The Roll Cast...
| Official Newsletter of Feather & Fly |
 |
 |
 |
In this issue:
Make a worm happy...
learn to fly fish!
learn to fly fish!
Stetson wins
DC/AFC/MH Awards!
"Husband" of Stewart's Maggie is the only living
Gordon Setter to hold Dual Champion (Show and
Field), Amateur Field Champion (Fielded and
handled by an amateur) and Master Hunter
(retrieves to hand without touching or talking to
the dog).
DC/AFC/MH Awards!
"Husband" of Stewart's Maggie is the only living
Gordon Setter to hold Dual Champion (Show and
Field), Amateur Field Champion (Fielded and
handled by an amateur) and Master Hunter
(retrieves to hand without touching or talking to
the dog).
A nymph for all seasons.
"The Anytime-Anywhere"
"The Anytime-Anywhere"
Linehan Outfitters on
Northwest Montana's
Legendary Kootenai River
Northwest Montana's
Legendary Kootenai River
Bull Trout, Bull Elk, Birds,
Bird Dogs, Bon Temps and
a "Bad Boy" Nymph.
Bird Dogs, Bon Temps and
a "Bad Boy" Nymph.
The favorite fly of "The Half-Fast Angler"
How to tie it... and how to fish it!
How to tie it... and how to fish it!
Bull Trout, Bull Elk and Grouse
Feather and Fly is pleased to announce that we now represent the
number one lodge in North America. Linehan Outfitters on the
Kootenai River in northwest Montana.
Feather and Fly is pleased to announce that we now represent the
number one lodge in North America. Linehan Outfitters on the
Kootenai River in northwest Montana.
Linehan Outfitting Company was started in 1993 by Tim and Joanne Linehan
to help introduce people to the lush forests of northwestern Montana. Unlike
the rolling plains familiar to so many visitors to southern Montana, the rich and
fertile mountains around the Yaak valley and the Kootenai river teem with wild
game and abundant fish.
Elk, mule deer, huge whitetails and three species of grouse make their homes in
this area. The Kootenai river contains the leviathan Bull trout... a natural
cross between the brook trout and the brown. In addition, rainbow, west slope
cutthroat and wild redband trout inhabit the river and its many tributaries.
Tim Linehan had been deeply involved with Orvis and TU programs since
opening the lodge. Tim was awarded the Orvis 2006 Conservationist of the year
award and Montana's 1995 Guide of the Year. In 1998, Tim was recognized as
Orvis' Outfitter of the year. Mr. Linehan is known to many of us as the host for
Trout Unlimited Television on ESPN and OLN networks.
Tim finds time in his busy schedule to serve as the president of the Kootenai
Valley Chapter of TU and is on the Montana State Council of Trout Unlimited.
We will feature Linehan Outfitters at our annual wine and cheese travel
reception this February 25 from 6 to 8 pm. Please RSVP to Michelle or John at
the shop. Feather and Fly will be offering several hosted trips to the lodge this
year plus we have reserved the first week in October for a combination grouse
hunt and fly fishing trip hosted by Mike Stewart. Mike will drive out early
with the dogs, guns and rods in order to ensure the safety and comfort of the
animals and security of the guns and fly rods.
to help introduce people to the lush forests of northwestern Montana. Unlike
the rolling plains familiar to so many visitors to southern Montana, the rich and
fertile mountains around the Yaak valley and the Kootenai river teem with wild
game and abundant fish.
Elk, mule deer, huge whitetails and three species of grouse make their homes in
this area. The Kootenai river contains the leviathan Bull trout... a natural
cross between the brook trout and the brown. In addition, rainbow, west slope
cutthroat and wild redband trout inhabit the river and its many tributaries.
Tim Linehan had been deeply involved with Orvis and TU programs since
opening the lodge. Tim was awarded the Orvis 2006 Conservationist of the year
award and Montana's 1995 Guide of the Year. In 1998, Tim was recognized as
Orvis' Outfitter of the year. Mr. Linehan is known to many of us as the host for
Trout Unlimited Television on ESPN and OLN networks.
Tim finds time in his busy schedule to serve as the president of the Kootenai
Valley Chapter of TU and is on the Montana State Council of Trout Unlimited.
We will feature Linehan Outfitters at our annual wine and cheese travel
reception this February 25 from 6 to 8 pm. Please RSVP to Michelle or John at
the shop. Feather and Fly will be offering several hosted trips to the lodge this
year plus we have reserved the first week in October for a combination grouse
hunt and fly fishing trip hosted by Mike Stewart. Mike will drive out early
with the dogs, guns and rods in order to ensure the safety and comfort of the
animals and security of the guns and fly rods.
