YouTube Video Series

Here's the final upload of my YouTube Tying Series Winter 2018-19.

It started with constant uploads but somewhere in the middle, it slowed down and became choppy😟. So much going on in my personal life - that's a reason as well as excuse. I actually have a list of many flies to shoot, trust me!! But the real reasons are some conflicts and nagging thoughts in my mind.

1) It's about time to replace and invest on a new camera, however I don't see exactly what I want in the market right now.

2) I know and have learnt how to edit videos - up until now, as you've seen, it's been one-time shoot video. I like that way as that keeps me on my toes but maybe about time to edit more and make viewer-appealing videos. These reasons require lots of investments on time (and some money). Do I have that much time? Perhaps I could make but not every week........but in order to gain more viewership, I'd better more frequently.......

3) I've got some ideas of doing new stuffs other than trout flies.

A) Perhaps Atlantic salmon flies step-by-step = shoot and post one videos for a few steps, perhaps several videos to complete one fly.

B) Also the gallery of Atlantic salmon flies and frames.

C) Post some reading stuffs, i.e., articles I've written before. You know I've written many articles for my blog and Fly Anglers OnLine. And I know how to make those videos. Not just having you read on the screen, but also adding some drawings and pictures. Topics would vary: techniques, introduction of waterbodies, flies, gears, books, and so on. So, I don't want you to think - and this is the statement to myself - that I gave up on this video channel of mine. I started from total 0 = zero and now gained over 300 subscribers and some videos have been played over thousands times. These facts have been encouraging and I never mean to let down current subscribers and am ambitious to gain more subscribers. So, please take this season as the stepping-stone season or a period I'm hitting the "wall". I will come back strongly!!

Indeed for the thought 1), I seem to have found out what I want, along with how to rotate and assign gadgets on my life and needs.

If you have read this through, would you let me know what you'd like to see on comments?

PMD on Spring Creek

Pale Morning Dun hatch on Livingston's spring creeks is definitely the most important time that we won't miss with our annual fishing clock. Every year I feel so blessed that I can be on creeks. It doesn't matter whether I fish or guide.

After wet weathers in the previous week affected hatches (hatch did happen, it just came later on the day), weather finally settled for our favor. Not only good for hatches and rises, but it simply comfortable to be outside. On this day at DePuy's Spring Creek, though I can't say for sure, unusual breeze from northeast might have affected some in the morning. At least it made hard for us to spot fish in the creek. But then, PMD did hatch in the late morning. We had constant actions rest of the day😁

This time of year, Yellowstone Cutthroat are plenty in the creek as they swim up from Yellowstone River for spawning. Considering this year's high water on the river, they may linger in good numbers all through summer.

This was a very good stomach sample, and

This was perhaps our fish of the day, very nice Cutt👍

 And the winner fly is my own Buddy Wing Emerger😏

We had lunch as trout were digesting their own morning grubs. We must have given them enough time to digest as they started to rise when spinner falls occurred😎

Our last one to wrap up the day👏😃

Our boy has just started learning to fly-fish👶😆

His first rainbow and his name's sake fly-rod😁

Summer has just begun! Area streams will be available one by one. I keep you posted.
See you on the stream👋

East Idaho Fly Tying Expo 2018

Can't believe it was over a week ago -------- good times came and went quickly..............
I have had another great times at East Idaho Fly Tying Expo. The 25th Anniversary event was a lot busier than usual with lots of superb tyers and eager audience. I really think organizers/committees of this event do great jobs to run and to keep it going year after year.

We headed to Idaho Falls via easy 3.5-hour drive from Livingston on Thursday. As we checked in our hotel and then the venue, we started to catch up with participating tyers.
In Thursday evening, I took a tying workshop with Steven Fernandez. Long story short........... I learned a lot................😏😲

This year wifey had her own booth for aquatic invasive species & fish-water conservation. Audience kept her really busy👏

 My cue😬 Tying demo table day 1❗

Just as I planned I started  working on an Atlantic salmon fly😏

 Catching up with my mentor over my winter works🙇

We were both busy😅

This time, I was able to visit tyers who were tying patterns/genres I'm not familiar with all the time. I want to try this type for my own gain and fun.

That was lots of 🐍🐛 😂

On Day 2, I first did a Destination Program. I talked about Livingston's spring creeks, covering various topics.

Then I immediately performed at Tying Theater - another salmon fly completed😬👏

As it has been, Day 2 Saturday was busier than ever. I worked on another & third salmon fly for this Expo. I had a few eager audience who sat with me for a few hours just to see one fly was completed. I really appreciated🙏

Then here's a Kate🙌👏

 The finale banquette was good and fun as always.

 Good food😋

As always we enjoyed Idaho Falls hospitality😗
I brought back some techniques and inspirations. Demonstrating to others is one thing then learning from others is equally important. To me this is all about what this kind of event is for😃😉
I want to try new techniques and patterns right now😬.......... but the fact is I have to tie and stock up flies for fishing & guiding for the upcoming season first😓

See you in Idaho Falls next year, if I don't see you on Montana streams this summer👋😉😎

PMD 2017

Just a week ago, June 5th & 6th, Yellowstone River hit the peak of this year's runoff, reaching 30,000 cfs 😲. With that, the outlet culvert of DePuy's Spring Creek was submerged. This is one the highest in the history and we can have high hopes for good cold summer flows & good constant fishing😀!! It will definitely wipe off PKD and following nightmares of last year😬!!

One of my most favorite and busiest times of the year, Pale Morning Dun hatch is just coming in a week (or so) at Livingston's spring creeks.

I just came up with the new pattern for this season; Thumb Down Emerger.
How I developed and how I came up with the name will be announced on my fly catalog in winter, along with the tying instruction video on YouTube.
Here's an emerger hook version

And on the straight hook - this is the very original intention.

