I’ve had a request to show the tying steps for the Hen Saddle Matuka. This fly is a nod to the original Matuka, developed in New Zealand in the early 1900s and used to fish for the absolutely monster rainbows on the North Island, and well as the huge browns on the South Island. The original Matuka was made from the very soft, marabou-like feathers of the matuku bittern. These birds have been protected since the 1930s, and their plumage has been replaced by fur strips, cock hackle, hen hackle, and other feathers. The Hen Saddle Matuka only became possible after Tom Whiting began specifically breeding a variety of birds, including the much-sought-after Coq de Leon and other strains. The hen saddles are incredible! Delicately mottled and speckled, they also have a perfect shape and softness for this fly.

You can read more about this imitation and many others in our new book, Long Flies, the third book in our series Fly Fishing. The Hen Saddle Matuka and other variations are discussed on pages 44-46 of Long Flies, and the fly is shown in color in Chapter 10 (fly 10.20). This new book will emerge from the press and bindery the first week in April. There is a pre-release special price for inscribed copies at $25.00 each, postage paid at Long Flies Pre-Release Special.  This special runs until April 15^th.  The books will be shipped sometime in the first part of April (see the post below).

The Hen Saddle Matuka is featured in our shortly forth-coming book: Long Flies.

Step 1. Attach the thread and leave a long tag end untrimmed.

Step 2. Tie in a hen saddle feather tip first, do not remove the marabou-like fluff at the bottom of the feather. Form a spinning loop, insert the feather in the loop so that the thread of the loop runs along the feather shaft. Close the loop and spin very tight.

Step 3. Wind the feather over the rear half of the shank.

Step 4. Repeat step two, winding the feather over the front portion of the shank; leave enough room at the head to wind a hackle.

Step 5. Tie in two hen saddle feathers like a standard feather wing; do not remove the marabou-like fluff at the bottom of the feather. Put the cup sides inward for a streamlined look, cup sides outward to give the fly more action.

Step 6. Use the tag end of the thread to secure the feather wing to the top of the shank, Matuka-style.

Step 7. Use a hen saddle feather to hackle the fly. Do not remove the marabou-like fluff at the bottom of the feather. Rather, strip off a bit of the fluff so that the portion of shaft with “normal” fibers is about the same length as that portion of the shaft with “marabou” fibers (left, above). Crimp the heavy, butt portion of the shaft between your thumbnail and index finger (right, above). This will allow the feather to turn easily around the hook shank and not break as the hackle is wound. Artwork by Jason Borger.

Step 8. Finish a neat head, and the Hen Saddle Matuka is complete.

I have been asked to show the tying sequences for several specific patterns. This Crayfish is one of them. It’s from page 205 in my book Naturals (published in 1981 by Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA). Although “impressionistic” in its overall design approach, it is none-the-less, realistic in that it clearly defines the features of the stationary crayfish (as opposed to the features of the fleeing crayfish). It’s fun to tie, and the fish like it.

A note on weighting the fly: weight can be added by wrapping lead wire under the body, using lead eyes, cones, or beads. One can also use foam over the cephalothorax and fish the fly with an “Anti-jigging” tactic. The fly can be weighted to ride upside down, also; in which case, the fly is tied upside down on the hook.

Step 1. Tie in a clump of guard hairs to form one of the pincers—bleached cottontail rabbit or other of similar coloration—and wrap the bottom 1/3 to ½ with the tying thread. It’s easiest start with the pincer that is on the far side of the hook.

Step 2. Tie in a second clump to form the second pincer and wrap the bottom 1/3 to ½ with the tying thread.

Step 3. Tie in a lacquered section of mottled turkey feather or similar-colored feather or feather segment.

Step 4. Form a spinning loop (in this case I was using 8/0 thread so I formed two loops of equal size and used them as a single loop—the two strands of thread make the loop twice as strong). Spin dubbing on one side of the loop and then insert guard hairs into the loop at right angles to the thread of the loop.

