great river to float or wade. But, if you hear the horn at the dam signal an immanent water release, get out of the river. The water comes up quicker than you think.

If white bass are what you long for; this spring don’t overlook the Nolan River in Hill County, TX. It boasts an awesome springtime white bass run. It’s known by most Texas fly fishermen and nearly every spin caster so it gets a lot of pressure. But, there’s not very many things are as fun as tossing a Clouser at schooling sandies.

Most everyone knows that crappie make some of the best table fare. If you have a boat, Miller Creek Lake near Munday, TX is a great place to go. Bring at least a sink tip along and hit the brush piles.

I saved my favorite place for last. Caddo Lake in far East Texas is warm water heaven. All I can say about this fishery is I love it. Give Billy Carter a yell and he will put you on the fish. If you find yourself in Uncertain, TX (yes there is such a place) check out Johnson’s Ranch. It’s the epitome of a fish camp; nothing fancy but hey, you’re there to fish right?

Oh by the way, Merry Christmas.


d

Sharing a Cold and Wet Day of Fishing

The alarm clock rang out, my wife gently touched my shoulder and I raised myself to a sitting position. After convincing my arthritic knees and ankles they could once again support my weight, I staggered off to the bathroom. It was 2:30 in the morning and I was happy. I was going fishing. 245 miles later, Doug Hollen, Carl Sims, and I were fishing the Blue River in Oklahoma. It was cold and wet but we managed a few rainbows.

Doug struck first taking this nice one on a midge.

Carl answered with this chunk taken on a jitterbee of all things.

I have been determined to take a trout on a briminator. I began the day using them and promptly got broken off twice after vicious hits. Now that I know they’ll work, all I have to do is bring a trout to hand and get a photo of it with the triumphant briminator planted firmly in its lip. Then I’ll be satisfied. I did get on the board though with this guy who fell to another Doug Hollen tied midge.

Carl ended the day with this toad. It was the fish of the day and gave Carl and his little 4wt a run for their money.

At the end of the day, we were standing around saying our goodbye’s, when Doug commented on how it’s always fun to go fishing but it’s infinitely more fun when a day of fishing is spent with the camaraderie of good friends. He was absolutely right. I mean, come on getting up at 2:30 and driving over 200 miles to stand in bone numbing cold water waving a stick in the air is fun; getting to share it with a couple of buddies makes it special…

d

Insight

In the last post, I showed you guys a rod that I rebuilt a few years ago. Since then I’ve rebuilt several more as well as built up several on various blanks. It didn’t take long for me to recognize that I have a passion for building fly rods but, I wanted to do more than just wrap guides and turn cork.

I began researching ways to bring my own line of fly rods to the public. It took a couple years but I’m happy to announce that I’ve found a company to build fly rods to my specifications. It will be a time consuming process of test, tweak and retest, but it is happening. In fact, the first batch of prototype rods are en route to my front door as we speak.

This is just a little insight into what’s coming up in the next few months. Keep checking T.D.F. for updates. I’ll post build information and pictures of the whole process.

How It All Started Part 3...

A few years ago a couple good friends of mine named Gene Bethea & Barry Evans convinced me to try rod building. I was reluctant at first because I didn't want to totally screw up a high dollar rod blank. Gene sent me a book and told me that I'd never find out if I could do it unless I tried.

I had an old fly rod that was more of a broomstick than anything else. I decided I'd turn it into a crappie rod for my Father-in-Law. It turned out okay and would up being one of his favorite rods.

Since I developed a love for fiberglass rods, I began picking up old worn out rods on eBay and rebuilding them. That's when my Father-in-Law stepped back into the picture. He told his Brother-in-Law about what I had been doing. It so happened that he had an old Sila-flex bait caster that he wanted rebuilt.

After getting the rod, I was shocked to see the shape it was in. I did some research into the original color of the wraps and thread size and dove right in. The following are a few before and after photos.

I knew I wanted to save the old Sila-flex label. Fortunately, I was able to do so.

The old rod had definitely seen better days.

I used Gudebrod brown and gold thread in size B. I think it matched up pretty well.

All in all I was pretty pleased with the outcome; thankfully, so was my first customer.

A Few Things...

The holidays are here! I never do get ready in time and have had a lot going on these past few months. Here are a few things that might be of interest to you.

