As I write this post on Monday, Christmas is only one week away. Have you finished all your shopping? If not, check out my 2023 Fly Fisher’s Christmas list for a few last minute ideas. I continue to spend time at the fly tying vise. I finished tying all of our flies for Patagonia which I shared in last week’s post. My latest flies from the vise are Thunder Creek streamers to imitate Sockeye Salmon smolts for a customer in Alaska…dozens of them!
I receive requests periodically to tie a fly I’ve never heard of. I’m guessing because I list myself as a “custom fly tyer”. This Thunder Creek streamer is one of them. The flies I tied are VERY SPARSE, as requested by my customer. I’ll provide more detail about how I tie these streamers in the coming weeks when I get more time. Between the holidays and our upcoming Patagonia fly fishing trip, I’m running out of time.
UPDATED – Here is a link to my RiverKeeper Flies YouTube channel where I demonstrate how to I tie the fly:
Speaking of time, I wanted to share that I don’t plan to post much, if any, in January. We will be in Argentina and Chile fly fishing and I won’t have time to prepare any posts. As I recall, I was tired after each day of fly fishing! In addition, the logistics of taking my laptop and trying to find service isn’t something I want to deal with.
I’ll share information about our trip when I return home. And I’ll evaluate what type of schedule I would like to continue here on RiverKeeper Flies.
Last Thursday night, I taught a class entitled Tips for Tying Small Flies for my Central Oregon Fly Tyer’s Guild, featuring these flies:
As I tied the flies, I highlighted several fly tying techniques I use to help tie these small flies.
- Change thread size
- Consider using midge jaws
- Manage hooks – scissors or tweezers
- Use fewer thread wraps
- Use hackle pliers to hold materials
- Flatten thread to place thread exactly where you want it
- Sparse amounts of dubbing
- Apply head cement on thread during whip finish
- How to place bead on hook
- Minimize need to trim butt ends by sliding materials in place
If you weren’t able to attend, here is a video of my presentation found on my RiverKeeper Flies YouTube channel:
Happy holidays…go fish!
Those Thunder Creeks will work in the Cascade Lakes too. I had a pretty good afternoon on Diamond stripping with an intermediate line.
Good to know…thanks!
Those Thunder Creeks look wonderful. I think overdressed ones have less movement and the head portion balloons out. I like the whole series tied in your fashion.
Hi John,
Those TCs are tied exactly like the originator (Keith Fulsher) intended. Most tiers overdress their version of the pattern.