Step 5. Spin the loop very tight to produce the legging/body material that will be wrapped to form the cephalothorax (head/thorax area).

Step 6. Wrap the legging/body material over the rear 1/2 of the hook shank. After each wrap, stroke the legs rearward so they are not trapped under the subsequent wrap.

Step 7. Stroke the legs sticking “up” out to the sides, and then fold the turkey segment forward tightly over the top of the cephalothorax and tie it off; clip away any excess.

Step 8. Trim the legs off the bottom of the fly and wrap forward and form a small dubbing ball just behind the hook eye.

Step 9. To form the telson, tie in a clump of guard hairs under the hook and immediately behind the small ball of dubbing. Wind the thread tightly up against the dubbing to flare the guard hairs a bit. Form another spinning loop tight up against the cephalothorax.

Step 10. Spin dubbing on one side of the loop and then spin very tight; wrap forward to form the abdomen. Spinning the dubbing very tight will allow you to form a nicely segmented abdomen.

There is a chunk of Montana that most anglers don’t really think of when the envision going “West.” It’s the far northwest of Big Sky country–the land that lies to the Pacific side of Glacier National Park. This wild and rugged area holds a special river, the Kootenai. It is in this wonderfully remote and wilderness land that Dave Blackburn has chosen to offer the fly fisher a truly great angling experience at his Kootenai Anglers Lodge. I’ll let Dave tell you about the river and its fish.

“The Kootenai River emerging from Libby Dam is Montana’s newest tailwater fishery. Cradled between the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and the Purcell Mountains, it contains a wide array of insect life to support prolific hatches throughout the season.The Kootenai and its tributaries are the only waters in Montana to contain a native strain of rainbow trout, called Columbia Redbands. These trout are indigenous to the headwaters of the Columbia River. They are known for their excellent acrobatic fighting ability and their characteristic “football” shape. Fish are active year round with the controlled consistently cool flows from the Dam. Weed beds, riffles and long deep runs contain an array of aquatic insect life to support from 1500-2500 catchable trout per mile. The Kootenai fishery remains one of the western rivers that is virtually unaffected by drought and forest fires due to the deep, large reservoir which insures an endless, cool water supply.”

Dave’s lodge offers a large, high quality restaurant and full service fly shop, in addition to lodging in a variety of individual cabins and the “bunkhouse.” See it all at www.montana-flyfishing.com

But that’s not all! Twist Dave’s arm (just gently, please) and out pops his banjo. He’s a member of a couple of authentic bluegrass bands that perform regularly. You can watch him play and listen to the bands’ great sounds at

Sheldon Mtn Boys:www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynQEnJk4wh0

Meadow Blasters:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYSEXxwQ4k8

The Kootenai is a big river with many opportunities to locate feeding fish.

Anglers float the mighty Kootenai fishing from the boat or stopping to wade fish particularly fine runs.

The Kootenai is big water holding big fish. These are the Columbia Redbands and they fight long and hard.

The Meadow Blasters looking exactly like the cowboy bluegrass band that they are. Dave holds his banjo at the ready. Deliverance, anyone?

Banjo Dave with the Sheldon Mountain Boys. They can play up a real storm.

PRE-RELEASE SPECIAL OFFER

Order now and SAVE. First One Hundred Orders—available only until April 15^th. Books Ship First Part of April.

Fly Fishing, the Book Series, Volume Three: Long Flies—Streamers, Bucktails, and Other Big Fish Flies. The term “long flies” is more than just a slightly enigmatic name for a book, it’s a topic that has significant relevancy for all fly fishers because fishing long flies holds the greatest opportunity for the fly rodder to take big fish in any water type. Big fish target the food sources that provide the greatest amount of energy; these are the long fly organisms such as minnows, leeches, eels, mice, and more. Long fly patterns imitate these big organisms that big fish feed on, and that means fish ranging from big trout to big tarpon. The concept of long flies and what they can do for the fly fisher goes well beyond simple patterns and basic retrieves. Indeed, the long-fly world is a rather refined place, honed to effectiveness by many decades of angler input.