Fishy Kid is wrapping up their first contest and about to begin the judging. There are TONS of The Fiberglass Manifesto is now taking T-Shirt orders for the 2010 model. They are cool and priced right. Go over there and dig around in his blog if you want to see some awesome looking fly rods and great interviews of some of the fly fishing industry's leaders.

Speaking of leaders... If you're tired of going through smooth tapered leaders like you know what through a goose, and you're tired of knotted leaders hinging or pulling in more weeds than fish; check out DF Furled Leaders. I guarantee they will turn over a fly better than any smooth taper or knotted leader you've ever tried.

I've been working on a few things and have a surprise that, hopefully will be ready to unveil early in the Spring so stay tuned!!!!

Varying Levels of Stupidity (Another Non-Fly Fishing Post)

Somewhere I'm sure, there is a law of quantum biophysics that states (I paraphrase): The male human being shall commit acts that vary in level of stupidity, and such level is, as odd as it seems, directly proportional to the age of said male human being. It all starts with something like sticking a bobby pin into a light socket at the tender age of 3. Then one may graduate to jumping one's bicycle off of ramps to see who can fly the farthest. Later on, these stupid acts often involve motor vehicles.

About a month ago a guy reached a somewhat "rare air" level of stupidity. He tried to drive his pickup across the Red River about 10 miles from my house.

The pickup remains there today as it was walked away from a month ago. I assume as a testament, or an omen maybe, to those that are beckoned to the river with the same intentions. I understand it; really I do. I mean what guy hasn't thought he could take his 2 wheel drive 1992 Ford Ranger across the Red River?

However, sometimes the testing reaches a level of stupidity never before heard of. I'm talking something beyond the realm of semi-intelligent reasoning. Today as I crossed the very same bridge, I saw what has to be the stupid act of all stupid acts. On the other side, not the other end, but the other side of the bridge I saw this:

Yes, that is the river bottom. Yes, that is a pop-up camper and a very nice travel trailer. Yes, that is flowing water on the left of the photo. And, yes that is the very apex level of stupidity.

On This Date... (A Non-Fly Fishing Post)

On this date 23 years ago I boarded a bus in Galveston, Tx bound for the Military Entrance Processing Station in Houston; 4 hours later, I was officially in the Navy. From there it was to Waukegan, IL and Recruit Training Center Great Lakes for boot camp and then across the street to Naval Training Center for a little over a year of schooling in electronics. Then I was off to Naval Station Norfolk, VA for more training. After that, I was sent to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, CA where I spent the next four and a half years stationed at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobil Unit-3. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Navy. But, I had a family, which doesn't mix with deployments very well, and 14 more years seemed like an eternity so I got out. I had no idea what life after the Navy had in store for me. For the most part, it has been a blast and, looking back, I wouldn't change a thing really. The only shock has been how quickly these 23 years have passed.

One of my fondest memories from my time in the Navy came on Christmas day in 1986. I was still in boot camp and obviously none of us could spend the day with family. The USO stepped in and organized a day where recruit trainees could spend the day with families in the area. I didn't get to spend the day with a family in the literal sense. I was lucky enough to spend the day at the Oak Park, IL Fire House with the firefighters on duty. Never before or since have I seen such a close knit group. Never before or since have I been treated so well by strangers. Not only is it one of my fondest memories, it was one of my favorite Christmas days. I'll never forget those guys.

I know it's about a week early for Veteran's Day, but I want to thank all those that served this great country before me, with me, and after me. If it weren't for you, the past 23 years may not have gone by so easily nor quickly. I also want to thank those that support the military. You make the hardships that go along with serving our nation feel more worthy.


D.

"I can't complain but sometimes I still do"

I was driving to work the other morning leaned over and propped up on the arm rest because my back had gone out…again. Along with the back spasms came a grumpy mood and I began to wish I was driving to work somewhere up in the mountains. Then I started wishing I had a different job. Then I started wishing I was rich enough that I didn’t have to work. But, I figured I’d get even more bored not working than I was at that moment with my current job. So, then I wished I had my own rod shop where I built custom rods for people and repaired those that were put together by inferior hands. Then I wondered what would be the use, there isn’t much water around here to fish. The only option I had was to punt my job and move somewhere that cool mountain streams defined the landscape. Then I realized that I couldn’t move because my wife loves it here and my mom would be left here without any help. I gave up and resigned myself to the fact that I was stuck here for life; and it sucked. It was shaping up to be a lousy day.

