Pass the Cocktail Sauce

Lipton's Cocktail Sauce:
Hook: Scorpion Venom 2X, Size 8
Thread: UNI Thread, 6/0 Black
Tail: Ultra Chenille, Micro, Olive
Case: Furry Foam, Tan
Body: Roughfisher's custom dub, UV Gold
Legs:: Krystal Flash, UV Tan; Coyote guard hair, coyote underfur
Eyes: #3 (2.4 mm) ball chain, black
Weight: Two strands .025 Lead wire

This fly is patterned after mysid (opposum) freshwater shrimp. Most shrimp range less than 25 mm (1 inch) in length. While mostly common to the Great Lakes basin, mysid shrimp have been introduced to certain tailwaters in the western US. This pattern, however can be tied small enough to mimic other freshwater amphipods like scuds, or even a bit larger to imitiate brackish water and saltwater shrimp species. The pattern can be tied several color variations to match the local forage.


Notes: The fly profile may appear to be less realistic tied hook side up compared to a traditional style tied fly (hook side down, body/legs covering hook gape and hook point). Having the fly tied hook side up, however, should allow for increased hook ups and greater hook penetration, especially when sight fishing on the flats. The ball chain eyes are tied double truck style on top of the hook shank, and there are two strands of lead wire tied on the top of the hook shank just behind the eyes. This should help your fly land hook side up and keep it riding that way.

Latergrams - Week 36

I realize that content being published on the blog has not exactly been superfluous this year. For that I apologize to my viewers, if any of you are even left here to read this. It's not that content isn't being created, it is! It's just that I haven't been posting and publishing that content directly to the blog. There always was, and will continue to be, content being published directly to roughfisher.com's social media outlets, due to its design to be simple, interactive and in real-time.

There is a need from time to time to have and maintain a static database, a log if you will, of all of my published content. This is where my blog will likely reside for the indefinite future. It is a trend I have been observing across the board, and frankly with my time constraints, it is quite burdensome and daunting to transcribe all of my content on the blog on a daily basis. Thus, I will bring to you a weekly digest highlighting my most popular Instagram photos of the week, so that you, the reader, can stay abreast of what's being created at my vise or being caught out on the water, even if you do not participate in social media. So please enjoy, and if you have any comments, question, or concerns, with my future publishing content and delivery methods, please do not hesitate to leave a comment or use the Contact form to notify me. The following listed are links to my various social media outlets. Please check them out if you haven't already done so and follow! Thanks!

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Lipton's Black Flag

Lipton's Black Flag:
Hook: Umpqua U401 (O'Shaugnessy Stainless) Size 6
Thread: UNI Thread, 6/0 Black
Tail: Moose Mane
Body: Roughfisher's custom dub, Black Gold
Underwing: Krystal Flash, Black/Peacock
Legs: India Hen, natural
Thorax: 3.2 mm tungsten bead; Roughfisher's custom dub, Black Gold
Eyes: #3 (2.4 mm) ball chain, black

This fly is patterned after the black quill mayfly, Leptophlebia Cupida, prevalent in northern Minnesota in early Summer. Most nymphs range in the 9-11 mm size range with adults measuring around 15 mm. While not prolific enough to generate superhatches, their medium to large size and their propensity to school up and migrate upstream like minnows are enough to make this species of mayfly relevant to anglers. As a result, I would not hesitate to fish this fly as a streamer in riffle sections or in pocket water adjacent to the slack water they are known to reside in much of the year. Due to the dark coloration and size of this pattern, these would also fish well as a larger mayfly, or stonefly or skwala nymph pattern.


Notes: I like to tie on heavy, short-shanked hooks, so even though this particular pattern is tied on a size 6 O'Shaugnessy hook, the body of the fly is probably sized closer to a traditional sized 10 or 12 nymph hook. I colored the hook black with a marker to keep hook glare down and give the fly a dark, subdued look. Like most mayfly nymphs, I tie mine heavy; there is a tungsten bead tied in underneath the body just behind the bead chain eyes. This will help keep your fly in the zone when fish riffles or deep runs.

Lipton's Crushtacean

Perhaps better suited for the salt flats, this shrimp pattern will provide plenty of protein to any freshwater predator.

Lipton's Crushtacean:
Hook: O'Shaugnessy, Stainless, Size 6
Thread: UNI Thread, 6/0 Fire Orange
Tail: Calf Tail, gray
Body: Roughfisher's custom seal sub dub, DSP Grey
Underwing: Krystal Flash, UV Tan
Wing: Calf Tail, gray
Thorax: Ruffed Grouse; Roughfisher's custom seal sub dub, DSP Grey
Antennae: Centipede Legs, Medium, Gray.
Eyes: #8 (5/32") bead chain, black

Notes: Eyes are tied in double wide, i.e. four beads on the chain instead of the normal two. This is also known as "hammerhead" style. Not only does this provide a wider profile, it also adds a bit of rattle and movement.
Antennae can be trimmed to length, if preferred.
This pattern is tied to imitate a forward swimming shrimp; if a rear swimming shrimp is preferred, simply move the bead chain to the rear of the hook instead of behind the hook eye.

