Tying the Indestructible Pike Fly

 

This is a simple, easy to tie fly for pike. I first saw this fly in an article by C Boyd Pfeiffer in Northwest Fly Fishing. The Body Fur makes a full and durable body. This streamer doesn't hold water like rabbit fur flies, which makes it much easier to cast.

Yet another reason to get back to the Missouri (in Montana)

Down & Across from scumliner media on Vimeo.


My poor neglected Z-Axis 6126-4 is in need of a fishing trip. Where to go? I think this superb video from Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig, Montana has answered that question.

I also need to buy TCX switch rod- we aren't talking wants here, only needs. Now what weight do I buy? Maybe I need the 5 and the 7.

Sipping Dry Trailer

Need to get back to the Missouri River and visit my friends at Headhunters Fly Shop...check out this video trailer to see why.

Sipping Dry trailer from Sharptail Media on Vimeo.

 

 

 

Tying the Murdich Minnow

The Murdich Minnow originated as a pattern for striped bass, but has proved itself as a fantastic freshwater fly for smallmouth bass, northern pike, and muskies.

Tying the WD-40

A great fly for beginning fly tyers. This simple mayfly nymph imitation is a fish catching machine. Tie it in a variety of colors to mimic the small mayflies in your favorite rivers and streams.

Tying the Blood Midge Pupa

A fly tying video demonstrating a simple and effective blood midge pupa. Featuring the Daiichi 1273 red hook.

Tying with Hans- Chewee Caddis Larva

Chewee skin is a great material for adding realistic bodies to fly patterns. In this video UV Chewee skin is used to create a simple to tie, but realistic looking caddis larva.

Tying the Fish Skull Articulated Minnow

An articulated streamer pattern tied with the new articulated shanks from Flymen. This streamer is tied to imitate a minnow, but this fly can be used as a reference on how to use the new shanks.

Tying the Czech Quill Body Nymph

Here is a play on a thread bodied nymph with a hot spot. Most eastern European nymph patterns have hot spot to attract fish to strike the fly. This is a concept worth exploring. Try adding the hot
spot while keeping the overall fly slender. These patterns are producing well on Rapid Creek in a two fly rig. I typically fish this fly above a jig fly.

Tying the Bottom Tick-ler Tungsten Jig

This color scheme of tungsten jig is tremendously effective. Fish this fly as the bottom fly on a two fly rig, with a lighter nymph or soft hackle above it. I have had great luck with a small soft hackle on a dropper tag fished above this fly. Fish a larger heavier jig in faster or deeper water to get down faster.

Tying the CDC Extended Body Dun

This video features an extended body technique I came up with several years ago. It has worked quite well to imitate Baetis mayflies and PMDs. Change the color of the tubing for the species of mayfly you are imitating. It can also be used for a caddis or stonefly body.

Tying the CDC Emerging Mayfly Nymph

This has been a very successful pattern for imitating emerging late summer yellow mayflies, especially pale evening duns. It has fooled many selective fish on our tailwater. The body and thorax are made of CDC. This pattern can be tied in various color schemes to imitate different mayfly species. It can also be tied on a curved emerger style hook.

Dang purty brown trout

Had to post this one. One of the prettiest browns I have ever caught. Doesn't hurt that it was a big one...

Fly Tying with Hans- Sunken Trico Spinner

This is an excellent pattern by Ed Engle and can be found in his book Tying Small Flies. Fishing a sunken spinner at the tail end of a trico spinner fall will extend the hatch. Trout continue to feed on the spinners as they become water logged and begin to sink. Excellent when fished as a dropper under a dry fly.

Tying the Chernobyl Ant

This is a great all around summer attractor or hopper imitation. This color scheme has been a great all purpose color for me. It seems to cover a variety of big terrestrial insects- hoppers, crickets, flying ants, and big beetles. I tie this pattern in sizes 8-14.

Trico Time

I have been tying up a bunch of new trico patterns lately. Now it is time to get back out there and give them a try. The trico hatch has been great on Rapid Creek in town.

What are your favorite trico patterns?

Tying Hans' Hopper

There are many great hopper patterns out there. This pattern combines bits and pieces of several hopper patterns, with a couple of unique twists. 

As with most foam patterns, this hopper floats well. The accents of uv ice dub, cdc, and web wing add a few triggers. 

