Drawing Flies 52: Week 6 Muddler Minnow, Part 2

My 5 year old daughter wanted to try her hand at this week's fly, the muddler minnow.  She opted for a sparse design.  I am guessing she is planning to use it for some winter steelheading.  Way to go kiddo!

SB-80 Rally at the State Capitol for public waters (update)

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the rally today to add to the throng, but it looks like there was a decent showing.  From the sounds of it there were folks from groups of kayakers, birders, hunters, and anglers.  This is a wide reaching matter of public interest.  Please continue to show support for this bill in any way that you can, sending letters, donating to the movement, etc.  Here is a round up of local coverage.
Anglers rally at Capitol in support of stream access (Salt Lake Tribune)
Supporters rally for bill to allow access to private stream beds (Fox 13 News)
A Rally in Support of Public Use of Private Streambeds (ABC4 News)
Utah fishermen make a splash at Capitol rally (Deseret News)
Outdoors enthusiasts rally for river-use rights (KSL 5 News)

Gopher Hunt 2010: Notes from the field

Well, it looks like Mr. Gopher has completed renovations on the tunnel where I recently stalked him.  I looked out at lunch time today and saw recently moved soil and when I went out there, the hole was completely covered (photo to the left only sans Gopher from the Love Boat).  Chalk up another round to the gopher, but I will be there...watching...waiting!  It only takes one slip up.

Gopher 2: Me 0

The Great Backyard Bird Count February 12-15

Make plans to spend a little time next weekend watching birds from your home.  The 13th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count is happening during February 12-15.  The GBBC is a joint project from the Cornell Ornithology Labs, The Audubon Society, and Bird Studies Canada.  Your participation is really easy and can be fun for you and your kids.  Here are the steps from the GBBC official website:

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count.
2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time.
3. When you're finished, enter your results through their web page.

You can print and download reference posters and regional checklists to help you in your identification efforts and if you submit photos to the website you can be entered to win some really cool prizes.  Spend sometime watching those birds!

To get more information about the the bird count, including how you can participate please visit http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/.

Here is a good article from the Idaho Statesman: Natalie Bartley: Grab a pen and start counting birds

Tying Tip: The brown midge (updated)

You have to love a newspaper that is willing to publish fly tying tips.  The Idaho Statesman regularly publishes cool fly patterns in their outdoor section (at least on their website, I don't know if it is in print as well).  The pattern today is the brown midge which looks like you could tie any number of ways to match the midges hatching where you fish.  I would probably just use a grizzly or black hackle this time of year since most of the midges I am fishing are black.  For the full details read the article:
Tackle Tip: Brown Midge (Idaho Statesman)

Update: Check out this nice pattern for midges that was shared with me by Curtis Fry.  It is called the foamerger and it sounds like a real killer.

Bird festival anyone?

The Deseret News has an article today about the many upcoming bird watching events/festivals around the state of Utah.  The highlights include:

• Bald Eagle Viewing Day - February 13 at locations around the state
• Snow Goose Festival - February 19-20 in Delta, Utah
• Tundra Swan Day - March 13 at the Farmington Bay waterfowl management area

Take an opportunity to get out and support these events and check out these amazing birds.  Read the full article here, Get look at big birds before they fly away (Deseret News).

Killer fly fishing movie trailer

If this clip doesn't have you salivating over some sweet dry fly fishing then there is something wrong with you! The trailer is for a film called Chasing Hatches by from RA Beattie (Vimeo channel). I have never seen such great footage of rising trout. Really incredible! Enjoy!


chasing hatches from RA Beattie on Vimeo.

Native cutthroat trout restored to local creeks

This article Utah wildlife officials to reintroduce cutthroat trout to creeks from the Deseret News talks about a project to restore the native Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (the state fish of Utah) to a few smaller creeks in Davis County.  This is exciting news as it opens up new possibilities to anglers and increases the range of the these awesome fish.  Thanks Utah DWR!

Drawing Flies 52: Week 6 Muddler Minnow

This week's drawing is the classic streamer pattern, the muddler minnow.  My rendering this week is completely digital.  I used Adobe Fireworks to do everything.  I started off wanting to do something Charlie Harper inspired, but ended up going this route instead.  I am pretty happy with it and will confess that it took closer to 30 minutes to draw.

Update:
Here is Jeff's drawing for the week.  A very cool charcoal rendering.

Update 2:
Here is Jason's drawing for the week. Really cool effects with what looks like water color and charcoal.

Do you like to fish in Utah? Send your support for HB-80

This is a plea to anyone who enjoys the great fishing that we have in Utah.  Please reach out to your state legislative representatives and voice your support on behalf of HB-80 which is the bill supporting fair use of public waters on private lands. The bill was drafted with input from both sides of the issue to make it as fair and open as possible.  It would appear that competing legislation drafted behind closed doors is now being introduced to kill this bill.  Please visit utahwaterguardians.org to find out more detail about the bills and how you can help.  If you live out of state and would like to see this bill pass to the benefit those who enjoy water activities in Utah, please donate!  Thanks.