In this book you will find an historical exploration of long flies, from their earliest, simplistic days to twenty-first century “techno-flies.” Eighty-one example imitations are shown in full color. You will also find a discussion of effective ways to fish all of those patterns, from basic “cast-and-strip” retrieves to more evolved methods that have their roots in other fly-fishing and all-tackle disciplines. Proven tactics like The Baitfish from L, the Broadside Float, the Leisenring Lift, Shotgunning, the Jigging Swing, the Strip/Tease, Walking the Dog, Trolling and Drifting, and many others. Throughout the book, the “how to” and “why to” are brought to life with stories that stretch back over half-a-century of Gary’s fly-fishing life. Complementing all of this is a collection of black-and-white illustrations by Jason Borger.

Go to: www.ebay.com/itm/200728537970?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2590wt_103

When Bob Pelzl and i filmed South Island Sampler in 1986, we had the help of a young man named Martin Langlands. Martin is now very much a well-known guide on the South Island, with a good reputation for finding big fish. You can see his operation at www.troutlands.com. Great fishing with a very solid guide and great person.

Here are three Utube videos that martin has made about his NZ fishing

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3y5R1WFU3Y

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSVzBMnQr_Y

www.youtube.com/watch?v=05deElGwnLQ

Have you every had one of those trips where you tied all the flies and everyone else caught all the fish on those flies? Well, my old friend, Walt Mueller, “The Otter,” was fishing the South Fork and Middle Fork of the Clearwater recently, and fell victim to this nasty turn of events. Here are Walt’s own words about the day.

Sunday through Tuesday on the South Fork was great with good fish for two of three days. The last day, I was hammered, stomped, spanked, and just plain out fished, humiliated, whipped and thrashed by the Travis De Boer group. Having the same eggs, same colors, same sizes, same rigging, and fishing the same runs did The Otter no good!!, I had one hookup against 15 to 20 hook ups by Travis, his Mom, Krisie, his step-dad Art plus Travis’ wife Julie!! They took no pity on this old man! To add insult to injury, humiliation, and disgust, Art Pine offered to sell me back some Otter Eggs in the correct size and color so I could start catching fish on them!! Imagine!!!!!

So sorry, Walt, but we’ve all been there! And with steelhead season just ready to get underway here in the western Lake States, there will probably be some of those days in my future, too.

Walt with a great fish.

Hmmm, why the complaints?

Steelhead like this one love Otter's eggs.

A steelhead too long to hold without having it bend a bit in the midsection.

If these guys were catching fish like this--one after the other on my flies and I caught only a meager one or two--I'd be a bit dismayed, too.

Otter's eggs are the best "natural look and feel" eggs out there.

A fish like this one would put a smile on my face, too. Note the pegged egg.

The Pasadena Show was attended by some lovely warm weather (70s and low 80s), blue skies, and a most enthusiastic crowd. I conducted a casting class both days (Saturday and Sunday), which were attended by students that dug in hard and learned a great deal. Always fun! In addition, I presented a casting and fly tying demonstration both days and gave PowerPoint presentations on Fishing the Film and Nymphing, and signed books each day at the authors booth. And although my days were quite full, I did manage to say “HI” to a few friends. Joe Bradley, who builds some very sweet cane rods, had a booth immediately next to the authors booth, and I managed to find a few minutes to cast a 7’3” 3-wt that he had in his display rack. I was a true 3-weight, and handled the line with delicate easy. The only problem with casting these rods in the winter is that there are still several months to go before I can fish delicate flies on spring creeks, and I get a bit “itchy” to get out. Still, it is a delight to cast well made rods any time of the year.

The Sunday crowd at the casting demo was most cooperative in trying out Frank Steel's casting method.