Tie in Tan, Olive, and Yellow. Sizes 2-14

Materials:

• Hook: Daiichi 1260 
• Thread: Ultra Thread 140
• Abdomen: 2mm foam
• Underwing: CDC
• Overwing: Mottled Web Wing
• Overwing 2: Deer Hair or Elk Hair
• Hind Legs: Round rubber legs
• Front Legs: Spirit River Tarantu-Legs
• Thorax: Ice Dubbing
• Head: 2mm Foam

Happy Tying

Tying the Ultra Violet Nymph

Based on nymphs from Czech fly tiers, the Ultra Violet Nymph is a very effective fly fished in the European or American styles of nymphing. It is also very effective fished as a dropper from a dry fly. This pattern works well to imitate mayfly nymphs as they rise through the water column on their way to the surface.

Tying Ryan's Quick Tie Caddis

This high floating caddis is easy to tie and the fish love it. Ryan started tying this pattern a couple of years ago after seeing something like it in Wyoming. Tie it with the body color to match the caddis on your stream. Tan is a good all around body color.

BASS Worm tied by Ryan "Skeeter" Gabert

Nevermind the silly accent and the off centered camera view, this fly works. It works especially well on largemouth, but I have caught a few catfish on it too. Hmm. Guess you'd better tie some. Tie it on a size 4 or 6. Good colors to tie are purple, black, and olive.

Tying Ryan's Carp Fly

Ryan Gabert's Carp Fly is easy to tie. It looks great in the water. Best of all it is darn effective at catching carp. Developed on South Dakota's storied flats, this fly deserves to be in any carp fly fisher's box.

Tie in a size 4-6. Tie in orange, olive, or tan.

Tying Ryan's Fire Ant

It's Ryan turn.

Ryan Gabert ties one of his favorite summer time patterns. Trout seldom pass up the chance to eat an ant. Ryan started tying his Fire Ant last summer and had great success. As temperatures start to warm, trout will start to key on terrestrials. Ants patterns are so effective that they deserve ample room in your fly box.

Tying Hans' Cicada

This fly surprised me, it caught fish on the small streams that I fish in the Black Hills. It brought large trout to the surface when nothing else would. Do they take it for a cicada? I don't know, but it does catch fish. This fly is inspired by the cicada patterns I encountered in New Zealand. I tie it in a size 6 but it can be tied larger or smaller depending on the size of the bugs in your neck of the woods.

Black Hills Streams June 8th 2011

Black Hills streams are clearing up and starting to fish quite well. Here are some photos of Spearfish Creek from June 8th. Thanks to Cody Fischer (one of the shop's guides) for the photos.

Click to see our current fishing report

Spearfish Creek at Cleopatra Creek confluence

Little Spearfish Creek along Roughlock Falls Rd.

Savoy Pond on Spearfish Creek

Black Hills Streams June 3rd 2011

Here are a few photos of some Black Hills streams taken yesterday afternoon. Little Spearfish, Upper Whitewood, Rapid Creek below Pactola, and Spring Creeks looked fishable. The main branch of Spearfish continues to drop and should be in good shape soon. Despite high flows fishing was reported as "very good" at Maurice Intake on Spearfish today. Flows have dropped 10 cfs on Spearfish Creek since these photos were taken. Warm weather is expected the next couple of days and flows should come down more quickly.

Spearfish Creek at Maurice Intake

Spearfish at Cleopatra Dr.

Spearfish Creek at Cleopatra confluence

Spearfish Creek above Iron Creek

Pond above Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Little Spearfish Creek

Little Spearfish Creek

Yates Ponds

Yates Ponds

Hanna Creek

Hanna Pond

Hanna Creek

Whitewood Creek near Englewood

Rapid Creek below Pactola Reservoir

Rapid Creek below Pactola Reservoir

Spring Creek below Sheridan Lake

Rapid Creek in Rapid City near Storybook Island

Tying the Bow River Bugger

The Bow River Bugger is an awesome streamer pattern that has proven its place in my fly box. I fish this pattern for trout and smallmouth bass alike. The fly has tons of movement and has a great profile in the water.

High Water

Streams are a bit high right now if you haven't noticed. Time to fish the lakes (which are fishing well by the way) or to head out and try your luck for warmwater species.

