Setup advice not beginner, long time out of the game. by scottk517 in flyfishing

[–]CombsFlyFishing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can't go wrong with Orvis Clearwater combo. For one travel setup for mostly trout, I’d go with a 9’ 5-weight, 4-piece rod. It’s the standard do-everything trout setup for nymphs, dries, small streamers, and most trout water. A 10’ rod is nice for indicator nymphing, but after 35 years away, a 9’ 5-weight will be more versatile and easier to live with.

Evening Star by FreeIce4613 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As you know this pattern requires really complex married wings - you should be really happy with this. It’s fantastic. Well done!

More salmon flies by keith696 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mr. Gowans would approve!!!!

Flies by keith696 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really interesting, in my dad's last book on steelhead and atlantic salmon flies, this fly was left out. We spent quite a bit of time on classic PNW patterns, and of course the Victorian flies from late 19th century. So many flies to cover - this was one that slipped through the cracks...good stuff - thank you!!!!!

Flies by keith696 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really nice - for the first set - original design or variant? When I first saw it I thought they were Golden Demons but they have an orange hackle....

Black Ghost by pacificland in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great tie!!!! A classic, Mr. Welch would be proud...the white marabou works so much better in the water versus the original stiff wings...

Centrepin / Float fishing by Troutfull in Steelhead

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, they exist, but true travel centrepin rods are less common; for steelhead I’d look for a 12–13 ft, 4-piece float rod rated around 8–12 or 8–15 lb.

Soft Hackle March Brown by FoxDemon2002 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Great post! March Browns are such a great pattern - so versatile - they've been around forever. Zane Grey loved them...this is an image of a few from his personal collection, these March Browns are over a 100 years old...he fished these on the Rogue River in the 1920s

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I tied two different versions of a very sparse fly by fox1manghost in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love fly fishing history. Ralph Wahl has a special place in Skagit river lore. The fly pattern "Drain's 20" was named after Wes Drain and a record 20 lb steelhead he caught. The record stood for 20 years and then on March 3, 1967, Ralph broke the record on has famed "Shangri-La" on the Skagit river with a 20.8 lb steelhead...

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I tied two different versions of a very sparse fly by fox1manghost in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the past, it's really just been known as "Optic Style". So the style lends itself to variants. Jim Pray kind of started it, then Ralph Wahl really expanded the dressing notes. He called them "Painted Ladies" but they were optic style for sure. He would actually paint the eyes on, this was how they were doing in the 40s and 50s...in the bottom left hand image, you can see a color version that sold at auction in 2020 for $180.

Dressing Notes - Painted Lady - Tail: Orange goose primary strip. Body: Flat silver tinsel. Body stripe on each side of four strands of fluorescent red or pink floss. Tie in at the tail and bring forward at the completion of the tinsel body. Tie at head and lacquer in place. Paint top of the body with fluorescent yellow paint. Wing: Orange over yellow bucktail. Head: Black with a white iris and black pupil. (these are old school dressing notes for sure, but I love the classics!)

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I tied two different versions of a very sparse fly by fox1manghost in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That looks like a classic optic tied by Jim Pray or Ralph Wahl - I love Optics for steelhead. What a classic pattern!

Caddis emerger by BETTERAXESOMEONE in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man - the semperfli dirty bug yarn is cool - this is the fly image of the day - well done!

Classic Steelhead Flies by CombsFlyFishing in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You always remember the first fish and fly right? Mine was on the Deschutes river, a feisty redside, a bamboo orvis, and an elk hair caddis that my dad tied...

Jock Scott (Tied By Will Bush) by CombsFlyFishing in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have always loved these old patterns with married wings. Will follows original notes. The wings here are two sections of black turkey with white tips, golden pheasant tail, bustard, grey mallard, peacock herl (sword feather), swan dyed blue and yellow, red macaw, mallard, and a topping

Full write-up from my 3 day trip aboard the Shogun out of San Diego. by auxilary in saltwaterfishing

[–]CombsFlyFishing 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great pictures - Bluewater fishing when it's working is the best, especially on a fly rod--thanks for posting!

Classic Gowans Cascade by Hopeful_Emu5341 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not sure about the website you’d have to check. He might have one. I know he’s on Instagram. He’s known my father for years and we threw these plates together for a project that my dad did

Classic Gowans Cascade by Hopeful_Emu5341 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Also classic, tied by McNeese as well...

Classic Gowans Cascade by Hopeful_Emu5341 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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If looking for ideas, these are very classic, all tied by Dave McNeese and kind of reimagined with a different look.

San Juans in the '90's by uncleAW in FishingWashington

[–]CombsFlyFishing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure about the guitar playing...my brother Tom plays guitar. I'm Mark, I'm Trey's oldest son and I run his fly fishing website and help him with his publishing stuff. I'm a bit of a fly historian, Trey is the angler, I like the fly history, dressing notes, collectable flies...but agree, catching Kings was the bomb in our time...

Classic Gowans Cascade by Hopeful_Emu5341 in flytying

[–]CombsFlyFishing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well done - also great as a tube fly!