Well, I sure hope that all my readers and fellow blogging friends had a most wonderful Thanksgiving Day with their family members and friends. I know I sure did.
As if we did not get enough yesterday, we have proceeded today to overfill our stomach capacity with leftover turkey and dressing and all the additions that make this holiday what it is. Thankful for lots of food, family, friends, and a heavy dose of football. I know the weekend is not even here yet, so................. In any matter, I just wanted to have a shoulder to whine on for a second. As you have probably gathered from a few posts ago, Blogger and I have gone the rounds trying to figure out why I can't access and post from my previous "Not Shutdown" blog site, and, why I had to begin anew here. I have finally given up on the confusion and am trying to incorporate some of the old into the new. The good news is: Do not change your current blog link. Blogger says I can do what I want from here, "Forever" as long as they have a online status!......................................................... However, I do want to note that if you look at my picture header, you will see I have re-established the name of this blog to "The Pond Stalker". Does that ring a bell? Anyway, if you feel inclined too you could change the blog name on your BlogRolls to "The Pond Stalker" which will require you to take a minute to edit I know. ****Just don't change the link, please. When you have been around the blogging scene as long as I have, you begin to think your invincible. Blogger has demonstrated to me that I am not!!!! They have their opinion and I have mine.... Wow, not more Pumpkin Pie, now..............................
One of my most successful fly patterns over my years spent fishing in stillwater in the lakes, reservoirs, and, ponds of the Rocky Mountain region is the Stayner Ducktail. I have written and told of past successes on previous blog posts pertaining to the Stayner Ducktail. I doubt you will find me at any time without a Stayner Ducktail or two or three in my fly boxes. Often, I have a box just for this fly pattern. The pattern was originally tied to represent the Perch that were popular in a local Idaho reservoir. The late, Ruel Stayner, had no idea he had created a legend on the lake fishing scene. This pattern has been a champion on Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and, Brook Trout. It even goes to the warmwater circle also. Panfish love it, and, I would never fish a Smallmouth water without some Stayner Ducktails and a good strong shoulder that can take a pounding from the aggressive takes of this fly. It has since been fished all over the world. I could tell stories of fellow anglers in Russia, Argentina, New Zealand etc. who have been introduced to this pattern and its success. Anyhow, recently I was asked to tie up a few in jig form by some guys who fish out here in the Rockies, These guys have seen the Stayner Ducktail do its job in fly form. Since they fish with spinning gear and a little heavier line than the fly folks among us, they wanted to know if I thought a Stayner in jig form would work. I have tied them, sent them off to be fished, and, will be flabbergasted if I get a negative response on it. I just can't imagine it not being a classic jig either............................... Here are my tying instructions for this pattern in Jig form. I will get around to putting it up in fly form once again, perhaps after the holidays. I am active at the fly tying bench as we speak. Fish on my friends...........................................
Jig Head - In this case, Round jig head 1/8 oz - 1/32 oz. Orange and Chartreuse. Tail - Hot Orange Marabou - length equal to shank of hook behind jig head. Body - Olive size medium chenille - Hint: Many of the New Age chenille colors work well, also Rib - Either a fine Holographic Gold Tinsel or size small gold wire. Beard/Wing - Orange Marabou pinched off to show just a tuft of Marabou for highlight purposes. Wing
- Mallard Flank feather. Tip: Turn the jig over in your vise and tie
the Mallard Flank so that it extends rearward past bend of hook, but,
not longer than the tail. Use the Mallard Flank attached to the stem.
Equal barbules on each side. “Do Not” take fibers off the stem and tie
them in. Wing is more stable when tied by the stem technique and much
easier to work with also. Finish by using Sally Hansen Hard
As Nails, or your favorite head cement, applying to the area just behind
the jig head and very base of the Mallard Flank feather for more
stability.
Once this time of the year rolls around and fishing opportunities get a little tougher for me due to colder weather, and creaky ol' bones, I begin my seasonal immersion into increased time at my fly tying desk. Actually, I do try to tie year round. But there are times when I am more focused on fly tying than on fishing. Mid-November through February of the following year has always been time for me to really focus on tying flies to load the empty spots in my fly boxes. I usually do some sorting of flies in my boxes, discard a few that have seen better days, and, lay out some sort of plan to re-stock my favorite patterns in differing colors and sizes. Yup, it is an immersion into fly tying that I love equal to my time on the water any more.
With all that said, I spent some time at the vise recently tying up some jig patterns for members of my family who don't fly fish. Kind of like "getting Jiggy with fly tying". I thought I would share a couple of these patterns over the next couple of posts with my readers. Tying these patterns jig style or fly style both work. Tell me what you think. I am interested in all feedback.
Let's start with a jig I called "The Hot Pink Icy".
Reel fisher folk fish Pink. Pink is a color often overlooked on patterns while we tie at the vise. Here is a tying recipe for the Hot Pink Icy!
Jig Head - 1/16 oz. Round Jig Head - I prefer Pink
Tail - Hot Pink Marabou approximately the length of the hook shank behind the the jig head.
Body - Ice Dubbing Tied in a dubbing loop and wound forward to an area just short of the jig head.
Flash - Flashabou Tinsel folded in half and tied down going rearward. Extend to rear of Marabou tail.
Finish
- With a couple of more wraps of Ice Dubbing wrapping tightly up to
back of jig head. Whip finish knot, cut thread, and fish on!
This particular jig is fished by the ice fisherman, winter stream fisherman, and, in lakes at ice off time in the very early Spring. It is a Rainbow Trout favorite, Steelhead exciter, and, even a Panfish favorite when the warm water on the ponds come back to us.
Obviously, if you want to fish this pattern with a fly rod, tie it on a standard 3xlong streamer type hook and use a beadhead or a conehead to create some dipping and jigging action.
So, most, if not all of you who read my blog posts know that following me around requires a road map sometimes.............
Back in the late Spring and early Summer, I began writing from a new blog address. It was titled Fishin4Walter. I had made a few posts and it was up and running. I had notified a bunch of my BlogBuddies that would be where they could find me.
Well, sometimes things don't go quite as expected. A number of personal family issues cropped up that required all of my time if they were going to be dealt with. Blogging would have to take a back seat. So I stopped blogging! I figured I would just start up again when the time was right and everything would go like clockwork. I know others who have had similar experiences, so, I figured it won't be any big deal.
Three months or so past and the family needs were back under control and I was ready to hit the blogging trail again!
Not quite so fast there, Gramps! Somehow, someway, my blog had disappeared.......
Well, at least, my access had disappeared to the above link to my blog...... Hmmm........ Try as I might to re-access my blog, apparently, Blogger had a different idea. That old blog link is no longer registered in my name. Therefore, nothing can be added at that website! So, that is how most of you ended up back here. I had to develop a new Blogger account, and, start a new blog. Obviously, that meant a new blog title and address. I was thinking, ok, I will just start a new Fishin' 4 Walter blog and move my old posts over to the new address. Blogger folks said, "NO". That title is not available and has been archived! So..... here we are at Gramps Fishing Journal. I sincerely apologize to all my blogging friends for creating such a runaround scenario. Blogger has convinced me that I must be at fault somewhere.
Well, as you can see, I don't take to being told "NO" well. With that said, although I cannot add to my old blog, I certainly don't have any problems going there and copying "MY" posts and bringing some of them over here. So watch for them. You may have read them before, but, a refresher read won't hurt you. I will not bring over all the comments. So if you have time don't hesitate to leave a comment anew.
I will show them they can't keep an Old Dog down.............................................