 Black Hills lakes are often overlooked and offer anglers good shots at fish in the 15-20" range. Good fishing has been reported from Pactola, Sheridan, Center, and Sylvan Lakes. Fish a mini leech or crystal bugger on an intermediate sinking line for all around success. Another technique that is akin to bobber fishing, but is very effective is to fish a strike indicator rig with a couple of chironomid patterns 4-8' below the indicator. Once you establish the depth the fish are holding, there will be plenty of action.

As for warmwater pursuits, fishing for white bass in Pierre has been good, smallmouth fishing is picking up on the missouri, and pike fishing has been good at Pactola. Sheridan and Stockade should start producing bass soon. Sounds like this could be a good year for everybody to get out and try their luck at getting a big northern on the fly.

Tying the Tungsten Mini Leech

This is my version of one of our most popular selling flies, the Bead Head Mini Leech. This fly has proven extremely effective on the lakes and streams of the Black Hills. However, it will no doubt work well on most trout lakes.

Take note of the "clump dubbing" technique that will make it easy to achieve full buggy dubbed bodies without the use of a dubbing loop.

Tie in Black, Olive, or Blood. Sizes 12-14

Tying the Translucent Midge Pupa

This easy to tie midge pupae pattern combines flash into translucence an attractive and fish catching package. Tie it in sizes 16-22. Vary the color of thread to change the color scheme of the fly.

Special Guests at this Saturday's Open House

Don't miss out on a special opportunity...

Our good friends from Andersen Sales Tom and Gail Andersen and Dave Gellatly will be at this weekends open house! These fine folks represent Sage, Rio, Redington, Umpqua Feather Merchants, and Tibor Reels. This is your chance to see and demo equipment from these companies and ask any questions about the gear to the people who know the most about it.

• Come and try out the newest Sage rods and reels.
• Preview the latest fly patterns from Umpqua Feather Merchants
• See the new Redington Sonic Pro Waders
• Find out what Rio fly line is best for any situation
• Get a chance to handle the new Tibor Signature Series Reel

Thanks to Tom, Gail, and Dave for travelling to be a part of this special event. These are great friends of the shop and of the Black Hills, please come out to see them!



Sage TXL-F Raffle to Benefit the Black Hills Fly Fishers

Andersen Sales has very generously donated a Sage TXL-F 7'10" 3 weight to be raffled off to benefit the Black Hills Fly Fishers. Please come out to support the club and to have a chance at winning this incredible fly rod.

Open House Event this Weekend

Mark your calendars! We are going to have a customer appreciation/5 year of Hans' ownership open house extravaganza on May 14th. There will be food, fun, special guests, and best of all some super special deals on some of your favorite products. This is a don't miss event!

Don't miss out on:

*Specials on select Simms Products (one day only be sure to be there to save on many of your favorite items)

*Gear Specials (one day only be sure to be there to save on many of your favorite items)

*Fly Tying Demos

*Crow Peak Brewery Tasting!

*Food

*Raffle tickets will be sold to benefit the Black Hills Fly Fishers. Raffle tickets will enter you in a drawing for a Sage TXL-F 7'10" 3 Weight

Specials will run all day. The shop will be open 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Tying the Boat Anchor Scud

Fishing the Bighorn or other western tailwater? Hate using split shot? Use this scud pattern in place of weight and save yourself the trouble of digging for split shot or untangling rigs. The trout dig it. Caught some of the biggest fish of the past trip on this fly.

Breaking News- Kelly Galloup coming for presentations this Saturday.

Don't forget that Kelly Galloup will be here this Saturday. This is an opportunity not to miss. Here is a run down:

Black Hills Flyfishers

Special Feature Presentation

Don't Miss this Opportunity!

Kelly Galloup
Nationally Known Host of Fly Fish TVon the Outdoor Life Network
Big Trout Fishing Guide and Angler on the Madison River, Montana- Fly Tying Author

Saturday May 7, 2011 in Rapid City, SD

Hands-On Streamer Fishing- May 7, 2011 11:00 am- at Canyon Lake Inlet- no flies on the end of your line will be allowed to insure the safety of all.

