Samurai Dog

I need to fish this fly soon

"I haven't tried tube flies yet," a fellow angler remarked while we overlooked one of my favorite springtime fishing holes. I gave him a medium sized Sunray Shadow and an Owner hook to get him started. He asked to see some of my other tubes, so I let him rifle through my Finsport fly wallet. Two long, predominantly white tube flies caught his eye.

"Oh, that one," I remarked. "I haven't fished it yet. I cooked it up over the winter as a sort of small-to-medium alewife impression. I figured it might work well at this spot."

After he finished browsing through the pages of my fly wallet, he asked, "Will you sell me some of your tubes?"

"Sure."

"Ok, I'll take those two white ones. Can you part with them? How about you pick out some other favorites?"

"That all sounds good to me."

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The fly which initially caught his eye is a sort of cross between Mikael Frödin's Samurai and Hakan Norling's classic Temple Dog. It's mostly the former, however, the Samurai Dog wing is tied thicker and in the Temple Dog style. I wanted a broader profile than the Samurai, which normally has a slender wing. See the video below for instructions on how to tie Frödin's Samurai:

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Fast forward to a little over a week later. I got a call from the angler I met the previous weekend.

"You know those white tube flies of yours?" he asked.

"Yeah. Did you use them?"

"Did I use them? Woooo! Now that's a hot fly! First, I nailed a bunch of schoolie stripers on it, then I went to the Farmington and caught a bunch of trout. A few days later, I couldn't keep the smallmouth bass off it. I haven't taken the fly off since first using it!"

"Oh man, that's great! I'm glad it works!"

"I'll take a half dozen more, plus a few in XL size."

"No problem. I'll get to work as soon as possible."

"And you still haven't fished that fly yet, have you?"

"No. Don't rub it in!"

Samurai x Temple Dog hybrid

Samurai Dog (white)

Thread: White
Tube: 1"-1.25" Scandinavian tubing (large); Scandinavian tubing (small) nested inside
Rear Body: Pearl flat braid
Weight (optional): Lead tape
Front Body: UV Pearl Ice Dub (heavy & loose) over lead tape, picked out
Wing 1: White skunk fur (or arctic fox) and pearl Krinkle Mirror Flash
Wing 2: White skunk fur (or arctic fox) and Polar Ice Angel Hair
Wing 3: White temple dog fur (or cashmere goat) and Micro Mirage Lateral Scale
Topping: Several strands of peacock herl
Sides: Jungle cock
Head: Large ball of Pearl UV Ice Dub, tied loosely over wing butts and picked out
Collar Hackle: White schlappen
Cone: Silver turbo or monster cone


Tying notes: 

*I tie the wing almost exactly like Hakan Norling ties the wing in his Original Temple Dog video. Instead of wrapping hackle after the wing components, I tie over the butts so I have a huge base on which to create the oversized dubbed head. It's a bulkier fly than the original Samurai, but it's meant suggest the stockier profile of an alewife. 

*On smaller flies (the ones pictured here), I used a combination of skunk fur and temple dog for the wing. I tied a few XL sized flies which used ProTube marble fox in place of the skunk fur and cashmere goat in place of the temple dog. 

*I tied a few black Samurai Dogs, as well. Just substitute Black UV Ice Dub, black winging hair and a black turbo cone. 

Here's a picture of a Samurai...note the slender wing.

Yellow Ally's Shrimp

If Hawaii had good atlantic salmon fishing,
I'd work even less than I do already.

If not for my career as a jazz musician, I would have moved to Hawaii years ago. Though I'm a native New Englander, I've never had much of a tolerance for snow, freezing temperatures, and everything else winter brings. My hometown, Narragansett, Rhode Island, is a beach community. Most of Hawaii is a big beach community. We're a good match. Especially Kauai.

My last trip to Hawaii was a few months prior to my first Atlantic salmon fishing trip (that was a good year!). As it turned out, salmon fishing was another reason for me to stay close to the Atlantic Ocean. That and marrying my wife, of course. 

