Thursday, April 27, 2023

Friday Flies: Wooly Worm by Ryan Ratliff

 


The Wooly Worm is a staple in my fly box for many different species.  Basically, it is a Wooly Bugger with a yarn tail. This fly is simple and productive!  In the right colors this fly can replicate anything from mulberries to fish eggs, to Zooplankton clusters.  Although it catches many species, Bluegills are my favorite fish by far.  Any panfish for that matter seldom let you down by turning up their nose to an improperly presented fly.  You can either match specific food like Dragon Fly nymphs or use this as an attractor in fluorescent colors.

The Wooly Worm can be fished in many different water columns.  Fish it near the surface by not adding weight and using a light wire hook or add a few wraps of lead wire to fish it deeper.  In this tutorial, we picked a slightly heavier hook to help the fly sink slowly.  Often I find that our flies will sink too fast out of the strike zone or will snag/grab debris on the bottom of lakes. When fishing lakes, a fly that sinks slowly will often out produce all other patterns. Being able to see the fly and how the fish reacts to the retrieve will teach you a lot about their behavior and what the fish like.  

It is early Spring right now and the water temps are fluctuating from the cool night temps.  A key for finding big Bluegills in the Spring is to fish drop-offs close to shallow flats.  These locations will hold fish most of the year, but in the transition seasons this is the place to be.  I like to make a long cast out over deep water, let the fly sink just out of sight and then begin slowly stripping it back.  With a floating line, the fly will slowly rise in the water column with every strip. I will try to keep the fly in view if the water clarity allows.  As you continue to strip in the fly vary your speed and pause length to keep the fly off of the bottom as not to collect debris.  Watch for the fish to actually take the fly or the end of the floating line to twitch and pull.  A small strip set is needed and you are in for a battle.  Do not be surprised if a large Bass, Catfish, Carp or anything else in the lake is on the other end!

Step 1: Place hook in vise. Start thread one hook eye length back from the eye and wrap back to the hook barb.


Step 2: Cut a short piece of Sparkle Yarn. Starting one hook eye length back from the eye carefully tie the yarn down on the hook shank.  Make sure that you create an even base with thread.  


Step 3: Cut a short length of 4x tippet (approx. five inches).  Tie it down with crossing wraps over top of the yarn and the length hanging out over the tail/back of the hook.


Step 4: Place the tippet in the material keeper back out of way. 


Step 5: Lash down Chenille evenly just like with the yarn using even thread wraps.  Place the chenille out of the way in the material keeper.


Step 6: Select a properly sized grizzly hackle and strip off fibers from the left-hand side.  Tie in the feather about an inch down from the tip.  Make sure that the fibers are facing you when you tie the hackle down.


Step 7: Advance your thread toward the eye of the hook, place a half hitch in your thread, and then place it over your bobbin holder.


Step 8: Wrap your Chenille forward evenly using the rotary feature of your vise. Tie off the Chenille making sure not to crowd the eye of the hook. Trim off the Chenille.


Step 9: Place another half hitch in your thread and place back on the bobbin cradle.  Carefully wrap your hackle forward with spaced out “candy cane” wraps.  Make sure to add an extra turn of hackle right at the head before tying off and trimming the feather.


Step 10: Place a half hitch in the thread again and place on the bobbin holder.


Step 11: Firmly grab the tippet out of the material holder.


Step 12: Wrap the tippet counter wrap style (the opposite direction as the hackle) over the hackle making sure not to trap the hackle fibers down.


Step 13: Tie off the tippet and whip finish your thread at the eye. Create a slightly larger thread head. In this pattern, a larger thread head is an expectation. This thread head is used as a hot spot.


Step 14: Trim the tail to a length just shorter than the hook shank.  Add some UV resin to the thread head and your done.  


Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Upcoming Spring Schools and Classes

 


Spring 2023


Wednesday, April 26th- Entomology 101 Class- 7-9 p.m.- Register Here


Monday, May 8th- 1-Day Fly Fishing School at Briarwood Sporting Club- Register Here


Wednesday, May 10th- Beginners Fly Fishing Program- 7-9 p.m.-  Register Here


Satruday, May 20th- Knots and Leaders Class- 9 - 11 a.m.- Register Here


Sunday, May 21st- 1-Day Fly Fishing School- Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here


Monday, May 22nd- Basic Fly Casting Class- 6-8 p.m.- Register Here


Saturday, May 27th- Advanced/Saltwater Fly Casting Class- 8-11 a.m.- Register Here


Wednesday, May 31st- Basic Knots and Rigging Class- 7-9 p.m.- Register Here


Monday, June 5th- Basic Fly Casting Class- 6-8 p.m.- Register Here


Wednesday, June 14th- Enotomology 101 Class- 7-9 p.m.- Register Here


Saturday and Sunday, June 17th and 18th- 2-Day Fly Fishing School at Briarwood Sporting Club- Register Here


Sunday, June 25th- 1-Day Fly Fishing School at Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here


Monday, June 26th- Women's Fly Fishing Outing at Briarwood Sporting Club with guide Katie Johnstone- Register Here


Wednesday, June 28th- Basic Fly Casting Class- 7-9 p.m.- Register Here



Click Here for full details and pricing on all Schools and Classes!

Click Here for the full Calendar of events at Mad River Outfitters

Private Lessons always available!

As always, feel free to give us a call at the shop if any questions!