Tell your puppies... Stetson sweeps
the awards! DC - AFC & MH
the awards! DC - AFC & MH
Left: Judge Joe Stringer
Right: Judge Ross Adams
Stetson and owner/handler
Bill Holloway
Bill Holloway
Many Gordon Setter puppies in this area have reason to be proud of their lineage and
the goals set by their sire or grand-sire. Stetson, sire of Stewart's Maggie's last litter,
(Rising Fawn Gordon Setters - Mike Stewart) has become the only living Gordon Setter
to be awarded this unique and coveted combination of AKC titles. ( The equivalent of
human Doctorates in three different fields.)
Stetson's AKC registered name is: DC/AFC Carolina's All Hat, No Cattle MH. His sire
is CH. Chaparral Urchin, MH, CD, WDR and his dam is CH. Rice Creek's Cumulo
Nimbus, SH. (Urch and Storm). Stetson was born September 8, 2000.
The DC is a Dual Champion (both a show champion - CH and a field champion - FC).
The AFC is an Amateur Field Champion (signifying that he was handled to another field
championship by an amateur handler!)
The thing that seems to make this honor so outstanding is that many feel the qualities to
earn a Field Championship are incompatible with what it takes to earn a Master Hunter
Chanpionship. Field Champions tend to be big ranging and fairly independent dogs that
are handled off horseback. Master Hunters are closer working dogs with impeccable
field manners who retrieve to hand - without ever the handler touching the dog or
talking to the dog. It's very beautiful to watch a well matched pair of handler and dog in
these Hunt Tests.
Feather and Fly salutes Stetson and Bill Holloway on their accomplishments.
the goals set by their sire or grand-sire. Stetson, sire of Stewart's Maggie's last litter,
(Rising Fawn Gordon Setters - Mike Stewart) has become the only living Gordon Setter
to be awarded this unique and coveted combination of AKC titles. ( The equivalent of
human Doctorates in three different fields.)
Stetson's AKC registered name is: DC/AFC Carolina's All Hat, No Cattle MH. His sire
is CH. Chaparral Urchin, MH, CD, WDR and his dam is CH. Rice Creek's Cumulo
Nimbus, SH. (Urch and Storm). Stetson was born September 8, 2000.
The DC is a Dual Champion (both a show champion - CH and a field champion - FC).
The AFC is an Amateur Field Champion (signifying that he was handled to another field
championship by an amateur handler!)
The thing that seems to make this honor so outstanding is that many feel the qualities to
earn a Field Championship are incompatible with what it takes to earn a Master Hunter
Chanpionship. Field Champions tend to be big ranging and fairly independent dogs that
are handled off horseback. Master Hunters are closer working dogs with impeccable
field manners who retrieve to hand - without ever the handler touching the dog or
talking to the dog. It's very beautiful to watch a well matched pair of handler and dog in
these Hunt Tests.
Feather and Fly salutes Stetson and Bill Holloway on their accomplishments.
The "Anytime-Anywhere" nymph
When I began fly fishing for trout more than a half century ago, I
frequently heard anglers asking each other "If you only had one
pattern to fish, what would it be? I got a little dejected when I
heard almost every pattern ever tied listed among the "one
pattern" theory. As a result, I became a bit of a skeptic and never
really gave it much more thought.
Recently I was going through my fly boxes and I found one of the
first flies tied back when I was a greenhorn and learning to tie. The
fly was really simple but looked buggy as hell. In various guises it
could be fished as a dry, a nymph or an emerger. In point of fact it
was intended to imitate a crane fly larvae which is very common in
the south and was originally tied in grey. I was exposed to this fly
by the old Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited where I cut
my teeth on serious fly fishing. In the hands of a rank amateur it
was a killer fly.
I have seen the fly tied in every color and shade under the sun with
winged and wingless variations. With no weight and slightly longer
hackle palmered on the fly, it floats well and runs riffles like a
Clackacraft driftboat. It is irresistible to fish with limited time to
inspect it and brings slashing hits. Add a wing and you have a
decent looking stonefly imitation.
The weighted fly serves as a great "what have you" nymph and can
be tied to match the most prevalent colors of the resident insect
population. Adding a short wing makes a convincing emerger or
baitfish and if you add a longer wing, its a great drowned stonefly
adult. In fact, the drowned stonefly version hooked two of the
largest trout I ever hooked on the Railroad Ranch section of the
Henry's Fork River. Unfortunately, both fish broke off and took
my only two flies with them. I later used this as a basis for my
"Captain Foster" Atlantic Salmon fly.
frequently heard anglers asking each other "If you only had one
pattern to fish, what would it be? I got a little dejected when I
heard almost every pattern ever tied listed among the "one
pattern" theory. As a result, I became a bit of a skeptic and never
really gave it much more thought.
Recently I was going through my fly boxes and I found one of the
first flies tied back when I was a greenhorn and learning to tie. The
fly was really simple but looked buggy as hell. In various guises it
could be fished as a dry, a nymph or an emerger. In point of fact it
was intended to imitate a crane fly larvae which is very common in
the south and was originally tied in grey. I was exposed to this fly
by the old Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited where I cut
my teeth on serious fly fishing. In the hands of a rank amateur it
was a killer fly.
