WILL IT BE WINDY ON THE FLATS?

You Tube video showing angler on the deck throwing at Tarpon. After careful review, we have decided not to show this video to our first time Tarpon trip anglers.

Staff Product Picks

Here's Brent's product picks for 2009 and 2010, also check out Caitlin's picks

"While I didn’t get to fish the rod as much as I wanted to, by far my favourite product of 2009 was the Orvis ZG Helios 3 weight. The biggest problem with this rod was getting a reel light enough to not make it unbalanced. However, after solving that problem with the new 4540CF from Sage, I was finally able to get the rod onto the water. My first experience with it was with a 20” Bow River Rainbow that sipped a midge, which the rod handled with no problem having as much power as you could ever ask for such a tiny rod.

Once the mountain streams opened, this rod really got to shine. Placing a caddis in any little bucket was no problem, as well as easily tossing the biggest hoppers in my box. It even threw a few streamers a good distance for bull trout.

This is definitely a rod that I will recommend to everyone who wants to enjoy the best dry fly fishing of their life.

For 2010, I’m, excited for the Sage TCX 7126-4 Spey Rod (really, I’m excited about the whole new Sage lineup, come talk to me about the amazing Sage 99). Not only is the rod aptly been named ‘The Death Star’, but it also one of the lightest spey rods on the market. This is one hell of a dry-line steelhead rod, but has all the power to throw big tips and big flies, and still be able to do the occasional winter fishing on the Bow. Steelhead (and steelhead anglers) beware!

PS. Yes I'm a bit of a rod junkie!"

Check back for Mike, Dee, and Mark's product picks.

ONLY 2 MORE DAYS LEFT FOR CLEARANCE SALE

Winter Clearance Sale ends on January 24 at the Fly Fishing Expo!
**Everything in the store starting at 10% OFF up to 60% OFF

Some of the featured items:

**Mastery Spey and Tarpon Lines 50% OFF

** Selected Orvis Fly Rods 30% OFF

** Orvis Wading Boots 50% OFF

** Selected Books and DVDs 40% OFF

** Sage 2000 Fly Reels 30% OFF

** Lots of Fly Tying Items 50% OFF

** Sage, Orvis, Simms T-Shirts 40% OFF

** Tons of other items priced to clear!!!!

Staff Product Picks

Over the next couple weeks each staff member will be posting their favourite product from 2009 and a 2010 product that they are excited to try out.

To start here's Caitlin's Product Picks

"During the 2009 fishing season my favourite all around product turned out to be the Simms Guide Top. As fellow Albertan’s, you all know our variable weather can make fishing apparel decisions quite difficult. Our springs and falls can either be -15 or above +15 and the summers have nearly the same range. It comes down the simple fact that we need to be prepared for anything including but certainly not limited to: rain, shine, wind, hail and snow. The Guide Fleece offers an extremely comfortable and soft fleece interior for warmth and a durable exterior that wicks.

My favourite features about this top are the dropped tail which keeps my lower back warm and the seaming across the shoulders that prevents fabric “scrunching.” A half zipper with a fleece flap over the top of the zipper prevents chin rash and a small chest pocket to throw my camera into. I took this top everywhere, from the Bow to K-country, all the way to northern BC in November. I only wish Simms made them in women’s sizes!
In this upcoming 2010 season I am really excited to try the new Sharkskin Streamer Express. A line designed for shooting streamers, “throwing the big boys!” A review will be up in the New Year once it gets some testing. "

WESTERN CANADIAN FLY FISHING EXPOSITION

JANUARY 22-24, 2010

IT`S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. JOIN US DOWN AT THE EXPO.
WE`LL HAVE THE NEW SAGE XI3 RODS AVAILABLE TO CAST, AS WELL
AS THE ORVIS HELIOS AND HYDROS RODS.

SOME OF THE STAFF WILL HAVE PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS:
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 - 12:30 TO 1:30 PM
A SEASON ON THE BOW WITH CAITLIN AND BRENT

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 - 9 TO 11 AM
FLY DESIGN AND TYING FOR TARPON AND PERMIT
Interactive fly tying workshop that will teach how to design and tie flies for Tarpon and Permit for every flats fishing situation. Workshop targets tiers with intermediate to advanced tying experience. Workshop will cover three of the most successful Tarpon patterns and three of the most effective Permit patterns that Mike has designed, refined, and fished in the salt with success. This workshop will focus on materials, colors, fly behaviour, etc. for different angling situations and tiers will come away with an understanding of “when to fish what” .

