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RETURN to Putah Creek Trout -> Putah Creek Fly Fishing Forum -> Fly Tying and Fly discussions -> Put your hands up and slowly step away from the vice.
Post Info TOPIC: Put your hands up and slowly step away from the vice.
East Bay Ed


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Put your hands up and slowly step away from the vice.
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My son just dropped over and looked at the latest batch of flies I tied and said, "I was going crazy" and needed to step away from the vice.  weirdface

I'e been in a fly tying zone, off and on, since November when I tied two hundred trout flies, about 150 size 14 and smaller and about 50 stones (golden and black) sizes 4 to 10.  In December I tied one hundred steelhead flies and happily scored on the Russian and Trinity.  (I should point out that I'm retired.) 

This last week I've been rereading Blanton's book, Fly Fishing California's Great Waters.  I've was particularly interested in learning how to fish for stripers in the bay, delta and San Luis Reservour.  I have a kayak and have had very little success so far.  Haven't quiet figured out the winds or when and where. 

Anyway I've been tying Clauser Minnows, Lefty Deceivers, and Whistlers and had a table covered with 50 of them in a variety of colors in sizes 6 to 4/0, ranging in length from two to eight inches.  I was tying another black and white Clauser, about 8 inches long, when my son the fly fisherment showed up.  After he said I was going crazy, I took a deep breath put down my sissors and stepped away from the vice.  Sometimes you need to hear from an objective voice.  Sometimes, I become so mesmerized by the flies I'm tying I don't stop.  Anyway, its time to eat something.

Hopefully, the rain will someday stop and I can go back to decorating trees, stumps, and other hazards with my flies.  And just maybe, if the fish gods are happy with me, some nice fish might bite one of my flies. smile

      

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timmosazz


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Stones. I have never tried to tie a stone but its coming up soon. Any tips. I hear Skwala stones are good on the Yuba. I dont relly know what they are. Any chance you do?

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East Bay Ed


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Follow the link below and it will take you to the Skwala stone fly.  It's a pretty good size stone and an important food source on the Yuba.

http://www.flyfishnorcal.org/php-nuke/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=101

Follow the link below and it will take you to the tying instructions for the Skwala stone fly.  I don't tie a stone to represent a particular fly.  I tie them to be representative.  In that I mean to match general colors.  Therefore I tie them in the following colors:  golden stone, black, yellow, and brown.  I would make some changes to the stone in the following link.  I would pick out the body with my bodkin to be more buggy.  I use goose biots for the tail and may or may not add antenna.  Finally, I like to use turkey feathers or a matching color latex for the back. 

There are times of the year when stones become more active.  For the Skwala it comes in February or March.  Check different web site message boards for the Yuba and people will start talking about the Skwalas.  Good luck.smile

http://www.flyfishnorcal.org/php-nuke/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=37


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cole


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If you scroll down to the "study break" topic that WT started awhile back the fly on the left I tied is a skwala stone.  Size 12 200R.  Now that I look at the pic there is one clipped piece of elk hair in the tail.  Unacceptable!  Sorry I'm hard on myself.

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ChucktheDuck


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hey cole I like those patterns. You gonna use those on the Yuba sometime soon? I hear the skwalas are already showing...

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cole


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Thanks Chuck, not sure when I'll hit the Yuba.  We have a place in Nevada City so I am fairly close.  I have only heard bad things about that place over the last couple seasons but sounds like some guys have done okay lately out there.  I need to go somewhere since I am not really into fishing Putah right now.

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timmosazz


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Hey Ed thanks that link is great. I am trying to get to the yuba and that is where I heard about the Skwala. I also make a few trips to tha McCloud river and always do good on golden stones. I just dont want to buy flies anymore. It is always beter when you catch fish on a fly you tied.

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God does not subtract from your life the hours you spend fishing.
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shon42073


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Aren't skawalas usualy an early spring hatch ? Cole, I have fished the yuba about 5 times and I've never really did good, But its still alot of fun to fish it. I have a bit more experience now so maybe I'll have better luck this year. It's one of those river that you have to put in some time and learn it, thats how I look at it. Because I know theres plenty of fish there. Timmosazz, What part of the McCloud do you like to fish, I fell in love with that river instantly, Can't wait to get back up there.

-- Edited by thecaptain at 18:23, 2008-01-29

-- Edited by thecaptain at 18:26, 2008-01-29

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Otter


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The Skwalas and the March Browns should be going off soon on the Yuba. If you want to use dries the best fishing requires about a one hour hike upstream from the bridge. You will need to do some rock climbing if you don't know the secret trail. In the evening there is no better dry than an X caddis.

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chris
timmosazz


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Captian I have only fished in the area around the Ahdnah campground up and down river in the concervency. The area that always produces the most is where the pacific crest trail meet the river. The best tips I could give for fishing that area are long leaders, Golden stone nymphs, gold bead hares ear, and work the edges. We have a anual trip we take twice a year May-June and sep /Oct. I hear that late june and early July is best. Sofar the best for me is October.

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God does not subtract from your life the hours you spend fishing.
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dtp916


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Skwalas are jan/feb on the Lower Y. Maybe some in March....

http://www.westfly.com/entomology/stonefly/skwala.shtml

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