Ice fishing on the Kennebecasis.

Ethan and I went out today for a quick fish on the Kennebecasis River. There was only about 12 inches of ice and WAY too many people with vehicles out there today so puckering was a constant issue... you couldn't really get comfortable and relax so we cut the trip a bit short . We managed a few smelt which we'll freeze and use for bait next time - they're little cannibals!

Here's a few pics:

Oh yeah, my lifeproof case paid for itself yet again today! There was a lot of water on the ice and at one point my phone was in about an inch of water for what I figure was an hour at least. Ethan noticed it when we were packing up to leave. I highly recommend getting one for your iphone! 

The Wulff Den Special

Here's a fly I came up with late in the 2011 season - so late in fact I didn't have time to prove it!

Pattern: Wulff Den Special
Hook: Partridge Supreme Salmon CS 10/2
Tag: Uni Oval Silver Tinsel (med)
Tail: From bottom to top - chartreuse marabou, 2 pieces each fl. green & UV KF, wood duck
Butt: Axxel flash, green
Body: Peacock herl
Rib: Uni Oval Silver Tinsel (med)
Wing: From bottom to top: Pheasant rump feather fibres, Peacock sword
Collar: Black hen
Head: UNI 8/0 green, chartreuse, green

Salmon Ninja spotted!!

This here guy is a complete salmon ninja!

If you find yourself out for a fish and bump into a fella with a tattoo that says 'kyper' just keep movin' .... the dude's a badass!

A bunny on the trail!

We spied this varying hare on our lunchtime walk!

I made this today....

I should have taken an hour to do this a LONG time ago... it's already made a difference in the comfort level of my tying station and it will definitely make things much more efficient. I had some scrap wood from old projects laying around and I bought $10.00 worth of dowels from the local building supplies store. 

Back from the show!

Thanks again Paul & Steph for letting me tag along! We had a great afternoon & evening starting with a dirty drive in dirty weather, then to Bryants for some supplies where we met John. Out for a quick brew before the show and then to the Dieppe community college for the main event. We met up with Damian, Chris, Brett, Danny, Jack & Dave. Too bad the weather was so crappy as I'm sure the turn out would have been better. Have a safe drive home Damian, Chris & Brett!

Oh yeah, Daiichi 1760's rock!!!

Dirty driving and Moncton bound!

Just outside of Hampton, we're supposed to drive out of this nastiness at some point soon! AWD and winter tires are a beautiful thing!

IF4 in Dieppe Jan 20th

Paul, Steph & I are heading up to Dieppe tomorrow to take in the fly fishing film fest. We hope to bump into a bunch of flyguys while there and it will likely turn into a bit of a salmon hugger event  - with any luck! Oh yeah, we'll be making a brief pitstop at Eskape Anglers to see Mr. Bryant Freeman for some tying supplies ;)

Oh yeah, we're expecting a little weather so be careful driving to the show tomorrow, folks!

Early one morning on the way to 'fosse pool'......

Just a little ways out of the woods from the 'middle of nowhere'.... Come on fishing season!

Test #2 email to blog post with picture

This is test #2 --- email to blog post with picture ((canary marabou tube fly))

Test!

Testing email to blog posting feature!

And it works!

Another tube monster for the 2012 season!

I came up with this critter at Paul's this evening -- tied on an aluminum tube and it may be making a road trip to Nova Scotia this year for a little fishing! =)

Posting/Comments should now work....

I opened up the security settings a bit today to allow comments without being a member or signing up for anything. So if there's anything you want to say or you just want to bitch me out then have at 'er mad hatter! =P

P.S. Honey Badger don't care!! =P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

Here's a few flies from today....

These will be going to a couple different charity dinners. 

A view from my hometown ...

This is a picture taken on one of my noon hour walks -- It's of the entrance to Saint John harbour and you can see Partridge Island and the causeway leading out to it. This is also where the St. John river meets the Bay of Fundy.

Elevation for the Wulff Den ...

There's a very good chance that we'll be building the Wulff Den proper this spring. There's lots to consider, especially things like elevation & flood data:

FTB Swap flies ready for the mail!

These Mickey Finn's will be hitting the mail for Alberta, hopefully tomorrow!

2012 Crown Reserve Entry Draw opens tomorrow!

We went for the 'Crown Jewel' of the reserves last year and were skunked on the draw - Crawford in July. Are we going for a for sure thing at Charlie's Rock or similar or are we going to try for the Jewels again?


This year it's going to cost 7$ per person just to enter the draw and the per day cost for a license is 46$.

CROWN RESERVE DRAW INFORMATION

2010 (our last CR trip)

Uncle Brad, Ethan, Dad, Me, Uncle Bill (from left to right)

Uncle Brad

Ethan & Uncle Brad

2008 HIGH WATER!!!

What's in your vise???

Just a snapshot of what's going on in my vise -- Mickey Finns for a "Fly Tying Bug" swap, I gotta finish these unruly polar bear winged Finns up this weekend OR BUST!!

Guy's "Shrimp"

Guy's Shrimp is a pattern that I was inspired to create after several of my favorite fly tyers displayed their fall patterns on nsflyguy.ca. It's not a true shrimp pattern, it's just a standard hairwing tied with standard 'shrimpy' colours.

Recipe:
Hook: Partridge CS10/2
Tag: Lagartun copper tinsel
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet
Body: Uni Orange floss
Rib: Lagartun copper tinsel
Throat: Yellow hackle fibres
Wing: from bottom to top, Yellow bucktail; 2 strands each yellow, orange, UV krystal flash, Fire Orange polar bear; Orange bucktail
Cheeks: Jungle cock
Head: 8/0 Uni black

This photograph was taken by Mr. Damian Welsh and used in his book Atlantic Salmon Flies of Nova Scotia in the 'Tyers Favorites' section - his book can be viewed & purchased here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2711269

This fly went for it's first swim as a nameless orange pattern but returned as 'Guy's Shrimp' after hooking 3 and landing 2 at a very special pool on a very special river. Here's where the name 'Guy' (Silliker) comes into play:

It was a great day of fishing with Dad, Paul, Stephanie & Frederic!

Atlantic Salmon Flies of Nova Scotia receives some publicity!

Damian's new book is receiving some well deserved publicity in the Miramichi paper:

PMS on a tube!!

Just becuase the Purple Mutha F'N Shadow needed to be tied on a tube!

A quick little post ....

(((Warning, this video is rated PG for use of the odd cuss word!)))

I was just going through some of my pics and vids from the 2011 salmon fishing season and I came across this:

This was one of my best days on the river all year and I just wanted to say thanks to my dear friends Paul, Steph, Rene & Brad for a fun (but cold) day on the river! 

Dreaming of Spring Fishing on the Miramichi!

It's cold....

It's crowded...

It's sometimes serene...

And I can't wait for it! Spring Fishing for black salmon on the Miramichi starts on April 15th which seems like a long way off especially with the nasty blast of cold winter air that's blown in over the last couple days. -26 degrees C here today! (with windchill factor, 'warmer' without)

I'll be showing those beautiful kelted atlantics one of these creatures:

Come on spring!!

Ok, I think we're getting close to a design....

My daughter, Melissa, has been helping me with the layout and selection of fonts, pics, etc. She's pretty artsy and I think she's doing a decent job of keeping me on the right track!

This is a picture of 30 Blue Finn's I'm tying for an upcoming swap. The swap is based on Damian Welsh's new book called "Atlantic Salmon Flies of Nova Scotia"

Atlantic Salmon Flies of Nova Scotia

Just tinkerin' with the setup.....

Like the title says --- just tinkerin' with the setup, hope to make a go of this!