Mike owns and operates Country Pleasures Flyfishing in Calgary. He has been flyfishing since the late 70’s, guiding on the Bow through the mid 80’s. He went on his first saltwater flats fishing trip in 1988 and has been pretty much ruined ever since. Over the last number of years he spends between 40 and 60 days a year in the salt, primarily chasing Tarpon and Permit. Mike currently has 11 Grand Slams from different locations around the Caribbean.

To register, go to https://www.flyfusionmag.com/store/products.asp?cat=34
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL SUPPLY MATERIALS. SITE IS WRONG AND ALL YOU NEED IS VISE AND TOOLS.


ALSO, WE WILL BE HAVING TYING DEMONSTRATIONS IN OUR BOOTH:

FRIDAY 4 TO 6 PM - MIKE GIFFORD - STEELHEAD FLIES

SATURDAY 10 AM TO NOON - BRENT PICHE - STONEFLY DRIES

SATURDAY NOON TO 2 PM - MIKE GIFFORD - PERMIT FLIES

SATURDAY 2 TO 4 PM - BRENT PICHE - INTRUDERS

SUNDAY 10 AM TO NOON - BRENT PICHE - INTRUDERS AND OTHER STEELHEAD FLIES

SUNDAY NOON TO 2 PM - MARK DEITZ - MEDUSAS

SUNDAY 2 TO 4 PM - MIKE GIFFORD - TARPON FLIES

HOPE WE SEE YOU THERE!!!

DON'T MISS THE SAVINGS!!

Winter Clearance Sale Is Still On!!!

but ends soon, come in before its too late!

**Everything in the store starting at 10% OFF up to 60% OFF

Some of the featured items:

**Mastery Spey and Tarpon Lines 50% OFF

** Selected Orvis Fly Rods 30% OFF

** Orvis Wading Boots 50% OFF

** Selected Books and DVDs 40% OFF

** Sage 2000 Fly Reels 30% OFF

** Lots of Fly Tying Items 50% OFF

** Tons of other items priced to clear!!!!

"GO TO" BONEFISH FLIES - TAILER BEWARE

TYING INSTRUCTIONS FOR MUST HAVE FLIES IF YOU'RE GOING BONEFISHING.

CREDIT HAS TO GO TO RAINY'S FLIES FOR THIS PATTERN. THAT'S WHERE WE FIRST RAN ACROSS IT, WE HAVE CARRIED IT IN THE SHOP FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS NOW.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PATTERN FOR BONEFISH TAILING OVER SHALLOW GRASS. IT HAS THE PERFECT SLOW SINK RATE FOR FISH IN 6 TO 12 INCHES OF WATER. THEY SEEM TO ALWAYS EAT IT.

CERTAINLY A "GO TO" PATTERN TO HAVE IN YOUR FLYBOX.

HOOK: TIEMCO 811S SIZE #6

THREAD: ULTRA THREAD 140 TAN

EYES: MEDIUM SILVER BEAD CHAIN

BODY REAR: OLIVE EP SHRIMP DUB

BODY FRONT: TAN EP SHRIMP DUB

BEARD: TAN CRAFT FUR OR EP FIBER MIXED WITH PEARL EP FLASH, BANDED WITH OLIVE GREEN AND BLACK MARKER

LEGS: MEDIUM TAN BARRED RUBBER LEGS

STEP 1: TIE IN THREAD ABOUT 1/3 BACK FROM EYE OF HOOK. TIE IN BEAD CHAIN MAKING SURE TO APPLY ZAP A GAP GEL ON SHANK BEFORE EYE. X WRAP THE EYES FOR DURABILITY. WRAP TO REAR OF SHANK.

STEP 2: DUB OLIVE SHRIMP DUB FORWARD, TAPERING BODY, AND DUB AROUND EYES USING X WRAPS.

STEP 3: TIE IN TAN CRAFT FUR 2.5 TIMES SHANK LENGTH MAKING SURE MATERIAL TAPERS. TIE IN SMALL AMOUNT OF EP PEARL FLASH. THIS IS THE FINEST FLASH WE HAVE FOUND AND WORKS BEST FOR MIXING WITH THE CRAFT FUR.

STEP 4: USING OLIVE GRREN FINE TIP MARKER, MARK BEARD BOTH SIDES WITH FINE MARKINGS DOWN ENTIRE BEARD LENGTH. MARK BOTH SIDES OF BEARD.

