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Warmwater

Deadly on any warmwater fish, here is Blake’s version of the original Carter Nelson fly, which you can find here – http://www.flyfishga.com/rl_dragon.htm

Materials:

Hook: 4x long streamer

Tail: Marabou and flash

Body: chenille

Legs: Sililegs

Weight: Bead chain

Dubbing: Black ice dubbing

Step 1. Start thread and tie in bead chain eyes using figure 8 wraps.

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Step 2. Bring thread to a point above the barb. Tie in marabou for the tail and tidy up the butt ends around the hook. I like to tie it down up the shank to about one eye length behind the bead chain eyes.

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Step 3. Tie in flash along either side of the marabou.

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Step 4. Tie in your choice of chenille material.

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Step 5. Bring thread to the midpoint between the eyes and tail tie in. Tie in sililegs on either side of the hook.

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Step 6. I find it easier to use a piece of lead wire to hold the legs out of the way while I wrap the body. I then use my bodkin to pull the two rear legs out of the lead wrap. Take one wrap of chenille between the legs, and continue to a spot behind the bead chain leaving enough room to make a hackle collar.

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Step 7. Tie in a feather for the collar. I use a soft webby grizzly feather. Wrap the feather to form a collar.

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Step 8. Split the thread and insert dubbing. Spin the thread to form a dubbing rope.

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Step 9. Wrap the dubbing one full turn around the shank directly in front of the collar, then finish off the dubbing rope using figure 8’s around the bead chain.

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Step 10. Whip finish the thread. Finished fly.

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Proof of concept

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I read a story last week about a guy in Arkansas catching a largemouth bass that bested the old state record of 36 years by an ounce. It was 16.5 lbs, taken on a Mann’s Jelly Worm by Paul Crowder. I thought to myself, “Good for you Paul Crowder, that’s a heck of a bass.” Now we find out that he did it illegally, he didn’t have a license. A license which costs $10.50 annually to an Arkansas resident. Now his potential record is not allowed and he is looking at paying for it, with a fine and jail time.

Paul Crowder’s story went from “feel good” to “no good”, all because he ignored to purchase a license prior to fishing, even after receiving citations in the past. I see no excuse for this. None. What a tough way to learn a lesson.

I feel bad for the fish. Instead of having it’s rightful place at the top of the record books it is nowhere to be found, and dead too.

I went a month straight posting new content every day, but had to break that this past weekend. Amanda and I spent my birthday at Hodges Gardens State Park, near Many, LA. We booked a cabin a couple weeks ago, had second thoughts this past week due to the weather forecast, but it worked out in our favor and never rained Saturday. We walked the gardens Friday evening and Saturday morning, fished the lake Saturday afternoon. Now Hodges is no Callaway, not nearly the size or staff, and Callaway is private, but, the gardens are very nice, a unique part of the state park system. They boast an impressive array of camelias, azaleas, and some awesome water features. The lake is a reclaimed quarry, 225 acres, lined with aquatic vegetation. We rented a canoe for the day and started pounding the banks. The bass were pretty active and I caught enough to keep me interested.  We ate pretty well too, barbequed shrimp, grilled steaks, and Amanda made a fruit pizza in lieu of a cake.

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We made it back in town just in time for a crawfish boil with some friends. First of the season for us. Hit the spot too.

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It was a great birthday weekend, I really enjoyed it! I’d love to fish the lake again when it is a little warmer, it is one of the healthiest I’ve seen in Louisiana. Amanda ended up being a pretty good paddling guide as well, another good reason to get a Big Tuna.