The casting pond at The Fly Fishing Show Pasadena was lined with eager learners on Sunday.

Joe Bradley was set up next to the Author's Booth, and I managed to find a few minutes to cast his very nice 7'3" 3-weight cane rod.

Chuck Furimsky and I fished with Steve Rudinski and Roy Gunter on Goodwin Lake the late afternoon of 2/28 and all day on 2/29, 2012. Roy owns and operates a vacation rental home on Goodwin Lake for trophy trout fishing. The evening of the 28^th was most pleasant and Chuck and I guided our Outcast kick boats up toward the dam of Lake Tulloch. We fished deep with type V sinking lines and a variety of leech imitations. Chuck had a few hits, but I caught only a few weeds down at the 10 to 15 foot deep level. As the evening waned, suddenly a few fish began rising along the deep-water edge of a weed bed. They were obviously feeding on the cream midges that had been emerging all afternoon. I’d left my floating line and box of dry flies at the house, but I had an intermediate line with me. Switching quickly to the “I” line, I knotted on a Peacock Snail and dropped it upstream of the first fish. I waited a few moments and then stripped the fly about a foot. The take was instantaneous and rather hard. It was a nice 14-inch rainbow. A few minutes later, and I had a 16-inch bow. And then came a nice surprise, a 15-inch smallmouth bass. It fought with the determination of a much larger fish. Darkness forced my back to the house, kicking along slowly under the half moon and brilliant stars. Back at the house, we met up with Steve and Roy. Steve had connected with a very fine, 24-inch rainbow, fishing deep with an orange Seal Bugger. We all re-lived his exploits with the big fish, and after a lovely evening meal, found our beds and dreams of an exciting tomorrow.

The morning dawned dark and cold, and the clouds raked darkly over the hills, emptying themselves of the torrents of rain they held. Chuck and his wife, Janet, and I went into Oakdale for breakfast and groceries, while Roy and Steve headed out onto the lake. Upon our return, Chuck and I bundled up toasty warm and waterproof and headed out, searching for the trout of Goodwin Lake. I fished a Peacock Snail and brown Seal Bugger in 10 to 13 feet of water on a 20-foot leader and floating line, and soon took an 18-inch rainbow. That was it for the rest of the day for me. In mid-afternoon I retired to the house to warm up a bit. Chuck, who had gone in for lunch, came out as I went in. He soon took four rainbows in the 14 to 16 inch range. Steve came in as I was preparing to go back out. He had again found a big fish on the orange Seal Bugger. His photos of the 27-inch fish showed its lovely crimson sides and broad tail. Upon my return to the lake, I fished an Orange Seal Bugger behind a dark olive sculpin imitation (complete with a Sculpin Helmet). Though I kicked a mile down the lake and back, working the fly slow, fast, and in between at depths from 10 to 20 feet, I only found the bottom, some willing weeds, and a couple of sticks. The sky had cleared, and the evening had turned cold. The fish were reluctant to feed. I returned to the weed beds at the upper end of the lake, but found no emerging midges or feeding fish. The kick back to the house was again a lovely affair under the half moon and bright stars.

Certainly there are big fish in Goodwin Lake, and certainly the adverse weather affected our fishing. In the warmer months of the season, it is obvious that the lake can provide some great days for the fly fisher.

Goodwin Lake, just east of Oakdale, California is a long narrow, and very deep trophy trout lake.

The very nice 24-inch rainbow that Steve took on 2/28.

The trout of Goodwin Lake are beautifully colored and in great physical shape.

It's very hard to take the "perfect photo" of a 27-inch rainbow lying in your lap, but I like this one. Nice, Steve.