I brought back plumeria cuttings after a trip to Oahu in 2001. The only time they ever bloomed was a couple years later. I had an apartment with a large, sunny window. When we moved into our current home almost two years ago, I claimed a room with big windows and lots of light for my fly tying space. Ample sunlight and a little fertilizer was all it took to get one of the plumerias to flower again. My tying room smells like a lei. It's certainly not paradise, but life could be a lot worse. 

I don't know what any of this has to do with the Yellow Ally's Shrimp other than the fly shares a similar color scheme with this particular plumeria flower. I tied a few Yellow Ally's Shrimps in 2011. I put a couple in my fly box and a couple in my father's fly box. I have no idea what happened to mine. I know I didn't catch anything on one. I'm not sure I ever used them. For all I know, I probably dropped them in the river. Maybe the plumeria triggered a latent desire to give this fly another shot?  

I know some folks who claim a small Yellow Ally's is a good fly for summer salmon. I took last summer off, so I'm eager to try it out this summer. This time, I tied enough so that I can afford to accidentally drop a couple in the river and still have a couple to drop in later.

I digress...

Below is the dressing, with the usual liberties taken:

Tied on a Loop double (sz. 12)

Yellow Ally's Shrimp

Hook: Any small single or double salmon iron

Tail: Yellow bucktail and pearl Midge Flash

Rib: Gold oval tinsel

Body: Rear half: silver Lagartun Mini Flat Braid; Front half: black floss

Underwing: Grey squirrel tail

Wing: Grey squirrel tail topped with golden pheasant tippets

Collar Hackle: Yellow rooster

Head: Black

William Rufus

I don't know who William Rufus was, but he was the
inspiration for a very handsome salmon fly. 

I first came across the William Rufus on Colin Innes's Feathers, Flies and Phantoms site. It is a whole feather wing salmon fly originated by Dr. T.E. Pryce-Tannatt. This fly immediately stood out to me, most likely because it has a similar color scheme to Ally's Shrimp, one of my all time favorite flies.

Presumably, the William Rufus was  created after Dr. Pryce-Tannatt published his classic book "How to Dress Salmon Flies" in 1914, as the fly is not found within its pages. Perhaps there is mention of it in Dr. Pryce-Tannatt's only other book, "Meditations of a Middle-Aged Angler" (1933)? I have never been able to track down a copy of the latter, so I have no idea. I have seen a few pictures of original William Rufuses, however. Like many of Dr. Pryce-Tannatt's flies, there are certain degrees of variability between flies of the same name. 

Some original Pryce-Tannatt flies (William Rufuses on the right)

I have seen a dressing listed for this fly online, but it doesn't resemble the originals I have seen in pictures. I have seen originals with golden pheasant tippets in the tail, but another with indian crow subbed for the tippets. I have seen the fly tied in a completely different color scheme, only resembling what I know as the William Rufus in general shape. In the dressing I found online, the wing said to be first comprised of hackle feathers, but only in yellow. Most of the flies I've seen in pictures looked like they had red hackles over yellow, or maybe just plain orange hackles. Again, one should expect a certain degree of variability in Pryce-Tannatt's flies (even his original patterns). 

The most confusing (potential) substitution I've seen is the hackle collar. I've seen it mentioned as being the red breast feather from a golden pheasant. In some pictures, that does seem to be the feather used. In others, I'm not so sure. I've tied plenty of Irish shrimp-style patterns and, unless Dr. Pryce-Tannatt had access to some remarkably straight and fine fibered golden pheasant breast feathers, they're not the same from fly to fly. I think he might have tied some with a rooster hackle dyed red. If I'm mistaken and they're actually extra special golden pheasant breast feathers, then I'll eat crow. Regardless, I've tied the fly both ways and I prefer the rooster hackle. Pryce-Tannatt flies...if you're going to use substitute materials, go ahead and do it liberally because he sure did. 

Here is a possible dressing for the fly. It might not be 100% accurate, but I think it's close enough based on the originals I've seen. To me, it looks like it would be a good fly for both early and late in the season. 

