WNC Fly Fishing Expo 2010

Jule and Colin McDowell

My setup for the show tying and talking recycled materials and fly tying.

It was great to see everybody. Enjoyed talking to old friends and making a few new ones. Cool to share a table with Anthony Hipps one day and Tyler Legg the next. Hope Frank has me back next year :)

Trash Flies at Land O' Sky TU Sept meeting

Had a great opportunity to share some Trash Fly patterns at the LOS TU Sept. meeting. Myself and three other members did a tying demonstration at the monthly meeting. I shared two different tent winged caddis and a caddis larvae. Tyveks, dryers sheets and headphone wire insulation were put to work on dries and nymphs. I had a really good time :)

Recent trip to Douglas lake and Tailwater

Couple of firsts. First sauger and white bass on a fly.

New Dryer Sheet application

Jay 'Fishy' Fuller has created in my opinion one of the best Hopper patterns out there. It produces both warm and cold water fish well. He has added a wing material, wing to it over time. Well he a Trash Fly material switch up for it. Try a used dyer sheet for the wing case. Looks good and holds up pretty well.

Cut the sheet into a strip as wide as the hoppers back. Tie it down with last wrap of thread. When you apply head cement, super glue, or zap a gap glue it down. Try it. You have to love the look and you can't beat the price :)

Answering a request

Several friends have ask me to do some background and how-to information on some of the tools on the site. I believe it's needed and I'll probably start on it this week. Maybe some step by step's and photo's better explaining the processes.

DIY Tools Back Drop/Mirror

Just added a new DIY tool to Trashflies.com. There are lots of mirrors and back drops commercially available. The designs are really good for vise with 3/8" shafts. I use a Nor-Vise and they just don't fit. I'm not all that interested in having a back drop attached anyway. Check out my idea for a recycled design.

DIY Tools (new)

Just added to two new tools under the DIY Tools section. The Threader was a idea that came to me as we were cleaning out some computers and throwing away some accumulated junk at work. The Deer Horn tools were an attempt at something traditional and cool for my tying bench. Traditional materials appeal to me sometimes. They work surprisingly well. I really like the feel and comfort.