The Fly Fishing Show at Pleasanton was an extremely well attended event. The weather really cooperated and all three days were warm and sported clear blue skies. Friday’s crowd was as heavy as the usual Saturday crown, and the Saturday crowd was just plain dense. Sunday’s crowd was also heavier than usual. I gave casting and fly tying demonstrations, a PowerPoint presentation on Presentation, and signed books on Friday. Saturday morning started with a casting class from 8:30 to 11:00, but the group learned so well and so quickly that all of us decided to stay and continue expanding their skills until about 11:45. Then came casting and tying demonstrations, a PowerPoint talk on Long Flies—Streamers, Bucktails, & Other Big Fish Flies, and time in the author’s booth signing books. Sunday began with a Bible Study that I offered for attendees, followed by a casting class that again learned well and fast and extended to 11:45. In the afternoon, I gave a tying demonstration, a PowerPoint talk on Presentation, and signed books at the Author’s Booth. A great show with great people.

A leather denizen of the flats by renowned artist Lance Marshall Boen (see his link at the right).

They're not just scales on the tarpon. Each one is and individual fish in relief.

Ride 'em cowboy, or cowgirl. A leather brown by Lance big enough for some serious rodeo work!

Lance doesn't just do fish. This wonderful leather sculpture of a cape buffalo truly evokes the real thing.

The Pleasanton Show offered many wonderful learning opportunities for the fly fisher. Here George Daniels give some very clear and effective fly casting instruction.

Saturday and Sunday's casting classes were filled with eager students that learned quickly and well. Good work all of you!

The casting class learned about the Elliptical Stroke and its wonderful effectiveness in casting against the wind.

This year, the week between the Pleasanton and Pasadena Shows is affording an opportunity to fish at a new venue here in California. Roy and Daneen Gunther have invited Chuck and Janet Furimsky and I to join them at their facilities on Goodwin Lake near Jamestown. This long, narrow lake sports very healthy rainbows in the 16 to 27 inch size, with the potential of some even larger ones. I’ll post a complete fishing report in a few days, after our trip there. You can see photos of the lake, the fishing, and the lodge facilities at www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p370547.

My friend, Theo Bakelaar, from Holland sends his salute to all U. S. fly fishers. He has been experimenting with eel skin sculpin designs for European waters. These are foam headed flies that are fished on a sinking line. In my forthcoming book, Long Flies — Streamers, Bucktails, and Other Big Fish Flies, I discuss this tactic. Here’s an excerpt:

“Anti-Jigging”

The concept of using a sinking line with a floating long fly has been taken to refined heights (and depths) by British stillwater anglers. Using foam-headed imitations-often with paired Plastazote spheres-the specialized British patterns inherently want to head to the surface. The fly is cast on a full-sinking line (usually a type IV or V), which is allowed to sink completely to the bottom. The foam-headed fly, however, will hover above the bottom. As the line is retrieved, the fly remains elevated in the water column, but dips and rises with each pull on the line. Depending on the type of retrieve, the fly can be moved in different ways. This dip-and-rise motion can be thought of as an “anti-jig,” but with a similar quality of fish-attraction. It is a great example of coupling long-fly design with specific equipment and a specialized angling technique.

Depending on the gear used, these same foam-headed long-flies can also be fished at depths ranging from the film to the mid-waters. For example, by using an intermediate or type I sinking line, the fly can be worked along through the mid-waters, dipping and rising as it goes. This can be particularly effective when fish are stratified at a uniform depth in the water column, or when you want to fish a fly over a bottom where it is not conducive to drag a fly line. Of course, you don’t have to use one of the specific British-designed long-flies to make the tactic work on your home waters. Really just about any floating foam or foam-headed fly can be pressed into service. And you don’t have to restrict the tactic’s use to stillwaters.

