Weekly Meeting Schedule

Jeremy Spaccapaniccia will be giving us a virtual tour of his DuPage Fly Fishing Co. store and will tell us all about what's new!

Jeremy will also lead us in tying a fly!

Fly Recipe: Simple Crayfish

Large Gap hook: Gamakatsu B10s or Tmc 8089 #2-6

Crustacean Eyes Black or thick mono no smaller then 50lb ( I can show you how to make them)

Black Flashabou or black rubber legs

Some kind of Crystal Chenille: Estaz, sparkle chenille, frizzle chenille really any kind of chenille in dark orange or root beer or olive (natural Colors).

Dumbbell eyes: I like Dazl- eyes but any dumbbell will work

Gold wire: med

Artic fox in tan, olive or orange

Grizzly Soft hackle feathers in olive, tan or orange

Rabbit zonker strips in olive, gold, orange or tan Variant

Ultra-thread 140 in whatever natural color.
 

Mike and Kurt from Midwest Waters Angling talk about pre-spawn smallmouth on our local waters and what they have to offer fly fishers.  They will also lead us on a tie of a Brush Head Minnow, a killer pattern for local Smallmouth.

Growing up in Illinois, Mike's early years were filled with many days spent along the local banks of the DuPage River, or pond hopping with a fly rod. He was lucky enough to have a father who put a fly rod in his hands at a young age, and in doing so Mike fly fished into his adult life. After military service he longed for something close to nature again, fly fishing would soon again fill this void.

In 1992, the Dupage Rivers Fly Tying Club became a mainstay in Mike's fishing and fly tying, and he has remained closely involved for the past 20 years. He now makes his home in the Fox River Valley, close to the His home waters of the Fox and DuPage Rivers, just two of the many watersheds in Northern Illinois that he has come to know and love.

Mike has fished all these rivers extensively over many years, and looks forward to sharing these truly special waters with you. He enjoys all kinds of fishing, but specializes in warm water fly fishing for native Smallmouth Bass, Carp, and Pike

Kurt is a Coast Guard Captain, Merchant Mariner, OUPV Six Pack holder as well as commercially insured. Kurt Nelson grew up in Fox River Valley of Illinois,  in the western suburbs of Chicago. He was fortunate to have an excellent smallmouth and carp fishery in his home town. Kurt has been fishing the waters of Northern Illinois his entire life, while also venturing all around the Midwest in search of trophies. He has excellent knowledge of the fishing seasons and patterns in the area, and really knows how to find fish. He is hard working, knowledgeable, and passionate about fly fishing and the resources in our area. You will have a great time on the water with Kurt, and he will be sure to do everything he can to ensure you have a great time on your next day out on the river.

Material list

Hook: straight eye wide gape predator style hook size 1

Thread: 6/0 140 UTC or equivalent white

Body: white craft fur

Head: EP Brush 3” white/chartreuse foxy brush

Bob’Clouser's love of the outdoors, especially fishing, led him into the fishing business. He continues to teach and share his enjoyment with others.

Bob is also a prolific and highly regarded author of fly fishing and fly tying articles. His articles have been published in national and regional magazines. Bob Clouser is the innovator of many fine fly patterns, all of which gained worldwide popularity. His flies include The Clouser Minnow, The Half and Half, Clouser Crayfish, Swimming Nymph, Crippled Minnow, Mad tom, The Darter, Hellgrammite, E-Z popper, Floating Minnow, Precision Frog and many others. Bob’s Clouser Minnow is claimed to be the most effective underwater fly ever developed; rated as #1 by Field and Stream Magazine. He is on the advisory staff for Temple Fork Outfitters and has designed a line of Clouser Fly Rods. He is also on the staff of Rainy’s Flies Inc. Chota Outdoor Gear, Renzetti Inc., Scientific Anglers Line Co, Ahrex Hooks and an affiliate with Hareline Dubbing.

Through his life, Bob has been presented numerous awards for his strong conservation work, especially work done to enhance smallmouth bass fishing in Pennsylvania. Most notable among his awards are his induction into the national Fresh Water Fishing Hall of fame as Legendary Angler. In 2009 he was inducted into the Catskill Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, the Warm Water Committee Achievement Award, a national award presented by The Federation of Fly Fishers, the Dr. Henshall Award presented by The federation of Fly Fishers, and National Angler of the Year 2000 by Fly Rod and Reel Magazine. He is a strong supporter of recreational fishing as well as conservation. He was awarded the 1995 Conservation Award of The Year presented by the Susquehanna Smallmouth Alliance, and in 1997 the Charles K. Fox Rising Trout Conservation Award presented by the Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He was also inducted into the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum.