William Rufus

Hook: Daiichi 2131 (the fly pictured above is a sz. 2)

Tag: Flat gold tinsel (also used as an underbody)

Tail: Topping and golden pheasant tippets 

Rib: Oval gold tinsel

Body: Seal fur in orange, black and red

Body Hackle: Orange

Wing: Pair of yellow hackle feathers (inside) and a pair of red hackle feathers (outside), both tied upright; Golden pheasant tippets over hackle feathers; topping over all

Horns: Scarlet macaw

Collar Hackle: Red golden pheasant breast feather or cock hackle dyed red 

Head: Black

Springtime Scouting

Buzzkill

I decided put fishing on hold temporarily while I get a minor case of tennis elbow under control. Last weekend, I decided the time was right to do some scouting. There are a couple of spots I've been eyeing on Google Earth for a while and the time was right to stop procrastinating. 

I had really high hopes for the first spot. The hike in was about 1.5 miles, which I figured would help keep fishing pressure under control. You know what also keeps fishing pressure low? Fences and "No Trespassing" signs! They were everywhere. I did all I could to find a legit way around them, but to no avail. I guess it's back to the drawing board, though I don't see how accessing this particular spot is going to be possible without a boat. Oh well, it was a nice walk. At least I didn't waste time and energy lugging gear all the way to a spot which can't be fished. 

The good news is that spot #2 (different river) is definitely a go. It's not too far from home, so I'm looking forward to fishing it once fish start running. There were a couple of fishermen there already. I checked the regulations when I got home and they were definitely there out of season. I've heard this place has its share of rogue fishermen. After a long winter, the natives must be restless. 

My elbow is starting to feel better and I'm looking forward to opening day in Connecticut! 

Naugatuck Report - March 28, 2014 - Okay, I lied...

"The pleasantness of the river, mountains, or meadows about it, cannot be
described, unless Sir Philip Sidney or Mr. Cotton's father were again alive to do it."
-Isaac Walton

I said I was done. The weather was right. The days are nice and long again. The best trout fishing is yet to come. One more trip couldn't hurt.

I didn't take the water temperature, but the air temperature was definitely warmer. It was an overcast day with drizzle to light rain. The water was flowing at a moderate level and actually rose a bit throughout the day. 

The salmon were on the take, but they were very nippy takes. I hooked three, landed one and had a couple of pulls. The pullers weren't grabbing enough to get hooked, but they seemed to grab enough of the hook to get spooked. The lost fish grabbed, but very softly and the hook sets weren't too good. 

The salmon were interested in a German Snaelda and the Catch-A-Me Lodge, but they seemed to be nipping at the back ends of the flies. A Willie Gunn with a far rearward hook sealed the deal on the one fish I landed. 

There was a lot more trout activity than I have seen in a while. The stocking truck must have visited recently. I picked up two rainbows, one on the Snaelda and one on the Willie Gunn. I felt a lot of small taps through out the day, too. 

This is the first season I've fished for CT salmon in the winter/spring. I definitely prefer the fall. The fish are more active, fight harder, and are willing to take smaller flies fished on or just under the surface in the fall. But hey, it's something to do. And the riverside trash can provide amusement, too...

The season closes for three weeks on April 1st, so I guess I really am done now.

Fly Box, new v2.0

2014 Salmon Fly Box
Far Left: Singles, Sizes 2-8
Leaf Page 1: Singles & doubles; sizes 10-12

Here we go again. A new season means a new fly box experiment.

I want a fly box that:

• Can fit as many flies as possible, yet still fit in an average sized pack (wader pocket sized would be even better)
• Has the ability to comfortably hold flies from size 1/0 to size 12
• Won't crush the hackle on Buck Bugs or the wings on Butterflies
• Can hold a handful of Bombers without smashing them*

*I carry a dedicated dry fly box, but like to have a few in the box I use most frequently. 

Here is an assessment of my last three salmon fly boxes:

Classy...but not versatile enough

1. Wheatley Swing Leaf

I purchased this previously owned fly box for $35. In terms of size, I liked this box. It held lots of flies (of various sizes) and it even fit in the pocket of my waders. It crushed both Bugs and Butterflies, though. Bomber storage was non-existant. After sitting in a drawer for several years, I traded this box for an old Scientific Anglers (Hardy) trout reel. 

