Cat Toy Flashback Hares Ear (CTFHE)

I was walking through the local dollar store looking for some snack and sodas. trying to avoid the grocery store. I never seem to get in and out very quickly at the grocery or on budget. As I walked to the end of a isle with my sodas and sweets I glanced at the pet supply rack. Noticed a really odd looking cat toy with the coloring and texture of a real rabbit. Now that caught my eye. (pun intended). after picking it up and I noticed it was made of strips of wide rabbit skin. Couldn't beat the price. After adding it to my treasures headed on home.

Figured that I could cut the hair from it and then pitch the hairless carcass. After inspection I noticed it was glued to a plastic mouse like form and some of the skin was loss at the seams. A little tug and it peeled off like a orange. For some reason I felt better not saving a a fake mouse to make flies.

The fur was a lot of guard hairs and a fluffy under fur. Likely not one of our local field rabbit. I was still enthusiastic about my cheap stash of material. So then I tried some Hares Ears as pictured below.

Cat Toy Flash-Back Hares Ear

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Recipe

Hook: Mustad #14 2x Nymph Hook
Tail, thorax and abdomen: Hair from a Hare cover cat toy.
Bead: med brass
Wing-case: Chip bag silver side showing








I like it and am going to tie more. What do you all think? Comments welcome.

Dedicated to my son. I love you :)

Trash Flies: http://www.wncflyfishingexpo.com/I will be there ...

Trash Flies: http://www.wncflyfishingexpo.com/
I will be there ...: http://www.wncflyfishingexpo.com/ I will be there tying on Saturday. Hope to see you there. Stop by and say hello.

Simple Gray Mayfly

I was making some simple tutorials for my Drafting students and decided to try this. The site 'Trashflies.com' has been lacked videos. Several have ask me to do them. Here we go! Baby step. I am going to get a better camera and lighting situation.

This fly 'Simple Gray Mayfly' slays wild fish here in Western North Carolina, USA. I'm sure it would work else where. It's easy. Cheap to tie. A skein of gray knitting yarn and grizzly dry-fly hackle. It works like a charm. It is a simplification of the Adams, Thunderhead, and Mr Rapidan styled flies. Tiny creeks are it's best arena for me.

Dedicated to my son. I love you.

As always share your thoughts. I like to hear from you all :)

Chammy Worm and Nymphs

http://vivariumguide.com/building-a-mealworm-insectarium/

One of the students in our weekly tying class at the high school I teach at ask, "can you tie something that looks like a meal worm." I replied probably. So with that I started looking at what I had committed to. As I scanned my stock of materials and looked at what was it I needed to imitate.

The reliable and very effective Chammy Worm and all it's off shoots,

http://grolarbear.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/chamois-vs-hiking-towel-too-exciting/

Chamois leather (/ˈʃæmi/ or /ʃæmˈwɑː/), sometimes known as a shammy or also as wash-leather, is a type of porous leather that is favored for its gentle, non-abrasive composition and absorption properties. It has a range of uses: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamois_leather

Step 1 secure the hook. #14 200r

Step 2 thread the hook.

Step 3 tie in the narrow curt piece of chamois cloth.

Step 4 either wrap in mid hook or tie straight depending on the profile desired.

Note: To increase the segmented look use a darker brown thread.

This is a simple one or two material fly. Catch loads of fish.

Hook: #14 200R

Thread: Olive 8/0

Body: Chamois Leather

Dedicated to my son. I love you.

Some Extra Terresterials

Top left Headphone Inch worm, Top right foam inch worm, Bottom right Black Beetle with wing showing, and Bottom left Black Beetle

The above flies are from a Erichment Class at school.

Top Left

Hook: #14 Dryfly

Body: Green Headphone insulation.

Thread: Black 8/0

Top Right

Hook: #14 Dryfly

Body: Green closed cell craft foam.

Thread: Black 8/0

Bottom Left

Hook: #14 Dryfly

Body: Black closed cell foam cut into strips.

Thread: Black 8/0

Bottom Right

Hook: #14 Dryfly

Body: Black closed cell foam cut into strips.

Wing: Dyed amber mallard flank

Thread: Black 8/0

Dedicated to my son. I love you.

Foam Spiders and bluegill will enrich your fly fishing life.

Recently I had the opportunity to start a enrichment class at the high school where I teach during the 'Smart Lunch' ie free period time.I thought this would be a good way to share the sport of fly-fishing as well as pay forward a lot of folks who have helped me along the journey.

As I planned out the first class I looked around at all the great classic fly patterns and then at the 'Trash Flies' and thought what would be a good choice? Then my eye wandered to something left on the bench from this summers adventures. Bluegill flies were on the bench and I smiled to myself thinking of all the great fun. Why not? Lets teach them about locally common fish that in my opinion will teach them the fundamentals of fly fishing.

Bluegill are common around the United States, they fight, the eat flies, and they hone the skills. If you think they are just for kids and bobber you haven't hooked a big one on a 3 weight rod.


Top
Hook: #10 Kink Shank
Body: Foam spider (bought
Legs: medium rubber white

Middle
Hook: #10 Kink Shank
Body: Foam sheets Under black and Shell white
Indicator. Yellow
Legs: medium rubber white

Bottom
Hook: #10 Kink Shank
Body: Foam sheets Under black and Shell white
Legs: medium rubber white

Tips. make the legs longer. Can trim on the water as need be. Indicator piece helps visibility.

Use the technique mentioned in a previous article here 

Herb Scissors Can Spice Up the Tying Bench

Comments welcome.

Dedicated to my son. I love you.

Herb Scissors Can Spice Up the Tying Bench

Herb Scissor

The other day while on a 'Picking' adventure to the local yard sales, flea market, and thrift shop I came across a pair of these curious scissors. My first time seeing a pair. I ask a price just for the curiosity. Fifty cents later I had them in my treasure back pack. I originally thought them for a crafting application. A little internet research later I found what they were really designed for. Good to know, but you know me that wasn't where they would end up ;) 

Herb Scissors www.fig1.co.uk

They will cut closed cell foam as in the pictures. So here's what I think they will be good for: indicator strips, small terrestrials, 'strike indicators', and any thing else a small uniform piece of foam is needed for. Cut quickly and fairly precisely through the material.

They also cut well through Mylar, holographic sheets, potato chip bags, and similar materials.

I believe I got my two bit worth. Hope this helps someone on their tying journey. As always tell what you think in some feedback comments. Good idea or bad? Where else could it go?

Dedicated to my son. I love you.