Classic Salmon & Steelhead Hairwing Flies

Now that my trip to the beach is behind me, I've refocused my tying attention toward the upcoming fall, and the trout and steelhead fishing to be had from September until the water freezes up.  Right before I found out about the beach trip, I'd been tying some hairwing patterns to take with me to the Erie tribs, and over the past few days, I've returned to this style as a creative outlet.  All of these flies share a core set of similarities, yet through minor differences, a tyer can add quite a variety to his streamer box.  Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section, or post links to your own hairwing creations! Rusty...

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Carolina Beach

Well, I've been home from my trip to Carolina Beach for nearly a week, I suppose it's time I share some of the pictures I took while I was there.  The first few pictures are from Kure beach, the next few are from my trips out to a nearby mud flat where I did my fishing, and the majority of the rest of the photos are from our trip to the Fort Fisher aquarium.  Enjoy! ...

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My Flats Fly Box (For Under Five Bucks)

As I said in my saltwater fly post, I'll be headed to Carolina Beach this weekend to try my hand at catching reds (and whatever else happens to be around) on the fly.  Last night, I made myself a box in which to carry my creations. Those of you who regularly tie and fish large flies have by now, no doubt, run into the problem of storing and managing those unruly clousers, double bunnies, and deceivers.  If you throw them into a traditional compartment fly box, you have the issue of flies getting tangled, deformed, and matted.  If you use a foam fly box, before long, those big hooks have ruined the foam, chewing it to shreds....

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Mid-summer's Afternoon Dream

A few weeks ago, a good soaking rain filled and cooled the streams around here.  Naturally, that also meant that nearly all of these streams were the color of coffee & cream.  Luckily, at least one of my favorite little wild trout streams was fishable, and I ended up having a great day for July.  It was good to put a bend in the 1wt again, and to bring a few fish up top after weeks of swinging & stripping streamers for smallies.  Here's a few pictures, to prove the story: This is what most of the streams looked like. Until I found a little slice of paradise. Check out those fins! Holdover from the spring stockings,...

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