I have seen the fly tied in every color and shade under the sun with
winged and wingless variations. With no weight and slightly longer
hackle palmered on the fly, it floats well and runs riffles like a
Clackacraft driftboat. It is irresistible to fish with limited time to
inspect it and brings slashing hits. Add a wing and you have a
decent looking stonefly imitation.
The weighted fly serves as a great "what have you" nymph and can
be tied to match the most prevalent colors of the resident insect
population. Adding a short wing makes a convincing emerger or
baitfish and if you add a longer wing, its a great drowned stonefly
adult. In fact, the drowned stonefly version hooked two of the
largest trout I ever hooked on the Railroad Ranch section of the
Henry's Fork River. Unfortunately, both fish broke off and took
my only two flies with them. I later used this as a basis for my
"Captain Foster" Atlantic Salmon fly.
Ingredients List:
Hook... Dai Riki 710 1x long 3x strong nymph sizes 16 to size 8 (debarbed)
Black thread 3/0 or 6/0 depending on the hook size
Wood duck lemon flank feathers
Lead wire small, medium or large depending on hook size (Omit weight for dry flies)
Rabbit fur dubbing in your desired color and shade for wet flies or nymphs
Antron dubbing for dry flies
Grizzly hackle natural or dyed to match or contrast the dubbing as preferred
Hook... Dai Riki 710 1x long 3x strong nymph sizes 16 to size 8 (debarbed)
Black thread 3/0 or 6/0 depending on the hook size
Wood duck lemon flank feathers
Lead wire small, medium or large depending on hook size (Omit weight for dry flies)
Rabbit fur dubbing in your desired color and shade for wet flies or nymphs
Antron dubbing for dry flies
Grizzly hackle natural or dyed to match or contrast the dubbing as preferred
Step 1
Step 2
Debarb hook, mount in vise
and bring thread from eye
to bend of hook.
and bring thread from eye
to bend of hook.
Tie in the wood duck flank
feather as a tail. Bring
thread forward towards eye
and tie off.
feather as a tail. Bring
thread forward towards eye
and tie off.
Step 3
Select a Wood Duck flank
feather.
feather.
Step 4
Clip the excess feather behind
the eye and take the thread
back to the base of the tail.
the eye and take the thread
back to the base of the tail.
Step 5
Step 6
Select a long grizzly hackle
with even barbules.
with even barbules.
Take the tip of the hackle
in one hand and gently
stroke the barbules
towards the base of the
hackle to open the feather.
in one hand and gently
stroke the barbules
towards the base of the
hackle to open the feather.
Step 7
Step 8
Tie the grizzly hackle in by
the tip where the base of
the tail is.
the tip where the base of
the tail is.
Add 4 turns of lead or copper
wire (omit if tying a dry fly).
wire (omit if tying a dry fly).
Step 9
Step 10
Figure-eight the thread
across the weight and build
a tapered body with the
thread.
across the weight and build
a tapered body with the
thread.
Form a dubbing loop.
Step 11
Step 12
Add your dubbing in the
loop and close the loop
around the dubbing
loop and close the loop
around the dubbing
Twist the thread to lock in
the dubbing and roll the
dubbing between thumb
and forefingers to form a
"rope" of dubbing.
the dubbing and roll the
dubbing between thumb
and forefingers to form a
"rope" of dubbing.
Step 13
Step 14
Wind the dubbing rope
forward to form a tapered
body.
forward to form a tapered
body.
Wind one full turn of hackle at
the base of the tail, then spiral
(palmer) the hackle to the eye
of the hook making two full
turns behind the eye. Tie off
and cement head.
the base of the tail, then spiral
(palmer) the hackle to the eye
of the hook making two full
turns behind the eye. Tie off
and cement head.
To add a wing, simply take
an additional Wood Duck
Feather and tie in at the eye
before finishing the head.
an additional Wood Duck
Feather and tie in at the eye
before finishing the head.
The "Anytime-Anywhere" can be an exceptional
caddis emerger in small sizes during a hatch if you
have a match on size and color. Cast the weighted
fly upstream and when it is parallel to you in the
water, slowly begin raising the rod tip.
White dubbing can make a great mini-minnow
when silver mylar is added to the mix. I often just
let the fly dangle downstream in the current after
making sure the drag is lightly set.
Big brown trout love the wingless nymph bounced
across the bottom and will often take a one added
as a dropper below the larger fly. Take along a
couple with longer wings and fish them deep and
slow.
caddis emerger in small sizes during a hatch if you
have a match on size and color. Cast the weighted
fly upstream and when it is parallel to you in the
water, slowly begin raising the rod tip.
White dubbing can make a great mini-minnow
when silver mylar is added to the mix. I often just
let the fly dangle downstream in the current after
making sure the drag is lightly set.
Big brown trout love the wingless nymph bounced
across the bottom and will often take a one added
as a dropper below the larger fly. Take along a
couple with longer wings and fish them deep and
slow.