Ugly...but getting warmer. Unfortunately, both the leaf
and the foam slots were too flimsy.

2. Poor Man's C&F w/add-on Swing Leaf

I traded British elegance for cheap Chinese functionality with this box ($10). It held smaller salmon flies well. Flies from size 1/0 to size 2 killed the slotted foam slots over time, however. It was a good size for the smaller outer pocket of my sling pack, but was too large for my waders pocket. Unlike with the Wheatley, Bugs and Butterflies stayed intact. Bombers fit in the right side, though the hackles got pushed around a bit by the raised foam hook holders. The biggest strike with this box was the swing leaf. It was very flimsy. The adhesive wore off quickly and the thin plastic eventually ripped. Flies could only be stored on one side of the leaf. Plus, I couldn't find a generic swing leaf and the OEM C&F leaf was almost twice the price of the box itself ($18). This box got pretty beat up after only one season. 

Nubby Tack...a waste of a perfectly good patent.

3. Millstream Nubby Tack Box

I bought this box at Cabela's, though similar boxes can be found just about anywhere for about the same price ($15 or so). The box itself is very large, bigger than the phony C&F. It fit in my sling pack, but only in the large pocket. It holds large and small salmon flies with no problem, though it seems to be better at holding larger flies. Flies can work themselves loose if the box is dropped, but I can only recall having that problem once. Bugs, Butterflies, and Bombers were all held safely and securely. 

Honestly, I still like this box. I'll probably continue to use one to house flies tied on larger double hooks. I really like Nubby Tack. Too bad Millstream's bread and butter is their fly box personalization more than fly box innovation. A Millstream box with slots to add a swing leaf would be awesome. I'd love to Frankenstein a box that includes both Nubby Tack and a slotted foam swing leaf. In its current form, however, this box is too bulky for the amount of flies it holds. 

2014 Salmon Fly Box
Leaf Page 2: Buck Bugs and Butterflies
Far Right: Shrimp and a few Bombers

The 2014 Fly Box (pictured above) comes partly from Cabela's. The box itself is a Cabela's waterproof streamer box. Another style of Chinese C&F knockoff, it can be found plenty of places, including eBay. I paid $9.95 for this box. The slotted foam leaf was purchased on eBay for $8.95. It is far sturdier than the leaf in my previous fake C&F box. There are no adhesives, which is a huge plus. The leaf has three tabs which snap right into the box and is easily installed and removed. The leaf is double sided, which is another bonus. 

It seems like this box is a little deeper than my old C&F knockoff. The right side of the box has more depth than the left side. As such, Bombers are stored safely on the far right, while Bugs and Butterflies are stored safely on the corresponding side of the leaf. The left (shallow) side of the box houses standard wet flies, while the corresponding side of the leaf holds small wet flies, both double and single. 

This is not a perfect solution. This box was not made to hold flies this size when a leaf is used. I don't have to sit on the box to close it, but I do have to force it shut a bit. It doesn't seem like the flies on the shallow side suffer much though. I guess we'll see how it fares over the course of a season.

In the meantime, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for potential 2015 fly box candidates. 

The Atlantic Salmon Flies of Dave Goulet

Clockwise from upper left: Catch-A-Me Lodge, Bette Jane,
Chipper Lodge, Cockburn, Golden Girl, Mezmerizer

      If we were to play a word association game with Southern New England fly fishers, what words would the name Dave Goulet conjure up? Most would probably say, “Classic & Custom,” the name of Dave’s fly shop. Others would mention the Farmington River. After moving Classic & Custom from Holyoke, Massachusetts to New Hartford, Connecticut, the shop sat near the banks of the Farmington until Dave’s retirement in 2009. Some might mention the wary Farmington brown trout, on which Dave was an expert. And you might hear mention of some of Dave’s most well known trout flies, such as Moby Dick, Unicorn, Dirt Diver, or a host of others. Regardless of the words associated with Dave’s name, most would agree that Dave left an inedible mark the local trout fishing community. 