About 5 miles before I got to work I began to think about how good it made me feel when Howard called to tell me how much he loved the fly rod I built him. Then I thought about the fishing trip to Colorado I got to take this past summer. It sure was a nice respite from the oppressive heat of Texas. Then I began to think about all the friends I have made over the years at various fly fishing events and the awesome fishing trips I’ve had with them. I looked out to the west and saw a couple of does and fawns grazing in a wheat field with a crop so lush and green it looked like carpet. I began to think about how these morning drives to work are really nice. The allow me to plan my day and be ready to face the day’s challenges when I walk through the office door. I reached over to adjust the temperature of the defroster. It reminded me that the overtime and bonus’ I got while out of town last year helped me pay cash for nearly the full amount of the pickup I was sitting in. I began thinking about my family. I’ve got a wonderful wife. She takes care of me and the house. Her worst darkest moods are better than most women’s good ones. And, she understands that sometimes a guy just needs a fishing trip. We aren’t rich but have all that we need. Our house is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. All of my kids are either in college or working, being productive citizens. Two of them are married and have wonderful wives of their own. By the time I got to work I realized I'm a blessed man. It was shaping up to be a good day.

Joe Walsh was right. “Life’s been good to me so far.”

D

How It All Started Part 2...

The other day a friend of mine told me I had an artist’s heart, or soul, or something or other. I’m not too sure about that. All I know is I like to write and I feel the need to create. And, like most people I know, if I’m going to do something, then I owe it to myself to put out the best work I am capable of.

Last week, I posted the story of how and why I started fly fishing. This week I’m writing about how I got started tying flies.

Soon after I began fly fishing joined one of the zillions of fly fishing websites. Some of those cyber places can be full of snooty tweed wearing people that I affectionately refer to as “trout weenies”. This site was different. It was full of good ol’ boys that loved to fly fish. Everybody was friendly and eager to help newbies. I was full of questions and these guys were full of answers.

It wasn’t long before I struck up a friendship with a retired football coach and school administrator. His name is Gene but he’s better know by the screen name of Pearow. He’s exactly as you’d imagine a retired football coach; gruff, sarcastic, & quick witted. But, spend a little time with him and the reason why he spent all those years teaching & coaching comes to light; he loved it. Every time I’ve gotten to fish with him, I’ve come away knowing something I didn’t before the trip.

Enough of the back story. As I was saying, it wasn’t long after I started fly fishing that I realized I wanted to tie flies. I began asking questions about tying vises and materials. I was interested in what types of materials and vise features but mostly what the cost would be. I didn’t want to jump in with both feet and wallet only to find I couldn’t learn how to tie or didn’t like it. I voiced my concerns and that’s when Pearow stepped in. He sent me an email asking what my mailing address was. This was before we had met face to face and I wasn’t too sure about giving my mailing address to a guy I had only met in cyber space.

After 2 or 3 email volleys of me asking why he wanted my address and him telling me not to worry about it, he finally told me what he had up his sleeve. He had an old tying vise and a box full of materials that he wanted to send me. That was followed by several more emails of how much I owed him for the stuff. Pearow would not take a dime for any of it. His only requirement was that I send the vise along with a box full of tying materials on to someone that wanted to learn how to tie.

I tied those materials onto hooks held in that vise for several years before I upgraded to a better vise and had acquired mountains of materials of my own. One day, on that same website, there was a young man that began asking questions not unlike the ones I had years before. I began the same email chain that Pearow had begun with me. I finally convinced him to take the vise and box of materials on the same condition I took them.

After I sent them I called my now fishing buddy Pearow and told him I no longer had the old vise. Only then did I learn that I had sent the old vise to hold hooks for the 11th person wanting to learn how to tie flies. Since then that website had been shut down and I no longer have any contact with the guy that I sent the old vise to, but I’d bet money he’s sent it to number 12.

How It All Started...

“Dad, my leg’s broke.” Those were the first words out of my mouth after being body slammed off the back of a green broke colt I’d been gathering cattle on that day. It wasn’t the first time I’d been dumped but it was the worst and, as it turned out, it would be the last. The good news was, my leg was not broken. The bad news was that I had herniated a disc in my lower back and it pinched a nerve so bad that I couldn’t move my leg for a while. That was close to 20 years ago.