Join us as Bob imparts his fly fishing knowledge and leads us on a tie of his world famous "Clouser Minnow".

Materials:

# 2 Straight-eye Stinger Hook (Stainless for salt water)

6/0 light cahill Uni-thread

Medium (1/30 oz.)  dumbell eyes, red

Krystal Flash, Silver

White Bucktail (Bottom side)

Chartreuse Bucktail (Top side)

Epoxy (Solarez UV epoxy)

"Talk softly and tie a killer fly"

Long time DRiFT member and club Secretary, Lew Delin brings us a still water leech pattern that's sure to get attention.  Lew will be teaching us how to tie a balanced leech that will present more horizontal in still water or under an indicator.  Definitely a technique to learn and a fly you'll want to have in your box.

From Fly Fisherman Magazine Feb – Mar 2021:

"A general purpose fly – still waters.  Article says its good for trout, carp.  I also think it would be good for walleye, bass, crappie, perch."  -Lew

• HOOK #10 Umpqua XT500 or similar
• SHANK Dressmaker’s pin
• BEAD Black 1/8” tungsten
• THREAD Black 6/0 UNI-thread
• TAIL Purple Winkler’s Leech Leather or Cohen’s Fly Suede (purple marker)
• BODY Black/purple Arizona Simi Seal or Seal-X Brush Purple Peril Dubbing
• HEAD CEMENT Loon water based head cement – will dry by being absorbed into the fly/no solvent odor/should not cause colors to change or bleed

Bill Sherer will share his extensive knowledge of local fish species, tactics, and techniques with anyone who asks.

Bill is the owner of Boulder Junction's We Tie It Fly Shop. Serving Northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Located in the heart of Vilas County in Boulder Junction "The Musky Capital of the World". His "Full Service" Fly Shop has been catering to fly anglers since 1994 with a full line of fly fishing tackle, clothing and wading apparel.

We Tie It strives to meet or exceed expectations by offering the most complete fly tying materials selection in the Northwoods, along with custom rod repair and advice on current hatches and where to find great fishing.

A lifelong fly fisher, Bill Sherer is a World Line Class Record holder for Walleye, Muskie, and several saltwater species on fly tackle and an internationally acclaimed fly tier. With over 6300 Muskies landed under his Guidance, the Boulder Junction resident is a recognized authority on Muskie fly-fishing.   

Bill is a professional Flyfishing Instructor, Licensed Guide, and USCG Captain, he is the owner and founder of the We Tie It Fly Shop, Northern Adventures Guide Service and Northwoods Inflatables Custom Raft Company in Boulder Junction, WI, a recognized favorite among fly fishers in northern Wisconsin for over 3 Decades.

As a Fly Designer for the Pacific Fly Company, Bill’s innovative and highly successful files are sold in Fly Shops all around the globe.  Recently he has ventured into manufacturing the popular X-Treme Dubber, another innovative design for making Dubbing Brushes for fly tying.

Bill will lead us on a tye of the Swim Coach:

Swim Coach: created by Charlie Craven, Variant by Bill Sherer

Rear Hook: Daiichi 2461 #4

Thread: Uni 6/0 or 140 Danville - color to match

Flash: Gold Ice Dub Ball at front 1/3 of shank

Tail: Ripple Ice Fiber - color blend to match

Collar: Dubbing Brush Opossum - color as desired rear half light front half dark

Hackle: Mallard Flank one dark over light wrapped together

Connection: .018 nylon coated wire w/ 3/16" bead - Hotspot Orange color

Front Hook: Daiichi 2461 #2

Thread: Uni 6/0 or 140 Danville - color to match

Bead: 5.5mm Brass center mounted on shank

Hackle: Mallard Flank one dark over light - wrapped together, tie in at rear of hook

Collar: Dubbing Brush Opossum - color as desired rear half light front half dark

Wire: .030 Unleaded, (.025 Lead), 15 wraps behind Bead

Dubbing: Gold Ice Dub to Bead

Collar: Dubbing Brush Opossum - light color to 1/4" from hook eye

Wing: Ripple Ice Fiber - color blend to match tie in as "V" over body

Hackle: Mallard Flank one dark over light wrapped together

Collar/head: Dubbing Brush - Dark packed tight

Eyes: Domed 3/16" Gold over Silver

Note: The Dubbing Brushes can be substituted with a Dubbing Loop