This season we will be meeting on scheduled Tuesday evenings from September through May. One Tuesday each month will be a social tie we call the "Tie One On", which is held at a different local establishment each month. Please see schedule below. Tuesday nights are the opportunity to learn something new! Typically, one of our members will teach us how to tie a new fly pattern...or demonstrate a new technique. Several times a year, "celebrity" fly tyers and other fly fishing experts join us to share their knowledge and expertise. Past guests have included prominent tyers such as A.K. Best, Bob Clouser, Oliver Edwards, April Volkey, Pat Cohen, Gunnar Brammer, and Kelly Galloup.. We also welcome speakers of local interest; in fact, you just might learn how to find Muskies on the Fox River (yes, our Fox River)! If you are interested in joining us, please fill out an application and return to: DRiFT P.O. Box 5028 Wheaton, IL 60189.
Tonight we'll get a fishing report from Japan, South Africa and Honduras. After the presentation we'll tie the Flexo Crab, a challenging tie but very effective pattern.
Hook: size 4 Saltwater
Thread: 6/0 White
Eyes: Burnt monofilament eyes
Underbody: S/M dumb bell (brass) eyes or stainless/brass bead chain eyes
Body: White/Pearl E-Z Body tubing, size 1/4-3/8
Legs/Claws: Micro chenille
Weed Guard: 50lb monofilament
Additional materials/tools:
UV epoxy
UV light
Brush on CA glue
Lighter or cauterize tool
Red, Black or Brown Sharpie
College of Dupage (TEC-1038)
Said to be inspired by the Sofa Pillow and Yellow Belly Mattress Thrasher fly patterns, the Stimulator is a great dry attractor pattern and works very well in a dry/dropper setup. If fish are looking up, few can resist this fly.
Material colors can be anything you think will work. Traditionally they are tied with an orange abdomen and a yellow thorax. The thread color can be used to add a hot-spot to the head.
Hook: Size 8 2xl, (Orvis 122J)
Thread: 6/0 in the color of your choice
Tail: Elk Hair
Abdomen Dub: Orange dry fly dubbing
Abdomen Wire: Copper, small or brassie
Abdomen Hackle: Small grizzly orange
Wing: Elk Hair
Thorax Dub: Yellow dry fly dubbing
Thorax Hackle: Grizzly white
Extra Tools: Bring a hair stacker for stacking the Elk Hair tail and wing. A hackle plier is also useful but not required.
College of Dupage (TEC-1038)
Tonight we're tying two classic styles of nymph, a spider pattern and a wet hackle nymph.
The Brown Owl spider is a classic "North Country" wet hackle fly imitating a stone fly or similar being swept in the current, while the Preston Jennings Nymph comes from the Catskills. Both are very useful on our regional trout waters.
Brown Owl spider pattern
Hook: TMC 3769 #16
Silk: Pearsall’s orange silk, substitute Ephermera Golden Yellow #544 silk
Hackle: under coverts of a Tawny owl, substitute either Moorhen or Starling feather
Head: Peacock herl
Preston Jennings nymph pattern
Hook: TMC 3769 #16
Tail: partridge natural or dyed brown
Dubbing: Jennings Dun Variant from Dette Fly Shop
Tinsel: gold fine
Thorax: Peacock herl
Hackle: Dry fly furnace saddle
College of Dupage (TEC-1038)
It's the end of our tying season so let's celebrate!
Bring 6 flies to exchange! Win some door prizes! Enjoy some pizza and talk about what's coming up during summer! (Hint: Casting lessons, Water Quality Measurements and River Clean-up are just a few of them!)
Sturdy Shelter Brewing
10 Shumway Ave,
Batavia, IL 60510
7pm to 9pm