I know that this is not the “true original” recipe for the disco midge, so this little variation has been titled the AZ Disco Midge. I found it to be dynamite fly pattern for the San Juan River, Lees Ferry, and several other tailwaters with prolific midge populations. It also works well as a dropper pattern when the creeks are looking pretty muddy.
I like to tie this fly in sizes 18-24 with a mercury glass bead that I picked up from a local craft store. For this tutorial, I am tying on a size 10 hook and therefore am stuck with a gold bead. (I need to invest in a new lens for the camera) Play with bead choice colors and enjoy.
1Krystal FlashTie in Krystal FlashWrap thread to the bend and then back to behind the beadWrap krystal flash forward while maintaining pressure. This causes the krystal flash to lay flatThe krystal flash is not very strong (think peacock herl). A layer of Clear Cure Goo Tack Free makes this fly durable and resilient Curing Clear Cure GooHare Tron Dubbin – My favorite dubbing in the worldDub a thorax and whip finish
I spent Saturday on the Rim flinging flies to small stream trout. It never ceases to amaze me that we have such beautiful places to fly fish in Arizona. Knowing that it will be a while until I get back up to the high country, I opted to maximize my time and fish three of my favorite creeks, which meant that I put a lot of miles on my boots. I was rewarded with browns, rainbows, and brook trout in the six to twelve inch region, most all coming on the Mini-Hopper.
I have been meaning to put my Black Bear Fiberglass Travel Rod to the test, and I had fun learning a new casting stroke. This rod was super mellow and really bent to the weight of these small fish. Definitely a fun rod to fish with and one that I am glad to have in my quiver.
Brown TroutBlack Bear Fiberglass RodAZ Rainbow TroutCicadaThose turkeys are still taunting meBrown trout on FiberglassArizona Forest Arizona Brook TroutCicada and Mini-HopperBrown Trout
The good people over at Filson ran one of my guest posts on what to pack for an out-of-state fly fishing trip. I have had the opportunity to do a bit of traveling with my wife with the team at https://thewallmuseum.com/ and every time we are going to see someone, I see what type of fishing I can get to in the area. The article is more about the bare essentials and how to maximize my luggage space. If I missed anything, let me know. As always, I really would really appreciate it if you would give some love over on the actual guest post.
Packing List for Fishing
“Last summer, I had a great opportunity to head up out of the Arizona heat to the float the Deschutes River in Oregon, with my good friend, Eric. Since this was a do-it-yourself fly fishing trip, it was absolutely important that I show up with all the gear that I needed. Here is the list that I drew up that served me very well on our 4-day float down the river.
Fishing gear – I had a good idea of the type of fishing I was going to be doing, and with a little help from my contact there, I was able to pack accordingly.
The KF Emerger is one of the easiest and most productive midge patterns to tie. The material needed is very minimal but the results are dynamic fly that will catch fish. It can be tied in any color combo to meet the needs of any piece of water. The Krystal Flash Emerger is a must have pattern for water systems that have prolific midge activity.
Krystal Flash Emergers in Green, Brown, and Purple
Materials:
Hook: Curved caddis hook size #16-24
Thread: UTC 70
Rib: Small Wire
Wing: Krystal Flash
Head/Thorax: Dubbing (I love Hare Tron Dubbin. It’s buggy looking.)
Tie on threadTie in wire. Wrap thread evenly back up behind the eye of the hook.
Wrap wire rib forward evenly. Secure with thread wraps.
Tie in Krystal FlashFold Krystal Flash back and secure with thread wrapsDub a small thorax/head, whip finish, trim Krystal FlashThe KF Emerger can be tied in many different thread and rib variations. Black/Copper, Black/Silver, and Brown/Copper are two that should definitely be included in any tailwater arsenal.
I am halfway through my third full year of posting here on Arizona Wanderings, and honestly I love it. Living in the desert puts me at a distinct disadvantage to some of my blogger friends who are blessed with what I consider destination fishing and hunting locations. Writing and posting on AZW gives me an outlet to write, and ultimately it keeps me sane until I can get back in the woods or on the water. I have always enjoyed writing and photography, and pretty much from the beginning, I write, and if someone shows up to read, that’s great. Numbers have never concerned me too much, but of course I enjoy hearing from people and knowing that they have found something that I have written to be useful or interesting.