Fly Carpin 2014 Carp Fly Swap

My entrants to the Fly Carpin 2014 Carp Fly Swap, a drift of Whistle Pigs.

Check out McTage's swap page to see all of the tasty shizz that has been submitted to this year's swap. Forty tyers, that's a lot of fly porn!

Crawfish Boil

Lipton's Craw Diddy
Hook: Umpqua U502 (1X Strong O'Shaugnessy), Size 4
Thread: UNI-Thread, 6/0, Brown
Antennae: Calf/Kiptail, Rusty Brown
Claws: Centipede legs, Medium, Brown (Or other rubber/silicone legs)
Eyes: 5/32" bead chain, Black
Body: 3 strips .025 lead on top of hook shank; Roughfisher Spectral Seal Sub Dub, Cinnamon
Shell: Latex, 1/8", Brown
Rib: UltraWire, Brassie, Blue
Tail: Calf/Kiptail, Rusty Brown
Weedguard: 50# Hard Mono, Green

2013 Instagram Highlights

Fly Tyer Winter 2013

"Check out the "12 Dependable Carp Flies" article by Peter Elkins in the Winter 2013 Issue of Fly Tyer for a glimpse of some #carpcrack in print. #carpfood #carppro #flytying #artisanflies"

Happy Thanksgiving

view full image

"While we're all feasting on turkey tomorrow, just think, carp could be feasting on this! #carpfood #carponthefly #carppro #turkeyday #flytying "

welcome to the instagram show

Finally joined the party and hopped on the instagram train. Plenty of eye candy and fish porn to go around. Check us out and follow at instagram.com/roughfisher. Here's a teaser.

Carp Camp 2013 Beaver Island, MI: The Results

I'm not gonna lie, the fishing during Carp Camp was tough. Extremely tough. Like dragging a fly across a carp's nose without a reaction tough. Make no mistake, we had plenty of shots at fish, and as far as numbers go, I was happy with the amount of fish we saw for the time of year. But the fish were off and not interested in taking flies. Frustrating.



We all managed to catch some fish, and most importantly carp. Unlike the TFM trip, there were more than two carp caught total. Everyone at Carp Camp tallied at least two carp a piece, with a couple fish breaking twenty pounds. I was lucky enough to capture the big fish of the trip with a twenty-three pound post-spawn carp. If that fish had been holding eggs it definitely would have broken the thirty pound mark.




I was sweating bullets most of the trip. I was lucky to brush off the carp skunk on Day Two, but I was haunted by the lack of takes. I'm not gonna sit here and bullshit you into thinking that I was Mr. Perfect out on the flats. I'm not. I'm an average angler from my perception and feel that my only advantage is from intuitiveness and adaptation rather than pure skill and raw talent. But I was throwing down some pretty solid casts and had flawless presentations on a few. There was something more to it than just being at the right place at the right time. These fish were off, and after four solid days of fishing (and two weeks of guiding by Indigo) it was apparent that these fish were just plain stuffed. They couldn't fit another bite into their corpulent little mouths after gorging on hex and drake mayflies. It was like the equivalent of going to a Vegas all you can eat buffet after staying up all night eating cheesy poofs and bonbons, swilling them down with coke and mountain dew. These fish were full. They were in a food coma. Some of them were seemingly punch drunk, not even flinching as we're bouncing lead eyed flies right off their mustached mouths. It wasn't until I lobbed a heavy sculpin pattern out in front of a pod of carp where I saw a healthy sized fish take the leap of faith and lunge forward a couple feet to swoop down and suck in that fly. Not only did I get the approach, the presentation, and the visual of the hook up, but it was a plus twenty fish. I got the fish. Just as I was about ready to write off Beaver Island, this carp comes in and saves the trip on the last full day at Carp Camp.


Redemption.

Carp Camp 2013 Beaver Island, MI: The Delivery

Getting rigged up proper for Beaver Island can be a challenge to the average freshwater angler. Unless you fish the salt, much of the gear you have for Great Lakes carp is probably under powered for the task at hand. My last visit out to the island, I got spooled by an ornery young buck carp in the midst of the spawn. All 200 yards of my backing was out for the world to see and I didn't have anything to show for it. That was when I was fishing a Ross F1 #4, mated with a Ross RX 9 weight. This time around, I brought in the big guns, putting aside my Ross Momentum for the F1 #5. I spooled up that badboy with 300 yards of backing and a Scientific Anglers Grand Slam textured taper flyline, designed by Bruce Chard. There is no way I was gonna get spooled this time! While I sat at the house rigging up my rods and reels, I had discovered on Facebook that Chard's Gland Slam taper I just spooled up had just won the Best Saltwater Fly Line award at IFTD earlier that day. Yahtzee!



