Fly tying videos, The Nicheo, and the Still Born Midge

This post as the title describes holds two fly tying videos. The Nicheo is first up, and if you have been following along with the winter sessions, then you may be interested in seeing this fly. I have been fishing with this version a lot latley for the bwo hatches. It floats great, no floatant required and its durable.

Here is a video of Roger hill's Still Born Midge. I like to twist them up on light wire scud hooks, The red thread I feel makes it work better on some of my local water. The muskrat tail makes the fabled griffiths gnat the still born midge, and I have found that it does infact make the fly more effective.

How to strip peacock hurl with bleach to make quills.

  Here is a video I did on stripping peacock hurls with bleach to make quills.  Its simple and easy to make a lot quills quickley.  Clorox bleach in 1 part and hot tap water in 3 parts will make the bath to strip to hurls. Then a simple rinse in tap water and then a soaking in a bath of hot tap water mix with baking soda for 15 mins. 

   

Winter session 30, attack of the NICHEO!!!!

 Well, I finally got out on a Saturday. This never happens for me in the winter, but my daughter is with her grandmother for the weekend so a flying I went.  I had somethings to do in the morning, so i didnt get out till around noonish. Which was perfect because the baetis where just starting to hatch on my local limestoner.  I still had the odd ball on from last time so I cast it out and was quickly into a wild brown. A quick pick and a release. I put some more drift over some trout but they didnt want the odd ball.    So i swapped out for a nicheo, This nicheo was tied using a stripped and dyed peacock quill. I stripped and dyed a bunch yesterday.  This nicheo was the ticket. The trout really dug it.  It was a nice day and a good hatch today.  With "more then four" I headed on home, before the rain came. 

The olive quill body Nicheo. The thorax is dry in the pic, so the color doesnt match but when its wet, it blends perfect.

The Oddball Quill Gordon, Tutorial and video

 
  The Oddball Quill Gordon was devised by a nameless man, who fishes the lower Cheeseman canyon section of the South Platte River.  The only place I know that this fly is talked about is in Ed Engles book "Tying small flies". Which is one of my favorites.  In the book, Ed tells a story about fishing a bwo hatch, and how, like me the other day, couldn't get a trout to take the go to standards.  He goes on to say how he had saw this man before and how on this day, he was catching trout left and right.  Ed mustered up the courage and asked the gentleman what he was using.  The man handed Ed the oddball quill gordon. in a size 18.  Ed describes how he fished the fly, just like the old gentlemen did, Down and across to the rising trout.  Ed was quickly into fish.  If you dont own tying small flies by Ed Engle, you should. Its a great book.

   If you read my winter session 29 fishing report, I had a situation just like in the book. Except I was the one with the oddball, fishing it down and across. I was getting fish left and right, and I talked to an older gentlemen and I told and showed him the oddball quill gordon.   Funny how things go down sometimes.

 Without a doubt this fly should be in your box, Its a great fly that works on small mayfly hatches. Its a wonderful variation to the famous, and fabled Quill Gordon. I agree with Engle that when this fly is fished down and across, giving it a twitch, drag, dead drift is the ticket. If you watch baetis hatch you will notice that they flop around in attempt to dry there wings for flight.(many mayfly species do this) The trout key in on this action. When the fly goes dead drift to regain its energy, gulp.  (click read more)

The still born midge

 Rodger Hill's still born midge is without a doubt the deadliest midge dry fly I have ever used.  It is a griffiths gnat with the addition of a muskrat underfur tail. I have and do use g-gnats but I truly can say that the muskrat tail does make it more effective.  Some times a shuck'll do ya!  The one to left there is tied on a Daichii 1130. Its a light wire continuous bend hook aka scud hook. I prefer my g-gnats and still borns on a light wire scud or emerger hook. I think the clearer gap helps.  I tie them with a red for the Musconetcong river. There are midges there with big red eyes. The wild browns approve of the red.  Be creative and try all different color heads them. Also twist them up with different color peacock hurl and even hackle. The possibilities are endless.   I like to fish these at sipping trout and my preferred sizes for that are 18-24 and I like a size 14-16 for a searching pattern. 

Hook-Daiichi 1130

Thread- Red uni 8/0

Hackle- Grizzly saddle hackle

Body- Peacock hurl

Rib-x-small silver wire

Shuck- muskrat under fur.

A different dun. and the S.G.M. Festival

My Nicheo dun. This one is a size 18 and will be used on bwo hatches. 
Come on out to the Sparse grey matter tying festival in califon and say hello, I will be tying these flies there.  I will be tying for my T.U. Chapter at the event.(R.V.T.U). If you leave a comment and request a fly you would like me to tie along with the Nicheo.


SGM- Fly Tying Fest 2012
Dette’s Trout Flies and Shannon’s Fly Shop are teaming up
for their 2nd annual Sparse Grey Matter fly tying event in
Califon NJ.
Join us for a day of fly tying and fish talk.Bring your vise and
materials or just stop by to see some of the area’s best tyers,
doors are open to everyone.
The event will be held in the spacious Califon Fire House
ballroom, right across the street from Shannon’s Fly Shop.
Any questions call Shannon’s (908) 832-5736 or email Dan
Ansbach- DAnsbach@gmail.com.
Time: 10:00am-4:00pm
Date: Sunday, February 26th
Location: Califon Fire Company Inc
41 Main St, Califon NJ, 078303
www.SparseGreyMatter.com
www.DetteFlies.com
www.ShannonsFlyTackle.com

Johnny's Spartan Buzzer, tutorial.

Here is a buzzer I put together. I call it the Spartan buzzer.  I gave it this name because of the colors I used in the creation of the pattern. The fly is new so whether it works is unknown.  But you can bet I will be putting this warrior to the test!.  I will report back in fishing reports on this one. And if you twist some up and take them out, Please comment back on how they worked!  Click the read more for the tutorial.