Bottom view😏

My imagination and creativity extended a bit too far...........😅
Here's my rendition of PMD with the Atlantic Salmon Fly style😎

Besides with PMD on spring creeks, Giant Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica - do not mix up with Salmon Fly like above!) is about to come. I will fish/guide/scout around. I will keep you updated.

East Idaho Fly Tying Expo 2017

Right after I came back from the Bighorn trip, I quickly re-packed and then Renee and I hit the road for another road trip.

For three consequent years, I attended East Idaho Fly Tying Expo in Idaho Falls. This is arguably the best event in the West.
We arrived at town on Thursday 20th. In this town, we try not to miss wonderful foods at Jakers!!

In the evening, I took a workshop, held at Jimmy's All Season Angler, with Steven Fernandez (is any explanation needed about him?): The Pompadour Salmon Fly For Advanced Tyers.  I have known him in the book and seen him tying at this Expo for the past couple of years. This was quite an opportunity to learn his signature style from him. This extreme bending is truly technical and artistic. It is indeed advanced in terms of understanding feathers and how far they can be manipulated by us. I was kind of blind 😵during the first trial. However with his detailed tutorial, I started to get a hang of it and the "light bulb" was lit in my head💡. Not too bad for the second trial, is it😏

The class remained intense and we worked longer than scheduled. Most of students completed the night's assignment. I really want to keep practicing and tweaking these techniques I learned from now on!!

Then the convention center was opened for public and for the table sessions in the morning of Friday 21st. WOW!! You seldom see these masters are in the same picture so often 😲 but could happen at this Expo😸I was just head-down and kept taking notes🙇(photo courtesy of EIFTE Facebook page).

In the afternoon. I was at my table. Before I tie any trout flies, another salmon fly discussion with my mentor🙇🙏

On Saturday 22nd, I conducted my own workshop: Highly effective Trout Flies for Montana and Rocky Mountain Region. I worked with a good group of students. I hope I was able to convey my theories and techniques beyond each pattern and hopefully students had gained something and will catch trout with these patterns in their near future.

After quick re-packing & re-unpacking, along with the quick bite, I was at my table in the afternoon. Saturday tends to be busier with more audience than on Friday. I visited with various people.

 The wrap up😆

It was another great time at Expo😁😹
I felt I was getting used to this type of event but also I have learned a lot from and interacted with further experienced professionals, including some of true World Class🙇.
I'm already looking forward to visiting next year, envisioning what I will do and more good foods in the town🍔🍖🍦🍺

Winter Tying Demonstration

Weather is still alternation of warm and cold, brisk & snow. However it seems slightly warming up. Let us see how it rolls.

On the last Saturday 4th, I was offered an afternoon tying demonstration spot at Montana Troutfitters. Due to my experience through East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, which I'm committed to go to, certainly this is not the first time to do this. I've done a Tying Theater, that lasts an hour, for two consecutive years. I just wondered how a 3-hour theater was going to be....

Getting ready.

We had quite a number of good crowds through 3 hours.

I went through about a dozen of my spring creek patterns, some of which had variations, finishing with 5 different wing styles of No Hackle Gnat.

Over all it was good!! I was able to manage a couple of technical patterns!!
I don't think it's too early to mention: see you in Idaho Falls in April!!

November Fishing is HOT!!

This November has been warmer than I remember. It's not even as windy as usual years (there are brutally windy days but feels much less than usual years). Fishing has been good!!

One of the best options around here is nowhere but DePuy's Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com). I guided a family I have known for the past several years. They fish hard! It was very good to see them this late in the year!!

There are still lots of browns and rainbows coming into the creek from Yellowstone River. Insects activities may vary day to day but I'm sure one can find a pod of rising fish to challenge a while.
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After a long road trip (indeed a long story😄), we were back to fish!
Just one of town-spots on Yellowstone River.

 Then we drove to............. Can you guess where this is?

The early mist on Bighorn River.

We walked from the access point and wade-fished.
As always, we started with nymphing. Fair Advise if you head that way: aquatic weeds are starting to die for the season. Loosened weeds are floating on the surface in various sizes. I don't mind saying those can be nuisance oftentimes.
............We first spotted so many midges already hatching that we saw on snow and on the river surface!! We did spot rises here and there. But not quite convincing to focus with dry-flies. Yet we didn't have any bites on nymphs and weeds were annoying........ Getting enough.......... Then we started to spot more doable and constant rises.
Gotcha!!

Learning and decoding.

 This was the trophy for me!!

As you can see, baetis were hatching in good numbers!!

I never meant to be the "minimalist" however considering the condition, I didn't carry many midge patterns, just two Lefty Angler Boxes, and certainly NO baetis patterns with me. It was far away to get back to my truck. However I somehow felt I could get by with patterns I had. A couple of my midge patterns do look like small mayfly patterns. I never meant them to be multi-purpose patterns. But when trout think so, I don't mind!! One of the most efficient patterns was my Split Shuck Floater with Hi-Vis Post.

Along with Coming Out APE.

It's exactly 8 months since Renee first fished this magnificent river. She has grown up as a fly angler. She's willing to challenge on selectively feeding trout with tiny dry-flies.

Her first one was actually a nice brown, which got away right in front of my net - of course she blamed her incompetent guide😅. Finally she made a solid hook-up!! Ahhhhh......Whitie😆!!

 I had another memorable one. Not so long but surprisingly plump for this time of year.

Renee kept working hard!!

And rewarded!!

Indeed we were on the road trip through Idaho, Nevada, and a part California, talking about fishing and our lives together.........

It was good and enjoyable.........then back to our home state, we enjoy fly-fishing on our great rivers even more!!

Enjoy great winter fishing!!