Tying Cripples and Spinners- May 7, 2011 2:00 pm- SD School of Mines Classroom Building- Room CB 204-  *see http://www.blackhillsflyfishers.blogspot.com/ for materials list*

Tying Big Trout Streamers- May 7, 2011 4:00 pm- SD School of Mines Classroom Building- Room CB 204-  *see http://www.blackhillsflyfishers.blogspot.com/ for materials list*

Proven Streamer Tactics for Big Trout- May 7, 2011 7:00 pm- School of Mines Classroom Building- Room CB 204

All sessions are free!

Please RSVP to any of the events so we can plan on the number of people attending each session.

RSVP to this email address: blackhillsflyfishers@gmail.com

Tying the CDC Split Wing Sparkle Dun

Tying the CDC Split Wing Sparkle Dun

The name is a mouthful. Got to improve the fly naming skills. Well it works anyway.

Blue Winged Olives (aka Baetis) create superb early and late season hatches. This simple but effective take on the sparkle dun pattern features a split CDC wing. Fish this fly as fish begin to feed on the surface. Its fine if the fly hangs a bit in the film. This fly can even be tied on a curved shank emerger hook to fish as an emerger.

Fly Fishing Film Tour Coming to Rapid City April 23rd 2011

Don't forget that the Film Tour is coming to the Elks Theatre this Saturday April 23rd.

The showing is set for Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the Elks Theatre. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:00pm. Advance tickets are available at Dakota Angler & Outfitter for $12. Tickets the night of the show will be $15. Stop by the shop to get your tickets!

Hans' Sowbug

Tying Hans' Sowbug

Hans' Sowbug is an alternative to some of the more common sowbug patterns. This pattern has worked quite well on the Bighorn River. The Ray Charles pattern works great, but it is nice to have a slightly different fly to try if the fish get picky.

Tying the Euro Jig Pheasant TailNymph

Tying the Pheasant Tail Jig Nymph

European nymphing is gaining in popularity here in the Estados Unidos, as it should. The techniques that have been used in France, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic deserve attention. They add a new perspective to nymph fishing and open up new opportunities on our home waters.

The jig style nymphs employed in various tight line nymphing techniques give the angler the option to fish right on the bottom without fear of repeated snag-ups. The weight from these jigs keeps the the multiple fly rig taunt and allows for better telegraphing of strikes.

The jig in this video is a pheasant tail style nymph. Many of our standard nymph patterns can be adapted to tying on these new jig hooks- The Umpqua C400BL Competition Hook.


www.flyfishsd.com

Tying the Skinny Nelson

Tying the Skinny Nelson

The Skinny Nelson is a Baetis nymph pattern developed for the Bighorn River in Montana by Tracy Peterson. It is a simple but deadly fly. It works great in any stream or river with small mayfly nymphs. It can be tied with or without a tungsten bead. Typically it is tied in sizes 18-20, but tying them in slightly larger or smaller sizes works too.

www.flyfishsd.com

Tying the Ray Charles Sowbug Pattern

Tying the Ray Charles Sowbug

The Ray Charles pattern is a Bighorn River staple. It catches fish everyday of the year on the Bighorn. It works on many other tailwaters. It works to imitate small scuds as well as sowbugs.

Tie this in tan, pink, gray, or white.

Tying the Prince Nymph

Tying the Prince Nymph

Does anybody go fly fishing without a few prince nymphs in their box? I hope not. This is a fantastic nymph pattern that fools trout all over the world. The pattern is credited to Doug Prince.

This pattern can be tied with or without a bead. It can also be weighted with lead wire.

Tying the Mercury Midge, aka Glass Bead Midge, aka Cream Midge

This is one of the best flies to begin a tying career. These flies are simple to tie. Tying a glass bead midge teaches how to wrap thread and how to rib a body. Probably the best reason for tying this pattern is, that despite being so simple to tie, it catches loads of fish. For the waters I regularly fish, it makes more sense to tie a few dozen of these rather than tying a box full of wooly buggers.

Vary the thread colors to include black, olive, and red bodies. The availability of wire and thread colors makes for endless color combinations.

Tying the Hare's Ear Nymph

Tying the Hare's Ear Nymph

Another classic nymph. The Hare's Ear Nymph can be found in fly boxes around the globe. The version tied here is the now standard version found in most fly shops. It can be tied with lead wire for weight, or with a bead head for flash and weight. Tie in sizes 10-20.