Fly selection for carp is different on Lake Michigan than anywhere else. Think big. I always bring my kit with me when traveling to fish. It is most unwise to show up at a joint unprepared. Even with research, fly selection can change like the wind and the hell if I'm gonna get caught with my pants down. Bringing my tying kit with allows me to match the current forage, see what kind of flies the guides are fishing and tying, and also provides for some entertainment during our downtime at the house. This go round, the guides were downsizing a bit, so the big beefy, burly stuff that I had tied and brought with were probably gonna be a bit super sized for this trip. See? I would have been screwed if I didn't bring my kit. I ended up tying up some large swimming nymphs as an insurance policy, in efforts to mimic the hex mayfly nymphs that were abundantly present. And it would eventually pay off.


Water temps were pushing seventy degrees near shore. That, coupled with boat time casting from the front deck, meant that it was time for wet wading. I left the waders at the house and geared up in my flats boots, neoprene booties/gaiters, and my Mountain Khaki Granite Creek pants. I've exclusively worn these MK pants when fishing for the last three years now. Not only are they comfortable and quick drying, but the SPF 50 rated material is key to keep my legs from getting burned. Some folks like to sport shorts, not I. I like pants not only for the UV protection, but from shore hazards like stinging nettles, thorns, and stinging insects. I donned my CarpPro MK Granite Creek Windshirt for an upper. This was a wise decision. I wasn't concerned with my core temp from the winds since air temps were ranging from the low 60s in the morning to mid 70s in the afternoon, so the wind proof aspect of the shirt was a crucial advantage to me on this outing. On the boat rides in and out, however, this shirt kept me dry from all the surf spray. Unlike the other campers who had to don jackets in order to stay dry, I was able maintain preparedness without having to change clothes and still maintain my level of comfort. Winning.


I was definitely equipped with the right gear; so how'd I do? Find out soon when Part 3 concludes the Carp Camp recap.

Departure: RFX > CVX > SJX

The meat train has left the building.


Departing The Roughfisher Command Post (RFX) for Charlevoix, MI (CVX) then St James, Beaver Island (SJX).
ETA St James Harbor 1030 07/11/2013


Recent word from Indigo Guide Service is that the pigs have arrived, with plenty of 30# class fish being caught and landed. Even more impressive are the post spawn females weighing in at over thirty pounds.

Let Carp Camp 2013 Commence.

chum bucket

The carp of Beaver Island and Lake Michigan are unlike any other, they prefer meat and plenty of it. Out on the expansive flats of BI, I want to use any advantage I can get to help separate my fly from the abundantly plentiful round gobies and sculpins that the carp feed on. I tied up the Chum Bucket utilizing materials exhibiting visibility in the ultraviolet spectrum. UV visibility always adds an edge in cloudy weather, deeper water, or low light conditions. Even in bright sunlight, UV visibility can make your fly stand out on the flats.


When looking for UV materials to tie with, don't just go by the labels on the materials. Just because an item is marked UV doesn't mean it will show up in the UV spectrum. Sometimes it just gives off a purple UV like appearance instead of actual UV luminescence. Do yourself a favor and pick up a small UV light. I have a keychain sized UV light from Loon that was originally designed to cure their UV epoxies, adhesives, and paints, but now serves as a compact useful tool to bring along to fly shops and craft stores to help identify UV products.

Toss out the Chum Bucket and see what follows.

articulation

articulation [ahr-tik-yuh-ley-shuhn]

From Old French articulacion, from Medieval Latin articulatio

Noun: articulation (plural articulations)
A joint or the collection of joints at which something is articulated, or hinged, for bending.


Who's fishing articulated flies to carp? That's what I thought. Some fodder for the apex predators of Beaver Island.

The Midnight Meat Train

Some meaty morsels for Beaver Island. I have a feeling that the carp of Lake Michigan will enjoy feasting on these slabs of meat. Pass the bbq and hot sauce.




Still some room left for Carp Camp on Beaver Island. Rock Bottom Pricing: $1300 (Referral deal not eligible). Visit the Carp Camp page and use the contact form to book. Hard to believe it's only a couple weeks away.

CarpPro Issue 2

Dudes and dudettes , you're doing yourself all a disservice if you haven't yet checked out Issue Two of the revamped CarpPro magazine. Not only is it free, but there is extensive coverage of the 2013 Fly Swap to end all fly swaps, held by CarpPro pro staffer Trevor Tanner. I'm talking serious fly porn here folks. Arguably the best fly swap on the internet hands down, all species included. And as always, tons of carp content.


Of special note is a call out to all you janky carpers out there from Will Rice. The Blue Monkey Challenge. Page 74. Do it now!

flyz

Someone's been busy...


It doesn't look like much but that's over ten dozen flies right there. That's what happens when you get 18 inches of new snow in a weekend. Time for a break before carpal tunnel sets in.

Fly-Carpin's 2013 Fly Swap

Here are my entries for Fly-Carpin's 2013 Carp Fly Swap. As always, my flies are welcome company with some of the industry's best professional and amateur carpers and fly tyers. Can't wait to get my hands on my share!

Hot Lunch

Enjoy a Hot Lunch out on the river next time you're chasing after some carps. Choose from the following entrees: Hot Turkey, Beef Commercial, Hot Italian, and Veggie Delight.




Fresh, never frozen, these meals will stick to your ribs, not in your teeth, and keep you satisfied all day long!