CP's Caddis Larva

Been really busy the last few weeks, I received another set of flies last week for the ~ 24 Fly Tying Enthusiast ~ 17 Flies ~ 1 Fly Box ~ giveaway. Like the other sets I already received, these flies did not disappoint.





Have a wonderful New Year everyone!
The SoCal Fly Fisher

A few more arrivals

Had a few more flies arrive this morning for the ~ 24 Fly Tying Enthusiast ~ 17 Flies ~ 1 Fly Box ~ giveaway. These little nymphs are buggier than well an actual bug. I wish a had a name for these little guys, but I don't, all I know is that they are nymphs and can mimic a small stonefly nymph with their biot twin tails.

Here are the little nymphs, I tried to put them in a more natural looking environment, some rocks in the back yard!







Someone is definitely going to score if they're picked as the winner of the fly box.


Until the next set, Cheers!

The SoCal Fly Fisher

Behind The Vise

It's been a few months since I have been behind the vise. Today was new pattern day for me. I tied up a few different patterns with high hopes of hooking into a few big carp down at the LA River. The LA River is a pretty interesting place to fly fish, you have one of the busiest freeways, the 5 frwy, running parallel to the river. The place is just a short drive from my house, about ten minutes on a good day.



The cool thing is you have these huge carp that call this river home. I get broken off often on this river, the carp can get pretty big, and pull like a mini freight train.

Earlier today I was thinking I had not fly fished for carp in quite some time, I thought I should tie up some new patterns to try out. Nothing to special in terms of carp patterns, I tied a variant of an Egan Headstand, a new worm cluster pattern, and a bunny strip pattern. I took a few photos, 'cause we all love to see what the patterns look like, well I do anyhow.


Here is the variant of the Headstand, I have never used this pattern but there are many local fly folk who swear by them.


This here is what I called the Foxy Brown, she's so sexy looking isn't she... It's just brown rust colored bunny strips, sort of mimics the small crayfish.





These last two are worm clusters, as I was browsing online, I happened to come up on a blog with a guy with a similar pattern, and on the end of the hook was this nice fat carp with the fly in it's mouth.

Hopefully these pattern will work out for me on my next trip to the LA River.

Cheers!
The SoCal Fly Fisher


Edit: Let me give credit where credit is due, the worm cluster was inspired by the Worm Ball aka Great White Hope. I have Barry from the prairieoceanflyfisher.blogspot to thank for the nice up close photo of the fly. I would also like to say thanks to Gregg who reminded me of the name of the blog.

The first batch has arrived

The first of many flies arrived this morning. Ariel aka fflutterffly on the FLYFISHINGADDICTS forum was the first tying enthusiast to send out the flies for the ~ 24 Fly Tying Enthusiast ~ 17 Flies ~ 1 Fly Box ~ giveaway. She whipped up some nice Mercury midges in white and olive.


Mercury midge white with a crystal bead and copper wire.


Olive Mercury midge also with copper wire.

I had conformation from another participant that his flies were done as well.

For those that might be interested, there are still 8 spots open. I'm quite sure these will fill soon enough, the due date for the flies is around mid April 2012. Still plenty of time to join in on the this fly box giveaway! Leave me a message if you're interested or sign on at the FLYFISHINGADDICTS forum to join in on the fun.

Cheers
The SoCal Fly Fisher

A fresh new look

I have been working hard on a new look for The SoCal Fly Fisher. I was working on a new image for the header, but all the photos I was working with did not look good to me. The images seemed to be lacking that certain pop, and I just couldn't find any of my photos to work with the header layout. I ended up changing the template of the blog and some of the font sizes and colors. The look seems fresh and I think I'm happy with the new look. I went with just a title and no image for the header, it seems to be working for now, I may end up adding an image later or when I take a decent photo of a fish or what not. Anyhow hope the few readers and lurkers I do have aren't disappointed with the new look.

Cheers!
The SoCal Fly Fisher

~ 24 Fly Tying Enthusiast ~ 17 Flies ~ 1 Fly Box ~

FULL FLY BOX GIVE AWAY!
408 FLIES IN A GREYS GS FLY BOX!

Looking for 24 fly tying enthusiast.... if you want to participate you'd have to tie up 17 flies of the same pattern to fill up a row in the Greys GS Fly Box that's going to be given away when all flies are in my possession. If we could get 24 participants that would be the limit since there are 24 sections in the fly box. That's a chance to win a full fly box, 408 flies! I will put all the participant names on a small piece of paper, fold them up, and put them in a bowl. I'll have my baby boy pick a name out of the bowl and that would decide the winner of the full fly box with all the flies of the participants.

Flies should be tied in a size 14-22 range since the box is small and will only accommodate these sizes. Flies should also target trout, drys, nymphs, midges anything that works for trout. Please no streamers.

Please let me know if your are interested. Hopefully we could get all 24 participants. If flies could be in sometime in April 2012 that would be great. The winner will be announced shortly after.

For more information please register at the following link FLYFISHINGADDICTS.com

Thanks,
The SoCal Fly Fisher

Sierra Trout Magnet

Christmas is just around the corner, if your not done with your shopping please check out the Sierra Trout Magnet online store for last minute gift ideas. Even after the holidays this would be a great one stop shop for all your fly fishing needs. Check them out!

Happy Holidays!
The SoCal Fly Fisher

December Photo Contest

Been awhile since I've gotten out on the water, hence the lack of postings. This time of year is usually kind of hectic for me as work gets real busy and not to mention the shopping Holiday Madness. Anyhow I just wanted to give any readers of my blog a heads up. There is a fly fishing photo contest being held for the month of December over at the FlyFishingAddicts.com forum. Winner of the photo contest will receive a nice fly box. Rules for the contest are posted below and also on the FlyFishingAddicts.com forum under the general fly fishing section.

CONTEST RULES

1.Photographs must have been taken during the month of December 2011 This will be on a honor system so play fair.
2.Photographs must relate to fly fishing, a place, person, fish, gear, flies, insects, you get the picture, don't be afraid to think out of the box.
3.Photographs that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization (removal of dust, cropping, reasonable adjustments to exposure, color and contrast, etc.) will be disqualified.
4.No HDR (High Dynamic Range) allowed.
5.One photo per contestant, you may submit a different photo before the month is up.
6.Contest ends at 11:59 pm December 31, 2011 New Years Eve!
7.All forum members are welcomed to submit a photo, even admin and mods and newbies.

The winner will receive a Pit River Fly Box with a few flies to get you started in filling your new fly box.

Happy Holidays
The SoCal Fly Fisher