A much smaller percentage of us tapped into Dave’s other area of expertise. Dave is a hardcore atlantic salmon fisherman. Though he has fished all over maritime Canada, Dave knows the Miramichi River inside and out. In terms of atlantic salmon fishermen, Dave Goulet is my favorite kind. He has never been afraid of public water. In a world seemingly full of pricey lodges, pristine Bogdan reels and an overt sense of exclusivity, Dave is the real deal…a salmon fisherman’s fisherman. 

Though Dave is mostly known as an innovative trout fly tyer, he has created some fine atlantic salmon flies. I am aware of six original patterns. Four of which can be found in Flies for Atlantic Salmon (Stewart & Allen; 2001) and The Complete Directory of Salmon & Steelhead Flies (Mann; 2008), among other publications. As far as I know, the two remaining flies have never been published.

      Below are the dressings for all six of Dave’s original patterns. I didn’t try to copy Dave’s tying style, but I did try to respect his choice of materials whenever possible. There are a few unavoidable material substitutions, however. For a more personal account of my experiences with Dave, please see my piece in the Spring 2014 issue of the Atlantic Salmon Journal (Fit To Be Tied, p. 62). 

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The Atlantic Salmon Flies of Dave Goulet

(tied and photographed by Ben Bilello)

Bette Jane

Bette Jane

Tag: Oval gold tinsel

Butt: Fluorescent green wool

Tail: Red hackle barbs

Rib: Oval gold tinsel

Body: Rear half: medium green floss; Front half: peacock herl

Throat: Yellow hackle over light green hackle

Wing: Badger hair

Head: Black

Catch-A-Me Lodge

Catch-A-Me Lodge

Tag: Oval silver tinsel

Butt: Fluorescent green wool

Rib: Oval silver tinsel

Body: Black seal fur (or substitute)

Hackle: Golden pheasant breast feather dyed black (or other spey-type hackle)

Throat: Speckled guinea fowl

Wing: Two strips of white goose shoulder, tied short and splayed (Dee style)

Cheeks: Jungle cock (optional)

Head: Black

*The original was tied with a black silver pheasant body hackle.

Chipper Lodge

Chipper Lodge

Tag: Flat gold tinsel

Butt: Fluorescent orange floss

Tail: Golden Pheasant tippets, tied in at the second black bar

Rib: Oval gold tinsel

Body: Black wool

Throat: Purple hackle

Wing: Woodchuck guard hairs, topped with soft orange hackle fibers 1/3 of wing length

Cheeks: Jungle cock (optional)

Head: Black

Cockburn

Cockburn (unpublished)

Tag: Flat silver tinsel

Tail: Chartreuse bucktail with a few strands of peacock green Krystal Flash

Body: Fluorescent green floss

Underwing: Chartreuse arctic fox or bucktail with black tips

Wing: Chartreuse arctic fox or bucktail with black tips

Hackle: Black-Laced-White hen saddle dyed fluorescent yellow; tied collar style

Head: Black

*The underwing and wing were originally tied with dyed mongoose fur.

Golden Girl

Golden Girl

Tag: Flat gold tinsel

Butt: Fluorescent green floss

Tail: Golden pheasant tippet strands

Rib: Oval gold tinsel

Body: Black floss

Throat: Black hackle

Wing: Black squirrel tail

Head: Black

Mezmerizer (top view)

Mezmerizer (side view)

Mezmerizer (unpublished)

Tail: Pearl Krystal Flash (or substitute flash material)

Shellback: Pearl Krystal Flash (or substitute flash material)

Hackle: Black, palmered up length of body

Body: Fluorescent green floss

Wing: Pearl Krystal Flash (or substitute flash material), doubled back and evenly distributed on both sides of the hook shank (same flash as used to make the shellback)

Head: Butt ends of the Krystal Flash wing and black thread

*The original was tied with a generic Krystal Flash substitute with which I am unfamiliar. It is less kinky than the original Krystal Flash. I substituted Crystal Mirror Flash in the fly pictured.