Spring Tying Season!!

My seminal dressing & framing so far = Unnamed Frame is for a consignment at Montana Troutfitters in Bozeman, along with a couple of single-frames. Also I just made a update on my catalog (http://leftytyer.blogspot.com).

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My last day (for the following reasons) of fishing Mother's Day Caddis hatch on Lower Madison was some of the greatest experience!! That evening, I got away from my usual bank-spots and observed the main river. In that riffly, choppy, & almost all non-descriptive current, I observed repeating dorsal-tail rises of a huge trout, totally locked in one feeding spot. I was aroused!! I figured out my position along with several casts and saw a rise!! With the predicted & foreseen action, I set the hook 1.5 seconds too fast...........
Madison Lord gave me one more same situation. This time I hooked well!.........but somehow it was gone off..........it was big........
The Lord offered me one more..................same story...........
They were all nice sizes that could have taken on caddis dry-flies..... Well, next time.
Over all, the hatch has been so good and trout were very aggressive and strong. Even this size 'Bow put lots of fights on me. I was very content as I was driving home.

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Since last winter (2013-14), I spend lots of times on Atlantic Salmon Flies from November to March. Then, once my Salmon Fly projects are completed for my hearts-content, I work on trout flies in spring (sales orders and filling my boxes). This cycle seems to work for me.

It's been 5 years since I acquired a Traditional Jaw of Regal Vise (click the banner!!). It's been working for me very hard and I've been improving myself along with it. Coincidence or not, right after East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, my vise showed some wears and needed restored........ I knew, besides its 5 years of non-stop working, I'd been putting so many hook-sizes. So I might as well ordered Big Game Jaw and Midge Jaw.

This is not meant to be a collection!! It's the full-lineup of TOOLS!!!!

Traditional Jaw will do just as what it has been doing. Midge Jaw has taken over all the small spring creek flies. Then Big Game Jaw will handle Atlantic Salmon Flies!!

I just tied up this one in a bunch to fill the order and my boxes. So here's my brandnew PMD pattern!!

For the past 3.5 days (since vises' arrival), I have tied 20 DOZEN = 240 FLIES!! Perhaps 60 more to go for the next week?  If you need flies for summer, please order me within this month!!

Cold Again in February & Unique Fly Tying Tool

COLD!! As of this typing, probably outside temperature is 15 below 0 (feels like 25 below 0).
Here in Paradise Valley, we actually enjoyed nice winter days in January; easily bearable yet we have good snow accumulations that have us expect good river flows in the area. Then now it's like this!! Just we experienced in early December 2013........ We don't want this.........

Last weekend was actually very nice. Last Saturday afternoon, temperature was about 13F but no winds. With some sunshine, it was nice to be out. I hit my favorite DePuy's Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com). I was all by myself except for these companions.

 Steaming at Betty's Riffle...........

And at the Middle Section.

I didn't catch anything huge but all trout I hooked were very "leapy" and "fighty".

Always studying.

I actually hooked one nice rainbow in spawning phase. As always lost........... Regardless of sizes, rainbows are gaining weight and power!!

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My Atlantic Salmon Fly projects are still occupying majority of my time and concentration.
Here's Jock Scott, the ultimate classic and challenge.

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Today, I further pursued into. Indian Crow feather for tail-veiling is hard to get, if not pretty much impossible (click the link and you will find "EXTINCT"). I have learned the best substitute/alternative available for us "Salmon Flyer" is the neck feather of Ringneck Pheasant. Then to imitate the best of real Indian Crow appearance, we can use a devise to achieve the shape. You know who devised this? Well, the great master of mine.......... I owe him a lot directly and indirectly (By indirectly, I mean he's so well spoken among enthusiasts).
Not as exactly as his model, but pretty close. My master uses neoprene pieces but I believe I could achieve very closely with pieces of foams that are used for fly tying.

 Yes, I created several of them and each was tested on many feathers!!

Here's how it works.

And here's the difference.

Need I say more?

So I won't mind staying inside tie more flies inside.
Assuming weather backs up this weekend, as they say, I can go back to fishing...........