October 31, 2010

the "new" USCARPPRO

USCARPPRO
Check out the newly designed USCARPPRO Magazine website. Catch up on those back issues in their online library. Now featuring an online forum to answer all your questions about carp and roughfish angling. Browse their store in the upcoming months for some USCARPPRO swag, as well as enter into one of their competitions for a chance for some free gear. See what's coming next in the carp and rough fish revolution!

USCARPPRO
Subscribe today. Best of all it's free!

October 27, 2010

Sanchismos

The banditos of the roughfish world: Silver Redhorse.

Silver
Silver
Silver
Sancho Panza style.

October 26, 2010

Don Quijote

melanistic COP
While lacking in size, this badboy was sight-fished to with a Dragon Slayer out of a 12" by 12" opening in the weeds. Caught on the first cast too. Always tops in my book.

October 21, 2010

Schwagadocious

schwagadocious
This fly is a motherfucker. Lethal in all of the seven deadly sins. Proven to catch carp.

October 20, 2010

korda hooks

Korda hooks
Korda hooks
Some tasty ass teflon coated capr hooks for your pleasure, courtesy of USCARPPRO Magazine. Let's see how they tie....

October 19, 2010

homage

What do you get when you cross Mike's Carp Candy with a Carp Crack?

crack is candy
Trouble.... Check out what's going on with Carpfather Mike Grose and the Free State Fly Fishers.

October 15, 2010

the harvest

While many of you were squeezing in last minute trips to the beach, fishing outings, or backyard barbecues, I spent much of my last summer weekends out collecting native prairie wildflower and tallgrass seeds. A great activity for the family, I was able to spend some high quality time with the kids out walking the tallgrass, taking the chance to embrace the much under-appreciated beauty of our prairies.

tallgrass and wildflower seeds
Now that the summer sun has faded and the seeds have dried, I took the opportunity to winnow the seeds and sort out the undesirable stems, leaves, and leftover cones. After a little fall cleanup around the yard, I overseeded the riparian area below the house, in efforts to enhance the diversity of the developing wildlfower community that I've established over the past few seasons. Being a good steward of our riparian areas is just common sense, something that many in our world seem to lack these days.

tallgrass and wildflower seeds
tallgrass and wildflower seeds
During those Fall walks down gravel forest roads in the brisk morning sun of the northwoods, something is needed to pass the time between flushes of ruffed grouse. I collected a bag of cones from some of the prized conifers of the boreal forest: red pine, white pine, balsam fir, douglas fir, jack pine, and the northern whitecedar. Hopefully some of these cones will take root in my wooded swamp.

conifer seeds

October 13, 2010

Bedbugs

bedbugs
Inspired after perusing an old back issue of Fly Fishing & Tying Journal from 2005, the Biot Bug by Scott Sanchez gave birth to the Bedbug. Naturally, I opted for my seal substitute dubbing instead of the original winging material used, and swapped rubber legs for the biot tail. I also swapped the positioning of the peacock dubbed thorax from behind the hackle to the front, just behind the beadhead. I prefer the look of the soft hackled thorax to ride closer to the body, rather than being splayed out. This also allows for a cleaner head section. See my version of a Biot Bug below, followed by my creation, the Bedbug.

Biot Bug
peacock brown
Bedbug:

Hook: 2X Strong 1X Long (Curved optional), Size 8
Thread: 6/0 UNI, black or dark brown
Tail/Body: Centipede Legs, color to match body
Rib: Ultra Wire, Brassie
Thorax: Seal Substitute Dub
Hackle: Ruffed Grouse
Head: Seal Substitute Dub, Peacock
Bead: Tungsten 3.2mm

peacock
KB
Brownstain
Yerba Buena
KB

October 12, 2010

Talk Dirty To Me

Peacock dubbing blends
Take some peacock dub and add a dose of some purple haze. The only thing missing from most commercial peacock dubbing blends is a little iridescence. Some brands will throw in a little Angelina, which is good and all for a coarser blend. But if you're looking for a smooth blend with a subdued hint of iridescence, purple antron is the way to go.

Peacock Poison
I used a blend of nine different shades of green, yellow, blue, and purple antron. This spectral dubbing blend more closely resembles the true vibrance of real peacock, than other blend I've seen. The result is a sexy concoction of fibers, a lethal dose Peacock Poison.

October 8, 2010

Secret Pond

Somewhere near the Canadian border...

secret pond
pond view
red pine
glacial erratic
fractals
crimson
red oak
Full panoramic. Click on the image for larger version.

panoramic

October 7, 2010

USCARPPRO Magazine Issue 16

The latest issue of USCARPPRO Magazine is out.

USCARPPRO Magazine
Check out Issue 16 for some DIY dubbing tips from the roughfisher.

October 6, 2010

Bling Bling

Bling Bling
What I've got you've got to give it to your mama.

Coppertone
Mama Pearl
KB's
Candy Apple
Some delicious giant midge/caddis monstrosities to savor the fall hunt with. Got Bling?

October 5, 2010

roughfisher's vault 2010.10.05

Point:


The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five, Jazz Casual, 1961.


Counterpoint:


George Benson - Take Five, Montreux, Switzerland, 1986.

October 4, 2010

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming....

It's been awhile since we've featured some fly tying content so here's a little somethin' somethin' to get you started. Starting off with some hare and squirrel dub in the flavor of DSP grey. A little bump was added to the UV blend to make it sparkletastic.
DSP Greys
UV DSP Grey
DSP Grey
Knock knock
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Seriously though, this is some more smooth rollin' dub of the orange variety. Another rendition of the KB "Kinds Buds" blend, just a bit more orangetastic. And for the chem-free folks, some Bro is what the doctor ordered, Orange Julius style.

brosefs
KB
Bro
Always a winner in my circle, Yerba Buena is not the least bit harsh, even if it may resemble some mexi-brick schwag. Smooth.
No stems no seeds that you don't need, Acapulco Gold is...

Yerba Buena
Peacock Power. This blend is indispensable. 'Nuff said.

Peacock Power
Aww jeah!