614-451-0363



Thursday, April 13, 2023

Craft Fur Minnr' by Pat Kelly


 The Craft Fur Minnr' is a quick and easy to tie baitfish pattern. No real history or fun stories attached with this one. Just a no nonsense streamer that fishes on a floating line just as well as it does on an intermediate. You can very easily slip a tungsten bead onto the hook shank and along with the lead keel and you have a great little streamer that does really well in smaller water pocket picking with a floating line! Stick with a lead wire keel and spin a small clump of deer hair at the head and now you have a fun and super swimmy buoyant fly that fishes great on an intermediate line. This fly can be tied as small as 2.5" and as large as 5-6".  Twist a few up and let us know how it works for you!

Step 1: Insert hook into vise and before starting thread attach some 0.025 lead wire and wrap 6-12 times down the bend of the hook. The number of wraps and size of lead wire can be adjusted to fly size and personal preference or objective. Once wire is in place lay a strip of UV Flex Resin to secure in place. 



Step 2: With your thread directly above the barb tie in a sparse bunch of craft fur. It helps to lay a small dollop of Z-Ment on your thread base before securing the craft fur. This will bond the craft to the hook and prevent it from spinning. Ideally your tie in point will be just above the hook's barb forward to the end of the hooks point. 



Step 3: Using the same tie in point as the craft fur lay down a small bundle of Ostrich Herl and tie in. This step can be skipped if you want but I find the Ostrich adds some really nice extra movement to the tail of this fly. If you want to layer in some flash to your tail now would be the time to do so.

 

Step 4: Select another bundle of craft fur. This time a little more than you used for the tail and about 20% shorter. Lay the material on top of the hook so that the tips are facing forward (you will reverse tie the material) make three loose capturing wraps and spread the material evenly around the hook. Secure the material the rest of the way and push material back over itself and bullet tie into place. 



Step 5: Before proceeding forward I like to take a bundle of Ripple Ice Fiber and blend into the previous cone of craft fur. 



Step 6: Advance thread directly in front of your bullet tie. Tie in the Spectrum Glimmer Chenille and wrap tight side by side wraps approximately half way up the remaining shank length.

 

Step 7: Directly in front of your last tie off point you will tie in a clump of Craft Fur in white on the bottom of the hook shank and a clump of grey olive Craft Fur on the top. These will be reverse tied just as before. You will want each piece to be approximately the same length as the previous cone of Craft Fur, just a little more material. By doing so you will help bring shape and taper to the fly. Once secure push back and bullet tie in place to secure. 



Step 8: At this stage I will keep my thread where it is and add a generous clump of olive Ripple Ice Fiber. This will bring some flash into the fly but also add a nice darker shade and bring contrast to the fly....aka just looks a little cooler!



Step 9: Advance thread to just in front of your bullet tie. Center tie a clump of white Laser Dub on the bottom and do the same with a piece of olive Laser Dub for the top. Once both are in place, fold backwards and advance thread to just in front and build a small dam to help train the material rearwards. 



Step 10: Repeat the previous step as before. This should bring you to right behind the eye of the hook when finished. Whip finish to secure thread and cut off. 



Step 11: Take your favorite comb or brush and blend laser dub into the body of the fly. This will help bring the fly together and blend everything so the head and body seem as one. When finished, attach your favorite 3D eyes and coat with UV Flex resin.


 

Step 12: Just add water!

Recipe
Hook: Ahrex TP610 #2 
Thread: Veevus 6/0
0.025 Lead Wire
Craft Fur: White and Gray Olive
Ostrich Herl: White
Ripple Ice Fiber: Minnow Mix and Olive
Spectrum Glimmer Chenille: Olive
Senyo's Laser Dub: White and Olive
Flymen Living Eyes: 7mm, color of choice
SolarEz Flex Resin
Hareline Bone Comb

Monday, April 10, 2023

 


Andros Island Bonefish Club


We have been hosting clients at the Andros Island Bonefish Club since 1999!

Andros offers some of the best bonefishing on the planet and we take pride in "exceeding" expectations on this trip.

Join host Pat Kelly for the Fall excursion...a great time for big numbers of bonefish.......and Brian Flechsig on our annual Spring trip. Always great fun!

All you need to do is get to Andros Island, which is easy, bring an 8wt and a few bonefish flies......and we'll do the rest!

Click the links below for pricing and details and don't hesitate to call the shop if you have any questions- 614-451-0363. Tons of photos and a few videos on the website too.




November 11th- 16th, 2023- with host Pat Kelly

Click Here

February 24th- March 2nd, 2024- with host Brian Flechsig

Click Here



Hosted Fly Fishing Trips since 1994!

833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
www.madriveroutfitters.com

Saturday, April 1, 2023

New Groundbreaking YouTube Series

 

Announcing our new, groundbreaking YouTube Series: "Live Fly Tying"




This will be a 29, or 41 episode series designed to "bridge the gap" between bait fishing and fly fishing. Something that has never been done...until now. The series will feature Brian Flechsig, Ryan Ratliff, Katie Johnstone, Andy Jensen, Pat Kelly and more.

They have developed a new line of materials and techniques that have never been seen before in our industry!

Stay tuned....the series starts soon!



This is yet another in our long line of innovative products that Mad River Outfitters has proudly brought to the fly fishing industry!


You may remember our "Like Butter" line of products that we introduced 4 years ago today. These have changed the industry and the line is still selling well. So well that we had to double the size of the herd!



Then, in 2021, we completely revolutionized dry fly fishing with our line of flavored fly floatants.




Here at Mad River Outfitters, we are always working to bring you the latest in advancements in fly fishing products.....ones that you won't find anywhere else. We guarantee it!


Happy April and please stay tuned!



833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com