Fast forward 10 years and, uh several pounds. I had officially joined the ranks of the Fat Kids. My back had gotten so bad that if an activity involved just about anything other than sitting or lying flat on my back I was unable to do it. I finally had enough and went under the knife. While I was recovering from that, my doc told me that I needed to do 3 things to help me heal up. They were: walk, walk, and walk.

Like I said, I had already joined the ranks of the Fat Kids and walking with no objective other than to get from Point A to Point B is strictly prohibited in our bylaws. A very good and true friend of mine, Trey Morgan, suggested that I take up the sport of fly fishing as a way to give me an objective for my walks. I resisted at first but the walking just for the sake of walking was threatening my “Member in Good Standing” status with the Fat Kids. I finally gave in though and, as they say, the rest is history. Here is a little narrative I wrote quite a few years ago of my first fly fishing trip. I hope you enjoy…

After years of watching fly fishermen on TV and wondering if it would be worth my time, I broke down a few weeks ago and bought a fly rod set up. Since I live in Popcornfarte, TX casting instructors are like hens teeth, non-existent. So, I did what any self respecting goofball would do. I spent the next few days out in the yard waving a stick in the air trying to teach myself how to cast. Finally, the day came when I’d taught myself all I knew (nothing). It was time. I was ready to try for the mighty blue gill in the local park lake.

Armed with a poorly tied black fly of mass production & questionable lineage, I made my way to the water's edge and went for it. With the wind quartering from behind me I began my presentation of the not so tasty looking feathered lure. Again and again I deftly placed the little thing beyond a downed tree limb and stripped it back along side.

Suddenly, without warning, the lure disappeared from the surface in the midst of a swirl that had to be at least the size of a Suzan B. Anthony dollar. I held the fly line with my index and middle finger against the rod and raised the rod tip. The fight was on! Stumbling and thrashing around on the bank I pulled in the line with my left hand looking, in my mind's eye, as if I needed to be on an episode of Walker's Cay Chronicles.
After, what seemed to be at least three, maybe even four seconds, I had the beast landed. It was the fattest, palm sized blue gill I had ever seen.

It didn't last very long and there wasn't much to it, but it made a fly fisherman for life out of me. Undaunted by the size of my first fish on the fly, I vowed to return. Thus ended my first fly fishing trip; it was one to remember.


D

The Cool Air Goodness of the Colorado Rockies

Well, the fishing trip to Colorado was time and money well spent. Let me tell you, it was hard to see it come to an end. The place where we stayed was for sale and I almost had my wife convinced that I had made an offer and the present owners accepted. She hates cold weather and wasn’t happy at all about my supposed purchase. Common sense took over and I had to come clean. I’m sure the decision to not make an offer will be one of those “What if’s?” that seem to plague me every few years.

With a view like this, you can see how the anti-decision will come back to haunt me.

The Rio Grande was running low and wasn’t in the mood to give up many of her inhabitants. A few brownies this size decided that our offerings were close enough to the real thing though.

We fished hard every day but didn’t have a great average daily catch. My fishing buddy Doug told his wife one night that the fishing was great but, the catching was a different story. It was pretty tough sledding. Here’s Doug releasing a well deserved brown.

One morning we drove up the hill and fished this little slice of Heaven. It’s called Park Creek and I took this guy on a dry fly with my little Fenwick ff605. He only went about 12 inches but wild trout sure know how to put a bend in a fly rod.

You guys know from my earlier posts that I’m not a respecter of high priced fishing gear. Here’s a couple shots of the little Fenwick 5wt. I’ve got less than $150 in the entire rig, and that includes the fly line. All you quick stick guys just keep fishing graphite. I’ll stand pat with fiberglass. Thank you very much.

Most of my fishing was done with this outfit:

It’s the Kettle Creek Riffle Glass rod that I finished building just a few days before we took off. It’s rated as a 4/5 wt but I absolutely loved it with a WF6F. It took a couple outings but I finally figured out that even though this rod performed well at close range, it really craves line. I pushed it hard, I mean real hard, and never found it’s top end. The more I fished it, the more I fell in love with it. If you’re into building your own, give one of these a try. It’s a true powerhouse of a rod.