I fully intend to continue writing trip reports, gear reviews, book reports, and tying tutorials. I have some plans to increase the selection of flies that I tie, AZWanderings clothing that I sell, and hopefully some more informative e-books on hunting and fishing here in the Southwest. I also will be periodically highlighting some of those great outdoor organizations here in Arizona that are dedicated to wildlife and the heritage of hunting and fishing.
I guess what I want to say is that as much as Arizona Wanderings is for me, I also want it to be a positive experience and resource for my few cherished readers. What I want to know is this:
Who are you and where are you from (state or country)?
How did you find Arizona Wanderings?
Are you a hunter, fisherman, both, or other?
What else can I do to make Arizona Wanderings better?
What topics are you most interested in reading about?
What type of flies/products/e-books would you like to see in the Arizona Wanderings Shop?
Any other feedback?
Feel free to leave a comment or if you are more comfortable, please shoot me an email. (ben@azwanderings.com) Wether you are a regular commenter or a “behind the scenes lurker,” I want to hear from you. Thanks for all your help and I look forward to hunting, fishing and writing for many years to come.
Rambling Review: Fall River Bamboo Fly Rod “South Fork”
Fall River South Fork Fly Rod
Why:
The opportunity to fish the Fall River South Fork Rod, along with the Montana Fly Company reel and Rio line, came through the Outdoor Blogger Network. I am the first of 18 “hosts” for this rod and reel and over the next several months, the South Fork rod will travel across the U.S. and be fished, analyzed, and loved by some great fly fishing bloggers. At the end of it’s journey, one of the lucky hosts will be randomly chosen to own this pretty blonde fly rod. My fingers will remain crossed for the next couple of months hoping that it’s me.
I am a teacher and an average guy. I like equipment that can stand up to abuse in the field but does not break the bank. These basic facts have kept me from purchasing a bamboo rod even though I have cast and drooled over several. This opportunity to fish and play around with a beautifully handcrafted fly rod is a true blessing.
Fall River South Fork Fly Rod
First impressions:
The Specifics – The Fall River “South Fork” Bamboo Fly Rod is an 8′ 5wt rod with a described moderate/fast action.
The Case – When I first opened up the postal package and pulled the rod tube out, I was blown away. This is not your run of the mill rod tube, nor is it a standard metal tube that comes with most bamboo rods. This hexigonal oak case is a work of art and a beautiful way to transport this fly rod.
The Color – Blonde bamboo rods are beautiful. They show off the quality of the bamboo and the workmanship of the craftsman. I liked the dark green wraps against the blonde bamboo too. The color combo really made the rod pop.
Two tips – Having very little experience with bamboo, I knew that some rods came with two tips, but I did not fully understand why. I asked the rodmaker and he explained that it was more or less an American tradition to sell a rod with two tips as a “just in case.” Since many early fly fishermen relied on their rod to catch a meal and sustain life, any rod tip damage could mean serious trouble. Having the spare tip allowed for the owner to get the other repaired while still being able to fish.
Rod Wraps
Field Use:
Typically, when reviewing gear on Arizona Wanderings, I spend copious amounts of time in the field putting gear through the paces. For fly rods I generally like to spend multiple trips putting the rod through all kinds of different scenarios and seeing how it puts up with standard abuse that comes with its owner. With only three days with this beautiful fly rod, here is what I found.
Fall River Fly Rod
I fished this rod on two different creeks. Both creeks present different challenges. One is very brushy requiring short acurate casts and a good amount of finesse. The other is a bit more open, requiring longer more delicate casts. I also spent some time on a local pond messing around finding a nice casting stroke and laying out some serious line. The Fall River South Fork Rod performed flawlessly.
Jason Zicha, the rod maker, had written to me and said that the casting stroke of the South Fork Rod was a bit on the faster side of bamboo. Still, I had to remind myself to slow down and let the rod load. Having fished mostly graphite, it is difficult to compare the two, but the benefits of that soft presentation are hard to miss. By the time I had the rod figured out, I realized that I was actually fishing slower and taking my time. There was no “hurry up and fish” moments. Instead, I was enjoying the actual casting and finesse of the rod as much as I was pulling fish out of the creek.
Fall River Fly Rod
A bit more quality time on the water with this fly rod would have yielded more information and insight to the different dynamics of its character, but by my estimation, the South Fork fly rod made by Jason Zicha is truly a work of art. The couple of bamboo rod makers that had a look and cast it a bit were more than impressed and had nothing but compliments for this flawless piece of wood.