Tying the Soft Hackled Pheasant Tail

This is a soft hackled "hot spot" version of the Pheasant Tail Nymph. The addition of the soft hackle adds movement to the fly and allow it to be fished on the swing as well as dead drifted. The hot spot is optional but it definitely adds a trigger to the fly. Great in sizes 12-20.

Tying the Elk Hair Caddis

Al Troth's Elk Hair Caddis is a classic. This pattern is a stand-by that should be in every fly-fisher's box. The basic pattern shown in this video features a tan color scheme. The Elk Hair Caddis can be tied in several colors to match the caddis hatching, but the tan is a good all around fly.

Tie in sizes 12-20. Tie with tan, black, or olive bodies. Experiment with Ice dubbing for the body to add flash to the fly.

Fly Fishing Film Tour Coming to Rapid City April 23rd 2011

The 2011 Fly Fishing Film Tour is coming to Rapid City's Elk's Theater on April 23rd. Buy Tickets in advance for $12 at Dakota Angler & Outfitter. Tickets can be purchased the night of the show for $15. Come on out to see some of the most exciting fly fishing footage ever captured on film. This is a great way to kick off the fishing season!

Doors Open: 6:30PM

Show Starts: 7:00PM

Showing at:

Elk's Theatre
512 6th Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Click here for more information on the film tour and the films on tour.

Tying the Yellow Stimulator

Tying the Yellow Stimulator

The Stimulator is one of the best attractor dry flies around. Stimulators are extremely versatile. Use them as alone or with a dropper. Kudos to Randall Kaufmann for a great pattern.

For Black Hills Fishing the best sizes are a size 12 for a searching fly or for use with a dropper, or sizes 16-18 for use during hatches of little yellow sally stoneflies.

Great fished in sizes 6 down to size 18.

Tying Pheasant Tail Nymphs

 Troth's Pheasant Tail Nymph

The Pheasant Tail Nymph is one of the most widely used nymphs on trout streams throughout the world, and for good reason. This fly is one of the most productive flies of all time.

This version is tied in the newer american style. Al Troth is widely credited with creating this version of the pheasant tail nymph.

Great fished in sizes 12 down to size 20 or 22. 



Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph




Soft Hackled Pheasant Tail Nymph

Tying the Adult Cranefly

Cranefly Adult

Craneflies are often overlooked by trout anglers as a food source. Craneflies, both in their larval form and their adult form, can be very abundant. On our local waters I have had tremendous luck the past several seasons fishing both the larva and the adults.

This adult pattern came about after watching two large rainbows fight over an cranefly that was skittering down a riffle on our local tailwater. I tied up a couple of these and caught several fish on the next outing.

On this video I used 210 UTC thread because my bench was such a mess that I couldn't find my bobbin with white 120 UTC thread. It was a bit too bulky at the front of the fly. Use 140 denier.

Tying the Hot Spot Nymph

For the past several months this pattern has been very effective on my home waters of Rapid Creek. Where I fish it is best tied in sizes 14-16 This pattern is well suited to use in a Spanish or French nymphing rig.

Feel free to alter the body color and change the color of the hot spot. I have had good luck with a black body and a purple thorax, as well as a black body with an orange thorax.

www.flyfishsd.com

Fly Tying with Hans- Tungsten Undertaker

Tungsten Undertaker Nymph

This is a great little nymph that I started fishing about a year ago. It works well as a dropper behind a larger offering. I typically fish it in size 18. The tungsten teardrop adds a good dose of weight. When fished behind a weighted front fly in a two fly nymph rig the need for additional split shot or weight putty is eliminated. This patter is also well suited to use in a Spanish or French nymphing rig. Black is my favorite color for this nymph, however any number of color combinations or schemes would work well.

www.flyfishsd.com

Fly Tying with Hans- Creepy Crawly Stonefly Nymph

 




Creepy Crawly Stonefly Nymph

This stonefly nymph pattern mixes realism, weight, and flash to achieve a balanced and effective fly. The golden pheasant legs add the hint of realistic legs and dress up the pattern. Fish in faster freestone rivers with good populations of stonefly nymphs. Can be tied on straight shanked hooks as well as curved. In smaller sizes it mimics the nymph of the little yellow stoneflies found in the streams of the Black Hills.