STEP 5: MARK BEHIND OLIVE GREEN WITH FINE BLACK MARKER. MAKE SURE MARKINGS ARE FINE. MARK BOTH SIDES OF BEARD.


STEP 6: TIE IN RUBBER LEGS EACH SIDE OF BEARD. SHOULD EXTEN BACK TO ABOUT SAME LENGTH AS BEARD. TIE IN FORWARD TO JUST BACK OF EYE.




STEP 7: DUB TAN DUBBING FORWARD OF EYES. WHIP FINISH SPARINGLY RIGHT BEHIND EYE OF HOOK. CLIP FRONT RUBBER LEGS ABOUT 1.5 TIMES SHANK LENGTH.
GO FISHING!!!!!

Country Pleasures Saturday Seminars

Saturday, January 16, 2010 10:00 AM

FAVOURITE GUIDE FLIES

Jeff Petersen will tie some of his go-to patterns for fishing the Bow.
All attendees will be entered in a draw for a System X Fly Box.

"GO TO" BONEFISH FLIES - GOTCHA

TYING INSTRUCTIONS FOR MUST HAVE FLIES IF YOU'RE GOING BONEFISHING. THE GOTCHA CATCHES BONEFISH AROUND THE WORLD, FROM CHRISTMAS ISLAND TO THE BAHAMAS. CERTAINLY WORTHY OF A "GO TO" IN YOUR FLY BOX. IT'S EVEN EASY TO TIE!

HOOK: TIEMCO 811S SIZES #2-8

THREAD: ULTRA THREAD 140 TAN

EYES: SPIRIT RIVER REAL EYES PLUS SIZE TO MATCH HOOK SIZE

TAIL/BODY: PEARL KRYSTAL FLASH

BEARD: CREAM CRAFT FUR, ICE FUR, OR EP FIBER MIXED WITH PEARL KRYSTAL FLASH

STEP 1: START THREAD ON SHANK LEAVING JUST LESS THAN 1/4 SHANK BACK OF EYE. TIE IN EYES AFTER USING ZAP A GAP GEL ON SHANK TO BOND EYES AND PREVENT SLIPPAGE WHEN FISHING. MAKE SURE TO WRAP EYES USING X WRAPS.

TIE BACK TO REAR OF SHANK.

STEP 2: USING ABOUT A DOZEN STRANDS OF KRYSTAL FLASH, TIE IN TAIL APPROXIMATELY SHANK LENGTH. DO NOT CUT FLASH, USE FOR BODY.


STEP 3: TWIST KRYTAL FLASH AND WRAP FORWARD ON SHANK BUILDING SLIGHT TAPER. WRAP X STYLE AROUND EYES AND TIE OFF AHEAD OF EYES. COAT ENTIRE BODY WITH HARD AS HULL CEMENT AND MAKE SURE IT IS DRY BEFORE NEXT STEP. i WILL OFTEN DO SEVERAL FLIES THROUGH THIS STEP, HANG TO DRY, AND THEN FINISH FLY LATER. NOTE: SOME WILL TIE THE BODY WITH PEARL DIAMOND BRAID. I PREFER FLASH AS I CAN TAPER FLY BETTER AND I FIND IT MORE DURABLE WITH THE CEMENT.

STEP 4: TIE IN CREAM CRAFT FUR ABOUT 2.5 TIMES SHANK LENGTH. TRY TO TAPER MATERIAL SO MATERIAL COMES TO A TAPERED POINT. MAKE SURE NOT TO CLOG EYE OF HOOK.

STEP 5: TIE IN ABOUT A HALF DOZEN STRANDS OF PEARL KRYSTAL FLASH OVER CRAFT FUR.

STEP 6: MAKE SURE BEARD/FLASH IS TIED IN SECURELY, FINSH HEAD WRAPS TO PREFERENCE, WHIP FINISH, AND COAT WITH HARD AS HULL CEMENT.

THIS BASIC PATTERN CAN BE CHANGED UP BY SIMPLY CHANGING BODY AND BEARD COLORS. EXAMPLES: TAN BEARD WITH ROOT BEER BODY, PERFECT FOR CAYO LARGO, CUBA OR ORANGE BEARD WITH ORANGE BODY, PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS ISLAND.

SLAM VIDEO BY WORLD ANGLING

Pretty cool video entered in the Drake Awards........

Slam by WorldANGLING fly fishing South Florida for Permit, Bonefish, Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish from WorldANGLING on Vimeo.