Pros:
Beautiful custom craftsmanship
Delicate presentation
High Quality material and components
Handcrafted rod tube
Price – for a bamboo rod with two tips, this is a reasonable price
Cons:
Price – on a teacher’s salary, my wife just looks at me and laughs.
Weight – bamboo rods are heavier than graphite, comes with the territory
Prognosis: I thoroughly enjoyed fishing the South Fork bamboo rod and would highly recommend anyone interested in looking for a bamboo rod to check out the beautiful craftsmanship of Jason Zicha at Fall River Fly Rods.
Master craftsman Jason Zicha
* Disclaimer:
The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. The Fall River South Fork Fly Rod was provided by Fall River in conjunction with the Outdoor Blogger Network for the purpose of this review. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.
Looks like there is going to be some serious pockets of hoppers across the west this summer. I like thinking that those dark red spots in AZ are right over the Rim creeks. Make sure to stock your fly box with a fistful of Mini-Hoppers (aka the “ultimate small stream dry fly”)
Friday – I woke at 3 AM to what sounded like a hundred coyotes right outside my tent. Although I knew I was safe, I still reached over and felt the cold steel pistol which brought me comfort. A half hour later, I shivered my way into my cold hunting clothes and drove over the washboard road to my predestined spot. Once out of the truck, I shrugged into my turkey vest, double checked to make sure I had everything and waited quietly. Before the sun came up, I heard the first gobble.
I slipped my way into the woods and set up about 150 yards from where the turkeys were gobbling. After setting up my decoy, I scraped away the noisy leaves and sat with my back against a big juniper where I would be nice and comfortable. I called periodically, occasionally glancing at my watch so as not to call too often. The sound of a softly putting turkey sneaking in behind me, caused my muscles to tighten and my breathing to quicken. The small hen walked confidently up to the decoy and stopped only a foot away, cocking her head to the side curiously. She mulled around, pecking at the ground before finally working her way silently into the forest.
The gobblers continued to sound off every time I clucked and purred on the little push-button call, but as far as I could tell, they never came closer than a hundred yards. The first morning of turkey season, and probably my best chance at bagging a tom, slipped away.
I will not bore you with the details of a very uneventful evening, wandering ridges and hammering away on a box call into the howling wind.
Arizona Turkey Country
Saturday – I woke early on Saturday, and my friend Tom and I headed out to check out a different section of woods. Aside from some early morning gobbling, things were pretty uneventful. The crowds were out in full force and we must have seen at least a dozen other trucks and hunters throughout the day. We saw plenty of sign and even came across a well used turkey dusting area.
I spent the evening scouting some different areas trying to locate birds, but the higher winds made calling very difficult if not impossible.
Turkey Calls
Sunday – The previous two mornings had showed me that if I was going to have any success, morning was going to be the best time. Tom and I again headed out early and found some very vocal birds. I climbed the ridge they were roosting on and stalked in to about 100 yards and set up. Two gobblers gobbled their fool heads off at my calls and at nothing at all. I heard them fly down, gave one more set of calls, and shut up. Seconds passed and I expected them to come walking through the woods at any moment, but nothing, They continued to gobble about 100 yards in front of me and for the next hour and a half, I periodically switched up calls but to no avail. Finally the woods got quiet and I waited another hour for something to happen.
With the sun high in the sky, I walked up about a quarter mile to scout the rest of the ridge. I was working my way through trees when I heard a rustle to my left. I froze and slowly turned to see two red heads about 80 yards away. The one gobbler continued to walk parallel to me, and as he cleared the log, I could see his beard. After they disappeared from sight, I sat down and waited. After 15 minutes or so, I started calling again, but for the next hour, neither saw nor heard a thing.
With a pretty wife waiting at home, I cut my losses and drove back to the Valley of the Sun.
Score: Turkeys – 3, Me – 0
Critter Tracks
Turkey hunting is tough here in AZ. I’m convinced that it is about 25% skill and 75% being lucky and in the right spot. If your heading out in the near future here in AZ, my only advice is find that turkey early in the morning and try and get yourself in between him and where you think he is headed. I did not have much luck with calling anything in. If you’ve been out or had some success, I’d love to hear the story. Best of luck.
