Archive

Fishing

RLBHGRHE, that’s a mouthful.  It is also July’s fly of the month.  It’s a play on the lazy acronyms fly tiers throw around to describe their flies.  It stands for Rubber Leg Bead Head Gold Ribbed Hares Ear.  It just as easily could have been the BHRLGRHE, or perhaps the GRBHRLHE, it doesn’t really matter.  What matters is that this fly, loaded with the accessories that make up it’s name, catches fish.  Not just trout, but bream too and even the stray bass.  I once caught a redfish on a woolly bugger and I’d bet money you could fool a redfish with this fly as well – though you may have to size up and use a saltwater hook.

Materials:

  • Hook – I prefer a 2x long shank if I’m using a bead and a 1x long if not
  • Bead to fit hook size
  • Round rubber legs
  • Gold tinsel ribbing
  • Hares ear dubbing
  • Pheasant tail
  • Flashabou

1. Thread bead on hook and mount in vise. Wrap lead wire around the shank where the abdomen will be. This helps to stabilize the bead and also add weight to get the fly down to where the fish are. Cover lead with thread to lock everything in place.

IMG_2311

IMG_2312

IMG_2313

2. Tie in the round rubber for the tail. I like to tie it in right behind the lead and wrap it all the way back to the tail. This helps create neat, smooth underbody to build the rest of the fly on. Cut these equal to a shank length.

IMG_2314

3. Tie in tinsel on the far side of the hook.

IMG_2315

4. Dub a fairly skinny thorax

IMG_2316

5. Rib with the tinsel

IMG_2317

6. Tie in two pieces of flashabou

IMG_2318

7. Tie in a pheasant tail slip for the wing case.

IMG_2319

8. Tie in a round rubber leg on either side

IMG_2320

9. Dub the abdomen. I like to make this area a bit more bulky.

IMG_2321

10. Pull over the pheasant and tie in with a few wraps. Then do the same with the flashabou. Whip finish

IMG_2322

11. This last step is optional. Coat shell back and flashabou with your favorite UV cure goo or epoxy. This helps to protect the shell back and really makes the flashabou stand out (even though you can’t see that in the pics.) Finished fly. Enjoy.

IMG_2323

As you all are probably aware, I’ve been out.  Away on a vacation that didn’t include any fishing – shocking, I know.  I had a great time too.  I’ll share some pics soon, but a lot of other things happened in my absence.  The IFTD/iCAST show was last week and we saw a lot of new product hit the streets(pardon the drug reference).  Jackson Kayak wasn’t in attendance, they will be at Outdoor Retailer in August, but that didn’t stop them from making a few announcements.  We found out they will be coming out with their own line of coolers, Orion Coolers – made in their factory in Sparta, TN.  Like their kayaks, Orion Coolers will be outfitted to the nines straight from the factory.  They will come with YakAttack rails, aluminum bottle opener tie downs, and a non-skid standing pad.  Expect to see them this Fall, in a 25, 45, 65, and 85 quart capacities.

Orion1

Orion2

Red-Fly-Rampage

Another video from Paul and the folks at Kayak Fish mag featuring my ugly mug was published on their website this week.  Be sure to check it out here: http://www.kayakfishmag.com/videos/caught-on-film/caught-film-red-fly-rampage/.

The footage was from one of my best days on the water ever, back in late January of last year – several bull reds and a massive black drum were caught with the fly rod  that day and I was all by myself trying to document it.  If you want to see more video from that day, check out the two videos below: