Headed North to the Umpqua

I just got a call from my bud tonight and the trip to the Umpqua is on for this weekend. The river flows are slowly coming down from the MLK day storms and should be running a pretty by Saturday. Since I have never fished the Umpqua for winter Steelhead I jumped on the net and searched for an hour or so trying to get a little info and when I ran across a Youtube video of a fella catching a nice one one a Green Butt Skunk I just had to get out the new tying station and whip out a few.

Green Butt Skunk

After a few Skunks I decided to get creative and add some color.

On this one I changed the red tail to hot pink, the black hackle to a mix of hot pink and hot orange and used white marabou for the wing instead of calf tail.  

With luck I'll post some pictures of big Steelhead next week.  Until then I'll just make some more sawdust and spray a little lacquer.  

Good bye 2010 and hello 2011. I know this is going to be a great year because it started off with a full septic tank and after a good pumping we will have plenty of room to store all the crap that has be coming at us. Sam injured his leg playing with the ball or running through the snow and he is on injured reserve the rest of Pheasant and Quail season. The vet said he may have a torn meniscus in his right knee and if it doesn't heal it's surgery or his hunting days are over. He is suffering from arthritis and his right front elbow is also acting up. He is getting spoiled sleeping in the house and I really think he always wanted to be a lap dog.

My last project in the workshop, excluding Christmas gifts was a Fly Tying Chest that I actually made for myself. Another hobby has resurfaced and I have been having a blast tying flies several nights a week. All of my supplies are finally organized and I can actually tie flies in the house instead of out in the cold shop. It is such a pleasure to tie now and I believe that my speed and quality have doubled in a very short time. The Chest is a prototype of an idea I have had for some time now and after using it for about a month, I have several changes to make to make it even better. The next one I build will be up for sale and I have decided to continue with the rustic theme. I'm looking at some Cedar tomorrow and hopefully I can get started soon.

The unique feature of my chests will be the Tying Station that is actually the bottom drawer in the chest. This chest will cater to the fly tiers that don't have room for a dedicated area in the house and having a chest that is on casters and can be moved anywhere is the "cats meow". I wheel mine over to the computer desk and pull the bottom drawer out, and place it right in front of my computer screen. I can even watch fly tying videos while I tie flies. Instead of looking at a book I can bring up a page that not only has the recipe for the fly, but a video or step by step instructions. Youtube is great the for new fly tier because I don't think there is a pattern out there that someone hasn't videoed. I love technology.

From fly tying

This is one of a dozen Stimulators that I tied tonight.

From Fly tying chest

From Fly tying chest

From Fly tying chest

Tomorrow night I'm going to tie a dozen Prince Nymphs. Then it is Steelhead time.