flylab

One of my go to flies last year was a copper bugger. It's easy to tie, and highly effective.

Hook: 2x Streamer Hook
Tail: Marabou, Black
Tail: A few pieces of copper flashabou
Body: Copper Chenille
Hackle: Black Saddle

Start this fly by tying on your thread and then catching on a pinch of black marabou to the tail. Try to keep the feathers even, with the tail sticking back about a hook gap from the back. Tie in your copper flashabou, one or two strands on each side. I like to keep it pretty subtle.

Once your tail is on, tie in your hackle, ensuring the fibres are about the lenth of your hook gap. Next tie in your chenille and wrap chenille body about 1/3 from the eye. Palmer your hackle over the body – about five wraps – adding two-three wraps to form a collar at the front of the fly. Tie off your hackle and form a nice tapered black head. Finish with Hard Head for a nice sheen.

I like to fish this fly on an intermediate sinking line. In my float tube I'll wait for the fly to get down to depth and then I'll make three kicks with my flippers and then pause. Three kicks and then pause. Often the trout will nail the fly on the pause. The take is often hard and fast.

Tight lines,

Mike Klein

With just over two weeks until I can get on the water, I have to say I'm really starting to itch.

Yesterday I added another stick to my collection: a Hardy Demon 9ft #6 and a Demon 5000 reel. Both are quite beautiful; I was almost afraid to touch them! I can't wait to hook into a nice 20" fish on this hardware.

On the bench I've been spending some time working on the Hopper Juan. I bought a bunch of craft foam a few weeks back, so I've been trying to make flies that use foam. If anybody has a great pattern please drop me a comment.

Finally, next week I'm really excited to see Brian Chan at our spring jamboree. I'm interested to learn chironomid fishing from the master himself!

Tight lines,

Mike Klein

Every fly fisher should have a box of boatman patterns. In the spring, just after ice-off these little bugs come to life and the trout love to gobble them up. And, in the fall they can be deadly during the 'fall'.

There are many species (Corixidae) of boatman and they are prevalent throughout North America.

A few things you will want to pay attention to when tying boatman flies:

Size: 1/8" - 1/2" (if you are unsure just bring an aquarium net and grab a few samples form the water)

They generally have an elongated and oval body with a flat belly.

Besides the body one of the most distinguishing features are their elongated hind legs.

Give this pattern a try:

Hook: #10 nymph hook
Thread: Black
Body: Dubbed tan/olive
Legs: Silicone legs 
Back: Raffia paper 
Tail tag: Holographic tinsel

Start by tying in the holographic tinsel near the tail and cover the back half of the hook with the tinsel. Then cut a small strip of raffia (just long enough for the back) and tie it in near the rear of the hook – leaving a small bit of the tinsel showing at the tail. Then making a dubbing noodle and dub to about half way from the eye. Figure eight in your legs, ensuring they are either horizontal or pointed angled slightly toward the front of the hook. Finish dubbing to 3/4 of the way from the eye. Pull the raffia over the dubbing and the legs to form a back. Tie it in and then trip the raffia, and form a nice clean head. Finally, use dark green / brown markers to draw a slight mottled look to the back. Coat the shell with head cement and drop a dab on the head of the fly to finish it off.

One successful technique I find is to fish this fly with an intermediate sinking line. Let the fly sink and then use short 3-4" retrieves. Pause and let it sink for a moment and give it another 3" jerk. Try pulling these over the drop offs into the shallows - just over top of the weeds. 

Tight lines,

Mike Klein

Welcome to my first post on flylab.ca. A blog dedicated to the sport of fly fishing.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Michael Klein. I'm a regular bloger at http://www.michaelklein.ca where I focus on marketing strategy. In my day job I work at the University of Saskatchewan and in my off time I am the President of the Kilpatrick Flyfishers in Saskatoon.

The Kilpatricks have been around for over 25 years now and I'm happy to say we have over one hundred members (who would have known Saskatchewan would have a fly fishing). I've only been involved for the last four years (I've only been fly fishing for four years) and I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned from the members – these guys really know how to catch fish on stillwaters (lakes)!

Over the coming months I hope to journal my adventures in fly fishing on the prairies and I hope you wlll tune in with me. I expect my posts will be a combination of fishing reports, fly tying instructions, book reviews and other reflections on the sport.

Well, it's March 31st and in Saskatchewan that means the closing of the ice fishing season. It also means that open water season is just a month away. And, I can't wait to get on the water!

Tight lines,
Mike Klein