So there you have it. I waited a long hot summer to get up to the mountains I love. Once again, they kept their promise of cool air goodness.

Don't Let the Gray Hair Fool You; I'm Still Just a Kid

Some of the best memories I have of my childhood are opening day bird hunts with my Dad. He started taking me dove hunting with him when I was around 3. I couldn’t keep up with him walking so sitting on a tank dam on warm evenings waiting on the dove to fly were just perfect. He’d shoot a bird and I’d run and get it. The running joke was he didn’t need a retriever, he had me. By the time I was 5 or 6, I could keep up, and he began taking me on quail hunts. I thought I was big when Mom gathered up and safety pinned the neck of his game vest enough that I could wear the thing without it dropping off my shoulders. There’s no telling how many shells I lost out of the pockets of that old vest as it would bounce off my shins and hang up in the brush. He didn’t care though. After going thru the same ritual with my son, I realized he was probably just as happy to have me tag along as I was for mine to be there.
When I was 9, I came home from school one day and found an old Savage single shot 20 gauge lying in the floor next to his Franchi 12. I remember wanting it so bad but I was afraid to ask because of the devastation I’d feel if the answer were to be no. So I did the next best thing and asked if he’d bought himself a new shotgun. He said that he had but was afraid it was too short for him and asked me to try it out. I made sure it was empty and shouldered the well worn stock. He said he thought it would fit me better and asked if I thought I could hit a bird with it. I can't remember my reply but I'm sure it included a grin.
I took 4 birds the next day with that old Savage. I have no idea how because I bet I didn't sleep 15 minutes the night before. In fact, for several nights before every opening day, I would have trouble sleeping. I was just too excited. I would be tired and try to sleep but my mind, even at that age, wouldn't shut up. Visions of the coming hunt would swirl around in my brain until the wee hours of the morning before I'd drift off to sleep. I don't hunt much anymore, instead I fish. In a few days I'm leaving on a fishing trip to Colorado and guess what; I'm having trouble sleeping. Long gone are the opening days with Dad, but I still get excited just like I did back then. I can't help it. I'm still just a kid.

D

The Briminator

This past week, I've been working on a new fly rod and have neglected T.D.F. It's not something I'm proud of and hope it won't happen again. That being said, with my mind wrapped up in silk guide wraps, I haven't been able to come up with a post; until today.
Some of you may have wondered what fly that is in the picture at the top of the home page. It's a Briminator. Funny name huh? I tell you what, you won't be laughing at the name if you try one. You'll be giggling about all the fish you're catching.
This little fly is amazing. It's my go-to fly and will catch fish when nothing else is working. Bluegill absolutely cannot resist the thing; hence the name. But, it seems that other species can't resist it either. I've been fishing this fly for going on 4 years now and it consistantly catches bass, crappie, and catfish.
Next week, I'm heading to Colorado to do a little trout fishing and I'm taking a handfull of these little guys with me. Normally I tie it on a size 10 hook but I've got a little sump'n sump'n for Mr. Finicky B. Trout. I whipped up a few of them on size 16 & 18 hooks. In fact, the one in the pic is a size 16. I'll be sure to let you know when I get back if the Briminator can also be known as the Troutinator.
If you tie flies and want to catch some warm water species, here is how I tie it:
Hook - Mustad 3366 #10
Eyes - Gold Beadchain
Collar - Pheasant
Body - Dark Brown Dubbing
Tail - Marabou from bottom of Pheasant Feather
1.) Build up a small amount of thread about 1 bead width behind hook eye.
2.) Attach beadchain using figure 8 wraps & secure with a drop of glue & wrap thread to hook bend.
3.) Remove marabou from the bottom of the Pheasant feather and attach to top of hook at the bend.
4.) Twist the dubbing onto thread and wrap foward, over the top & between the eyes returning the thread to just behind the eyes.
5.) Attach the remainder of the feather just behind the eyes.
6.) Wrap (not palmer) the feather forward toward to the eyes, making sure to pull feather fibers back towards hook bend after each wrap.
7.) Once you have the collar on the way you want it, add a little more dubbing & wrap back to just in front of the eyes.
8.) Whip finish, add a drop of superglue & you're done... Good luck!

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