One time, Jason and I were fishing a northern Wisconsin smallmouth bass river. The bottom was composed of rock slabs and boulders with mostly gravel and sand in between. It was an ideal place to employ an anti-jig. We’d been fishing most of the day with our usual line-up of smallmouth bass flies, and catching one here, and one there. Then I decided to try the anti-jigging tactic. The fly I chose was one of Lee Haskin’s Slide Ball Slider patterns that I had tied up in a bright yellow color. I knotted it to a 10-foot leader and crimped on a couple of split shot about two feet above the fly. Then, I cast down and across stream and used an anti-jigging retrieve. As soon as the fly landed, I’d pull it under with a loud “kerplunk,” and then work it back on a Jigging Swing. The shot held the fly under, and as I pumped the rod tip, the fly would dive near the bottom and then rise into mid-waters. The bass were indeed intrigued by the fly! Long flies have so much to offer to the angler who’s willing to explore some seemingly offbeat tactics.

Salute to U.S. Fly Fishers from Theo.

Theo's Anti-Jig, Eel Skin Sculpin.

I saw my good friend Capt’n Jake Jordan at the Raleigh Show and he told me of all the recent adventures of fishing for sails and marlin. Here’s a report from his group in Guatemala.

Greetings from Guatemala, just to keep you up to date, the fishing has been good to say the least. Some big numbers have been posted as far as 40 miles and as close as 3 miles with some Blue Marlin in the mix as well. The Samanka group fished the Rum Line the end of Jan. and in three days raised and incredible 112 sailfish and catching almost 50. Ross Darling brought his father and son down the begining of Feb. and saw 60 sails and caught 26 using fly and spin tackle. Chris Martin had his brother and son aboard and raised over 100 fish, including 3 Blue Marlin and they caught 23 sails on fly and 1 Blue on 30lb. Kirk Weisman, daughter Kara, and Chris Malkin fly-fished for three days and raised 57 sails, catching 23 of them, however the last fish of the trip was the most impressive. Chris caught a 70lb+ sail on 2lb tippet! The only thing harder would be to levitate one on to the boat. The Batesko group just finished today raising 68 sails and catching 32 of them.

A steady stream of fish seem to keep moving in from the west as the current keeps pushing them in. Some eddys in the shallower waters are pushing up bait and giving everyone a look at small bait ball feeding on the surface. Breeding packs have also jumped up behing the boat in the spread, where a quad of 70lb males are joined by an emormous 110-150lb. female! All and all, fishing is very good and very steady. I’ll see you soon,

Capt. Chris Sheeder

Rum Line

Can you believe it! Look at his great sail on 2 lb.

The Raleigh Show was a great success. Lefty Kreh, Joe Humphries, Bob Clouser, myself, and others offered classes, gave tying and casting demos, and spoke with PowerPoint presentations. Sunday morning I had a couple of hours to tour the show, and bumped into my old friend, Jay Bergan, who owns and operates the Five Rivers Lodge in Montana: www.fiveriverslodge.com. As we were chatting, he showed me some photos of Jason that I had taken several years back when he and I fished with Jay. To my surprise, the first photo he showed me is the one that appears on the cover of Reading Waters—Jason fishing a particularly nice pool on the Big Hole River! Rather amazing, indeed.

I also had the chance to talk with the guys at Fish Skulls. They have a new product called Articulated Shanks—a hook shank with a loop at each end. One serves as the eye of the fly, the other end serves to connect this shank to the hook behind. Great idea! I also picked up some of the new Sculpin Helmets from them. These are a variation on their original Fish Skulls that give the fly a flat-head, sculpin look. They make great jigs! See more at their site: www.flymenfishingcompany.org

Articulated Shanks from Fish Scull come in three lengths, allowing the tyer to build the exactly right-sized, articulated fly.

Sculpin Helmets from Fish Scull come in a several sizes and colors. They make great sculpin , minnow, leech, and crayfish imitations that ride hook-point up and can be bounced right along the bottom.

An olive Down & Dirty Sculpin with an olive Sculpin Helmet is a great bottom bouncing imitation.

My old pal, Theo Bakelaar, sent me a URL for a site that he writes for that you, my readers, may find interesting. It’s written in Dutch, but there is an opening video that has some great riseform shots in it. Have a look: www.flyfever.com.

A Bighorn bow that John Beth took on a dry fly. He read the riseform correctly.