Farmington River Action is Coming Back

Well, it appears the Farmington and local waters are starting to heat up, DEEP dumped 2,000 fish 2-lb’ers into the waters as far down as the meadows. One of our vets has done pretty well. Tim’s fish, both caught on caddis dry flies are pictured. 

BTW, Tim also hit Batterson park and pulled out this monster.  Tim suggested also fishing White Wulff’s as well.

We have been fortunate in securing some saltwater charters from a Buzzards Bay vet organization called “Fishing for the Mission 22”. https://fishingforthemission22.org/ We were awarded nine vet slots, so we have a 5-man and a 4-man charter boats heading out for a great time in late September.  All gear will be provided as well as a hearty lunch when they arrive back at the dock.  The downside is the vets need to be in Buzzards Bay by 8:00 AM on the day of the charter.  Two and a half hours from Hartford.  More details to follow.

Our next Fly Tying session will be on September 18^th at the American Legion.  We are tying the CDC Elk Hair Caddis.

CDC ELK HAIR CADDIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siubcX93zjQ

 The CDC Elk Hair Caddis pattern was designed by Hans Weilenmann of the Netherlands in the early 90’s. The fly has world-wide acceptance and has become a go-to pattern for many fly anglers, especially during times when trout become picky. The effectiveness is due to the CDC which traps small air bubbles that help it to float and allow it to look very realistic. 

 I personally tie and fish them in sizes 14 & 16, in tan, olive, black and gray.

Materials:

Hook: Dry fly, Size 14-18.

Thread: UTC 70 Denier, brown.

Abdomen: CDC feather, brown, tan.

Wing: Natural colored elk or deer hair.

Legs: CDC feather, brown, tan

1.     Secure the hook in the vice and start the thread just behind the hook eye, and wind all the way back to the hook bend. Take the CDC feather and hold it in your left hand, pull the fibers forward to the tip with your right hand and then with your left place the feather tip on top of the hook shank and take two wraps around the feather and the shank then lift the feather tip slightly and take one wrap between it and the hook shank, take another wrap around the feather and the hook shank. The slippery CDC is locked in place.

2.     Next wind your tying thread forward to just behind the eye.  With hackle pliers grab the stem butt and begin making adjacent wraps up the shank. Keep the feather straight, do not allow it to twist. Stop at the halfway point. Now use your thumb and index finger of your left hand to pull the fibers back as you wrap. Continue making wraps with the CDC to just behind the eye and then tie off the stem with secure wraps remember CDC can be a little slippery snip the stem butt off close to the wraps and then take another nice firm wrap for insurance.

3.     Select a small clump of elk or deer hair in the and snip it free from the hide. Use your fingers, or a fine-tooth comb to remove the under fur from the base of the hair. Then using a hair stacker stack the bundle to align the tips.  Next measure the hair on the hook making sure the tips extend only to the outside of the bend.    Keeping that measurement pass the bundle to the thumb and index finger of your left hand and snip the butts off right at your fingertips.  

4.     Place the bundle on top of the hook so that the snipped butt ends are aligned with the very front of the eye.  Make one and a half turns of tying thread around the bundle and the hook.  Pull the thread straight up with good tension at the end then bring the thread around to complete the second wrap.

Next bring the thread through the butt ends at a 45-degree angle working it down and it helps to lock the bundle in place.  Now lift the butt end slightly and make a couple of tight wraps between them and the hook shank.

5.     Whip finish with 3-4 turns and cut the thread. Add a small drop of head cement on the underside of the wraps.