Ross's Rough Flies - The Kakahi Queen

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When preparing for the annual trout fishing sojourn it is necessary to tie some of the favourite flies.  They seem to disappear with fish or into willows, briar rose, matagouri or lupins.  

The first item to go on the desk is a generous nip of single malt whisky - HELLYERS ROAD DISTILLERY TASMANIA  seem to sooth my feeble efforts at producing a suitable product.

Fishing one of my favourite streams requires a generous number of mayfly imitations - the KAKAHI QUEEN  as they seem to be continually ending in the streamed vegetation.  

For those interested see link right to MAYFLY LIFE CYCLE

Following is the rough guide to to some very rough flies.

Kakahi Queen Dun (Photo by Richard H.)

Size 12 Tiemco Hook - remove barb

Tie in 6/0 thread to bend

Add furnace hackle for tail

Tie in black hackle for wings

Use thread to stand hackle upright

Tie in Yellow Mallard 

Take tread to hook bend 

Tie in stripped peacock herl

Tie in hackle in from of wings.

Wind hackle to back and front of wings. Whip finish and add head cement

Finished Fly

The Results a lovely brown trout - returned for another day

Fishing with friends 

And some great NZ Birds

Male Paradise Shelduck with family

Making the Call for Dinner

 Home Delivery:  Black-fronted Tern

No Answer - call again.

Food arrives by Air - fresh Mayfly Duns

Well caught

Enjoying the Meal.

Waiting for the next course - Mayfly Spinners Perhaps?

Fly Fishing - My Drug of Choice - Tying the Royal Wulff.

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Lotus Super Seven Series 3

My friends tell me that there are two things in life better than sex.

When Seated -  driving a LOTUS SUPER SEVEN

When vertical  - FLY FISHING and catching a good trout on a DRY FLY.

Obviously some of my friends lead very limited lives.

However some of my followers have enquired about what a dry fly is!  Fishermen are such liars.  

So whether you like it or not here are some images of tying a very famous fly called the ROYAL WULFF.  A fly that is particular deadly fishing fast water for RAINBOW TROUT.  

For the squeamish you should leave now as the following photos contain images from the dead zoo - the fly making material.  Fortunately the more exotic materials have now been replaced by synthetics.

Take 6/0 thread to hook bend

Start with Size 12 Hook

Tie in deer hair tail.

Return thread and add baby Bos taurus hair

Stand and divide hair

Return thread and tie in 5 turns of Peacock Herl.

Add red floss to mid section

Repeat peacock herl

Tie in dark brown chook feather

Wind feather forward to front of wings and tie off

The finished fly.

The finished fly which will most probably end up in a tree or bush (bad casting), snapped off with a wind knot (poor casting), remain in fly box overlooked because its neighbours look more desirable.  Given to my fishing friend or just possibly it will catch a trout and if it repeats this feat retired to the hat.

OTHER Important Ingredients

• Patience
• A good single malt
• Time
• The ability to convince one self that is cheaper to tie one's own flies, 20 minutes plus materials, plus single malt cost less than the $3.00 it cost to buy the fly.  But not as much fun.

The Hat

Fly Fishing - My drug of choice

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If twenty odd years ago, someone said that I would still be going to New Zealand's South Island to endeavour to out wit a fish with the brain size of a pea, I would think the are crazy.

 I must be the crazy person, weeks of preparation tying flies, aided with the occasional sip of whiskey.









Enduring the discomfort of airline seats that recline in your face.  Hats off to Air New Zealand for the seat comfort unlike  ......   .........   where passenger comfort is not a priority as we are all having "fun".

Days spent walking in some of the most bracing and beautiful environments.

 

Note:  Leg Model used to protect the blogger's privacy

Standing and falling into in freezing water.

Leaving no stone unturned to discover the secrets of the trout's diet

Sorry, wrong photo, must remember invertebrate not reptile

Stone fly nymph

Mayfly Dun

Ref:   MAY FLY LIFE CYCLE

And dressing like a  DAG

The Anticipation

Preparation

The Walk

Looking for Risers

Gearing Up

Clear water - beautiful fish

The Rewards

First cast of the Day

Fishing with Friends  (not with benefits)

Back in  the river - to meet another day

Hooked up

Lovely Brown Trout

Another stream - another fish

Same place each year - same fish?

Till we meet again - next year